I...I had a dream, just like any other day just like any other time.

I saw the same dream, walking down in darkness clinching to my fist close to my chest , I could feel my heartbeats on my hands. 

My eyes wander in the never ending dark, trying to find an ounce of hope for it to end.

'Where am I?' I asked myself and was startled as I received an answer.

“My..child” I turned to the sudden voice as my body trembles in fear.

“You are where you are supposed to be, Bella... You are with me” the feminine voice had no definite figure it was just an bundle of light.

“Come here, join me. You can't stay there or els..e.e aroun..d you,  join me, join me or else... j.. Oin.. M..e..ooorrrr...no.t now-” the voice faded only leaving a senseless mutter.

“......”

I woke up to the bright light coming from outside the window of my room.

The huge curtain around it couldn't sustain the light. 

“That dream again, huh” my head felt heavy, reluctantly I sat down on the most comfortable bed in the entire kingdom. 

Even this thing didn't worked, against these nightmares. 

I have been having these weird dream from the age of twelve but for some reason they were getting worse around these days. 

I placed my hand on my anxious heart trying to calm it down. 

As I did so, I was startled by the sudden knocks on the door. 

“Huh!?.. Who is it?” I subconsciously mumbled. 

Emerging from the other side of the door was 'Alfrail' my butler. 

Under normal circumstances a princess is  appointed an maid as her personal servant, however since alfrail was around me since my childhood, I had refused to have any other servant but him. 

“My apologies, for disturbing your sleep, milady” an apology was released from his old lips.

I shook my head in disapproval.

“No, I was awake already” I haven't yet noticed a tray in his hand.

“Tea” I demanded in my regular tone.

He quickly walked toward me after placing the tray in front of me he started pouring the tea into the cup.

I took the warm cup in my hand after he finished pouring it in.

“By the way milady, your dresses for the council meeting today is ready, an-”

I interrupted him by another command. 

“Cookie” 

“Very well” without any delay, alfrail left the room to get some cookies. 

In the meantime, I enjoyed the warm cup of tea. 

It had an intense aroma of the leaves, a bit bitter to taste to suit me. 

Finishing the tea I got up, by that time alfrail came back with the cookies. 

Some were sweet while the others had a bit of a funny taste. 

Best bakers they say, but if you ask me it's nothing different than anyone else's baking. 

“Alfrail, ready the bath” 

“Yes, mam” 

With another small exchange he left to do his job. 

I walked to the gallery, sliding the curtains to the side, gentle breeze touched my skin. 

The chipping of the bird was a little annoying or else staring down the hill on which the castle was located would have been like a dream to any princess. 

A small blue bird approached me, I extended an hand for it to settle on it. 

But it doesn't seem to have much faith in me. 

“Sit down” hearing the command the bird followed. 

It settled down on my hand, its delicate legs trembled, as I looked in its eyes. 

I realized this at an young age so it didn't surprised me at all. 

And because of the cold look in my eyes people were afraid to talk to me. 

I've even heard that someone gave me a nickname like 'ice queen'. 

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

It was something I was aware of yet it didn't troubled me. 

After a while a couple of maids came to guide me to the readied bath. 

They held their head low and didn't spoke a word. 

I doubt that they don't personally like my presence but being the only child of the king, they had to take care of all my comforts. 

As we reached the bath, I told the maids to wait outside as I handed them over my clothes. 

The huge bathing place had an pleasant odor, the room was filled with steam and a side of it was broken just to reveal the majestic view of the land. 

I slowly descended in the water, to bathe. 

The tiredness of my body slowly fleed away as the warm water calms my mind. 

My name is Belladonna amaryllis, daughter of the former king and queen.

My parents, they died a long time ago, I don't remember much about them neither I've heard much of them from the others.

Right now, I'm the one and only influential person for the sofia, kingdom.

Although I'm the one who rules the heart of the kingdom, some people are highly opposed to it. 

They simply don't want to accept a woman controlling kingdom. 

And so, the people of the council that makes decisions for the kingdoms wants me to marry someone and that person would be the next king.

In other words they want me to marry a pupit under their hands so that they can have control over sofia city. 

The reason why this is so important is because sofia city is at center of all the other influential kingdom, thus it provides a lot of benefits in mostly all the ways possible. 

“Only if these people could think of peace rather than gaining control over my life” I let out a sigh as I left the bath. 

Personally, I wouldn't mind going with their plans for me, that way I could live like any queen away from all this politics however something keeps telling me that if I did that, I'll regret it for the rest of my life. 

“Call, Alfrail” I commanded an maid as I came out of the bathroom. 

