"Sister?" A voice said when Andoria and the guards were outside the throne room.

"Delphiea," Andoria muttered.

Delphiea covered her mouth in surprise. "Oh, dear... Are you okay?"

"Get away from me," Andoria retorted.

Delphiea looked at her with sympathetic eyes and smiled.

"Soldiers, take a break," Delphiea ordered.

"But the queen said-"

"I can deal with mother," She promised and the guards gaze softened. "Please trust me,"

"Yes, your majesty," One of the guards said and they let go of Andoria's arms and walked away.

"Isn't the first princess so kind? She's pretty too!" One guard whispered to the one next to him as they walked away.

"The third princess is gorgeous, if only her personality wasn't so bad," The other guard whispered back.

"The first princess is too nice," The guard muttered. "The third princess should be grateful she has her sister standing up for her,"

Once the guards were out of earshot, Delphiea walked to Andoria and touched her cheek.

"Are you okay?" Delphiea asked worryingly. "Did mother hurt you?"

Andoria sighed, but it sounded forced.

"Get rid of the act."

"Awww, Andoria," Delphiea said, and out of nowhere, she slapped Andoria right in the face. "Be grateful and know your place, sister."

"You really got everyone tricked," Andoria muttered.

"Can you stop acting like a commoner?! Your actions affect me, you know?" Delphiea snapped. "I'm the next queen and I don't want to have such an embarrassing sibling!"

"No wonder mother is angry. Your hair disgusts me, it looks like father's." Delphiea continued then laughed. "Well, you wouldn't know because he died after seeing you."

"You're just jealous that no matter what, I will always look better than you," Andoria said with a smile and Delphiea turned pale. "You always hear the guards saying how gorgeous I am."

Now it was Andoria's turn to laugh. "You're the unlucky one, to get my mother's looks. Don't you dare insult my late father."

"YOU-" Delphiea was about to say but then paused. "No... have fun being locked up in your room."

She then made herself fall onto the floor. "Ow!"

A guard then came forward.

"Sister, calm down please," Delphiea lied, and Andoria stayed silent in shock. "I just want what's best for you..."

"Princess Andoria!" The guard shouted and grabbed Andoria's arms. "Under the queen's order and the harm of a royal, your sister, I will assist you to be locked up in your room."

"You snake," Andoria muttered before she was dragged away by the guard to her room.

***

Andoria tried everything.

She tried opening the windows, but they were glued shut. The door was obviously locked, so all she could do was just lie in bed, waiting for her doom. She figured if she waited until the guard came to give her food, she might make a run for it.

After what felt like centuries, the doorknob began to rattle.

"Who's there?" Andoria asked.

A gentle figure stepped in, her hair in brown ringlets and her eyes the color of the sea.

"It's me, Theia," The gentle figure answered.

"Theia!" Andoria said, her eyes lighting up.

She sighed, "What did you do this time to get the queen this mad?"

"Sister..." Andoria said, ignoring the question. "You are more fit to become queen than Delphiea."

"I don't want to become queen," Theia replied.

"But then Delphiea gets the throne!" She cried.

Theia stayed silent.

"I'm getting sold off," Andoria revealed and Theia gasped.

"What?!

"Yes, to Prince Braern,"

"To such a small kingdom!" Theia exclaimed. "You'll be treated worse!"

"It was going to happen, the last child should be of use somehow," Andoria sighed with a sad smile. "I can't become queen so I become a political tool."

"How lucky that I brought this then..." Theia murmured and took a key out of her pocket. Andoria's eyes widened. "I wish you the best of luck, Andoria."

Theia's voice then lowered into a hushed whisper. "Hurry! Run away, I've put most of the soldiers on a break, you have exactly 1 hour to run away."

"Wait what?!" Andoria cried as Theia placed the key in her hand. "How about you?! Where do I go?!"

"Anywhere but here," Theia replied. "If you stay longer, you will be sold away. This is your chance, sister."

"What will happen to you?" She asked desperately.

"I'll be fine, little sister," Theia said and stroked her black curly hair. "Trust me."

Andoria bowed. "Thank you, I promise I'll come back soon!"

She then quickly unlocked the door and ran off, leaving her selfless sister.

Who Andoria wasn't sure who would be okay.