Beauty is a blessing and a curse.
And Arabella was said to be the epitome of beauty on the continent. She didn't know what their basis was, but she was hailed as such.
For this very reason, a lot of kings, princes, and nobles from various kingdoms sought her hand in marriage.
What does she look like?
Arabella had wavy, red-brown, and silky hair that ran down to her hips.
Her eyes were amber, the golden shade of the refreshing flowers in the meadows.
At this point, it was still filled with mirth, warmth, and the innocence of a young lady.
Very much contrary to what she would become a few years later - lifeless, cold, and all the warmth gone from her demeanor. Even her appearance changed quite a lot.
For now, her lips were still lush, soft, and had a natural pink tint. Her maids were envious and often said her plump lips simply looked like she was always asking for a kiss.
Two decades later, her lips were tinted darkly when she was out for her plots and none at all when in her chambers, because she had stopped caring about her appearance if it had nothing to help with her plans. Her complexion had also become ghastly pale since she did not care about her health anymore, either.
But for now, her skin was naturally fair, as inherited from her mother, and turned an even fairer shade from staying indoors often to study and read books, or undergo lessons for everything else she must learn in her position.
As for her parents, Arabella was the first daughter of King Edgar and Queen Ofelia of the Kingdom of Lobelius.
Lobelius was a wide, peaceful kingdom with rich natural resources, so even more noblemen desired Arabella's hand in marriage, most especially after hearing of her beauty.
But beauty was indeed both a blessing and a curse.
Discovering Arabella could be a treasure trove, as if they heard the devil's whisper, her parents had high hopes and became greedy. Or did they?
As far as she knew, they wanted to use her to raise the rank of their kingdom.
Not that their kingdom was weak.
Her parents simply wanted to rival the most powerful kingdoms.
After all, Lobelius had rich resources, but they lacked military strength.
And thus, due to the desire for more power and influence, out of all the choices her family could have picked, they chose the coldhearted and ruthless Emperor Ferdinand of the vast and mighty Empire of Valeria.
Of course, Arabella didn't want to marry the fearsome Emperor who was said to be cruel, merciless, and kill people whenever he was not in the mood, or just felt like seeing blood.
There were even rumors of him being hideous, too.
It turned her off even more.
The said Emperor was not desirable both in morality, personality, and looks.
And most importantly, Arabella was already in love with Prince Andrew from the neighboring Kingdom of Lahar. He was the one she wanted to marry.
Andrew was kind, gentle, and loving. He was also a very attractive and charming man. His eyes were a beautiful shade of brown, and his hair was golden as the sun.
Prince Andrew had both a pretty face and a pleasing personality, which a lot of women loved. Thus, Arabella had a lot of rivals.
There were so many women coveting Andrew's attention.
But out of everyone, Andrew chose her.
They became lovebirds talked about among nobility, even in other kingdoms.
As such, Arabella fully thought she would be married to Andrew.
But when she turned seventeen, her parents suddenly arranged for her to marry the Emperor of Valeria, and they were to wed once she turned eighteen.
Sheltered and clueless as she was, Arabella tried to run away with Prince Andrew despite never going out of the Lobelius Palace without all her knights in the past.
Her parents easily found her since she didn't even think of disguising herself more effectively.
She was not aware of her portraits, which were widely distributed everywhere, even among commoners, due to her famed beauty.
Arabella thought commoners would not recognize her face since she barely had direct interactions with them.
But she was completely wrong.
Despite dressing up as a maid and wearing a hooded cloak, she was still recognized.
It didn't help either that Andrew was also famous for his looks, and even dressing up as a butler, and wearing a hooded cloak, did not prevent people from recognizing him either.
The King and Queen of Lobelius were furious and threatened Arabella; they would declare war on the Kingdom of Lahar if she and Andrew insisted on their relationship.
Thus, the two had no choice but to end their relationship despite their love for each other.
Her parents were usually kind, but they were strict. And from her experience, they would truly do what they said they would.
"You are already engaged to the Emperor of Valeria.
Do you think he would forgive it if the wedding was canceled?
He would kill Prince Andrew and burn down all of Lahar.
He might hunt for our heads as well and hang them on his palace gates for making a fool out of him.
Our people will not be exempt from this either.
It's not just our lives on the line, but theirs as well.
Even in 10 years or more, we have no chance of winning a war against them, even if we joined forces with Lahar.
Haven't I educated you enough?
Think about the consequences of your actions," her mother scolded her.
Arabella was horrified upon hearing these and was at a loss for what to say.
She almost put their people and her most beloved man at risk due to her rash decisions.
Another painful thing, though, which hurt Arabella a lot, was the fact that her parents knew just what kind of man they were making her marry. They knew exactly how terrifying he was, and yet, they were still making her go to him.
Why?
Didn't they love her?
Did they educate and train her all these years just to make her marry such a man?
What were her efforts for all these years?
Now, Arabella wished she had been a non-obedient child right from the start. She had always listened to her parents except when she decided to run away with Andrew.
And yet, it resulted in all this.
"Emperor Ferdinand is the most powerful man on this continent.
What more would you look for?
He can protect you and your children.
If he learned you tried to run away with Prince Andrew, who had far less power than he has, he would feel immensely insulted.
You'd better behave yourself and never say a word about your attempt at eloping or not wanting to marry him."
Arabella got scolded for hours even as she wept.
It was the first time in her life she disobeyed her parents, and she almost caused the death of her beloved Andrew and their people.
Not wanting to cause harm to their people and Andrew and the Lahar Kingdom, Arabella resolved to marry the Emperor of Valeria.
To her surprise, Emperor Ferdinand was not hideous like the rumors said.
He was rather good-looking in terms of features. And he was so much better than Andrew when it comes to masculine appeal.
