The Crown's Entrapment

As soon as Darius was out, King Stephan dismissed the rest of their men in the premises, leaving only him and his family inside the room.

"Oh! I'm sorry... This is all my fault. This is my punishment for not following heaven's will!" the Queen cried, Xenia and Mineah quickly comforting their mother with a soothing hug.

"It's because of me that Mineah's become a cursed Princess… And now… both of my daughters will have to marry… Oh, heavens!"

"Mother, please get a hold of yourself. It's not your fault. And besides, everything went well in the end," Xenia reassuringly stated.

"This is bound to happen sooner or later to protect our people. The Vampire King accepted Mineah despite everything. And I… Darius… I mean the Werewolf King saved my life when I'm on the brink of death. I owe him my life, so you really don't have anything to worry about."

"You and the Werewolf King?!" her father gasped.

Xenia nodded. She then briefed her family about her recent encounters with the King, seeing their questioning and interested eyes as she regaled them of her misadventures. By the time she was finished, her family was looking at her with a mix of guilt, pity, and a hint of pride.

"No wonder you two were together when you arrived here in the castle," Xenia's father thought aloud. "He's a werewolf though, Xenia, and he said that you're his mate. If so, it was only natural for him to recognize you from your scent alone."

"I know…" Xenia sighed.

"So, what's your plan now, Daughter?" her father asked. "He's requiring you to accompany him to-"

"No!" her mother yelped aloud, cutting her father off. "Our daughter just came back to us, and yet you're considering agreeing to send her out to the battlegrounds?!"

Seeing her mother distraught, Xenia held the older woman's hand as she said, "Mother, you should know that even if Darius didn't drag me there… I will still sneak out just so that I can help Ezekiel. It's what my heart desires."

"But…"

"Mineah can stay beside you, seeing as you guys can create potions and cast powerful spells," Xenia continued. "You two can chant out shields and weapons for our cause… But me… I'm not born for magic. Physical combat is all I'm good for," she lamented.

"So please, still your heart and worry no more. Like Father said, I am the Werewolf King's mate, and I'm sure you know how a werewolf would protect his mate with all his might, right?"

A moment of silence seemed to stretch on before her father finally spoke. "There's not much time, my dear wife," he stressed out. "You have to prepare Mineah for the wedding as well."

Hearing the King's words, their mother finally gathered some of her composure as she stood resolute. Looking intently at her and Mineah, she said, "I… No matter what happened in the past… I have no regrets. Even if given a second chance in life, I will still choose to do the same…"

She let out a loving sigh, "Falling in love with your father and having you two and Ezekiel as my children are the best things that ever happened in my life."

She looked at Mineah and said, "I'll be fine. I'm simply hurting, and I'm truly sorry that I have to pass on my punishment for breaking the ordeal to you an-"

"Shhh…" Mineah soothed her mother, rubbing her back as she hugged her. "Please, Mother, stop it. We're not even sure if I'm really cursed. Remember, Beirut's foresight is far from clear…"

There was another loud sigh as their father took all of the room's attention back to himself. "Come now. Let's prepare our daughters; Mineah for her wedding, and Xenia for her journey with the Werewolf King."

He then turned to Xenia and continued, "I will have Jayra stay by your side, Mineah. Together with a few trusted knights of our own, they'll act as your protection from any sort of harm."

Xenia only nodded at her father's words. There was work to be done, and there was only so much time before they had to move.

"You two go ahead and prepare," the king nodded to her and Mineah. "I will have to talk to your mother for some time…"

Heeding their father's words, the two princesses immediately walked out of the meeting hall. Making their way to their own chambers, they shared a smile together as they walked. Although…

"Come with me for a while," Mineah pulled at Xenia's arm. "I have something to give to you."

"Sure."

Giving her assent, Xenia let herself get dragged as her little sister almost pulled her out of the hall and towards her own chamber. Mineah then quickly dismissed her servants and chamberlains who were supposed to assist her in changing into her wedding dress.

"I won't take long with my sister," Mineah explained, making everyone go outside her room and wait. She then turned to her sister, "Wait here."

"What is it?" Xenia asked, watching as Mineah grabbed something from her closet.

"I succeeded in the potion I was experimenting on," Mineah explained as she handed her a small box. Opening it up, Xenia saw two pills nestled inside it.

"These pills are life and death, Xenia. The green one is life, and the black one is death. Keep it with you just in case there will be a time when you'll need it."

She then suddenly stood up and got a bottle from one of her many shelves. Uttering a chant on it, Mineah then quickly gave it to her elder sister.

"Here. I also gave one to brother Ezekiel. Put a drop of this to your weapons, and even though I'm not with you two, my spells will at least make you kill an enemy in simply one strike."

Stashing the two gifts she just got from her sister, Xenia nodded before pulling Mineah in for a hug. "That's so thoughtful of you Mineah. And yet here I am… empty-handed on your wedding day..."

Mineah chuckled, "You can make up to me by visiting me often at Valcrez, Sister. Or maybe even spend a vacation there after the war."

Xenia nodded. Right, Mineah would have to travel back to Valcrez with the Vampire King as soon as the wedding was finished. "Yes, my dear sister. I'll do exactly that," Xenia nodded, doing her best to comfort her little sister. "Don't worry too much. You'll definitely be fine."

The two shared a brief moment together, just being two loving sisters as they hugged each other for comfort. Eventually, one of them had to let go, time working against them as they began their preparations.

"Now, let me help you prepare for the wedding," Xenia snorted. "I have to at least witness it before I leave for war…"

Calling in the maids, Xenia began to prepare her sister for her wedding day. With each dress and ribbon that they put on her, she couldn't help but admire her sister's beauty, watching lovingly as Mineah slowly got dressed.

"The Vampire King is too lucky," Xenia commented.

"I can only hope that I can capture his heart then…" Mineah answered with a timid smile.

Xenia raised an eyebrow. She didn't expect that kind answer from her sister. For some reason, she suddenly thought of Darius, who was now about to become her husband in thirty days… Could she even…

She deliberately shook her head. Somehow, she couldn't imagine herself saying the exact same words as Mineah. Would she also want the same, then? Did she want to capture Darius's heart?