"You woke up early princess." Leo says standing by the mirror in his room.

"Yes. I coudn't sleep. I really want to see that king and withess how cruel he can be." Margeret says making her way towards Leo.

"We will head for Bruges in a couple of hours, Margeret. I suggest you go spend some time with your mother."

"Yes you are right. I will go but what is this grand meeting really about?" Margeret asks with curiousity.

"Well, this will be another modus operandi of him to overcome his enemies and show how great he is." Leo says his body language showing how wrathful he was right now.

"Oh" was all she said. "I will go meet mother." With saying this she heads towards her mother's room.

"Good morning mother." Margeret says hugging her mother. "Good morning to you too, Margeret."
The queen says smiling. Seeing her mother smiling Margeret smiles too though there were traces of sadness in that smile.

"You will leave now, try as much as you can to not to engage in any sort of conversation with Braith." She says seriously.

"Mother, why didn't father let me come to Bethony's marriage?"

The queen smiles weakly, "His highness was an intelligent man. He use to regret not saving Bethony from Braith's clutches but you" the queen says cupping Margeret's cheek, "you were his angel. He did this to protect you." The queen says with teary eyes. "I miss the king." She whispers.

"Don't cry mother. Everything will be alright." Margeret says hugging her mother. "Will it?"  She asks herself doubting on what she just said.

"You go get ready Margeret." The queen says wiping away the tears. "Maids!" The queen calls one of the maids.
"Yes your highness." The maid says curtysing the queen. "Did you packed all the essentials princess is going to take there?"

"Yes your highness. Everything is done." "Good you can go now." The queen says averting her gaze from the maiden to Margeret.
"It will be a long journey. Take care my child. I love you Margeret."

"I love you too mother." With that being said Margeret heads towards her room.

********

People were standing outside the palace gates to bid farewell the princess. Margeret, the queen and Leo with some officials walk towards the carriage.

The crowd cheered for the queen and the young princess. Margeret smiled at their sweet gesture. One old woman comes towards her, but was stopped midway by the guards. "Let her come." Margeret orders.

The old woman gives a sweet smile and strokes Margeret's cheek. "Dear princess may God bless you. You will accomplish in your task. You will give justice to those who deserve it" the woman says looking at the sky,"Amen."

"Amen." Margeret says closing her eyes for a second and wishing that this was all a dream. A dream which will be shattered when she will woke up from her slumber. But alas! This ain't a dream but brutal reality.

Margeret then hugs her mother and sits in the carriage. Leo sits on his horse with a bunch of guards and they start their journey to Bruges.

Margeret sees the trees passing by. With every second she was going farther and farther from her kingdom, her home.

"I will not disappoint those who have faith in me. I will not let them down. King Braith will pay for his sins." Margeret speaks to herself reminding her now and then to make her determination more strong.

*********

"We will now enter the boundries of Bruges, princess." Leo says. Margeret then peeks from the window and what she saw left her spellbound. This was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. The city resembled heaven. Roads adorned with beautiful lush trees. Nature flourished in its zenith in Bruges. But what captivated her were the canals. Fresh water reflecting the sky, flowing with ease. It was king Braith's capital. It had to be beautiful. She instantly fell in love with the city. Each building beautiful than the previous. She was out of words.

People walking, chattering, smiling, some bowing before the royals. Girls giggling and blushing at the sight of royal princes. Some greeting each other. Some looking at their surrounding with awe.

She could feel the happiness in the air. Oh how Margeret wished to stop time and relive this moment again and again and again.The truth was total opposite of this but the smily faces of the people told a different story. For one second she let her loose her aim and enjoy this very moment. But reality slapped her hard when she saw a soldier brutally beating a labour who was unable to do his work. Her smile immediately changed into a frown.

" Of course this will happen here. This is king Braith's kingdom. Learn to accept the truth Margeret." She thinks.

The carriage comes to a halt. She looks up to see the gigantic palace standing right before her eyes. The palace screamed power. One of the guards opened the door and she came out.

They were now standing before the royal gates. The guard standing beside the gates opened it. The palace was ten times more beautiful than the city.

They were greeted by the maids. The royals filled the hallways. Each one boasting about their power.

She then looks at a sculpure which added to the beauty of the palace. Kept in the entrance to get noticed by everybody the sculpture was a pious Virgin smiling down on an infant held in her arms. Margeret couldn't help but smile looking at the sculpture.

"Madonna and child." She looks behind to see Leo. "Great work." He says eyes glued to the sculpture.

"Indeed." She says.

They were both interrupted by a laugh. Margeret sees a man with some guards looking in their direction, disgust dripping from his eyes. He walks towards them his hand never leaving his sheath.

"The Haiti kingdom, I see. Even after your king's death rather than mourning you shamelessly come here. Well, see how powerful we are." The man says opening his arms.

Margeret was fuming with anger, "Who are you?" She asks with gritted teeth.

"Mark Anson. The General of king Braith's army." He says with a devilish grin.

"You are lucky you will be treated with respect here, general of the army I guess." He says looking at Leo. "And you?" Mark asks

"She is princess Margeret. Talk with respect, General." Leo says trying as much as he can to control his anger.

"Oh, princess? You don't look like one." Mark says again grinning devilishly.

Instead of shouting on Mark, Margeret preffered to keep silent.

"I hate to say this but welcome to Bruges, princess hope you enjoy here."

"Oh I will enjoy here General and you will see." Margeret says smiling.

This reply made Mark angry. With one last disgusted look he leaves them.

"The meeting will start in a couple of hours princess of Haiti. Please come with me I will show you your room." A maid says.

The princess smiles as a reply.

Throughout the walk she was encountered beauty and only beauty. The beautiful chandeliers hung giving the palace a grand look. The velvet curtains added to the beauty.
The maid opened the doors to her room. Margeret stepped inside and was left speechless. The room held a queen sized bed with a chandelier hung above, a beautiful painting of swans decorated the wall. Intricate designs made it look richer. The window held red colored velvet curtains.

Margeret walks towards the window and opens it. A beautiful scene greeted her. "This is beautiful." She says.

"Indeed it is. It's the royal garden. I hope you like the room princess. Make yourself comfortable." The maid smiling at the princess.

"Yes. The room is indeed very pretty. Thank you." Margeret says still looking at the garden below.

"The royal advisor chose the room." The maid says.

"Oh." Says Margeret mentally thanking the advisor.

The maid bows before the princess and leaves. Margeret then sits on the bed waiting for the time to meet the king himself. She came face to face with the General who was no good. She was fuming with anger now. Each passing second made her remember what the king did to her family and her kingdom. She tights her fists. "I will make you regret this king Braith I will." She says.

She didn't heard Leo coming. " Margeret come we have to go."

She was lost in her own thoughts. "Margeret? Margeret?" She hears her name being called and see Leo standing before her.

"Oh yes. But two hours passed so quickly?" She asks.
"You were probably thinking a lot I guess so you didn't realize time passing by." Leo says with calm composure.

"And one thing Margeret" he says holding her shoulders,"He will try his best to provoke you. But you stay calm princess." Leo says with a concern look.

"Yes I will." Margeret says smiling. After her father Margeret looked up to Leo. She was glad she had him as a teacher and another fatherly figure.

Both Leo and Margeret walk towards their destination, the meeting hall.

Sorry for a late update. Am so excited! Margeret's gonna meet Braith😄😄 what to you think will happen next? Tell me in the comments below.

Till then comment, vote🌟🌟 and share😄😄
Love lots😘😘