The Winter King's Bride

CHAPTER2

Princess Elohra

I watched my kingdom from the palace balcony- it had never looked so alive.

There was never a time the people of Veloria left the kingdom to quietness, not even when we were plagued by wars in the past.

However, the City always got into a different light during the Silver season- frost covered trees and rooftops, everyone decorating their hairs, dresses or houses with silver ribbons to celebrate the beautiful season.

It was the holidays so the children didn't have lessons with their teachers.

Day and night, I watched them run around, chasing each other and laughing happily- freely- living in the moment and living for themselves.

Something I longed for but unfortunately will never experience.

The Winter's Benediction was fast approaching.

It was the final sacred celebration before the snow stopped and another year began.

Above anything, it was the day I would be wed.

"Elohra, dear." I heard my mother's voice behind me.

"Good morning, Mother." I turned around and greeted her at once.

"Your head maid mentioned that you were up here." She joined me, placing her gloved hand over mine.

"It is beautiful. Valoria is beautiful." I whispered as I returned to admiring the Kingdom.

"A beautiful Kingdom, with a beautiful Princess."

I blushed at my mother's compliment as she smiled and briefly touched my chin.

"Our people have exceptionally celebrated the Silver season. But right now, they're not just preparing for The Winter's Benediction, they are preparing for the wedding of their Princess."

I could see that.

"Even from up here, you can see and feel their excitement." My mother grinned.

"You know, what?" She turned away from the Kingdom and looked at me.

"You should see your people."

"What?" My eyes widened in shock.

I never thought my mother would suggest leaving the palace.

"I wanted the royal dresser and jeweler to visit the palace for your wedding dress and jewelry but on a second thought, I think it's right for you to see your people before Solara claims you."

"... before Solara claims you."

Those four words settled heavily in my chest, reminding me once again that my life was not mine.

I got ready and in a few minutes, we were riding out of the Palace.

I shifted the curtain so I could have a better look at Valoria from inside the chariot.

For the first time since my sixth nameday, I was out in the streets of my Kingdom.

It was so much more beautiful up close than when I watched from my windows.

I heard the voices of my people, their laughter as they walked by.

I could smell sweets, spiced wine and baked foods- all of which my mother would never let into the palace.

I watched the children from up close, running with frost kissed cheeks, bowing clumsily when they recognized the royal chariot.

"Princess Elohra!"

A particular little girl called my name so loudly, it attracted my mother's attention.

The boy beside her, possibly her older brother- they had the same brown hair- slapped his hand over her mouth and bowed apologetically.

I laughed, throwing my head backward.

"Mother, is it okay if I stepped out for a bit?"

She tried to force a smile but I could see that she did not approve of my request.

"You said it was right for me to see my people before Solara claimed me. Please." I took her hand and pleaded, knowing she would eventually give in.

"Don't stay too long in the cold." She did eventually give in.

"Yes!" I screamed happily.

I stopped the Chariot and got out quickly.

Thankfully, the children were still there.

"Hi," I smiled, not entirely sure how to relate with them.

The other children bowed, "Princess."

It made me feel odd in a way I did not like but I said nothing.

"Princess Elohra." The little girl stepped forward, ignoring her brother's attempt to make her bow like the others.

Finally!

Someone that saw me as Elohra.

"Hi," I greeted her specially, crouching to my knees so we could be on the same level.

"You're as beautiful as they said." She looked at me with so much adoration, my entire face grew red.

"You are beautiful. I love your hair." I returned the compliment.

I watched as her eyes widened in shock before she cleared her throat and tried to act nonchalant.

"Really? You think I'm beautiful?"

"Yes, you are." I laughed.

"And I have a gift for you."

I took out a hairpin from my hair and put it in hers.

"There, perfect! Now, you're a Princess, just like me."

"It's so beautiful." She touched it, her eyes sparkling.

"What's your name?"

"Edna." She answered.

"You are beautiful, Princess Edna." I patted her head before returning to the chariot.

I smiled until my cheeks hurt when I heard her flaunting the hairpin to her friends.

We went to the jeweler's shop first.

