"Your majesty?!" Arturia screamed; her voice filling the throne room. She was enraged, how could her father, The King of Cerasa, agree to such outrageous deal?
The man sighed as he looked down at his eighteen year old daughter from his throne.

"I had no other choice, my dear." he replied as he sent away his servants with the swish of his hand. And it was true, small countries like Cerasa could only agree to the demands of larger ones, especially when that country was the largest of them all, Chono. Besides it was a miracle that they even tried to negotiate; their reputation wasn't the friendliest.

"Father, you're the one who taught me there is always a choice." Arturia glared at her father, her blue eyes filled with anger but also hurt.

The King Cerasa, uncomfortably shifted in his throne. Arturia was his youngest and his only daughter; he couldn't help but pamper her a bit more than the rest. He tried to let her grow up wild and free, away from the obligations and duty. After all she would never have to face the weight of the crown though it was arguable she would make a better ruler than her brothers. But as much as he didn't want to let his only daughter go, he had to think of his people, his country first.

"You're right." he ran his fingers through his lifeless grey hair. He felt so old and tired.

"As your father I should have refused." he said as he rubbed his temples with his thumbs.

"But as the King of Cerasa I had no choice." he said sternly.

Arturia could only stare back, she already had in mind what consequences her father had to pay if he refused the Emperor of Chono. Cerasa was only an "independent" state due to their heavy tributes to the empire. As long as the Emperor received his tributes he could not care less about Cerasa, a country the size of a pea with little natural resources. In fact it was weird how the Emperor knew that the King of Cerasa had a daughter.

"Arturia Pentadragon, go to Chono Empire and serve your country." he meant to say it as a command but it came out as a plead. It was then Arturia noticed how noticeably older her father had become. He had deep wrinkles between his eyebrows due to his constant furrowing; frown lines had become a part of his face. His hair - which once resembled her golden strands- had become sad and grey. Strong broad shoulders that used to make her feel protected had become shrivelled up and strengthless. The sudden realisation broke her heart. Maybe it was time for her to protect her father and her country.

"I will father." she said quietly as her the King's face relaxed.

"I will go to the Chono Empire to serve as a concubine so the Kingdom of Cerasa will be spared."

The King could only smile sadly at her and curse at his helplessness in his mind.

"I'm sorry, dear." he whispered.