Born To Rule

My father died when I was young, but he always told me that I was born to rule. I will strive hard and protect my family, my people and my empire. I never knew those words would cost me my life one day.

As I stood at the balcony and stared at more than ten thousand people gathered on the roads to rebel against me because I was saving their life, I do not know what else I should do.

"Your highness, you should not stand there, they might attack you." I wanted to laugh but all that came out was a tired grunt when my maid, Agatha, frowned.

"That is unlady-like, your highness." she chided, despite the terror striking our heart. She still had the time to complain about my actions.

"I am no lady, I am their ruler. And my men had come to rebel against me." I grunted again as I walked out. 

She had thought I would go to my office or library where I spend most of my time these days but to her shock I walked towards the entrance of the palace.

"What.. What are you doing?" it was not only her who followed me with a horrified look but all the knights came running at once to block my way.

"Call your majesty, the princess is.. Just go and call your majesty." Agatha shouted at other maids in a cracking voice but she was not able to stop me. 

No one would! I have already spent nights contemplating my decision when I saw the hatred and anger in the eyes of my people instead of love and pride. 

And now.. I want to seek answers!

"Your highness, that is not a good idea." Damon, my knight, my lover and my loyal, came forward to stop me.

His veins strained but when I stared at him, he paused. Trying to hide the worry, he stood sternly.

"Do not forget your place, commander. It is I who gives orders here." his muscles tightened as he stood straighter.

All the knights stopped behind him.

"Open the doors." The guards looked unsure and stared at Damon behind me. As if he had the final say. 

I laughed, ridiculed by their actions. But it was enough to scare them at once and force them to follow my orders.

As the door opened, everyone took a step back, afraid that they would be attacked. But they were astonished to see me standing there alone, unarmoured and without knights.

They paused and exchanged glances, confused about what they should conclude of my presence. 

"I heard that you all are against my decision to negotiate with the vampire king?" I did not take the name of the monster because he did not deserve it.

All he deserved was the wrath of my men and me but here I was calling him for dinner and spending time with him. Of course, they were angry, I was angry with myself too. But I could not explain it to them.

Voices filled the roads. They spoke all at once and despite the noise and incomprehensible words, I knew what they were saying.

"Your majesty, he is a demon."

"What if he attacked us when the safety gates were opened?"

"Your majesty, we can not trust monsters." 

They all shouted at once when I sighed.

"I agree with all of you." I nodded , shocking them, "then we shall prepare for war. You all have to join it since we will need more men." 

"........" the anger was replaced with horror.

"You all know that Warkinles had already fallen." my voice, loud enough to cut the air and reach their ears when they paused. "Warlonse is on the verge of falling. Their blood stained green flag showed how their ruler has died and the vampires are ruling it.

Next is us. We can wait on the battlefield but we all know that one of them is strong enough to take twenty of us. And they are coming with an army of five thousand vampires. So, if you do not want me to negotiate the conditions, help me waging the war.

I need more than a hundred thousand men for it and I can still not guarantee victory. But I can promise you one thing, I will lead the war myself." my eyes stared at their leaders with a cold look.

He flinched at my words, feeling my wrath but I was not in the good mood. 

They have already made sure that every single child in our empire thinks that we have abandoned them. We are accepting the hands of monsters that would bring them demise.

For once, I wanted them to understand that we did not have a choice.

"What happened, you do not want to participate in the war?" I tilted my head as I climbed the small dais made for opening the channels of the river.

"If you do not want to die at the hands of a vampire, we have to negotiate with them. I hate them more than you can, more than you think but you must know that we do not have a choice. If they agree to negotiate, we will be able to save our land and our people." I promised when an old man came forward.

I stared at him, hoping that he would understand my plea, my emotions and my helplessness when I heard steps behind me. My mother was standing at the door, holding the hands of my little brother. She strained her head to see the end of the crowd, but she could not. It was reaching as far as the horizon.

The old man stared at them for a second, but his eyes never hesitated when it met mine, 

"Your father would not have made this choice."