They can hear obvious noises, and it is exceptionally loud near the city centre.
"What is that?" Alaina asks, rather annoyed, when they approach the outer ring of the castle.
Beyond the palace and away from all the responsibilities that's expected of her as a princess, lies her element, her other home, her freedom -- her life, away from the castle. But the peace she's expecting is now ruined by the shouts and loud chatters in the distance -- all of those that can only mean bad news, as Theia is never chaotic with such disturbing noises.
"No idea," Lancaster says, still frowning.
"It is coming from the city centre -- but first, I know someone who can be of help."
With that said, they head far away from the castle. As they head towards their destination, though, the normally lively streets they would walk through are now only desolate; they are close to empty, deserted. What's left of them are only very few locals with looks of disappointment hanging obviously across their faces. Most of the locals are probably part of the crowd protesting at the city centre. The locals they pass simply ignores them, only minding their own businesses quietly.
Also known as the Land of Sun, the Kingdom of Theia is the liveliest and most fun-loving of all seven kingdoms of Asteria -- or so it was, because the atmosphere seems so gloomy, that they no longer live up to the title. The people are the ones who make up the kingdom; but without happy people, a happy kingdom would cease to exist.
Witnessing the situation, Alaina feels depressed as well, as if the feeling is contagious and with air itself carrying the virus. She feels worse when she feels incapable of doing anything, not that she even know what is going on to be able to do something to begin with.
Stealing a glance over at Alaina, Lancaster knows very well the princess is upset. "Don't worry, whatever it is, we'll fix it. We always do." That is what Lancaster says, but his frown gives everything away. Sure, they had countless protests before, but this is like no other; it is like the entire kingdom and all of its people are against whatever that's going on, just by looking at the empty streets.
Alaina bites her lip. She doesn't know what to say, so she just nods lightly. She can only hope that it is nothing but a mere misunderstanding of some sort, and nothing serious enough for any big changes to take place or for anything to leave a drastic consequence. She touches her mother's necklace hanging around her neck gently, feeling the diamond gleaming brilliantly in the centre of the circle containing it. Deep down, she hopes Lancaster is right: that they'll be able to fix it, whatever it is.
*****
Contrary to the lively heart of the kingdom, the outskirts of the city is peaceful and quiet.
Alaina and Lancaster now stand in front of a small cottage, its chimney blowing off tiny clouds of steam. Not far away from the cottage there's a wooden stand and an old worn-out wagon, around it several large sacks of fruits and vegetables. You can obviously tell they are fresh, as they are standing in the midst of an open field, with a plantation field visible on the other side of the cottage. A figure of a man currently stands in the middle of the plantation field, busy with his work.
Although the Kingdom of Gaea is the one providing the other kingdoms with freshly grown and planted fruits and vegetables, the Kingdom of Theia knows where to find its own fast source within themselves: the Travis Merchants.
Alaina and Lancaster can only make out a shadowy figure of the man, what with the blazing sun hanging over them with its rays shining outstandingly and the distance that separates them and the man. They watch as his figure rubs his forehead with the back of his hand. After a moment, the figure finally lifts his head and glances in the direction of Alaina and Lancaster.
"Your highness!" he waves over.
"Mr Travis!" Alaina calls back, smiling. "Is Rose in?"
"Scarlet is currently helping her mother with --"
"Alaina!"
Both Alaina and Lancaster turn to the source of interruption, but when they do, Alaina is suddenly ambushed by a girl with brown pigtails in a hug. She is shorter than Alaina, and looks younger than her given her pinch-able chubby cheeks -- one would think she is a girl of only fourteen. She lifts her head up and meets Alaina's blue eyes with her large, round hazel ones.
"Young lady, I am not sure if you do realise that the person you are hugging so casually there is her highness, the Princess of Theia herself," Lancaster says, clearing his throat.
The girl pulls away from the hug, but remains close to Alaina. She leans onto Alaina, both hands on Alaina's arms for support as she turns to face Lancaster, pouting. "Who are you?"
"Lancaster Alnwick, personal knight of her highness." He nods lightly at her as a simple gesture of respect.
"A knight!" she says with gleam in her eyes. "But you know, drop the formalities when you're around her, she doesn't like it." She turns back to Alaina. "Right, Alaina?"
"It's definitely fine to drop the formalities." She smiles softly at her friend, Rose. "But Lancaster is too serious of a man to accept that. Anyway, what's happening around Theia?"
Rose pulls away from Alaina entirely this time, and turns around to head for the cottage. "Come, I'll show you." She gestures for them to follow.
Exchanging looks and shrugging briefly at each other, Alaina and Lancaster follow her.
Inside stands a woman with short curly brown hair whose hands are full with a tray of freshly baked cookies, near the fire place. "Scarlet, help me with -- oh." She stops when she notices the guests. "My, pardon me, I did not notice. Your highness, and her royal knight, I suppose?" She settles her tray down and walks towards them.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"Pleased to meet you," Lancaster says, his right arm moves in tune with his body, finding its spot in front and just above his waist, as he bows slightly in respect.
Alaina steps forward and holds both her hands. "Mrs Travis," she greets, smiling.
"Please, enjoy your stay."
Alaina nods in reply. "It is my pleasure." Turning to Rose, who is now back with a sheet of paper in hand, she asks, "so, what do we have there?" She nods to the paper flinging between Rose's fingers.
"See for yourselves." Rose hands over the paper.
Alaina and Lancaster both examine the paper. It looks like a wanted poster of some sort, with a picture of a man in his thirties in the centre of the paper, only that it does not contain the heading "WANTED". The man is expressionless in the paper, his square jaw and stern face look so threatening that one wouldn't simply defy him. His black hair is tousled in a very odd way, and his eyes look darker than the colour black. His eyes are swirling, infinite black holes, and Alaina shudders at the sight of it.
