Esper sank into the warm water of the tub. The cuts she had on her skin burned from the heat of the water. It didn’t hurt as bad compared to when she got them. She let the hot water seep into her skin and felt her muscles begin to relax from the never-ending tension.

After Esper was done washing, she slowly exited the tub. Esper grabbed the old, worn dress that she left on the table next to the tub. She wasn’t given the luxury of wearing clothing fit for the princess she was since her father considered her to be a pest.

Esper looked as if she lived among the peasants in the city. She would probably be better off living amongst the peasants as she practically was one that just so happened to live in the castle. Her father was disgusted that his first-born child was a woman. Esper was resented for something she had no control over.

Her mother had many miscarriages and two stillbirths just to have her one successful pregnancy result in a girl finally. Her father, the king, kept trying for a boy, but her mother died as her body could no longer handle the stress of trying to give the king a male heir.

It was custom for the first born male to ascend the throne. If for some reason the king never had a male heir, a woman would take the throne, but the reign would be short and frail. It was easy to overthrow the queens as not many would protect her position. A male relative would claim the throne, or a new bloodline would force its way onto the throne. As long as it wasn’t a woman who ruled the kingdom.

Esper’s father remarried and had three boys, to his delight. He spoiled them and passed down his cruel and cunning personality. Her younger brothers were terrors who enjoyed making her life more miserable than it already was, and there wasn’t a thing she could do about it.

Esper stepped into the hall to see Ceron waiting for her. She smiled at him, and he gave her a sad one in return.

“How was it?” He asked, caressing her cheek.

“Good. I needed it.” Esper sighed as she leaned into his touch.

Ceron Viserryn was the only good thing in her life. She fell for him quickly. He was gentle and kind despite his brooding and intimidating stature. He scared just about everyone, but he was so sweet around her. He was a king’s guard, but he would be with her as often as he could without anyone noticing; Esper cherished those moments.

He didn’t judge her. He accepted her for who she was. He wasn’t disgusted by her scars. They angered him, and he wanted to strangle her father but obviously couldn’t. He would tend to any new wounds she would receive.

Not too many people cared to notice Esper’s treatment and the hands of her and brothers. He knew some would question though so he still needed a story incase people saw. So, a few years ago he made up the tale of the princess being captured by enemies and torturing her, but her loving father had saved her and cut the heads off those who had harmed her. No one would ever question him.

Ceron briefly looked out the window and suddenly did a sharp double-take. Esper furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and had to stand on her toes to be able to see out the window.

Guards and knights were approaching the doors of the castle on their horses. Esper couldn’t recall anything that would have had the knights leaving the castle. Esper looked harder to see a man in the middle of all the horses, restrained by shackles.

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This only happened with dangerous criminals who threatened the crown. This man must have been extremely dangerous with the number of chains he had on his body. They would be taking him to the throne room where her father would be waiting for him and handing him a sentence, which would most likely be death.

Esper began to make her way to the throne room when Ceron stopped her by grabbing her wrist. Esper turned to look at him with a confused and surprised look on her face.

“Leave it, love. The king would be angered if he saw you.” Ceron warned.

“I will just hide in the crowd. I want to see who this is.” She protested.

Esper wiggled her wrist out of Ceron’s hold and began to make her way down the hall. Ceron sighed and followed behind her. Esper found a crowd of people heading into the room, and she immediately made her way into the crowd.

The crowd divided into two groups to leave room in the aisle. Her father sat on the throne with an agitated look on his face. Her brothers stood by him and talked to each other and laughing. Her brothers never took anything seriously and the eldest was the future king.

Everyone waited a few minutes before the guards came stomping in with the prisoner in the middle. She watched as they made their way towards her father. Esper was able to get a good look at him.

She had light blonde hair and striking blue eyes. She could not deny that he was very handsome. He had a smirk on his face and seemed to think being in chains was amusing. He didn’t show any signs of fear.

When they were close enough to the king, the guards separated so the king had a direct look at this man. Her father’s jaw ticked when the prisoner stood before him.

“Arius Tressilian. I have been looking for you for quite some time.” The king hissed.

Arius chuckled. “Well, look who it is. The coward king.”

“How dare you! Do you wish to be beheaded right in this room?” the king roared his face bright red.

Arius laughed. “Don’t worry. I won’t be here too long.

“You aren’t going anywhere, Tressilian. You won’t get passed by my guards.” The king let out a dark chuckle.

“We will see about that.” Arius taunted.

“Get him to the dungeons. I will decide his fate later. I have some other matters to attend to first.” The king ordered, getting up.

The guards yanked on his chains and pulled the smug man out of the room. Esper was shocked by Arius’s attitude and the words he spoke to her father. He had a death wish. Then again, he seemed confident he was going to escape.

She didn’t see how, and the castle was very well guarded. There was no escaping the walls of the castle. She wondered what kind of plan he had. She had no idea who he was and what he had done for her father to want him captured so badly.

The crowds started to break, and Esper quickly ducked out of the room to Ceron, who was waiting by the doors. He had an irritated look on his face. He walked beside her out the doors and through the halls.

“That bastard,” Ceron grumbled.

“Who? Arius?” Esper asked. Ceron could have either been talking about him or her father.

“Yes. He’s a pain in the ass.” Ceron rolled his eyes.

“You know him?” Esper asked with wide eyes.

“Yes, a little. He’s a pest.”

“What has he done?”

“He is trying to take the ten kingdoms and overthrow your father.”

“What?” Esper gasped.

“Yeah. He’s annoying as shit.”

Esper thought about her father being overthrown. Would that mean her freedom? Could she get away from here? It didn’t sound like a horrible thing to her.

The ten kingdoms of the continent of Darkwood consisted of Moonriver, Xia, Zethrin, Emberwind, Bloodmoon, Glen Eerie, Xerxes, Haven Rivers, White Sea, and her father’s that was the kingdom. The other kingdoms were just occupied by lords.

“Do you think he could do it?” she asked.

“He has enough supporting him. Many of the lords prefer him over your father. He is fierce, and I must admit he is almost flawless in battle. Some say he has slayed dragons.”

Esper nodded. He sounded like quite the person. Maybe the lords would vouch for his release, but her father would never just let him go.

“My father will sentence him to death.” Esper sighed.

“He will get out of it. That’s how Arius is.”

“How? The castle is too secure.”

“He finds a way. He has been in situations like this before. He also has people that will help him escape.”

“Hm.”