Episode 2

WATER KINGDOM

[Cressida’s pov]

I, Cressida Agnes am the daughter of the richest man in the poorest city in the country. Who thought that I will be the cursed one to be sent to the palace of the water kingdom for my engagement with Prince Aegeus . According to the rumors he is the most coldblooded and heartless man in water kingdom. Once a maid offended him so he made her whole family be exiled. No one has seen him but I have heard that he is nothing less than a monster.

I was in my room , waiting for mother Gina to call me to the court of my father. He has had five wives. My mother was his second concubine, she committed suicide as father stopped loving her because she did not give birth to a boy but to me. Mother hated me for being a girl. Mother Gina was the one who loved me. She was my father’s fourth concubine. She did not wish to marry him but her brother left her no option. Her brother sold her as a bargain with my father. She had a son, Kenneth, with another man before her marriage to my father.

Her son’s existence is kept a secret. Only I and my lady-in-waiting, Acacia Nikoloudis know about him. She is the only one who truly loves me after Acacia and her son Kenneth Snow. Brother Kenneth is five years older to me.

“Cress, Cressida!!” there is a slight knock on the door by mother Gina.

Acacia opened the door and mother came running to me and hugged me tightly, “It is funny how my young daughter is going to be the Queen of the kingdom. (tears in her eyes) The people from the palace have arrived with Lady Stellia. Here is a brief detail about her. She is the most recent wife of the king and has given birth to baby prince Basile (1 year old). She is extremely sweet from the outside but cruel and crooked from inside. She is a vicious lady so be careful. I will try to make visits to you before you leave for the testing and will pray thee to let my daughter have a happy marriage.”

“Oh mother!! I’d miss you too.” I tell her.

“I’ll try to convince your father to send Kenneth as your guard . Do not worry much about us and remember that the palace is filled with mean and willful people. What they are aiming at is really hard to tell. You have to play your own game of chess out there young lady!” Mother Gina said.

“Oh god! don’t worry I’ll handle it.” I reply irritated of her always telling me this.

“That’s the one thing I’m the most worried about.” She giggles.

And then mother Gina and Acacia both burst out laughing at me.

“Meaniessss!!!!” I say while pouting.

“Just remember not to be to get the taste of freedom too soon or else it might end up hurting you.” Mother Gina tells me.

“Mother this might sound foolish but it’s dangerous being free and most come to like the taste of it. I am one of those.” I told mother Gina.

AFTER a talk with mother Gina I was asked to attend my father’s court as lady Stellia had been waiting for a while.

I asked Acacia to get my belongings and went straight to the court with mother Gina.

I hadn’t even entered the court that lady Stellia asked me to sit in the cart, “oh dear! We have wasted enough of our time, we will take at least three days to reach the capital. And then in the evening you will be engaged to the Prince.”

I didn’t even get to meet my family that I was rushed in to the cart. Acacia was already there sitting in front with the horseman.

AFTER sitting out there for a while when the horseman saw that the other royal carts were at a distance, he stopped the vehicle. At first I thought he was an assassin but then I heard another man’s voice and realized it was Prince Andrei. Acacia in her innocence threw a dagger in his direction and as expected of him, he got hold of it and entered the cart.

He sat at a distance from me so as to respect the future queen.

He wished me and so did I, then he handed down a scroll to me.

It said,

“Dear Cressida,

Let me tell you that Lady Stellia might try hurting you, so do not be off guard.

Sometimes, the wicked will tell us things just to confuse us. That’s how this palace is like.

As my queen, I am sending my brother for your protection and I am looking forward To meet you.

-Prince Aegeus.”

After reading it and processing every bit of it I looked at Prince Andrei who was looking at Acacia. I cleared my throat , “ Prince Andrei, it is my pleasure to have you here with us. I apologize on behalf of Acacia my lady in waiting. She was just doing her job and mistook you as an assassin.”

When Acacia heard his name, she got nervous and looked behind to apologize to him , he smirked then looked at me, “The apology has been accepted. Her commitment to her job has made me have a fancy to her.”

“Prince Andrei, I apologize for being rude but I am not like many other girls you talk to, or who would laugh or giggle on your flirtious jokes, which don’t even make sense. I am true to my lady because of her warm character. Please do not say such phrases about me again.” Acacia said.

It must have reminded her of Fredrick, a man who ended up marrying a rich noble lady and left her.

“Then lets make a bet Ms. Acacia , if Prince Aegeus allows me then I would like to marry you and make you my lovely wife.”

Even I was shocked at such a poor proposal. A man like Prince Andrei is a play boy, whom every girl dreams about.

Acacia looked at him wide eyed and then turned her gaze at me.

She was angry, scared and only thought of how Fredrick cheated on her at this point of time. She really can not trust a man again easily.

Her eyes told me to talk to the Prince after going back which was understood by me. She was of my age but like my older sister who always protected me. Once she was even about to lose her life but she only cared for me, I could never imagine letting anyone hurt her.

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