Related to the enemy princess

Chapter 5

Sienna

The Red Moon Pack had been celebrating fervently for three days. Each wolf, buoyed by their recent triumph, could freely indulge in whatever madness they wished. Indeed, they had managed to overcome their greatest obstacle: the Alfa Baltes, a formidable opponent whose death had marked a decisive turning point for the pack.

In the region, many packs had fallen under the tyrannical influence of Mollard, the new Alfa with excessive ambitions. They, fearing to be exterminated by his rage and his power, had all united against the Crescent Moon pack, a fragile alliance born from the shared fear of a common enemy.

Mollard was an Alfa of impressive strength, and his imposing army inspired fear among his rivals. However, Baltes, as formidable as he was, did not bow to Mollard. He had in fact formed his own army, just as powerful, which made him dangerous and unpredictable. This power dynamic saw the packs clash in an unstable balance, each faction fighting for survival in a world where strength and dominance reigned supreme, an imminent upheaval loomed on the horizon. Now that his death had come, it was high time for those who had served him to seize his pack and subject all his people to slavery, thus exploiting the weakness of a kingdom in complete instability.

However, in the midst of this ambient euphoria, a figure remained secluded in the privacy of his room. She observed from afar the festivities orchestrated by Mollard and his men, who were happily busy celebrating what seemed to be a cinematic victory. It was Princess Sienna, Mollard's daughter, whose heart was in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

It has now been three days since his father, returning from the war, announced with pomp a great celebration, an event which was to last until the full moon, in honor of his last victory. To Sienna, these days of rejoicing seemed like a cruel irony. As the darkness thickened around them, laughter and songs of joy, tinged with festivity, resonated in the distance, contrasting with his sense of melancholy and despair.

I have never been a supporter of slavery, throughout my life, because I understand too well what it implies. My mother, unfortunately, lost her life giving birth to me, leaving me alone from my very first moments. My father, after this tragedy, chose to enter into a relationship with a partner who never considered me other than as a rival. She raised me with a rigor and a harshness that always made me feel a profound gap between me and her.

On the other side of these walls, many people aspire to my position, they envy the apparent opulence of my life. They harbor dreams of luxury and comfort, thinking that everything is easy and idyllic. But behind the seductive veneer of my existence lies a painful and incessant pain. I silently suffer the consequences of this tumultuous past and the complicated relationships that surround me. My dearest desire would one day be to be able to escape from this place which, although rich on the surface, has become a real prison for me.

I don't think my father is really aware of the difficulties I'm going through with my stepmother, because he spends all his time strategizing for his constant wars.

Lali, my servant, whom I had sent to find out about the situation outside, comes back almost running, visibly alarmed.

“Sienna…” she said, her voice breathy and rushed. "It's serious, your father is planning an attack on the Waxing Moon Pack." »

I already had suspicions about this.

“I was sure,” I replied, a heavy sigh of disillusionment escaping my lips. “My father will never change. He is totally similar to my mother-in-law, always into war and manipulation. »

“But at least he really loves you.” What should we do? » asked Lali, standing in front of me, with a serious look.

“I absolutely have to find a way to escape from this place. I can no longer bear to see people suffering in front of my eyes, it's unbearable. » I replied, my voice trembling with emotion.

“You don’t think you might put yourself in danger by doing that?” And where exactly are you planning to go? » she questioned me, worry marked on her face.

“It doesn't matter where, as long as I can find my freedom, that's all that matters to me,” I said with determination.

“And what will happen to the orphanage if you leave?” » she continued, a little perplexed, as if afraid that my decision would impact others around us.

“Yes, that’s true, I hadn’t even considered that possibility. Since the moment my father began his quest to conquer the packs, my life has taken a turn I had not anticipated. I am now responsible for the children whose parents have been killed, a task that falls entirely on me. This was the only activity I was allowed to do, and that was only because I begged my father to be lenient towards me.

Lali, for her part, stared at me attentively, showing palpable expectation, no doubt hoping for a response from me. Her gaze was insistent, almost desperate, as if she was looking for a glimmer of hope or affirmation from me to continue. I was aware of his need for comfort, but my thoughts were troubled by the heaviness of my responsibility.

“I feel an obligation to do it. Maybe this will help my father understand how much pain he's causing to all those people he's taken away from their families. You will stay here to take care of the affairs of the orphanage. »

“So you want to leave and leave me alone?” Out of the question, Sienna. »

"I'm doing this for your own good." You can't follow me, because if you do, my father will find you and he won't forgive you. I assure you he will kill you, it's inevitable. »

“But I can’t live here without you.” » Tears shone in her eyes, ready to roll down her cheeks. I then held her in my arms, seeking to offer her some comfort that she seemed to desperately need.