Chapter 2 : Leaving The Castle

"Read the decree." Aella ordered the messenger with the previous authority in her tone.

" Andronica Sarette, The Queen of Aereth, welcomes her sister, Aella Sarette, The princess of Aereth, back to her court , with open arms . The Queen expects the princess to be back to the Court soon."

The royal messenger extended his hand towards Aella, who was kneeling on the ground, to help her get up , as he finished reading the decree.

However, there was a strange movement from the royal messenger, when he was still reading the decree. The movement was swift and vague, but it wasn't swift and vague enough to miss Aella's sharp eyes .

When Aella took the messenger's hand and hand and got up , she felt the roughness of a small piece of paper. A note , Aella thought to herself.

But she wasn't quite sure if it was truly a note or something else. But her guess was confirmed, when the royal messenger said in a very quiet voice, " A message from her majesty."

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"The carriage is ready, Your Highness." , Rose said to Aella , who was standing by the lake, looking lost in her thoughts without bothering to answer Rose.

"Your Highness?" , Rose called to Aella, who was suffocatingly quite.

"Tell them to wait for a few minutes." , Aella finally replied after a few moments of silence.

It has been almost a week since the royal messenger's visit. Today she was going to start her journey to the capital city, the royal palace.

As soon as the royal messenger took his leave, Aella stormed to her room, locked the door without allowing anyone inside, to read the note.

Since the queen, her sister sent her a message discreetly, even though there was a decree sent to her alongside, Aella realised, this note shouldn't be read by anyone except her. The has said -

Aella ,

I will get to the straight point. I want you to be back to the Court within this week also , prepare yourself for marriage.

- Andronica

By the time Aella finished, she had a loathing smile on her face. What else did she expected? For them to act like loving sisters? She already saw it coming , didn't she?

She knew it. She knew it from the day, when her father, the king passed away and her sister ascended the throne.

She knew it, when her sister sent her away from the palace to the outside of the capital, to a secluded palace, which's location is only known by the royal family, as soon as she ascended the throne, in the name of safety.

Marry the man her sister chooses for her and obedient to her sister....This is the fate that awaits her. And by being obedient means, absolute loyalty to her sister and not even thinking about the throne.

Well there would be another fate awaiting her, a fate much...worse.....if she ever dares to do something that seems to threat her sister, her position and her life even a little bit. And that fate is... Death.

So Aella choosed the first choice of the two choices. And It is to be loyal, obedient to her sister.

So, when she finished reading the note, She very soon gave the order that she will be starting her journey in 4 days and she expects the servants to pack all of her's belongings, as they are going back to the court. She didn't quite want to keep the queen waiting thus, annoying her and get on her nerves.

Aella snapped out of her thoughts as she felt a hand gently resting on her shoulder. She turned her head to see the anonymous person who touched her, only to meet the gentle and warm eyes of Madam Julia. She looked around and saw that no one was there except her and Madam Julia.

"Your Highness, It's getting late, every minute you delay here, will make you reach the palace a minute later. So it's for best that we leave now.", Madam Julia gently reminded Aella.

"I know Nana, it's just that, it's my last time in this place, after today I will never be able to step even a foot in this place, so I am takingy my to say my final goodbye.", Aella said with a sad smile on her face.

Madam Julia saw, how Aella's eyes were filled with sadness. It was not very often that Aella let her emotions get loose, since as a princess,it was quite dangerous for her. Madam Julia felt quite bad for her.

"Forgive me for stepping out of my line, But you could have taken your time in leaving, Your Highness. I get it that, you didn't want to await Her Majesty for long, But don't you think that, You are departing too soon?", Madam Julia asked, unable to keep her question to herself, which has been bothering her since Aella has informed about the departure.

Madam Julia knew well that, the princess wasn't the type of the person who rushed things. But she did anyway, which gave Madam Julia not so good feeling. She felt like something was off.

Madam Julia looked hopefully at Aella, hoping that she would answer her question, as the only person, who ever even dared to question Aella in the first place was Madam Julia, since the princess wasn't quite known for mercy, especially those who questions her decisions, but it's an exception if it's Madam Julia.

Just when Madam Julia thought, the princess wasn't going to answer, the princess spoke, " You will know, why, soon enough Nana, Now wait for me in the carriage, I am coming."

Madam Julia nodded and reluctantly left Aella and made her way towards the carriage, without any words or the fact that the princess didn't have her the answer she asked for. But she was grateful that the princess actually responded without getting angry. The fact that, she stepped out of her line once was already enough. Even though the princess was very warm and and gentle with her and treated her well, there were times she could really be ticked off, even with her. And this one of those moments, as she was leaving this place permanently. Aella may not admit it, but Madam Julia knew that Aella loved this place very much as this place has been her house for the past 9 years.

After answering Madam Julia, the answer she didn't quite wanted but another, Aella took one last look at the Castle she grew up in, at the garden she often had tea, the lake she often sat by when she was sad and the large banyan tree where she often sat with a book to read.

She slowly turned forward, closed eyes and took a long shaky breath to calm her nerves before opening her eyes again.

She composed her expression before she stride towards the carriage where Madam Julia, Rose, the other maids and the guards were waiting for her.

They all gave her a bow when they saw her. Madam Julia, who was already in the carriage, extended her hands towards Aella to help her get up in the carriage.

Aella accepted Madam Julia's hand, got into the carriage and sat gracefully.

She said one last good bye to this place and....to her peaceful life because she knows very well that....the future ahead of her.....it is anything but..... peace.