The paper reads:
Caecilius Black -- the Emperor of Asteria. Submit your respects to his imperial majesty, the one and only absolute Caecilius Black, who is far more worthy than any other kings of the seven kingdoms.
"Emperor?" Alaina scoffs. Lancaster frowns.
"The locals are concerned," Rose says, "you might already know, that they're all protesting in the city centre, hoping to catch the attentions of the kings in the meeting, showing their dissatisfaction."
Alaina turns to Lancaster. He understands immediately, and she need not say a word.
Rose is the only one who manages to smile, even if it's only slightly. "I'm coming with you."
*****
It is worse than they'd thought. Or perhaps they just did not imagine that it would've caused such an uproar.
Alaina, Lancaster and Rose have made their way to the city centre, where the locals are currently gathered, shouts defining the atmosphere.
A man is standing on the platform with a statue of a large, titan woman with one of her arms raised high and proudly in the air, with a miniature sun resting in her palm that faced the sky. It symbolises the Kingdom of Theia, the Land of Sun.
The statue glimmers in the sunlight ever so brightly, it's a pity the locals aren't here to simply enjoy its brilliance.
The man is yelling, with the locals gathered all around him below the platform.
"What do we want?" the man yells, raising an arm.
"Peace!"
"And how do we achieve it?"
"Harmony through separation!"
"Harmony through separation?" Alaina repeats questioningly, raising an eyebrow. A woman standing in front of the three of them turns towards their direction and steals a glance. Alaina flinches, but builds up the courage to ask, "excuse me, kind lady, is this about the flyers all around the city?"
The woman fixes her gaze on Alaina. "Yes, my dear, the kings --" It takes her a moment to register Alaina's appearances, and finally something snaps in her. "Oh, your highness, have you came to protest as well?"
"Please, drop the formalities," Alaina replies, "protest against what, exactly?"
The woman seems hesitant for a minute or two, but finally says, "against the formation of the empire, of course."
"The decision has not been made just yet, is it not?" she asks, frowning.
"That is correct, your highness. The kings are currently still in the meeting now." She then gestures around her, before continuing, "but you see, we are all very unhappy about it. The kingdoms live peacefully, although separately. What if someone were to come along -- without even a bloodline of royalty, as a matter of fact -- claiming that he would be the absolute emperor of all seven kingdoms? That is just outrageous."
"Therefore, the protest?"
"Certainly. To demonstrate how unhappy we are. If the kings witness this scene during the meeting, they would definitely take into account the feelings of the locals, if they have not already."
Alaina frowns. "I am sure my fath -- I mean, his majesty would think for the people of Theia, like he always does. I am sure of it," she quickly says, in defence of her father. Lancaster nudges her slightly in alarm.
"Hopefully."
At the woman's nonchalant shrug, Alaina grits her teeth, ready to snap at her anytime. But Lancaster nudges her again, harder this time; even Rose is tapping frantically at her arm. So she shuts her mouth and purses her lips; but inside, she is grateful for them holding her back.
"My dear, is something the matter?" The man who'd just been shouting on the platform strides near.
"It is her highness," the woman says, in reply to the man.
"Ah, your highness." The man steps forward, bowing respectfully. "Pleased to meet you."
"A pleasure."
"I do apologise for this mess, but please do understand that it is necessary, with all due respect, for his majesty to realise the gravity of the consequence if he were to accept the proposal."
Clenching her fists, Alaina says, "the king would never accept such an absurd proposal."
"Ah, but what would your highness know? It is his majesty who is currently in the meeting --"
"No. The king would never," she says firmly. She locks her eyes into the man's. "The seven kingdoms are living -- by all means -- peacefully right now. I do not see the need for a change."
"As you wish, your highness. But again, it is his majesty who will be making the decision, along with the other kings. I just hope they are as rational as you are," he says slowly, as if he's trying to channel the message directly to Alaina's subconscious and imprint them into her mind like how poison spreads slowly, but deadly, permanently; his voice is venomous but seductive, like an innocent crocus. "Perhaps for someone born of royalty, your highness, with all due respect, you would not understand how we locals live. It would be worse to have only one absolute ruler; we may be neglected, and a marginalised world far worse than as it is now however small, would be formed -- an empire free from rights and equality."
"I understand how you feel, but --"
"Oh, your highness, but you do not. Your whole life you have been living above everyone else, and even if an empire were to be formed, you would be given privilege, unlike us. You may be stripped of your powers and pleasures, but you will not become something we would -- dust. That is right, we would perish into nothing!" His voice rises, attracting attention from other locals.
"Enough," Lancaster snaps fiercely. Narrowing his eyes, he glares at the man.
"Pardon me," the man apologises.
"You know, sir, I could take your words as an assault towards the king. These two here are my witnesses," Alaina says threateningly, "I may have your head -- even your entire family's -- if I just so wished it. Need I remind you of your position?"
The man sets his face straight. He clenches and unclenches his fists, then through gritted teeth he manages to utter, "yes, your highness. I apologise for going too far with my words."
Alaina turns away. She'd had enough from this man. Honestly, she would've agreed to every word this man had said, because she thinks the same way; but she refuses to give in because her father's rationale is being questioned and doubted.
She walks away, with Lancaster and Rose following behind.
After putting as much distance as she could between the three of them and the city centre, Alaina and Lancaster bid Rose farewell, and begin making their way back to the castle.
As Alaina makes her way back to the castle to await the results of the meeting, her mind does not stop lingering on the words from the man. She believes that it's true, as well; she loves the way they are living now, and wouldn't, in a thousand years, change anything for it.
A marginalised world.
An empire free from rights and equality.
If the change is to be implied, what would that make the seven kings then?
What would that make her?