Kia: (Tears falling down her face)
But our family's royal honor, sister. It is a cold weight that bears heavily upon my torn heart. How can I fight against their wishes?

Act I, Scene I: Artesian's Chambers

[Artesian is pacing back and forth in his chambers, deep in thought. Enter Kia.]

Kia: My love, why do you fret so? Your lovely countenance betrays a troubled soul.

Artesian:
Kia, my dear, I am torn between duty and desire. My heart yearns for another, yet our families demand this union.

Kia: Duty binds us, but love can conquer all. Who is this other that claims your heart?

Artesian: A maiden fair, whose beauty rivals the moon. Her name is Leela, and she possesses a spirit that ignites a flame within me.

Kia:
(Her heart sinking)
Leela? But she is not of noble birth. Oh, my God! You're a entitled, royal prince, now you listen, her poor family has not the status to begin to match ours.

Artesian: It matters not, Kia. Love knows no boundaries of caste or class. It is a force that defies all logic and reason.

Kia: (Tears welling up) And what becomes of our family's royal honor, Artesian? Shall we forsake tradition for mere love?

Artesian:
I cannot deny the weight of our legacy, but my heart aches at the thought of a life devoid of true love.

Can you not relate to or understand my plight?

Kia: (With a heavy heart) I do, my love.
I understand the torment you bear.
We are but pawns in this game of dire fate, bound by the ties of our ancestors.

Act I, Scene II: Kia's Chambers

[Kia is alone in her chambers, her mother, Sophia and sister, Delia enter.]

Sophia: Kia, my child, and princess, we must speak of this matter at hand. Your dear lover, Artesian's heart seems to have wander astray.

Kia: Mother, his heart is entangled in the threads of love, a love that is not meant for me. He yearns for another!

Delia: (With concern) Kia, do not let his love for another dim your own worth. You are deserving of love and devotion.

Kia: (Tears streaming down her face) But our families' honor, sister. It is a weight that bears heavily upon my heart. How can I go against their wishes?

Yet, a marriage where love does not exist is empty, nothing and is doomed to failure.

Sophia: Kia, my dear, we must not let our emotions cloud our judgment. Think of the future and the dynasty that awaits us. Our family's royal name and honor must be preserved.

Act II, Scene I: The Royal Gardens

𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑨𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒂𝒏 & 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑲𝒊𝒂

[Artesian and Kia meet in the royal gardens, surrounded by pretty, blossoming flowers. Their faces are etched with deep, longing and sorrow.]

Artesian: (Taking Kia's hands in his) Kia, my love, I cannot bear to see you suffer. I am torn between duty and desire, between the heart and mind.

Kia: (Her voice trembling) Artesian, your heart may yearn for another, but our duty binds us to a different path. We cannot deny our families.

Artesian: (With a mixture of pain and determination)

Perhaps it is true, my love, that we are but pawns in a grand design. Our families demand our union, and you know we should heed their call.

Kia: (Fighting back tears) Farewell, Artesian...

[They part ways, their hearts heavy with unspoken words and unfulfilled desires.]

Act III, Scene I: The Wedding Ceremony

[The grand wedding ceremony is simply spectacular, and is underway. Amazing displays of opulent wealth, decorations and a great, joyful, festive atmosphere
abound.

Artesian and Kia stand at the altar, their eyes avoiding each other.]

Priest:
Do you, dear Prince Artesian, take the lovely, royal Princess Kia as your lawfully wedded wife?

Artesian: (Looking at Kia, his voice trembling) I do.

Priest: And do you, Princess Kia, take Prince Artesian as your lawfully new
wedded husband?

[Kia hesitates for a moment, her heart torn between love and duty.]

Kia: (With a heavy heart, barely audible) I... I do.

[The crowd erupts into applause as the priest pronounces them husband and wife. The festivities continue, but a deep cloud of sadness hangs over Artesian and Kia.]

Act IV, Scene I: Artesian's Chambers

[Artesian is alone in his chambers, staring, a cold look etched upon his face. He is still quite tormented by the cruel, choice he made, haunted by the ghost of his true love, Leela.

Enter Leela, looking quite forlorn.]

𝑳𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒂

Leela: (Whispering) Artesian, my love, why did you forsake our love? Why did you choose duty over your true heart's desire?

