A Damsel In Distress

In the kingdom of Lumaria, within the capital district of Silvercrest, stood a magnificent city built upon the highest hills of the land. Its towering structures glittered beneath the golden sunlight, while its people believed themselves blessed above all others. To them, Silvercrest was a symbol of greatness, honour, and prosperity. At the heart of the kingdom stood the royal palace, home to the reigning monarch, His Royal Majesty, King Edward Thompson VII, the seventh ruler of the Kingdom of Light. He was a descendant of the ancient Thompson lineage, whose founder, King Thompson, had established the foundations of the kingdom generations earlier. Although Lumaria was renowned for its beauty and glory, the truth of nature could never remain concealed forever. Destiny had a way of revealing itself, regardless of time or place. And so it was with these mysterious kingdoms. Within the royal palace lived a family of six: the king, his wife, his brother-in-law, their first daughter, and their two young sons. But among them was one who stood apart from the rest. Her name was Diana, the only daughter of King Edward. Unknown to almost everyone, she carried a destiny connected to both light and darkness. Her purpose had been woven into the kingdom's ancient history, long before her birth. Yet no one seemed to recognise how gifted and extraordinary she truly was. Her father had never shown her genuine affection. One of the reasons was that he had once desired a male heir as his firstborn. Although he eventually became the father of two sons, his resentment towards Diana remained. Somehow, he continued to find fault in almost everything she did. To the people of Lumaria, however, Diana was known for her kindness, grace, and beauty. She possessed a gentle heart and a compassion that made her different from many members of the royal household. Yet hidden behind her beautiful smile was a secret that could change everything she loved. For years, Diana had secretly ventured beyond the kingdom walls under the cover of darkness. Her affection for wolves had begun when she was just twelve years old, and her nightly adventures had gradually become an inseparable part of her life. She felt strangely connected to them, as though they shared a bond that neither time nor distance could break. However, King Edward had already established a strict law forbidding anyone from associating with wolves, whether within or beyond the kingdom. Anyone found guilty of violating this decree would face the death penalty. Diana knew the consequences if she were ever caught. Nevertheless, her growing attachment to the wolves made it increasingly difficult for her to stay away. While others feared the dark forest, she found peace within its depths. It was there, during one of her nighttime adventures at the age of twelve, that she first encountered the wolves. Surprisingly, they seemed to welcome her rather than avoid her. As time passed, their unusual connection grew stronger until Diana could hardly imagine her life without them. She admired everything about them: their intelligent, sharp eyes, their alert ears that responded to the faintest sounds, their incredible speed, and, most especially, their enchanting howls. They were unlike ordinary beasts. There was an unusual intelligence in their eyes, and they watched her without hostility. Eventually, Diana discovered that they belonged to an ancient werewolf clan dwelling deep within the wilderness of Darkdom Shadows, beyond the borders of Lumaria. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months gradually became years. The princess was now twenty-two years old, and keeping her secret was becoming increasingly difficult. Only a week earlier, while she was playing with some of the wolves, the sudden appearance of burning torches had startled them. Through the darkness came a group of Lumarian soldiers, marching into the forest. Leading them was Captain Trenolx, a man Diana feared because of his cruel nature and his tendency to humiliate anyone who displeased him. She knew he would not hesitate to expose her before the king if given the opportunity. Fortunately, one of the wolves noticed the approaching soldiers in time, allowing Diana to escape before she was discovered. Meanwhile, King Edward had officially announced that Prince Allen would become the next heir to the throne. He had denied Diana the opportunity, despite her position as his firstborn child. Diana never openly complained about the decision. From childhood, she had longed for a simple life outside the palace walls, somewhere she could feel accepted and appreciated. Nevertheless, the presence of her mother, brothers, and uncle remained a source of comfort. Their love gave her hope for whatever the future might hold. One evening, while Diana sat beside a stream, gently feeding and stroking an injured wolf, she began singing softly to it. Suddenly, soldiers emerged from the shadows. "There she is!" one of them shouted. The princess froze. Captain Trenolx stepped forward, his expression stern. "Princess Diana! I should have known!" He paused before continuing. "By order of His Majesty, you are under arrest for consorting with wolves!" The injured animal immediately fled into the darkness. Although the captain could have ordered his soldiers to pursue it, his attention was fixed entirely on the princess. Diana's heart sank. For a moment, her fear was so overwhelming that she forgot even the hatred she had always felt towards him. "You don't understand," she pleaded. "I know you hate me, but please, this will never happen again." Captain Trenolx scoffed. "From the looks of