I could live in this shop for a hundred years and would never want to leave.

It didn't even need that many decorations to look beautiful.

The precious stones in the shop made it look like paradise.

Instinctively, I wandered around, examining each jewelry until a particular one effortlessly captured my attention.

I moved closer to the velvet cushion and instinctively touched it.

When the light struck the beautiful red stones, it did not sparkle sweetly like the other stones, it glowed like a restrained flame refusing to die.

Each stone was cut into a tear drop shape and set in fine gold etched with filigree.

At the center hung a larger gem, pulsing faintly as if it possessed a heartbeat of its own.

The gold around it twisted like wings.

Elegant, yet sharp.

The necklace had matching earrings that mirrored the central stone and the bracelet was carved like flames curling inward.

"This one." I whispered, attracting my mother's attention, as well as the jeweler's.

"Princess," The jeweler did nothing sound pleased.

"Firestones are rarely worn for unions of peace. It's a gem o....o...of destruction. The third Queen of Veloria wore it to war." He did not just sound displeased.

He sounded scared.

"It's fine, Jonathan. These will suit Solara anyway." My mother said, coming over to admire the jewelry.

"Solara favors brightness so this is perfect. We'll take it."

I disliked that my mother had only let me choose the jewelry because Solara would like it.

She picked out a few more jewelries for me before we left- of course, only the ones that my soon-to-be husband would like.

"Long live the princess, Long live the Queen!" The dressmaker greeted us the moment we walked into her shop.

While my mother discussed my wedding dress with the seamstresses, I felt a sudden wave of unease roll through me.

"Mother?" I murmured, pressing a hand to my stomach.

"May I excuse myself?"

She nodded, too distracted to pay too much attention to me.

I found the powder room and rushed to the marble basin, splashing water onto my face.

"Breathe, Elohra." I shut my eyes, trying to get my breathing under control.

Suddenly, the warmth in the room melted away, replaced with cold.

I felt someone breathing down my neck, slowly- like they were doing it to get my attention.

It made all the bones in my body go still.

I raised my head, opening my eyes.

Strangely, there was no one in the room with me.

I could have sworn I felt someone's breath on my neck.

I was not imagining it!

"Hello?" I looked behind me, even checked the stalls.

But I was the only person in the room.

When I gave up and decided to leave, I noticed something on the mirror.

I took a closer look- it was frost.

I did not remember seeing frost on the mirror when I walked in here.

The rest of the day passed by in a blur.

I could not move on from what I felt in the powder room.

We returned to the palace after taking another stroll around the Kingdom.

I was so exhausted, I retired to bed early.

"Elohra?" I heard someone calling my name just outside my chamber.

"Who is it?" I dropped the book I was reading and got out of bed.

"Mother?" I was shocked to find my mother outside my chamber in her nightdress.

"I wanted to speak to you, if I'm not interrupting."

"No, you're not. Come in." I opened the door wider for her to come in.

"You were reading." She picked up my book and sat by my bed.

"You always loved this story. I thought you would outgrow it." She flipped through the pages.

"It's still my favorite." I returned to my bed.

"Mother, can you read to me." I asked softly, just before she would put the book down.

She stilled.

I had not asked since childhood.

I knew she was here to talk about the Prince of Solara Kingdom.

I needed one second of the day that I did not have to hear about him.

My mother smiled- a real one- and then picked up the book again.

"Once upon a time, an ice prince was cursed to love his greatest enemy....."

She read to me like she did when I was much younger.

By the time she finished, I was crying.

No matter how many times I read the story, I could never get used to the ending.

The ice prince had to take his lover's life to save his Kingdom.

We were alike- always having to sacrifice our happiness.

"It's just a story, Elohra." My mother laughed as she cleaned my tears.

"Do you believe in magic, mother?"

She brushed my hair back, "Some things exist whether we believe in them or not."

"I'll let you get your beauty sleep now." She kissed my brow and extinguished my bedside candle.

The moment she left, sleep claimed me and as always, the cold returned.

But this time, I did not fight it, instead, I succumbed to it.