The golden sun is setting toward the west hills of the ground slowly. The purple chrysanthemum ground is filled with the blood of soliders and could not show its beauty as much as before. In the middle of this field which the breeze is also filled with the smell of blood, only four survivor.

The gernal grasps his sword more firmly. There is a lady who is holding the body of a dead in front of him. The scene is not that strange as always it is the scene of dead and alive. Suddenly, The general make a move and put his sword on the neck of the lady.

"Lay him down , your highness, NOON" The voice of the general is sharp but with kindness. His hand are shaking but he can still maintain his long sword not to touch her.

"Please I beg of you, lay down the emperor,THINKHA's body and go. I don't want to hurt you since you were once my percious friend".

The lady who isn't moving though a sword is pointing to her neck starts a move when she heard the word 'friend' from the general.

She looks at the general, her first friend, NANDA who is looking at her with anger but not with hatred. Her head is still blank but her heart is weeping loudly so much that tears are not falling from her eyes anymore. She looks away to find other survivors and there she sees NANMAW, the bodyguard of her and two other bodyguard of THINKHA.

They try not to meet her gaze as they can't stand the presence of her. NOON realized that there is no one who she can still call on. She knows she is the one whom to be blamed.

NOON looked at her love, THINKHA sleeping face who always loves and protects her. His beautiful warm eyes are now closed and his lovely smile also cannot be seen anymore. But his hand is grasping her hand tightly as he is still trying to protect her.

She gets rid of the falling tears from her face and lay down THINKHA's body in front of her. The general, NANDA loose his hand grip and try to keep the sword back. Unexpectly, Noon graps the sword blade and pulls toward her. NANDA suprised and couldn't pull the sword back. The blade of the sword goes directly toward her chest and the blood pours out from her heart.

Her yellow dress is filled with her dark red blood. "NO, Your highness" NANMAW cried with tears in her eyes and running toward her. NANDA looks shock and tears are also start falling from his eyes. NANDA puts his hands on her shoulder to make her not to fall down.

They are calling out her names several times but NOON can't hear them well anymore. Her eyes are also starting to feel tired and doesn't want to open.

If she was a normal citizen of LINKA country , if her love, THINKHA was not an emperor of THARYARWADI, will their love last longer? Or will they become more happier?

AUTHOR NOTES;

I love telling stories and this is my first story and English is not my first language. But I will try to portray the story and characters as much as I can. Warmly welcome the comments and suggestions. Thanks for reading.

P.s I still don't have a good cover for this story, please help me if you found something that would suit with the story.

She felt amazed by the palace citadel that is more than 1 km long in a perfectly square shape, built with bricks set in mud mortar. The 22 feet height could say quite usual as a defense wall of the palace.  She is standing in front of the palace gate, which was hard for her to enter usually. Recently, she acquired permission from the king that she can enter the city once a month. NOON loves this city that filled with the smell of delicious foods, pretty clothes, and laughing people. But this city doesn't like NOON. They hate Noon.

" Why does Daw lay Ngal( Nanny) take too long?", murmuring by herself, she feels impatient. She is also feeling people gazes on her. "Wait, are my hair exposing?" she tried to pull the black cloth over her head to cover her shiny black hair.

"Isn't she, right? Isn't that women's child?"

" Oh, why is she here? Wasn't she ban to enter the country?"

" Well, his majesty allowed her to enter the capital once a month not too long ago. I guess that's why she is here."

" How greedy! Even though the king granted the permission, a betrayer child like her shouldn't take that kindness. After all, she is a disgrace to the country."

She can hear the two ladies chat from the spot she is standing. Instead of feeling angry, she feels nothing. Nanny told Noon that they are going to meet her father, the king today. For her, it is a meaningless thing to do. The king, her father rejected her since birth. And it is not like he was a part of her life while she struggles to grow up. The whole 18 years of memories were revolved only with herself and others without having a single moment of him.

Still, she also has questions that she wishes to ask like how could he leave a child in an old cold building alone with her Nanny?, How could he forbid his only daughter to enter the city?, And most importantly, why did he never want to meet her?

She sees Daw lay Ngal (her Nanny) walked hurriedly to get her. The two guards who were asking heaps of question seems to permit to enter the palace.

"Let's go Noon."

"Can we meet him now, Daw Lay Ngal?"

"Yes, we barely have a few minutes to meet him since he appeared to be busy with the festival matters "

She gave a small nod while gazing at the people who are anticipating to get a permit to enter the palace.

