A lonely room, the curtains were closed, in the center a big bed, too big for the tiny man who rest on it, he cough and complain, sure that the end would come soon, with a gesture of his hand he called the maid.
"What happened your majesty?" she hurry
"my daughter" he whisper, barely with enough force
The princesses didn't need an order, she immediately runs to his father side, already with tears on her eyes, she wasn't dumb, she knew that it would be the last time she would speak with her father,but she was also a dreamer, so she hopes for something else that the same old speech that had been hear all her life.
"Sora…" he begun and the your girl sobs "my child, my only child…" he coughs again, and for one moment the princess feared that he would be incapable to finish his thoughts " you would be a wonderful queen" her face lights, in the darkest moment her only wish become true
"Yes father¡" she replied enthusiastic "I would be¡ i promise i.. "
"But first" he interrupts, the old king always must have the last word "first" he caught again, and again, and again, the blood coming for his throat force her back "First…" he continues in a deep raspy voice "first you would be a lovely bride"
"No" she whispered meanwhile her father convulsed and she star to cried again, she cried for her death father, for the blood that cover her dress, for her mother hand dragging her outside the room.
"Calm down" the queen said, even when long tears also come out of her eyes "Calm down my love.. you know it was only mater of time"
"I refuse¡" she yelled
"you hear your father, you know what must be done"
"Father is death!" Sora cry out loud " I'm the queen now!"
Her mother hand once again make her voice, she hold her hurt cheek
"Don't be insolent¡ Your father is death but I´m still the queen, and i would be until your wedding night!"
"I don't want a wedding! I don't need a husband!" she didn't care how many times her mother must hit her, she would never step back, there was nothing her mother could do to convince her.
"Toshiko?" other voice comes from the other side of the hall "Is everything ok? what happened?"
"I think you could easily guess what happened Ritsuko" The queen turn to face the other woman, both of them contrast with each others, Sora´s mom was tall and proud, brown hair always properly braided, long dress and long sleeves, Sora was not sure she'd ever seen her mother's ankles, in front of them it was a complete different woman, golden hair, blue eyes, beautiful face, a soft bright dress, Sora repressed a smile, it was the only soft thing on her aunt, well that and his son, her kind good heart son who watch everything since a polite distance
"My father dies" she speak
"I am sorry" her cousin cut the distance between them hugging her, she wonder how many condolence she must accept or if any of them would be as honest as these, she knew what her cousin fear: the same storm than her.
"My condolence Toshiko" Ritsuko copies her son action
"Is your highness" the queen corrects
"Excuse me?" Sora and her cousin breaks their hug, booths with heavy hearths , both of them looking at theirs mothers
"Your highness" Toshiko replied "My husband is death but i'm still the queen" she repeated.
"You can´t be queen consort if there is no consort Toshiko…" Sora felt her blood rush, really? just in these moment?
"I´m the queen mother " Toshiko continues and as faster as a sword her aunt´s eyes point to her "I know what you are thinking, but Sora would married soon"
"Soon?" Ritsuko laugh "this is ridiculous¡ you know the rules¡ she must be married by now¡ we can't be without a King¡"
"I´m the queen¡" she comand and for one moment sora tough that Ritsuko would be quiet
"you know that is not how this work" she hold her son arm "Takeru has the right to the throne now, he has the same right as you daughter"
"He is not the king's son¡"
"He is the closest to a king's son, he is the right heir, and unless you have a convenient fiance for your daughter I´m afraid that... "
"I have more than a dozen convenient finances for my daughter!" all the eyes point to the queen mother, Sora could protest but never on the presence of her aunt "The tournament star in three days Ritsuko, if you want put a sword on your child hand and make him compete like any other"
"That is scandalous! the rule said…."
"We made those rules" sora finally speak, trying to control the tremble on her body "we know what the rules said"
"You must take a husband" Takeru said, and she could feel the sorrow on his voice, the unspoken supplication.
Sora look at her family, for must that she refuse, she must obey her father laws.
"He said I would be a wonderful queen" she walk to the window,she open the courtains with the symbol of her house, hearths adorn her surround; the sun begins to ride over the kingdom, her father kingdom and a feeling of rage invaded her, what a lied was her family insignia, the love, as if the love mean something to them, she must be sell and taken to be queen, but she would stand, there was nothing she want more than to be queen "he said I would be a lovely bride".