Princess Majic had approached the fireplace to warm herself, as the temperature had dropped and the light coat given to her for the stroll was insufficient. She rubbed her hands near the fire to gain warmth.
Some of the court ladies had arrived and greeted Lady Zarila kindly, but completely ignored Princess Majic. Despite being the king's wife, no one respected her due to her father's reputation. The young princess wasn't affected; she had endured so much mistreatment at home that the indifference shown toward her didn't phase her.
Lady Zarila sidled up to Majic, nudging her closer to the fireplace. An unsuspecting Majic couldn't avoid it, and a spark caught onto her coat. Trying to smother it with her hands, she screamed in pain as the fire seared her skin. Realizing the king was approaching, Lady Zarila scorched her own dress slightly on purpose.
"Why would you do this, princess? Don't hurt me," yelled Zarila, feigning victimhood.
"What's happening here?" the king inquired.
"Your Majesty, I don't know what came over the princess. She attacked me out of nowhere, trying to set me on fire. She didn't gauge her actions well and ended up burning herself. It was dreadful, Your Majesty," Lady Zarila professed, simulating distress as she clung to the king.
"One cannot hide their true blood," Tesko declared, aiming to incite the king against the young princess.
The king approached Majic, observing her hands, which bore some burns. The princess remained silent. Back in the tower, defending herself against false accusations only led to harsher punishment, so she opted for silence in such situations, as she did now, being accused by Lady Zarila.
The court ladies confirmed Zarila’s story as truth. Clearly, the Princess of Susumira was disliked at the palace, so no one would rise to her defense.
"Take her to my chambers, and call for the doctor to examine her," the king commanded, surprising everyone. "Lady Zarila, I apologize on behalf of my wife. I regret the unpleasant incident, and I shall compensate for the damages to your attire. Ensure soldiers escort you home," he continued before following after Princess Majic.
Lady Zarila and the Royal Advisor Tesko were displeased with the king's response; it filled them with even more hatred for the innocent Princess Majic, unaware of the schemes woven in Fontana's royal court.
Princess Majic was extremely anxious in the king's room. The darkness brought back frightening memories of the previous night. When the doors opened and His Majesty entered, she didn't know what to do.
"Calm down; I won't hurt you. I won’t do anything you don’t consent to. Please, let me see your hands," the king said, advancing slowly.
The petite princess extended her hands. It was odd; the burns seemed more severe in the hall, but now looked less serious. From outside, the doctor's arrival was announced; the king ushered him in promptly.
An older man entered with a young woman, the physician and his assistant. The king asked him to examine his wife. He carefully inspected her hands, applying ointments and bandages that he said should be replaced periodically. He mentioned he would instruct the maids on how to do so, but Majic implored him to teach her instead. Her pleading eyes moved the doctor to agree, and the king offered no objection.
Majic, often left to her own devices in the tower, sometimes neglected entirely when injured as if they hoped she might die, hence she distrusted anyone else to care for her.
The king approached her, watching her inspect the bandages on her hands. The princess looked back in fear, and all Fortem could feel was remorse. They'd removed her coat, slightly charred, leaving her in the simple green dress she'd worn outdoors.
"You must be hungry; I'll have food brought to you," said the king.
"May I go to my chamber?" asked the princess timidly.
"I'll ensure you’ve eaten, then you may retire to your chamber. I know it’s hard to trust, but I assure you I mean no harm," said the king before leaving.
After directing the butler to prepare a meal and take it to her chamber, he went to the grand hall to dispatch a messenger advising Lady Marila of her early summoning to the palace.
"Why do you call upon Lady Marila this early, Majesty? She was to begin her respite from your service today, especially now that you have a wife," Tesko inquired.
"How can she manage the palace affairs if everyone here shuns her?" the king pondered aloud.
"You can't blame them for their treatment. She is King Carpio's daughter; we've suffered due to his attacks. You should marry a second wife, and Lady Zarila would be perfect. Besides, your wife has malice in her blood, hurting the woman you love. Or have you ceased to love her?" Tesko countered.
"Tesko, I am weary. I've done all this for the kingdom's peace. Like it or not, Princess Majic is the king's wife and deserves some respect. As you said, she'll mother my heir. Can one detest the mother while loving the child?" the king challenged with a steady gaze at the Royal Advisor.
Tesko, a thirty-five-year-old, had seen his father die protecting King Gorgeous, Fortem's father, during the war with Fontana ten years ago. King Gorgeous had taken Tesko into the palace, earning the royal family's trust, befriending the then-sixteen-year-old prince. Three years later, with the king's brutal murder, Fortem ascended the throne at nineteen.
Relying on their bond, Fortem appointed Tesko as Royal Advisor. In the ensuing seven years, Tesko fueled King Fortem’s hatred, influencing the monarch to heed his counsel—yet the continual warfare further ravaged their realm. Seeking respite for recovery, Tesko had recommended the king accept the peace treaty by marriage proposed by the other magical kingdom rulers of Hurmaya.
The Royal Advisor was bewildered by the king's demeanor. Aware of the king's long-standing affection for Lady Zarila, Tesko assumed the monarch would gladly take a second wife. However, the notion of his refusal puzzled him. He couldn't fathom how this uncouth and eccentric princess had managed to soften King Fortem's heart, leading him to disregard Tesko's advice and show mercy toward the beloved daughter of his most loathed enemy, the murderer of his parents.
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