It was strange for Majic when someone asked her a question, and although on many occasions the man in front of her was frightening, he had been the only one to treat her with a trace of kindness.
"I'm not exactly sure what happened. It was two days before my eighth birthday, the soldiers came to the place where I lived with my mother, Queen Karoly, and they took her away. She just screamed, asking me to promise to fight to keep myself alive, and I just told her yes. As they were taking her, I saw my father outside. I asked him what was happening, but he didn't reply, and he no longer looked at me tenderly as before. For two days, I was locked up, no one came to see me and I hadn't eaten anything; when the doors finally opened, I thought it was my mother; however, it was a couple of court ladies. It was the first time I was bathed with water so cold that it felt like my skin was cutting. They dressed me in a gown and took me to the palace's main courtyard. My father grabbed my arm so tightly that I thought it would break. He told me that if it weren't for the birthmark, he would doubt that I was his daughter, and the fact that we shared the same blood was the only reason I was still alive. I didn't understand why he said that, but there was a wooden box on a cart, and the man who is my father, who is a king, made me look in the box. Despite the swollen face, I could tell it was my mother. She lay still, not moving, with a huge mark on her neck; I don't know why. He said she had sought her own death. How could someone as full of life as my mother would seek their own death? I never understood it. That same day, my father took me to the furthest tower of the palace; full of insects and dirty; he locked me in a small room, which was my home until they took me out to bring me here. I'm sorry if I don't know what marriage is, but it was never explained to me, so that was me, forgotten by my family, sent here, I don't know the reason. Still, I thank you for your kindness; I had nearly forgotten what it's like to have a comfortable bed, taste delicious food, and see beyond dirty and dark walls," said the young princess, her voice more broken as she continued the story of her past.
Although it seemed unbelievable that a father would treat his daughter in such a way, upon reflection that it was King Carpio, anything was to be expected from that ruthless man. Now he understood why the King of Susumira had agreed to that treaty; he hadn't really anticipated giving his most beloved daughter in marriage, but rather the one he had locked away in a dark tower. With this in mind, Fortem felt even worse about what he had done the night before. The young girl had no idea what she was up against; he had practically forced her to disrobe and had almost been intimate with her.
"You must be tired, it's best we go to the palace before it gets any colder," said the king as he helped the princess into the carriage.
On the way, Fortem could only remember how humiliating he had been to the princess, who innocently took his actions as gestures of kindness, accustomed as she was to the ill-treatment allowed by her own father.
Upon arrival at the palace, they went straight to the hall. He was about to order dinner to be brought so Majic could eat peacefully, but a beautiful woman with green eyes waited in that hall. When the young princess saw her, she thought the woman was a fairy because she was so beautiful; bright emerald-green eyes adorned the graceful face.
"My most respectful greetings, Your Majesty," said the woman with a scrupulously perfect curtsy.
"What a surprise to have you here, Lady Zarila. Welcome to the palace," said the king with a smile.
Lady Zarila looked the young Princess Majic up and down, barely concealing her disdain. Soon the royal advisor arrived, claiming to need to speak urgently with the king, leaving the two ladies in the hall.
"I thought that being from the royal family of Susumira, reputed to have the most beautiful women, you would be more interesting. It is clear you lack any grace. To think my marriage with Fortem was canceled because of you," said Lady Zarila haughtily.
"Excuse me?" Majic commented, not understanding the beautiful woman's meaning.
"Fortem and I are in love, and I was to be his wife. But because of that peace treaty, he had to marry an insignificant creature like you," declared Lady Zarila rudely.
"I'm sorry," said the young princess confusedly, as if she had wished to be someone's wife. After all, it only meant being locked up in a better place and occasionally enduring the king's ill treatment. Why did this lady seem so upset when she appeared to fare better than her unmanned?
In the office, the royal advisor handed the king some documents.
"What is this?" asked the king.
"These are the documents for your wife to consent to you taking a second wife," Tesko said.
"What are you talking about?" asked the king, surprised.
"She should know she is only your wife because of the peace treaty, and her only mission is to bear a child. You won't be able to be intimate with that woman beyond what is necessary. You need beside you a woman who truly loves you, who you like, with whom it is more pleasurable to make love to each night. Obviously, Lady Zarila is suitable for you. I know you've liked her for a long time, and she's much more beautiful than Princess Majic," Tesko said, confidently.
"Lady Zarila was going to be my wife, but everyone thought it more convenient for the peace treaty by marriage to be right for the good of the kingdom, so I gave up her love. I will not make her a second wife; I'm already married and plan to have only one wife," the king declared.
"Was she so good last night that you're now defending her?" Tesko said with scorn.
"While you're my friend, you're overstepping your boundaries. Keep in mind that as well as being King Carpio's daughter, you are talking about my wife. Let this be the last time you speak of her like this," the king warned, annoyed.
The Royal Advisor was worried about the king's change of attitude towards his wife. He no longer saw the look of contempt in the king's eyes whenever the daughter of King Carpio was mentioned, fearing that the king might eventually fall in love with the eccentric princess.
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