things, you've been indulging in this rebellious act for years. As they say, every rat has its day before the cat catches it. I must admit, this is rather good news for me." "Please, just listen to—" "Take her to the dungeons!" The soldiers seized her before she could finish speaking. Despite her struggles and desperate pleas, nobody listened. She was dragged away and thrown into the palace dungeon, where she remained until dawn. The following morning, the royal heralds announced the matter throughout the kingdom. Before long, citizens had gathered in the royal courtyard as palace officials prepared to commence the hearing. Meanwhile, Prince Harley hurried towards his elder brother, Allen. "What! What do you mean?" Harley asked in disbelief. "Diana has been accused of consorting with wolves. They're waiting for the royal family to assemble before commencing the hearing," Allen replied. "So does that mean our lovely sister will be..." Allen stopped and turned towards him, placing both hands on his younger brother's shoulders. "I will do whatever it takes to save Diana." His eyes were already filling with tears. "We'll do it together," Harley replied, his voice choking with emotion. He immediately embraced his brother. Inside the royal courtyard, King Edward sat upon his throne, staring angrily at Diana, who stood surrounded by soldiers. Tears streamed down her face, but her words seemed to carry little weight before the king. "You have disgraced this kingdom!" he declared. "The wolves are our enemies. Your actions amount to treason!" Diana struggled to contain her emotions. "I have harmed no one, Your Majesty." Before she could continue, Captain Trenolx stepped forward. "Your Majesty, she has indulged in this rebellious act for years, bringing disgrace and danger upon the Kingdom of Light!" Unable to contain himself, Prince Allen rose from his seat. "Don't you dare speak of my innocent sister that way, Captain! She has never harmed any Lumarian, and she never will. How dare you accuse my own sister, you treacherous son of a—" "Enough!" the king thundered. He turned towards his son. "Hold your tongue, young man! Who are you to address your elders with such insolence?" "Dad, in a matter like this, I have every right to speak for justice!" Allen retorted. "Learn to speak properly, young prince," Captain Trenolx interrupted angrily. "The princess has committed a crime by bringing danger and disgrace upon this kingdom. She must face judgment according to the laws handed down by our forefathers." "Never!" Allen protested. "She's innocent! Ask everyone gathered here to provide evidence of any harm she has caused Lumaria. They will tell you nothing!" His voice grew louder as he continued defending his sister. The crowd erupted in support of the prince. Many of the citizens agreed that Diana had done nothing to deserve such treatment. Allen, however, was not finished. "Or is this because my sister repeatedly rejected your filthy advances whenever you requested her hand in marriage?" A wave of surprise swept through the crowd. Some people laughed in disbelief. "Oh, how despicable!" Allen added mockingly. His words pushed the king's anger to its limits. King Edward spoke slowly, his voice carrying a dangerous warning. "Prince Allen, be warned! Or else..." He tightened his grip around his royal staff. Queen Talia immediately moved towards her son and led him away, hoping to protect him from the king's growing fury. The courtyard erupted into angry murmurs. Most of the people were displeased with the king's treatment of his own daughter, a princess who had never been known to harm anyone. Eventually, King Edward rose from his throne. "According to the laws of the Kingdom of Light, we shall have nothing to do with the forces of darkness. And you, Princess Diana, have deliberately violated the laws of Lumaria." Diana struggled to lift her head. "That was long ago. Do you even practise the light you claim to represent...?" she murmured weakly. Her breathing was becoming shallow, and her strength was gradually fading. The king ignored her words. "Princess Diana is hereby banished from Lumaria! She shall be taken to the Darkwood Border and executed!" A collective gasp swept through the courtyard. Diana stared at her father in disbelief. He did not even look at her. Queen Talia and Allen hurried back into the courtyard, having heard the final judgment. The queen approached the king, her face soaked with tears. "If this happens, God will never forgive you!" With those words, she turned and walked away. Uncle Patrick shook his head in disappointment, staring at the king with undisguised pity. Harley burst into tears and ran towards his chambers. Allen clenched his teeth, struck the wall with his fist, and stormed out of the courtyard. The citizens, knowing the kind of ruler King Edward had become, gradually began dispersing. Many wept openly, while others attempted to approach Diana and express their sympathy. However, the soldiers surrounding her prevented anyone from getting close. They drove the people away, threatening them with their swords and spears. Following the king's orders, Captain Trenolx organised an execution party and made the necessary preparations for their departure. King Edward remained firm in his judgment. By sunset, Diana had been chained and placed inside a carriage. As the gates of Silvercrest slowly closed behind her, she realised that everything she had ever known was slipping away. Her family, her home, her kingdom, and the life she had once cherished were now beyond her reach. It was supposed to be the beginning of a new chapter. Yet, to Diana, it felt like the end of everything.