Once upon a time, an old King lost his only son and heir. In desperation, and too in love with his old wife to find another maiden to bear him children, he decided to find an all mighty hero to take his son's place in court.
He searched in his kingdom and the ones closest to his. Finally, when his hope was wearing thin, he found a young girl. Her dirty hair a blond mess, eyes the colour of the storm brewing South of his position. The King wouldn't have spared her a look hadn't she stumbled upon his chariot. She would have been around her sixth, or seventh birthday. The charioteer started to tell her off, only to be stopped by the King. The old man ushered the girl closer, realising who he was, the girl's eyes shone with fear. His Majesty asked for the whereabouts of her parents. Failing to reply, the girl bowed and turned around to leave. The King put a hand on her shoulder. The girl reminded him of his son too much. Saving her from an orphanage, he took her in.
The girl grew into a woman the following decade, pampered and well-nourished. The sixteen year old could barely remember her first meeting with the King, but acknowledged her origins didn't belong to the Royal Family. Regardless, she found the castle, and the people inside, comforting and close as a family. She even spoke to the King and Queen as her parents.
On a sunny August morning, the King was found dead in his chambers. At 78, it was to be expected. That would have left the kingdom to his wife. The Queen, in fear of following her husband's steps to Hades, came to the conclusion that it was time to marry her daughter. She did realise she would not like this idea, moreover, she was well trained as a royal, and the only chance the kingdom had to continue their right course.
With her plan in mind the Queen called for her mourning daughter to be brought to her. Servants obliged immediately, and the Princess, in a dark dress, a black veil covering her face, knelt in front of her mother.
As her Majesty had foreseen, the girl refused to 'throw her life out the window' so young, replying that fate wouldn't be as cruel as to rip her mother apart from her so soon after her father. She excused herself and left the room.