"Father! Where are you?" Elira kept calling out to her father, only to notice him standing on the balcony, looking down at the people who smiled and danced—having the greatest time of their lives. But was it truly so? The once‑great kingdom of Velmora was on the brink of ruin.
"There you are, Father," Elira said as she approached him, but what she witnessed caused her to pale. "Father," she whispered, watching tears trickle from his eyes. "What have I done? How could all this be happening?"
"What happened, Father? Please tell me," Elira never ceased questioning.
"My father ruled fine, my grandfather ruled greatly. But now I only seem to have failed my title as king," he explained.
Elira could now understand why her father sobbed so much. He was right—Velmora was never like this. Those people dancing and celebrating the New Year festival—it was all false, not real. Those smiles... each one had lost someone precious a year ago, yet the kingdom was still trying to recover.
Monsters had broken through the kingdom's defense in armies. It was unheard of for them to move in such numbers—so why Velmora? Many wondered.
The heroes of the kingdom came to subdue the monsters, but many lost their lives when high-class A‑rank monsters showed up. These monsters could communicate, were highly intelligent, and among the strongest. But their ruler was the S‑rank—rarely encountered and deadly.
The heroes outnumbered the A‑rank monsters, but numbers weren't everything. Right before Elira's father's eyes, 90% of the heroes were slaughtered as the monsters invaded. Villagers and cityfolk lost their lives. Elira's mother was out that day—a painful sight to witness. "Mom!" Elira screamed, breaking down in tears as her heart pounded and ached. Her mother's body lay half-eaten by a monster.
Since that day, the great kingdom of Velmora had become crippled.
"I have really failed them all, Elira. I am no king," he muttered to himself.
"No—don't say that, Father. You tried your best, and our kingdom's colors will soon return. They need their king," Elira said, though did it really help?
Her father left the balcony as she watched him make his way to his chamber. The night hours found Elira still standing there.
"Mom?" she whispered. "Will everything really be okay once more?" Even Elira wasn't sure anymore, facing truths that slashed her inside. She hated it but still held onto possibility.
Elira left the balcony and made her way back to her chamber, entering and lying on her bed. The celebration was already over and everyone had gone home. The whole place echoed with silence—the hours when memories come hunting: the mistakes and the sad once.
Elira closed her eyes, hoping not to think of them. All her life she had held a regretful heart. "Maybe if I were strong enough, if only I was born a hero, I would have been able to protect mom," she thought, recalling begging her father to allow her to train with the heroes.
"A princess should not be in the arms of war," her father had always replied.
Her hands curled into fists as Elira bit her lip hard. She had no idea when the tears began trailing down her cheeks.
"I… I'm sorry, Mom," she whispered, sobbing in silence. If only things had turned out differently, maybe her mother would still be alive today.
She closed her eyes tightly, hoping to hold herself together. How could she help her father out of his misery if she herself was broken beyond repair? Elira exhaled a breath, hoping it would calm her, and eventually fell asleep.
The next morning, a glimpse of sun rays found their way through the window. Elira woke gently, stretching her hand.
Today was finally the day she had been looking forward to—her father's birthday. Elira smiled as she went to the bathroom and bathed. She changed into one of her favorite dresses, the same one her father had gotten her.
She had planned a lot of surprises for the day, hoping to cheer him up at the very least.
Elira made her way outside her chamber, hesitating in her footing as she approached her father's chamber. For a moment, she noticed some men riding near the palace, one with a cart—likely guests coming to wish her father a happy birthday.
Elira arrived in her father's room. The guards wanted to stop her at first, saying they needed to inform the King, but they recognized the princess after all.
Elira finally made her way in and caught her father discussing with three men in fine dress—one royal official and two heroes, a captain and lieutenant.
"Elira," her father noticed her presence. "What are you doing here?"
Elira didn't say a word for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "It's your birthday, Father," she replied.
Her father turned to the men seated, and with a nod they stood and left his chamber. "Come, dear," he said as Elira approached and sat beside him. "Who were they, Father? Your friends?" she asked, curiosity getting the better of her. Just like her mother, Elira's father would have always laughed if things were different. Elira thought maybe he would have smiled again, even if only a glimpse.
"I have decided to get you married, Elira. They came for you," he said rather unexpectedly.
"What?" Elira stammered. "What are you saying, Father?" He had been pressuring her about marriage for a while now, especially when she had tried to join the war. "I don't want to be married off to a complete stranger, Father. I want to fall in love, just like you and Mom," she always used to say—and her father and mother would always agree with a smile. So what caused the change? How could he go ahead without her consent?
Elira stood up, as did her father. "I know this must come as a shock, but if you truly want me to be happy, dear, this is the only wish I would request of you," he said.
"But what are you saying, Father? I can't," she said. She just couldn't. Why marriage now? "I want to stay, Father, and help the kingdom," she argued.
"Enough of this, Elira!" her father yelled, causing the words to seize in her throat. "Don't you understand this is for the good of the kingdom? I can handle it. You need your life."
"But Dad—"
"I have already signed and agreed to marry you off. They came for you, Elira. Your wedding is to be held in the Empire of Draekhaven. You will marry its prince, Prince Kaelith."
Why was this happening? Why was Father suddenly saying this? His eyes seemed different. Couldn't he understand she didn't want this?
"You are to leave with them at noon, Elira. This is an order from your king, not your father," he said—the final blow straight to her heart. She crumbled to the ground.
"Guards!" her father called to those outside. They came hastily. "Take the princess back to her chamber," he ordered.
"Father! You can't do this, Father!" Elira screamed, pleading, hoping he would hear her. But she froze—pale when he turned his back. "This is for the good of the kingdom, Elira. I hope you can understand that."
Those were the last words she heard before being forced out of her father's chamber.