" Look! the same black hair and grey eyes that resemble his majesty."

" But her skin complexion is different from us."

"Well, you might not know, but her mother possesses that yellowish-white skin."

" So what! After all, she has the blood of that woman. Though she is pretty, her inner thoughts may already load with the traitor's thoughts, the same as that woman. She should not attempt to set her foot here."

Daw Lay Ngal glared at the two guards who were whispering each other in front of us. "I think the guards of the palace have too much free time for chatting. Since I was going to meet with his majesty, should I request to give you more work to do in your chatting time?"

The two guards looked startled, "Of course …. Of course not, Madam. Please overlook our rudeness."

NOON ignored both of them and entered the palace. She already knows that they are heading to the west lounge where the king attends to engage guests who are nobles and ambassadors from other countries.

Daw Lay Ngal does the west lounge far from here?

"Yes, it might take a while for us to get there since we are walking there. As I explained before, the west building is one of the biggest buildings of three in this palace. The king used the west lounge of the west building to welcome the guests since it is the nearest to the Palace Gate. Additionally, The west lounge is always full of lots of ancient paintings and sculptures exhibition of our country. Oh, we are already here, sweetie."

We enhanced our walking pace and arrived at our destination in time. Daw Lay Ngal gave a signal to the guard to report the king. After a few minutes, the guard came out and opened the door for us to enter the west lounge.

"How dare you bring her here? Get her out."

A sharp, distinct voice of his is echoing in the chamber. As soon as He sees Noon, he shouted with anger. Noon can't make any eye contact with him, but can sense a strong, powerful aura of a king.

"But your highness, the princess is already 18 years old. According to the last statement, if the princess could live the outside of the capital without causing any trouble for 18 years, the country shall accept the princess back. Your servant, I am just simply following on the statement from 18 years ago."

With Daw Lay Ngal's words, the chamber becomes silent again. NOON was already feeling uneasiness that she become the king's daughter while she doesn't even know him well. But now, her small hope on getting answers for the questions of her seems uncertain.  The atmosphere in the room is quite heavy, and she does not know what to do. With curiosity, she lifts her head a little to glimpse her father, the king.

"Grey eyes!" She thought she muttered by herself, but her voice came out without notice.

The king seems surprised and stares at her as if he wanted to say something. But when their eyes meet, his face becomes stiff and awkward.

" Get out now. I don't want to repeat it."

He turned his face to the left as he didn't wish to see NOON. But for Noon, she doesn't feel anything since she expected nothing from him.

"May I ask a question, your majesty?" She tried to bet her fate on one question.

"One question only.", The king replied.

"have you ever miss me? "

"NO."

His answer was short but flawless with a small hesitation. The edge of NOON lip gives a curve, with a thought as the answer was enough. Both of them bowed toward the king and left the room.

The way back home was quiet. Both of them were sinking in their thought.

"Are you ok, NOON?" Daw Lay Ngal looked at her with a suffered face. NOON can feel how much her nanny is worrying for her. She gave a large smile toward her while saying, "I am fine."

"NOON, you know, Daw Lay Ngal has been with you for the whole 18 years and will be with you until you don't need me anymore. You are my daughter, and also my family. Daw Lay Ngal will always love you and protect you, ok?"

She felt secure and warm from her nanny sincere words. She gave many nods and hugged Daw Lay Ngal very tightly. But her mind is still wondering why her father turn left when he answers her question even though he faced straight when her nanny asked him.

When they came out of the king's lounge, it is almost night time. There don't have many people in front of the Gate's door.

"Let's walk quickly before all the delicious foods gone. Today, Daw Lay Ngal will buy all the foods that Noon wants to eat. Isn't it good?"

Noon recognized Daw Lay Ngal is trying to cheer her up with foods. She gave a small giggle and grabbed her nanny's arm.

"All right then, I am going to eat until my belly burst."

NOON gazes at the people who are passing through in this big market. The market seemed full of merchants and retailers not only from the capital but also from other countries. Noon remembered the queue of foreign people who are waiting to enter the palace.

"Is today anything special? I think the capital became packed with too many in and out people. And,  the market usually has only foods and grocery shops, right? Nanny. "

"Tomorrow is the Full moon festival day. As you know, our country is famous for open-markets selling within the festival day (though it is only one day). So, lots of valuable, rare, and unusual herbs, Gems and Jewelry, and other things can easily purchase within these days. That attracts lots of different social statuses to come here."

