The carriage creaked along the cobblestone road in a lumbering sway, though the groaning wood was drowned out by the dozen mounted knights escorting the small convoy. Not a single one of the knights was of Telrio, these men swore their loyalty to King Santiago Aguilar of Maricielo, Rosaline's new husband. She stared absently out the window, gazing at the land that was going to be her new home. It was far more mountainous than Telrio, snowcapped peaks jutted harshly up against the horizon.
If she leaned forward and tilted her head just right, she could see the towering walls of the city looming up ahead with the proud castle towers standing tall behind them. It was an intimidating sight, the city as stern and unyielding as its inhabitants.
From what she'd seen so far, the people of Maricielo were unerringly reserved. Even at their wedding, Santiago had stood stoically before her without so much as a hint of a smile in his eyes. Not that she could blame him, she'd barely been able to muster a smile herself that day. Santiago wasn't actually interested in her, only the position of power she enabled him to have. With a sanctioned marriage in hand, and no male heirs to the Telrio throne, he'd secured lordship over the City and her lands -- until a heir was born from their union.
A heavy sigh escaped the princess's lips and she leaned back into the cushioned bench, closing her eyes.
The entire situation felt stank of nefarious politics. Santiago and his men had "miraculously" arrived in time to put an end to unknown assassins who'd ambushed her father's hunting party in the wilds -- but not before her father had been grievously wounded. They'd escorted the King and his men safely home to Telrio. It was still unclear what happened behind those closed doors, but Rosaline had been told when her father asked what Santiago wanted in return for saving the King's life... he'd asked to marry his daughter.
Her father had agreed.
A week later, while her father slowly succumbed to the infection that ate away at his body, Rosaline was sent to Maricielo for her "protection". She didn't believe a word of it, but was powerless to argue against the will of two Kings.
They arrived at the city gates at midday. Her guards had strictly told her that she was to keep the curtains drawn as they made their way through the city, but she couldn't help but peak out through a small sliver. She was surprised to see the city streets lined with smiling people. The colors they wore were far more muted than her home, but they seemed happy nevertheless. Cheers and applause resounded through the city, white lilies tossed at the carriage as it passed them by.
For the first time since her wedding, Rosaline smiled ever so slightly. The joy these people felt was infectious in a way, though her guards seemed immune to the effects. They glowered straight ahead, ignoring the world around them.
One of the knights came up beside the carriage window, turning his gaze towards hers. She locked eyes with the man for a single heartbeat, before she quickly ducked back and closed the curtain.
If she leaned forward and tilted her head just right, she could see the towering walls of the city looming up ahead with the proud castle towers standing tall behind them. It was an intimidating sight, the city as stern and unyielding as its inhabitants.
From what she'd seen so far, the people of Maricielo were unerringly reserved. Even at their wedding, Santiago had stood stoically before her without so much as a hint of a smile in his eyes. Not that she could blame him, she'd barely been able to muster a smile herself that day. Santiago wasn't actually interested in her, only the position of power she enabled him to have. With a sanctioned marriage in hand, and no male heirs to the Telrio throne, he'd secured lordship over the City and her lands -- until a heir was born from their union.
A heavy sigh escaped the princess's lips and she leaned back into the cushioned bench, closing her eyes.
The entire situation felt stank of nefarious politics. Santiago and his men had "miraculously" arrived in time to put an end to unknown assassins who'd ambushed her father's hunting party in the wilds -- but not before her father had been grievously wounded. They'd escorted the King and his men safely home to Telrio. It was still unclear what happened behind those closed doors, but Rosaline had been told when her father asked what Santiago wanted in return for saving the King's life... he'd asked to marry his daughter.
Her father had agreed.
A week later, while her father slowly succumbed to the infection that ate away at his body, Rosaline was sent to Maricielo for her "protection". She didn't believe a word of it, but was powerless to argue against the will of two Kings.
They arrived at the city gates at midday. Her guards had strictly told her that she was to keep the curtains drawn as they made their way through the city, but she couldn't help but peak out through a small sliver. She was surprised to see the city streets lined with smiling people. The colors they wore were far more muted than her home, but they seemed happy nevertheless. Cheers and applause resounded through the city, white lilies tossed at the carriage as it passed them by.
For the first time since her wedding, Rosaline smiled ever so slightly. The joy these people felt was infectious in a way, though her guards seemed immune to the effects. They glowered straight ahead, ignoring the world around them.
One of the knights came up beside the carriage window, turning his gaze towards hers. She locked eyes with the man for a single heartbeat, before she quickly ducked back and closed the curtain.