GRENSILAS PALACE

I was writing my diary when Carli came searching for me.

"Are we really leaving?"

"Seems like that" I said not turning to look at her.

"But it's so soon....like we"

"Even I didn't have a say in this. I can't believe we'll have to lock down the palace. Looks like I'll get married this time." I said facing her, she did look visibly sad but shaking it off she looked at me giving me a weak smile. "I'll start packing things for your leave then My Princess." she bowed and was about to leave when I ran closer and pulled her in for a tight hug "I wish we could just stay here, just us."

"The order needs to be followed Linstar, you aren't gonna meet your blue eyed Prince if you are sitting here anyway so let's leave now and ask this land back once you get married. You can always come and stay here whenever you wish."

The Grensilas Palace

"My Queen, she will be coming soon as you wished. Brave of you orelse the king wouldn't have ordered for his dearest child to return. She has been hiding in her shell for long now." Eura said hurrying towards Queen Lora, taking the brush from her maid to brush her silky-smooth hair.

"It's all done I guess, that's it." she said looking at herself in the huge mirror in front of her, she rose and walked closer to the window of her bedroom; opening it wide looking out at the beautiful sunset she said "Eura, you are a loyal and caring maid. How do I look?"

"I wonder whom the Princes and Kings are gonna admire now, you are growing younger unlike others. Probably someone will fall in love with you before they even notice presence of Linstar."

"Ha ha ha....really? Linstar.....what will the poor thing do that now she can no longer hide. She definitely knows the Palace is the most dangerous place to be in, in the whole kingdom that too when you don't have any power to order around."

"She might have been in love with her little doll house. Especially with her mother buried near the church there."

"I'm in love too with that palace, even though it's small, its beautiful. The located land is a pretty precious possession, the view too must be great. I want it to be mine forever Eura."

"Definitely my Queen but not until you decide which family she goes to. Grensilas is right in middle of Ringswold and Danslevia, both are powerful empires. I must say she shouldn't be the Queen, but should marry a royal so that Grensilas is protected and supported in case of war which will break out soon after the wedding."

"We have always been with Danslevia, crown Prince is already married but I must push this to one of the Dansle royals. Even though the empire is close by, Prochea is close to Ringswold. So no way we need to give it in her name any longer in case she is married off to Danslevia and then she can forget her safe place for ever."

"You should definitely have a talk with the King my Queen. If he decides to get her married of to other small kingdoms then what will happen to Grensilas during war?"

"Get my robe, I shall meet him."

The Queen Lora Grensil wants to meet the King. The King was at his office with a few ministers listening to a messenger when he heard the guard announce the Queen's arrival.

"The Queen wouldn't want to wait my Lord so let us take leave now," bowing down to Dormos the ministers headed out along with the messenger.

"My Lord, the situation looks out of our hand. It's all the bad news that he is carrying nowadays, what will the future of Grensilas be." his maid said pouring him tea.

"Ollar, I'll figure it out now. You may leave, Alisa might dislike your presence."

"My Lord, Queen Lora's arrival at this time.....doesn't seem like something good to me. Linstar will be here soon, Queen might be worried about her future. But it hurts me to see my King under pressure."

Dormos was about to say something to Ollar when through the door arrived the Queen. She was walking faster than usual, sitting down in front of the King, she motioned with her hand for Ollar to leave "I need to talk to the King". Bowing down to them both Ollar rushed out and the huge door closed behind leaving the King and Queen alone.

"What is it Alisa?" the King asked turning towards her.

"It's about our daughter....I mean Linstar will be here soon and we have already send messengers to all the kingdoms. I feel we must focus more on Danslevia."

"I can't force anything on her. Danslevia....its a strong empire but....the King and Crown Prince are already married, indeed most Princes there are married then we'll have to get her married to any of their distant relatives. Better she chooses someone from Rilevy or...Gormanich or from....Argestia...or..."

"But we need Danslevia....I mean the war..."

"Huhhh.....the situation of Tiropus is pretty bad I heard, King Elliuro Tir is on hide with his family. They were with Danslevia, but you see that did them no good. The war began between Ringswold and Tiropus, then Danslevia support them and now the war is between Ringswold and Danslevia as it is always. Do you feel they are gonna return back Tiropus if they win against Ringswold? No Alisa, they do never do that. I'm sure they'll take over it and might make Elliuro a ruler under them, their state minister or something that too only if they manage to find him alive."

"But a marriage alliance won't be like that My Lord."

"Whatever it is I can't force Lin. She won't be able to do anything being wife of anyone in royal family other than the King and Crown Prince."

"If not the Queen, can't she be the concubine?"

"ALISA? Did you even hear what just came out from you?"

"What? Wasn't I a concubine until the bitch Queen died?"