Noon assumed it would be interesting to stroll around the shops which are selling various kinds of goods. She thought to tell her nanny to wander around the market, but an unexpected occasion occurred in front of them.

"Neigh.............."

"Hey, move out of the sight !"

The coachman was yelling toward the people who were in his way. The carriage was moving so abruptly that people found it is hard to avoid.

Noon tried to avoid the carriage but almost caught her hair with the door. But someone pulled and pushed her to a secure place. When she looked back, there was none. Noon realized that she got separated from her nanny within the crowd. She slipped into the crowd and looked for her nanny. And her eyes fell on the child who was standing on the path of the carriage heading. The coachman looked startled and pulled the string with all his strength. Noon screamed at the scene of the kid that almost hit by the carriage. Then, a young man came in and grasped the kid under his arm swiftly. He rolled over the other side of the main road to avoid the carriage.

The coachman could prevent the horses from running wildly. The crowd was quiet for a while. The people start to yell at the coachman for driving the carriage carelessly.

But Noon's eyes were fixed on the young man who rescued the kid. By looking at him, she was murmuring herself," How could, How could he exactly look like the king! And the same eyes color and hair as hers." Someone touched Noon, so she cried with surprise. It was her Nanny.

"Oh Gosh, Nanny! you are giving me a heart attack."

"We must go now, hurry Noon, hurry." Her nanny face is as white as a plain white bedding sheet. She tried to pull her to the nearest street. She felt somehow her nanny is rushing to avoid something.

"What the heck is so noisy! You stupid coachman! Why did you stop the carriage suddenly? I almost hit the door. How dare you! Do you wish to die now?" while scolding harshly toward the coachman, a young lady came out from the carriage.

"Isn't it Northern Empire Chest on the carriage? Oh, it means she is someone from the Royal family of Nothern Emperor. Oh, maybe the princess of Northern Emperor, Su Lay Khin, who is famous for her temper?" The lady's face is red with fury. Her golden hair and blue dress make her so mature and distinct from other people.

"Cousin, The market is not somewhere that should drive the carriage with speed. You should choose another path with fewer passing people to get the palace." The young man spoke to the lady while delivering the child to his mother. His eyes are as cold as ice and showing that he doesn't enjoy the way his cousin treats her coachman and the citizens.

"Well, this is the shortest route to the palace. Since I am late, I used this path to get to the palace quickly. And it is not like someone got injured now, right? Second cousin." She glared at him as she was fuming over her cousin standing for other people instead of her.

The man looked stunned and furious over the situation. One of the soldiers from the group who is trying to protect the citizens from the carriage approached him and whispered, " Your highness, it is almost late for the next destination, and we should escort the princess quickly to the palace. It will be a hassle if some kind of bad rumors spread from today's accident."

The prince looked annoyed while attempting to maintain his dignity in front of the crowd, "Two of you, immediately escort the princess to get the palace from another route. The rest soldiers, follow me to the front gate".

He turned toward his cousin and said, "Stop causing troubles to the others. Queen mother is waiting for you in the west chamber. Hurry up and go."

The prince stood in front of the big crowd steadily."I, Thiha Min Din, the second prince of LINKAR, apologize to everyone for the problem caused by my cousin. My cousin is young and immature yet. So, please understand and overlook her behavior for today's occasion."  Since the prince was apologizing, people stopped their babbling and separated the crowd by themselves. The prince also apologized to the child's mother. Then, he left.

Noon notices that somehow her nanny looks relaxed and let go of her hand. Noon was confused by her nanny's behaviors changing. Alongside this, she also hoped to know more about her half-brother, who owned the same aura of her father. But she didn't want to throw her nanny with loads of questions yet. She calmed herself.

"Nanny, your face is quite pale. Are you feeling sick?"

"Of course not. Let's go back, Noon. This place is dangerous to stay longer."

"But we haven't buy anything yet." (Besides, she still wants to look around the shops.)

"That's fine. Nanny can take care of them. And you just write down all the things you wish to eat. Nanny will buy for you tomorrow morning."

"But but "

"No more buts. Let's go back."

Well, it is not like she can't escape from the old building, her home. She can flee whenever nanny fell asleep. And it was already night time, so people can't see each other well. It was perfect for her. Noon smirked at her idea and followed her nanny willingly.