STRUVLAND
Chapter 5
The House
Alessandra

After I  accepted the task Lilith gave me, I went back into the ballroom where the candles and lanterns were slowly being lit again after being all put out by The Red Eyes, who has now left. Prince Oliver is looking around with concern painted across his features when he spots me, he walks over. The ballroom is filled with panicked chatter over the calm sound of music coming from the band of musicians.

"Are you alright?" He asks.

"Yes, I am alright. Why were there not any guards outside of the ballroom?" I respond. He gives me a puzzled look.

"What are you talking about? There should have been at least four guards in the hall, where you were." Prince Oliver responds.

"Well-" I start before I am cut off by ugly King Richard.

"The Lamarels are not happy, their daughter has gone missing, we suspect she has been taken. It is your duty as the prince to help your mother calm them down and keep them from accusing Struvland." King Richard whispers to Prince Oliver. I look towards the Lamarels, Queen Fortune is glaring at Queen Adelina, as she tries to calm down the furious mother lioness who has lost her cub. Prince Oliver looks at me and grabs my shoulder, softly.

"I think you should go enjoy yourself, I'll take care of this." He whispers in my ear. I nod and he releases my shoulder. I make my way across the ballroom and stand in the middle, observing everyone. Soon enough, a young handsome gentleman with mid-length light brown loosely curled hair approaches me. The young man bows to me and looks me in the eye.

"Hello, Princess Alessandra, how lovely it is to finally meet you- or as they say it in Ylieria, a-"

"I despise elves, trying to impress me by using their forgotten language is useless," I say, cutting the young man off. He steps closer to me and I become suddenly uncomfortable. I am not short, I am just above the average height for my country but this nameless young man was even taller than my father, who towered over me.

"You have not given me the chance to introduce myself, my name is Kent Steele. My father is the blacksmith for the royal guard." Kent says, slowly moving closer to me. I step back, keeping my composure.

"Why are you dressed in expensive clothes then, and where is your mask?" I ask. Kent chuckles and fiddles with the black velvet material on his sleeves.

"My father is good friends with the queen and I happen to be good friends with Prince Oliver, they invited us and gave us clothes to wear," Kent responds, gesturing to a man across the ballroom who looks similar to him but older.

"That still does not explain your lack of mask," I say.

"I just simply did not care to wear one."

"I was going to ask how you know the language of the elves with your, most likely, poor education but just listening to you is boring me, you are a poor conversationalist. I'll be going now." I firmly state. Kent looks at me with pure shock while I walk to my mother. My mother looks up at me when I arrive in front of her. 

"Hello, my daughter, is there anything I can help you with? I'm not quite sure I like the look on your face." She asks.

"Why is there crimson in your hair like Queen Adelina's and my elf servant girl?" I demand, crossing my arms.

"Do not worry about it my child, you'll know soon enough." 

"How soon is soon? Is our bloodline tainted with traitorous peasant blood? Is that why none of us have the magic Agatha had? Did you taint our bloodline?" I ask, my mother snatches my left arm.

"Watch how you speak to me, brat. I am your mother and I'll have you know, I have done no such thing. Now, enough of this speak of magic, Queen Adelina could have your head for such talk." My mother whispers into my ear while digging her nails into my arm. I wince at the pain.

"And you expect me to just forget about it don't you? The queen wouldn't dare harm me if she wants an alliance between Struvalnd and Pentoya, unless, of course, that is what you and father want?" I question. My heart pounds against my ribcage as pure red hot anger fills my veins.

"How dare you accuse your father and me of such things? We have done nothing but love and care for you, even when you were sick. I do not expect you to forget this, it is not in your nature. So, remember this, if you continue to soil our family name with your childish accusations, you will disappear, for good this time. Your brother will take the throne when he is of age either way, so I expect you to learn your place, child." My mother threatens, hatred dripping venomously off her every word. I let out a quiet whimper and force tears back. She lets go of my arm and fiddles with the gold rings on her long thin fingers. Prince Oliver walks over, completely oblivious to the tension between my mother and me, and grins.

