She was wearing a red dress as the norm of their nation instead of the white one like other princesses worn in their marriages. Her golden hair was prepared in a bun covered with flowers of real gold and adorned with pearls and rare gemstones.

She was wearing a necklace that was shining brighter than the moon and a matching bracelet and earring. Her fingers were left empty so that he could put a ring in it.

And other rings did not give competition to what he had chosen for her. The make up was done perfectly, with her lips redder and her cheeks creating a blush, her eyes were shimmering and her emerald orbs were looking like two small moons.

Yet she was not happy to look so beautiful at once. As a princess, she should have received this kind of treatment daily but she had lived no better than maids! Like an extra, she had always lived an outcast wife and now even when she was getting married, she would live a miserable life in the unknown world.

“You are looking too worried, My lady. As a princess you should always be calm!” told Anne as she rubbed Hazel’s back a bit trying to make her feel better.

“My lady, did you not like the make-up or jewellery?” asked the maid who was given the task to doll Hazel up. Her eyes were teary as she looked at hazel, that confused her._.

She did not understand why she was so worried about her when they did not even know each other. But then it might be Hazel’s last chance to see so many humans around her. So, she did not dwell on the matter and cherished the concern she was getting from them.

Her expectant eyes and the worry formed on my Anne’s face, made Hazel realize that she still had not replied.

“No, it is just perfect.” Hazel replied with a smile that came out stiff.

A knock on the door interrupted their thoughts, and shortly after a court lady came in.

“Hazel, we have to leave now” said the governess that came behind the court lady. She nodded as she knew that they had shown more than enough patience by waiting for her until she replied to the maids and looked so many times into the mirror.

Hazel stood up from her seat with a heavy heart and Anne bent to hold the bottom of the heavy dress so that she could stand properly.

“Where is father?” Hazel asked, as mostly fathers escort daughters on the altar of marriage. Though they did not have a good relationship, at least this much she deserves to be the sacrificial lamb.

“He might be busy, therefore I was asked to take you out. Is there some problem with it?” asked the governess and hazel shook her head. She was a fool to think that her father would come out to escort her.

What was the sense in expecting from the people who never cared about her anyway. They did not care if she was happy or not then why was she giving them a chance to see her upset

Why was she making a miserable face! Since when she has been this vulnerable?

No, Hazel shook her head as she mustered all her courage and a bright smile formed on her lips, making everyone around her enchanted to it, as they smiled back with the same enthusiasm.

“Then I will see you in the hall.” told Anne as she hugged Hazel one last time and left another maid. Now only hazel and the governess was left in the room.

“Shall we?” she asked as she looked at hazel with a bit of impatience.

Hazel nodded, taking a deep breath. and after a minute they walked out of the room. The procedure was simple. She would walk to the altar where the groom would be waiting for her and then they would exchange vows and kiss each other.

After that she had been escorted in a carriage to the Ferenshine empire where her life would be started and there only she would meet the other family members of her new husband.

An empress could never show her fear, there is another crown of confidence on her face, except this one. And now you are going to be the empress, the ruler of a nation. You have to be strong, Hazel.” This was the first time someone had felt that she would not be the food but a ruler. It made Hazel understand the gravity of the situation.

“I will try my best to survive, my lady. Thank you for teaching me everything.” Hazel tried her best to fake confidence on her face.

She raised her head and walked proudly though her hands that were holding her dress had turned sweaty. She was having trouble walking in that long dress as she had never worn one with a metre long behind her.

It was too heavy and with the high heels it was taking too much struggle, yet she walked poised.

Everyone turned to look at her when she entered the altar and she smiled brightly towards them, as if it was a marriage with the one she loved.

She could see their mocking face, and the one that was filled with disgust. As if they were waiting for her to make a joke of herself or wanted to see how an abandoned and forgotten princess would be sacrificed, so that the chances of war would almost end with her sacrificial marriage and that was what made a knot on her stomach.

Only when the pope coughed, she realized she was already there. But what surprised her was that she was standing there alone with only a sword by her side. I looked confused but everyone only scoffed and looked at me as if i was a fool.

“Well the prince did not have time to attend the marriage. So, he sent his sword to attend the marriage.”

“……..”