The Northern mountains of Hohenberg.
Compared to the warm and bright climate of the empire of La Sangue, the vast land excludes a fresh and serene environment to its citizens. In the normal season, you can see the abundance of its mountains, the green and cool breeze of the northern wind. The children are running and playing around the mountains with no worries, a forest rich in resources that the citizens make their living off the fruits and vegetables.
The foreign car entered the sovereignty of the kingdom, a pair of almond colored eyes surveyed every establishment, villages and lands that they passed by. Princess Oriana Stelle, the first born and only daughter of the La Sangue finally dawned to herself that she had finally left the empire she was born to, and now headed to this foreign land as a bride to the second prince of the Vasilis Kingdom.
"Princess, I am sure that you'll be able to adjust to the weather soon, they said that the Vasillis castle has been renovated from the past two years upon receiving your engagement with the second prince." Marceline Corwin the second daughter of the Marquis Corwin's has been friends with Oriana ever since in the academy, they have both studied in Amsonia, known as the country of freedom, both women weren't able to blow up each others character, from competitive students to best friends.
"I suggest dropping your formality when it's just the two of us or even once we arrive at the castle of Vasilis." Oriana replied, she is enjoying the sight before her and seems not bothered as she is about to enter a strangers household that she may never know, it might have many secrets laid beneath the castle bloodline and history.
It wasn't a sudden agreement between the royal families, although it was the modern times and they were the only few surviving families with bloodline, both royalty maintained the power and wealth up to this day. Oriana knew that when she entered the chambers of her late grandfather as the whole family mourned his death, the fight for the crown would be inevitable.
Once her father finally formalized the crowning ceremony, being her as the eldest and only princess in the family, while her younger brother is the first born son, the debate of who will become the crowned heir was anticipated by the whole world.
She was never in bad taste with her siblings and she all loved them all fair and dearly. Never did in her life that she thought she would be arranged for a marriage of convenience to the neighboring country, it is fine with her not being the crowned heir and will support her brother in his reign. But those ideals are all shattered as she was called for an engagement she never imagined would happen.
All her deep thoughts were gone once Marceline called here, "Stelle, of course I need to make a pretense, if the royals of Hohenberg were to know that I address their future in-law, they might run after my neck." She's making a funny gesture of getting slashed with her hand.
"I doubt it, Celine, maybe it's the other way around." Her mood finally lit up and started grinning as she remembered how the two of them fought hard at the swordsmanship competition that was held years back.
"Ladies, we are now approaching the bridge entrance of the castle." They were prompted by the chauffeur.
Both ladies stopped giggling and got back to their usual demeanor as nobles and royalty.
Deep inside Oriana's heart, she braces herself as the sight of the new home she will be spending the rest of her life in. As she gets out of the car, Oriana was warmly greeted by the head butler, and then later introduced to a fine looking young man.
Second Prince, Alexandros Vasilis, the betrothed to her royal princess Oriana Stelle La Sangue.
Upon realizing, she met another Alex in her life, "How funny, seems like fate has been planned all along." She whispered to herself upon hearing that he has the same first name of her brother Kallistos.
"Princess Oriana, welcome to our Kingdom, as your future husband let me guide you to your palace." The man in front of them has a sharp and chiseled feature, his dark hair is neatly trimmed, kept in a clean cut features more of his prominent jawline that enhances his handsomeness and masculinity, his almond eyes are bright and his facial features tell he is yet to mature and will surely be turned to a finer man he is a few more years to come.
"Not bad." Celine commented enough for Oriana to hear that she jilted her to mind her thoughts.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Second prince Alexandros." She replied promptly.
"You may casually call me Xandro, that's what my family calls me."
"I'm afraid I'd be intruding if I do so."
"Of course not, you are soon to be my wedded wife and will be a part of my family." His sincere thoughts touched Oriana's heart. After all, she is just a little girl who was sent to be married in a foreign country, even if the system has long since perished, she still has the weight of the blood that runs through her veins. A direct bloodline of La Sangue, the only remaining empire that has never been touched by the modernity of times.
"Family…" Teary eyed, she remembers how she and her brothers would pass time in the garden, tending to the flowers and tipping at the fountain, the laughter that they shared and the dirt they played.
"I will take good care of you Princess." it is the promise that is etched to the mind and heart of Oriana.
The vow of the first love.
The seasons had changed and years passed, like a widespread fire, the wedding of the first princess of the empire to the royals of the Northern kingdom had been known to all who would hear of it.
A wedding that held the sanctity of two pure hearts that beat into one.
The high amidst snow-capped peaks, the bitter winds whip across that touches the weathered stone of the castle, stands strong by its rich history and fortunate survival through the decades against the harsh elements and the result of wars.
Snow perpetually clings to its walls, its icy breath freezing the very air. The castle's thick walls are adorned with tapestries that depict the proud history of the kingdom, but their vibrant colors seem muted against the cold, blue-tinged light that filters through narrow windows.
Princess Oriana, stood at the top of the castle's northern tower, her fingers curled loosely around the cold stone railing. The wind tugged at her cloak, but she barely noticed. Her eyes, wide and unblinking, were fixed on the distant horizon where the prince, her husband, had last departed for war.
"Princess, the intel had come weeks ago." The news that the Crowned Emperor turns mad, slaughtered the members of the senate of La Sangue has come to her. Three years ago, after the ceremony of her marriage the second prince had no time to spend time with his wife, as he was called forth to the frontline to stop the impending war in the borders of the kingdom.
The King had commanded Prince Alexandros to solidify an alliance with the northern realms, and though she had known it would be her fate, the coldness of the mountain castle seemed to reflect the chill that had settled deep within her heart.
Does their union forged in politics rather than love be given a chance?
"How did my brother, the emperor, respond to my probing?" Still looking at the vast land insight she asked her personal aide.
"The emperor replied that he hopes for you to be well, especially as the harsh season has entered the kingdom." Celine remained quiet, she knew very well that Oriana and her brother, Emperor Kallistos had a close bond.
"Eliminating the old servants in the senate, and yet he wanted me to be well?" Remaining composed, she turned to Celine.
"Before we left the empire, I planted several moles in the castle to keep me posted with the senate and the late emperor, and have them gather the reports to me immediately."
"Yes princess, also, it was said that the second prince has successfully subdued the revolting forces in the border and is now bound to return."
"I see, then I can finally meet my stranger husband."
"The prince never forgets to reply to your messages and calls."
"In the past indeed, but not for the last three months."
Her palace never lacked any wealth, the king who is the elder brother of her husband, ensured that she would be well taken care of. When evening comes, the halls and their silence, each echo of her footsteps is a reminder of how alone she was in this unforgiving place.
The prince's return was uncertain. But Oriana knew she would be here, in this cold, distant palace, for as long as fate would have her.
Their silence was disturbed when the castle was alarmed by the sighting of the arrival of the prince's platoon.