"Hello, Alessandra and Queen Edith, how are you two doing? Enjoying the food? Dancing?" Prince Oliver asks excitedly. Prince Oliver's mood is a welcome distraction from the conversation that just ended. We both curtsy in acknowledgment of his presence, my mother gives me a look that tells me to keep my mouth shut.

"I have enjoyed the blueberry pie a lot more than I thought I would." My mother states, gesturing to the tables of food yards away from where everyone was dancing. Prince Oliver smiles brightly at her statement.

"I love blueberry pie immensely, my mother picked out foods that you and I both love, Alessandra. She had said that she remembered how much you adored sausage, potatoes, and green apples when you were younger." He explains. I have forgotten most of my memories of being at the castle when I was younger for us to get to know each other and our parents to discuss the terms of the alliance. Every once in a while a faded memory will appear in my mind but it has been so long that I forget it almost as fast as it appeared. The only memory I have always kept was of Prince Oliver stealing the ribbons from my hair which always ended in me running to his mother and telling her what happened while demanding the ribbon back. I would later get smacked by my father for speaking so rudely to a royal in their own country.

"Alessandra still loves all of those, she practically inhales them when given the chance." My mother states with a chuckle, so genuine, I almost forget what she did to me earlier. Prince Oliver chuckles along and I roll my eyes.

"Would you like another dance?" Prince Oliver asks, looking at me. I accept and we move to the center of the room to dance. I look Prince Oliver in the eyes as we glide across the floor. Prince Oliver avoids my gaze as his cheeks and ears turn pink.

Am I too horrid to look at for him? That is a lie if I ever heard one, I am widely praised for my beauty in Pentoya, why would Struvland be any different?

"Queen Fortune Lamarel of Arcavia does not find our engagement pleasing, or at least her husband doesn't. Then again, I don't think that man takes pleasure in anything...he is a peculiar man. Anyway, the fact is they know you have weak armies in your country and see it as easy prey, they will attack the moment we are married to hurt the alliance, and make my country weaker. If they take over your country, there is no reason for us to be married, you may have money from your fishing industry and crops but without a stronger army... you're practically dead." Prince Oliver says. I furrow my eyebrows at his words.

"Where are you going with this conversation?" I ask. Prince Oliver hesitates to answer for a moment.

"Mother thinks that it would be in your country's best interest to create an alliance with Ylieria for their armies, she knows they're starving there due to a shortage of food, your alliance would benefit not only your country and theirs but ours as well. An alliance with Ylieria would make it easier for Struvland to have their help in the war, you know our country is struggling, and tomorrow when we leave you'll see just how much." Prince Oliver replies. I scrunch up my nose, disgusted with his suggestion.

"They are elves, they are disgusting little creatures who would take the first opportunity to betray us. Allying with the elves would cost us everything and everyone already disagrees with their way of ruling. The fact that they are an elven country could make the elves in my country start to feel bold and go up against us, creating a rebellion. An elven rebellion would cause an alliance with an elven country to fall through and may cost us war. We cannot afford a rebellion and two wars, it would make us an even easier target for Arcavia." I protest. Prince Oliver sighs in defeat.

"I was just trying to find a solution to our problem but nevermind, we aren't even rulers yet anyway. My mother did say she would bring up the suggestion with your father though." Prince Oliver straightens his back and scratches the black hair behind his ear before continuing to dance with me. I find his change in attitude even more insulting.

"Do you have an issue with me that you'd like to discuss?" I ask.

"I am just tired of your constant need to act like you're more important than any other person in the world. You're being an intolerable brat and the real reason you wouldn't want your country to ally with Ylieria, even though it would benefit everyone, is because of your hatred of elves. You're just as bad as your father and it pains me to see what you've grown up to be like compared to how I knew you when we were younger." Prince Oliver says, his voice full of anger.

"No one is as they were when they were younger, and if you expect them to be the same then I feel especially sorry for you," I respond. I stop dancing with Prince Oliver and walk to the table full of food. Prince Oliver follows me.

