A royal Affair

Beginnings

Queen Isolda pov 

The royal ball hallway is as magnificent as ever, as the celebration for my coronation has begun. The most distinguished aristocrats, ambassadors, famous artists, and rich tradesmen have gathered in my honor. 

They all bowed down in front of me, as I entered the place by King Philip's side. 

"Long Live the King! Long live the Queen" - they shouted, as we proceeded to sit on our thrones. 

"May the celebrations begin!" - The King said with a genuine smile on his face, and the orchestra immediately started playing. Beautiful women in amazing dresses and jewelry so bright they could blind you, and men dress in such elegant taste trying hard to show their status... oh the irony! I could not help but chuckle inside. They all want to gain grace in my eyes now, but just a few months ago they would not even look at me twice. 

As they started dancing so elegantly, I took a look across the place. It's overwhelmingly magnificent. The walls are dressed in gold, giant mirrors that make the place look even more enormous than it is. I know that the king had called the finest artist of the world for the breathtaking frescoes. Everything looks so majestic. The decorations used and the long chandeliers that reflect the light make the place look like it has come out of a fairytale. 

Believe it or not, it's the first time I have seen the royal ball hallway, even though I have been living in the castle for a long time now. Slaves are not allowed here, but I am no longer a slave. 

I am the Queen and these people that once despised me will gather to honor and please me again and again. 

The King keeps raising toast after toast on my honor, and the festivities are at their peak. Loud noises, laughs, champagne, and endless dances... the people gathered to look like they are having the fun of a lifetime, but the atmosphere created barely affects me. I know that behind those fine dresses and beautiful faces they hide venom. Anyway, they can barely reach me now, so I let myself get a little lose. After all, I have been through, I deserve to enjoy the taste of victory and power. 

Suddenly the gates open wide and one of the palace officers declares in a loud voice, the unexpected arrival of someone. Whoever is, must way too important to disrupt the Queen's celebrations. 

"His Royal Highness, Darius The Crown Prince of Dardania. All hail" - he announces and I feel my heart skip a bit. I take a deep breath to control myself, but my hands are already sweating, even though I look composed and regal. 

As Prince Darius appears at the entrance, all people bow down in front of him. I almost did too, the force of costume I suppose... But I no longer have to bow in front of him, or anyone else. He must have found out about me being the new Queen, that's the reason for the emergency I suppose. 

I haven't seen him in a year now... As he comes closer to the throne, the lights illuminate his face. He is still as handsome as ever... His face has a dark expression, I know him well.. in his eyes I can see the fire of rage that I have ignited inside of him

"Your Majesty" - he respectfully bows downs to his father, the only person who he has ever obeyed and respected 

"My son. I wasn't expecting you here" - the king welcomes him with a smile, Philip stands up from his thrones and went to hug him. 

"Father... I wasn't expecting you to be married or coronate a new Queen either" - he replies in an icy voice

Philip throws a hand over his shoulder and turns towards me

"I should have notified you earlier, but it all happened too soon. I present you with Queen Isolda" - my eyes meet his dark one, if he could shoot fire from them the whole castle would be burned to the ground by now. The last time I look into those eyes at him, I was kneeling in front of him begging for mercy, which never came. I know he is remembering the same scene as I, regretting the moment he spared my life. Now I am the one looking from above while sitting on the throne wearing the crown. 

"You should bow my son" - King Philip was not smiling anymore. After the long minutes he kept hatefully staring at me, the people started whispering. He knew the rules, he should bow, anything else would be considered a disrespect to his father and I.

"Darius" - the King raised his voice this time, but he kept staring at me. At that moment, I knew that the war with the man I once loved so much would be ruthless. I dread this moment, but I am not the little naive girl, that was so desperate and alone. From my ashes, I build up the path to the throne. And I'll do it again for my son's sake

"Darius, bow down now!" - the King commanded, but not even a muscle in Darius' face moved. I could hear people gasping. At this moment the history was being made. 

I knew he would be furious, but I was expecting this moment much later. If he speaks now, of who I was, I will lose my son. I needed time to prepare, but now my plans are long gone. He must bow damn it. or the hell awaits us all.

....................................

three years ago

Isolda pov

So how did this all begin, you may ask? Well, my life was not always a constant struggle to survive. I once led a peaceful and happy life, in a loving family. 

I had a home, friends and relatives, hope, and a future. My father was an academic, he uses to teach rich royal children, and also me. I use to spend hours and hours with him, in class or at the library. My father was such a wise and kind man, in my eyes he was my hero. He taught me everything he knew. After I learned how to read and write at the age of five, my father gave me strict schedules where I also learned mathematics and science, poetry, philosophy, languages, and politics. 

Everyone kept saying that it was a waste of time, education was not for girls, that I should only worry about finding a rich husband, who would take care of me. That motivated me to do better than any single of the rich spoiled brats my father use to teach. I am still like that, the hate of others serves me as fuel to my determination.

My mother also thought I should learn to be a good housewife, so she insisted to teach me how to act, dress, and be a lady. Even though she taught me how to cook or clean, her dream for me was to marry someone rich and noble, so that I could attend balls and live a life she could only dream of. My parents loved each other, but I soon realized that my mother resented my father, for being not too ambitious. His books were his world and he was satisfied with the quiet and peaceful life we had, away from our kingdom capital and everything too extravagant. But my mother was also a hopeless romantic, with a gentle spirit. At the end of the day, her love triumphed over her ambitious wishes. No matter what my mom kept saying to me, all I wanted was a love story like my parents did. 

Reading and doing house chores was not all that I use to do. Oh, no, no... at the village I used to live in I had so many friends. We use to spend so much time together, after school and house chores. We use to pretend like we were princesses, that was our favorite game. We use used sheets to pretend to be wearing magnificent dresses, made paper crowns and we dance with each other, as we were at a royal ball.

When I grow up and lost interest in children's games I use to go to the waterfalls in the woods, everybody was afraid to go so deep into the woods, but not me. 

I never have been or felt so free as when I was swimming naked at the waterfall, with only the sky above me and the entire world silent. All I could hear was the songs of the birds and the sounds of the water and leaves.

It was in a day as such my life as I knew it would come to an end. My peace, my happiness, my future were all lost, as soon as prince Darius set a foot in the land I use to lived