"MY DAUGHTER IS A PRINCESS SHE'LL BE A QUEEN"

"What is the difference according to you, we need as much support as well as keep Grensilas to ourselves."

"I can't sacrifice my daughter, my family name and pride. Nothing would've been this way if Lora was here."

"What? Lora? You still are grieving her death ya?" her eyes filled eith tears all of a sudden, she couldn't believe what she just heard from her husband.

It's was only after that left his mouth the King realised what he had just said "Alisa....its not like that."

"You still love her."

"I never loved her, I...I respect her. She was a great Queen, a warrior, she..."

Cutting him off Alisa asked "Is that the reason you never call me Lora? You mean I'm not a good Queen?"

Moving closer to her, he said "Listen its not that I meant, I love your name."

"I even changed my name Dormos, all for you. I too loved my name but it was for Grensilas that I changed my name from Alisa Rosenth to Lora Grensil."

"Whatever you do you aren't her Alisa."

"What do you mean I don't do anything around well, I don't command around?"

"YA, YOU DO COMMAND AROUND. For your makeup, silk clothes, your purple robe, you are always in comfort of your Queen's chamber. You weren't like this once. I respect Lora Grensil, she was a great Queen, brave warrior, there was nothing she couldn't or wouldn't manage. She could do anything....I liked her for the Queen she was, and its not just after being Queen of Grensilas that she was known; she was known for her bravery and strength when she was Princess Lora C.Bridstone too. I didn't have to worry about half of the matters when she was around, but now I do double the work. I did forget the last time I slept peacefully."

"You are literally saying I'm useless. Are you ashamed of a concubine being Queen of Grensilas after her?"

Letting out a deep breath, moving closer to her and cupping her face by his hands, the King said "Alisa, you are my love, she was the Queen. I never loved her, it was all just an arrangement or understanding between us. We together ruled the kingdom and thats it. I had no emotions for her, she was just a partner in running my Grensilas. The King and Queen must have a child so we had Linstar. But you are different, you are someone I fell in love with. I wanted you, we spend time with eachother and its our love that gave us Alwen. I'm with you for love, Alisa. Understand it. I don't blame you or complain for not being able to manage everything the way Lora did because she was trained to be a Queen from a very young age but you are daughter of a merchant and was taught to be the sweet women you are now. This is the difference between a Queen and concubine, you get it?"

"I don't my King" she pushed his hands off her in anger.

"The eldest Princess is taught to be the most responsible and organised one. She can't easily fall in love usually, she'll be the one most qualified to be a Queen. Linstar can't fall in love and marry someone in just weeks. Her skills and education will go waste with time then, nor can she be loving or sweet and adjust with everything like a concubine. She will stand out, and have always since childhood. Our Princess is nation's pride more over she is Lora's daughter, you feel Bridstone kingdom will stay quiet? That's why I say you are talking nonsense."

"But what about in war? What will Grensilas be then?"

"Alisa, I love the way you once were. You are no longer my Alisa whom I fell for and wanted to be with me. I see you have changed alot. What do you actually care for?"

Keeping her anger in control she said "I only care about Grensilas, my King and my children your Highness."

Smiling the King pulled her closer for a hug, "I know you care for the nation, me and Prince but you needn't pretend to care for Lin. I know she can never be your daughter, even if you see her that way she do never treat you like Lora ever."

"No my Lord I do care for Linstar."

"Then let's stop the talk here, you get it?"

That's when the guards on the door announced the arrival of a messenger. "Let him in..." the King immediately sat down near his table with the Queen near by him.

On entering, the messenger bowed down to both King and Queen before asking "My King, with your permission may I read out the letter send to you from the city of Prochea by the Princess. 'To the King Dormos Grensil, by Princess Linstar D.Grensil

Father, I was a little disappointed in the message I received from you but as the command of the King must be followed, I was packing and preparing to leave when I received an emergency message from Bridstone by uncle King Rowenge Bridstone mentioning that my grandfather, King Chrisinge Bridstone is terribly ill. He did mention that he received the invitation for the grand party held for my marriage but said he doesn't think grandfather will make it to more than a few days now. I really apologise for not taking permission prior, I'm leaving for Bridstone and will return as soon as possible with God's grace.

Your's ' that's it my Lord. May I leaving?"

Motioning him to leave with hand, the King sat his hand on his head.

"Huh...your daughter, the pride of Grensilas, responsible Princess has left to Bridstone without your permission. She must give no value to your commands at all."

"Alisa, she'll return soon enough."

"You said she do be the Queen; the amount of responsibility and respect she shows I'm sure her education rather go waste, forget being Queen someone like her may barely be loved to be a concubine. The way she behaves make me wonder when she do end up like Prince Wontel of Ringswold"

"Alisa.." the King was about to say something but she walked out the door immediately leaving him behind to himself.

Under his breath he whispered "Why do you have to test my patience like this...."