"Don't act like you haven't treated Penelope like dirt since she was transferred to your group of maids, she told me everything. The elves, humans, and occasional dwarf that works for us are all paid very well, they are not low servants for you to step on like in your country. You will treat them with respect."

"Respect? Really? I don't believe they deserve respect, they have done nothing to deserve it." I state, grabbing a green apple from the table and biting into it.

"They do everything for you, constantly, and they rarely complain. They deserve the most respect out of anyone, and I expect you to give them that."

"Why should I listen to you? You have no power."

"Because it is what is right and if you don't, I will make sure that nobody that works here helps you ever again after we are married unless you treat them with respect. Do you understand?" Prince Oliver asks. He clenches his jaw while he awaits my response. I huff out a breath and roll my eyes.

"Alright, I understand, I will try my best." I reluctantly say. Queen Adelina comes up beside us.

"Due to the events that happened tonight, you will instead be transferred to a safer location tomorrow by Frostfire Mountains rather than your original trip. You will be kept safe and heavily guarded since you are the future of Struvland. I will send word for you when it is deemed safe enough again." Queen Adelina states.

"Do my parents know?" I ask.

"They will be informed of what is to come tomorrow morning. In the meantime, we will be ending the ball early so you can get some rest." Queen Adelina informs.

The next morning, the servants, including the elf, pack my things for the trip. I look out the window at the snow glistening in the sunlight, I sigh and brace myself for the trip to come.

Prince Oliver informed me that Frostfire Mountains is the coldest and snowiest place in Struvland. The mountains got their name from being so freezing it felt like your skin was burning, I am not looking forward to this trip.

"Don't worry, Your Highness, the house will be heavily guarded so you and the prince will be very safe. You will even get more time to spend together alone, which I'm sure you two are dying to have." One of the servants says, folding one of my cloaks before placing it in a trunk of clothes.

"Ysabel, my cat, will be coming too, correct?" I ask, turning my head from the window to lock eyes with the servant.

"Correct, the little darling is all ready to go and her things are packed. She can either sit in your lap the whole ride or be put in a special crate for the ride with all your luggage." The servant informs.

"I would like to have her ride in my lap inside the carriage, please." I state.

"Alright."

Prince Oliver and I wait in the carriage for the horses to start moving. When they do, I relax and glance at Prince Oliver who is playing with his hands while I stroke Ysabel's soft fur and she purrs in content. I think of the deal I made with The Red Eyes that I have almost forgotten about. How am I supposed to kill the man I am set to marry? A man I barely know?

I will no longer be useless if I kill him, I will be able to marry someone I truly love and my parents wouldn't be able to deny me that.

"I apologize for speaking rudely to you last night." Prince Oliver says, not making eye contact. He fiddles with the side of his crimson velvet cloak.

"Good," I answer, glancing out the window closest to me. Prince Oliver sighs.

"I don't even know why I try." He says under his breath.

"I am not sure why you try either."

"Oh, I don't know, maybe because we are to be married when we get back from this trip? You cannot expect us to be married and have no other interaction with each other, that is not how it works. It is our duty to have an heir and raise them together, you cannot just ignore me and act like the way you do for the rest of our lives. It would be exhausting on both sides."  Prince Oliver argues.

"Can we just be silent for the next few hours?" I ask, brushing off a few stray furs from Ysabel on my plum-colored dress. Prince Oliver huffs out a breath and nods before looking out the window on the other side of the carriage. The sunlight shines through his black hair from the window and creates a shadow of him on the carriage's red floor.

After six hours of silence and the occasional stop for water for the horses, we have finally arrived at our destination. The guards help us out of the carriage and I gasp at the cold. I hold Ysabel closer to my chest and tighten my cloak as Prince Oliver wraps his arm and cloak around us. I ignore his kind gesture and we make our way into the house.

A/N: so anyways, sorry you have to deal with Alessandra's whiny irrational angry ass today. We're getting to the good stuff my darlings YEEHAW💕💕🤠🤠