And so it went, as it always went: time crawling by at a near standstill while she prayed she'd wake up from this dream.<br/><br/>The last day in her kingdom was filled with important meetings. Her father had wanted to make sure this would go off without a hitch, keeping her apprised of all the goings on of the other kingdom. Maria was expected to learn each past dignitary, each present one, their rules and how she'd be affected by them. All she could do was nod, remain silent, and let the information be heaped upon her.<br/><br/>Everything was changing around her, and she was caught in the undertow current, unable to get her head above water.<br/><br/>The only words that could keep her calm, was her mantra. They were the only words of truth she could hear above all that was now being thrust upon her:<br/><span style="font-style: italic">I will do what's best for this kingdom...This is what I want...</span><br/><br/>It was a blessing and a curse when the day had come to a close, her fate sealed with the all too vibrant colors of the red-sun dipping below the horizon. Her hair was released of its elaborate guise, her corset removed, a process that seemed to take somehow longer than the lacing up, a fact she couldn't rightly understand. Twasn't as if she could just look back at her ladies-in-waiting, brow furrowed and ask that burning question:<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #00FFFF"><span style="font-style: italic">"Simprina?"<br/><br/>"Yes, Princess?"<br/><br/>-after a moment of fidgeting-<br/><br/>"...Why does it take so much longer to unlace my corset when it took a mere forty-five minutes to lace it up?"<br/><br/>-cue horrified look as Simprina's hand flew to her forehead in dramatic fashion, almost feeling faint-<br/><br/>"Princess Maria Antonia Daniella Angelique," she'd chastise. "You've more important things to be thinking about than the length of time it takes to dress and undress you properly!"</span></span></div><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">No,</span>she told herself.<span style="font-style: italic">It's best to wonder than provoke the inner beast that is Simprina. I'd sooner poke out my eyes with my needle pointing needles than listen to her berate me again.</span><br/><br/>Her chemise and other nightly attire in place, a fine silk (though not warm in the slightest), Maria's ladies excused themselves for the night, tucking her in bed and wishing her well on her beauty sleep. "The journey ahead is going to be most tiresome. Get as much beauty sleep as you can possibly get," one had cooed with a stupid smile on her face. Maria wasn't sure if that was a backhanded suggestion, or she truly wanted her to get some sleep.<br/><br/>But she couldn't sleep.<br/><br/>Not a wink.<br/><br/>Instead, she climbed out of those 7000 thread-count silken sheets, making her way across the cold stone to her window, she lowered herself onto the chaise directly in front, and gazed. She wasn't sure how long she'd stared out at her moonlight-drenched kingdom, taking in each house, each tree...Everything that meant so much to her, everything she'd do anything to protect...<br/><br/>Signs of the war's presence had scarred her kingdom. Where there was once an abundance of flowers, a burned field remained. Houses on the outskirts were left a pit of smoldering ash. Bodies...The bodies of those that fought so bravely for her fair kingdom had begun to pile up. While she knew the count was also getting higher for Sirmia, she couldn't bear the thought of losing any more of her people. She wanted to keep them safe, at any cost.<br/><br/>Even if it meant her freedom.<br/><br/>Sometime, between thoughts of her people's death and the destruction of her beloved land, the tears had begun to flow. Slow at first, one trickling down and another following moments later, they'd silently crept up on her. She wasn't sure when the heavy ones started, nor when her sobs had filled the room. Everything just seemed hopeless, frightening. Even now, on the eve of her leave, she wanted to tie herself to a tree, her favorite tree in the middle of the square, and stay there.<br/><br/>The tears kept coming.<br/><br/>Whether out of sadness for herself, or for fear of the impending marriage to someone she'd never met, the reasons melded together. Every hope she'd had of marrying someone she loved, someone she met at a ball and set her cap for...It was all for naught. Never would she feel that magic moment when their eyes would connect across the dance floor. Never would she feel the pull of his eyes as he made her way to her, unable to look away. Never would she feel the strength in his arms as he skillfully guided her across the floor, out onto the terrace where a chaperone would watch the interaction. Never would she fall in love.<br/><br/>Now, if she was lucky, she'd fall into "like" with her new king. A business arrangement, this wasn't to be a romantic gathering, but one born out of necessity.<br/><br/>But it was worth it...Worth it to know her people would be safe from Sirmia once more.<br/><br/>By now, the tears had stopped, the sobs had ceased. The princess lay on that chaise, staring out that window and seeing nothing. Her mind had wandered, wondering what the prince would be like, what her new life would be like. It was one thing to hear what your life was expected to be, spouted from the mouths of those that wouldn't live it. It was an entirely different one to finally see it unfold.<br/><br/>Three knocks brought her out of her borderline stupor, eyes flicking to the door in the realization that the once moon-drunk landscape had changed to one hued in reds, oranges, and yellows. The sunrise had snuck up on her, as had her ladies-in-waiting to prepare her for the day.<br/><br/>Resigning herself to the fact she'd be exhausted before the day had even begun, she called her ladies in, not fighting the extra primping they had to do to make her look awake and energized. Even as the corset was laced up, her thoughts weren't disdainful, but instead filled with a rye humor.<span style="font-style: italic">I'm to travel in a carriage...</span>she thought to herself.<span style="font-style: italic">No one will see me...and yet I'm still to wear this...Funny.</span><br/><br/>As the mounds of fabric were thrown onto her, her hair finished, her face radiant (due to an excessive cold-water ritual), she was left alone. Only for a moment, but the moment was long enough to say her goodbyes. Goodbye to the only bed she's known since she was a child. Goodbye to her view of the kingdom. Goodbye to everything she'd ever known.<br/><br/>And hello to fate's door.<br/><br/>Each step she took as she was led to out of her room was an ominous one, more weighted than the last. Breathing, an act already difficult with this corset, felt more impossible today. Simprina remained just behind her right side, showering her with compliments, telling her of how beautiful she looked in the golden weaved fabrics.<br/><br/>Compliments that fell upon deaf ears. Nothing could be heard past her own heartbeat, fluttering and pounding in her ears. Eyes sweeping over the whole of her castle, she memorized every contour, every nook and cranny.<br/><br/>It wasn't until she'd emerged from the eastern hallway that she tried to look composed, not so withdrawn. Her years of training in diplomacy came to the forefront, keeping her own feelings locked away and focusing on the task at hand. She nodded a small greeting to everyone that made eye contact with her, her gaze stopping on Durzo last, watching as he took her hand and bowed.<br/><br/>"A pleasure, Mi'Lady."<br/><br/>She lowered herself into a slight curtsy, not wanting to topple over, but not wanting to be rude either, her head lowering in a nod to make the action more complete. "The pleasure is mine, M'lord. Thank you for agreeing to accompany me." Her tone was soft, melodic and light. Despite her inner workings, outwardly, she was everything a princess should be.<br/><br/>Inside, she was screaming.