                                ***

Alfrail, waited outside as I changed into my dress.

The big red dress was something that suited me best, in fact almost all of my clothing were of red color.

The hem of the dress had a bit of black cloth material attached, that makes it a bright combination of dark colors.

Though I don't pay much heed to other's opinions over my own, it was hard to tell if these bright colors actually looked good to others, even if I asked someone they  wouldn't possibly dare to suggest me something better. 

That was the kind of life I had. 

After changing my dress, I walked out to where alfrail was waiting for me. 

“So, when is the meeting” 

“Two minutes from now, milady” even after being almost late he didn't interrupted me once. 

We walked to the hall where the meeting was supposed to happen, I was told that every member of the council had already came and were waiting for me. 

'As if, I cared' 

Alfrail opened the door to the huge hall, the first thing that I saw were the displeased expression of the peoples siting in front of me. 

The council had six members from the six kingdoms, the members were selected by the kings of the respective kingdoms however as there was no current king in sofia city and since the council system was created after his death, I automatically became the  rule as well as the council member. 

I know that all the things have inclined to my prestige, but I never asked for it. 

Or at least that the reality I know, I'm pretty sure that people had spread rumors that I did all of this for my personal benefits.

“You are late, miss belladonna!” One of the member showed his discomfort by stomping his hand on the desk. 

I replied to him by a simple 'hmm' just to enjoy the frustration on his face. 

The expression on his face was ridiculous, something that I enjoy a lot.

After pulling back the seat for me, and as soon as I got settled alfrail asked for his leave. 

I would have preferred him to be by me but the council members wouldn't allow that. 

“You can go” with that I reluctantly gave him permission to leave. 

I glanced toward the faces of the councilors, I could see the frowns on their head. 

“So, miss Belladonna, I believe that you have been informed about the reason for today's meeting” Grail the head of the council, stood up with that question.

He was a old man with an long white beard. His image reflected of an knight.

Huge shoulder and broad chest, completely overshadowed the fact that he was in his seventees.

“Ohh, I believe that my butler told me about it, but I wasn't paying much attention” with that the frustration in the air intensified.

'Hahaha, this is so fun'

I suppressed my laughter.

“The-”

“wait, let me take this honor” a blonde haired man, in white suit interjected Grail in his speach.

Before things get heated here let me introduce you to all of them.

Let's start with this blonde man, his name is Alex Jonesboro, he is the council member from the southwest kingdom, 'Haile'.

He might act like a gentlemen but by close observation, one can tell that he have some good manipulating skills.

Then is Spice Winterwood, from the northern kingdom. I've heard many things about him, mostly shady stuff just like his personality.

It somehow feels like he is surrounded by a dark aura that protects him.

About the other the other two I'm not sure if I even know their names, and I don't think that I'll ever want to.

They just go along with what these three mens say anyways, so their existence doesn't mean much to me. 

“So, Miss belladonna let me tell you why we have gathered today” despite him trying to hide it I could feel an internal smirk on him. 

“As you know, that the sofia city is in need for an dedicated king, who could serve the pieces of hearts and maintain their stability” the peices of hearts he mentioned were the kingdoms. 

“And so?” dissatisfaction took over my face, he was taking too long thanks to his speach formality. 

As I said that his expression channged a bit, a bit frustrated perhaps? 

“okay then let me give it straight to you, We need you to give opportunity to a king, and we have already selected the candidate” 

“Wai-t... What?!, what do you mean?! What's the meaning of all this?!” 

“We hope to get all the cooperation needed from your side” 

“I'm..I'm not going to marry anyone!!, Specially not someone selected a bunch of normal people like you. don't you know I'm the princess, you people are nothing, only bunch of peasants and farmers, do you really think that you can make decisions for me, my status is far above all of you combined!!!” 

“Then, you have forced our hands into doing this miss Belladonna” spice got up from his chair. 

“and since we have the permission from the kings, this shouldn't be a problem” 

I heard Grail saying 'this could have been so much better' 

Wait what are they talking about. 

“Wh-what are you doing, stay th-there, alfra-” 

I hand covered my mouth before I could call Alfrail.

And as my mind slowly interpreted what was happening, a sharp pain slowly took over my body.

“Si..si..lver?”

Spice removed his hands from my mouth letting me see the silver dagger piercing my heart.

“Why-hy?”

“Why?, cause you are not needed... no longer”

The last thing I felt was hitting the ground, the coldness of the floor, and the warth of my blood swamping out from my chest.

Is this, the end? A chuckle left my mouth.

“Guess, so” however those last words weren't mine.