Artesian: (In anguish) Leela, in the deepest depths of my soul, I am truly burdened with regret. I am trapped in a loveless marriage, unable to escape the chains of tradition.

Leela: (Her voice filled with sorrow) Oh, oh, Artesian, our love was meant to transcend all boundaries, But now, we are left with just shattered dreams and broken promises.

Artesian: (Falling to his knees) I am just a prisoner of my own choices, completely bound by the chains of honor and duty.

I thought I could find happiness in fulfilling my obligations, but my heart yearns for you still.

Leela: (Her voice filled with longing) And my heart aches for you, Artesian. But we are left with nothing but a forbidden love, a love that can never be.

Act IV, Scene II: Kia's Chambers

[Kia is alone in her chambers, her face stained with tears. She clutches a letter in her hands, written by Artesian, confessing his undying love for Leela. Enter her mother.]

Sophia: (Noticing Kia's distress) My dear child, what troubles you so?

Kia: (Her voice trembling) Mother, I have received a letter from Artesian. He confesses his love for another, for Leela.

Sophia: (Gasping)
This cannot be! Our family's honor is at stake. We cannot allow this scandal to tarnish our reputation and name.

Kia: (With a mixture of anger, bitterness and sheer heartbreak) Mother, what about my happiness? What about the dreams and desires of my heart?

Mother: (Firmly) Kia, you must put aside your own desires for the sake of our family. Our legacy is at stake, and we cannot let love cloud our judgment.

[Kia's sister enters the room, her face filled with concern.]

Delia: Mother, we cannot force Kia to live a life devoid of love and happiness. Is our honor worth more than her well-being and happiness?

Sophia: (Frustrated) Our family's honor is everything, daughter. We cannot let mere emotions rule over reason.

Act V, Scene I: The Palace Courtyard

[Artesian is alone in the palace courtyard, his heart heavy with grief. Enter Leela her eyes filled with tears, conflict.]

Artesian:
(joyful voice)
Oh, Leela, I feel like a royal slave chained and trapped inside
a dungeon. Without
your love I am lost
in the wilderness!

(They rush into each
other arms, tears free
falling down their cheeks.)

Leela: Oh, my love I
miss you so terribly!
And places her hand
on his swollen loins.

[Artesian moans, as she starts to free his
wet manhood.

But just at that erotic moment, the Queen
Kia comes walking
through the royal courtyard gates.]

Queen Kia: Oh!
(With a mix of anger and sadness) Artesian, though you are not faithful, I have read your letter and my poor heart you have shattered.

But I now understand the chains that bind us.

King Artesian: (voice filled with remorse) Kia, I never meant to hurt you. But, I am like a slave of royalty, trapped in a loveless marriage that plainly torments my soul.

Kia: (Resolute) I release you from your vows, Artesian. I just cannot bear to see you suffer, nor can I live a life where love and pleasure is absent.

I won't do it, the wear
on my heart is just too terrible...

Artesian: (grateful)
Kia, you are grace, love, compassion and understanding. I am forever indebted to you.

Leela: (Her voice gentle) Artesian, you have chosen honor and duty, but your heart is mine. Fear not the conventions that bind us, for true love knows no boundaries.

Artesian: (In awe) Leela, is it possible for our love to transcend the rules that govern our world?

Leela: (Smiling)Our love has the power
to break free from
the chains of royal tradition, to create a new path where dear hearts are allowed to follow their true desires.

[Kia watches them, her heart aching yet filled with a deep, sad understanding.]

Kia: King Artesian, Leela, follow your hearts and be true to the love you share. I release you both from the burden of my honor and bid you farewell.

[Artesian and Leela share a glance of gratitude, their souls intertwining in a bittersweet dance.]

King Artesian: Kia, your sacrifice will never be forgotten by me. May your heart somehow find sacred happiness in a world where lovers are not always bound by duty.

Leela: Kia, your generosity knows no bounds. With joy, we shall carry your spirit with us, honoring the love that brought us together.

[Artesian and Leela walk away, hand in hand, their new love unconstrained by societal expectations.

Kia watches them go, tears streaming down her face, but a faint glimmer of hope shines in her eyes.]

Kia: (Whispering to the wind)

May their love be a beacon of light in a world that needs it. And lord, may I find the strength to forge my own path, where my heart's desires can flourish.

[The curtain falls, leaving Kia standing alone...

© Charles Kemp