But of course, she still preferred Andrew, but didn't dare say it.
Emperor Ferdinand had silver-colored long hair tied in a ponytail, while some bangs were left cascading down his face to his chin's level.
Ferdinand had good facial features. He had emerald green eyes, thick brows, a sharp nose, kissable lips, and a strong jawline.
Yet, people said all sorts of things about him being hideous and terrifying.
Arabella easily figured out why Ferdinand was said to have such a scary appearance, though.
Even from a distance, just one glance, and anyone could tell, he oozed with so much danger. It was as if there was this mysterious, powerful energy swirling about him. Just getting close to him might make her pass out.
He looked rather moody, too. It was as if a dark, sinister aura was always around him.
Meanwhile, his eyes always looked like they were hunting for some prey.
He was also tall and had a huge, muscular body, very much different compared to hers. He could probably strangle her to death with one hand.
Arabella felt like a small, harmless rabbit hunted by a hungry wolf.
Or a dragon.
Dragon suited him much better. He looked like he might roar any minute and spew fire to burn down everyone and everything that pissed him off.
Ferdinand was completely different from Andrew, who had an energetic, fresh, and youthful charm.
The Emperor was totally the cold and aloof type; he was too scary to adore, even if he was handsome.
Moreover, he was a man of few words. Thus, it was even harder to get along with him. Unlike Andrew, who spoke a lot, it was easy to speak with and get close to him.
'This is going to be my husband?!' Arabella thought in horror the first time she met Ferdinand.
The way his eyes looked at her seemed like he was planning to kill her as soon as no one else was around.
It made her recall the rumors saying he had become crazy after all the wars he had fought.
Maybe there was some truth to it. After all, he was said to kill several people at least once a day to satisfy his bloodlust.
Arabella shivered. She didn't want to get married to this Emperor at all.
She'd rather jump out of the window of her room and fall to her death than be killed by him in her wedding dress.
'Aren't my parents going to save me from this nightmare?'
Arabella glanced at her parents for help, but none came.
They were all smiles at the Emperor and his cohorts. They were determined to send her to a foreign place to be with this man.
Even her elder brother, whom she had sought for help before the official engagement to convince their parents to change their minds, did not say a word. He was not even here to attend her wedding.
Not even her supposedly loyal knights nor her closest maids.
No one tried to help her get away from this marriage.
No one was on her side.
'Ah, I see…' Arabella finally realized something for the first time in her life.
When push comes to shove, she was all alone.
Everyone had betrayed and abandoned her.
People only saved their own skin in the end.
After all, who would risk their life in front of this fearsome foe?
She was the sacrificial lamb.
The offering to stop further conflict.
It was for everyone else's sake. For everyone's happiness.
But what about her own happiness?
Ah, perhaps, she did not have the right to be happy right from the start. Everything from her childhood was an illusion, a buildup, preparing her for this.
She had no right to say no.
Her role was to silently accept it as her duty as a princess, with a smile on her face, even as her heart and soul broke into pieces.
***
After meeting with Ferdinand once to make the engagement official, Arabella was at her wits' end.
She thought about killing herself just to escape it or get back at everyone, but she was too scared to do it.
She was furious with her family and everyone for abandoning her, but she still could not bear watching them die due to this.
But what about her?
Sending her to Valeria was akin to sending her to her death.
Yet, it was alright as long as everyone else lived, except for her?
Their moral compass was askew.
Who gets to decide this?
It was easy for them to say it was fine for one life to be sacrificed for the sake of many, because it wasn't their life on the line.
But if they were in her shoes, would they simply give their life away? Would they willingly march to their death?
Would they marry the Emperor, knowing they would die by his hands sooner or later?
They wouldn't.
It was exactly why she had to be the sacrifice. Because no one else wanted to do it. They wanted her to throw away her life to protect themselves.
Thus, in so much pain and sense of betrayal, Arabella walked to the open window of her room and thought of jumping below.
But she recalled Andrew's words when they parted.
"Arabella, my beloved, if we are meant to be, we will meet again. If destiny wills it, I will be yours, and you will be mine."
Even with pained and teary eyes, Andrew said such hopeful words with a smile and kissed the back of her hand for the last time before they parted.
Arabella's chest hurt once more as she recalled Andrew's words.
She clung to such hope.
Maybe a miracle would happen.
After all, she always believed she and Andrew were meant to be.
Maybe the Emperor would suddenly change his mind and cancel the engagement himself.
Hoping for the best, Arabella desperately prayed to the Goddess of Love and all the gods she knew, every single day, to increase the chances of her sincere wish getting heard.
She prayed that destiny and the Goddess of Love guide her back to her beloved.
Legends say the Goddess of Love was merciful and granted the wishes of those whose wishes were strong enough to reach her.
Thus, Arabella wished earnestly to be with her beloved and live a long and happy life with him.
But just two months after she was separated from Andrew, news that he had already wed someone else reached her.
Arabella was shocked and heartbroken.
She could not believe her beloved Andrew would betray her like this.
Even as her eyes were clouded with tears and her hands trembled in anxiety, fear, and pain, Arabella wrote him a letter every single day, asking why he married someone else after what he said when they parted.
But, not a single response came for months until she threatened him.
She wrote that she would be off with herself and leave a note saying it was his fault, so her fiancé would hunt him.
Only then did Andrew finally send a reply.
She was dumbfounded as she read the letter.
He even addressed her formally instead of calling her by name.
***
To Her Royal Highness, Princess Arabella Lobelius:
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Dear Princess Arabella,
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I am deeply sorry for not responding to your letters much sooner.
I was busy with my honeymoon and newlywed life.
I know this might sound like I am simply making excuses for my recent actions, but I swear, I was sincere with my feelings for you when we were together.
I loved you so dearly to the point, I felt like I might die after we parted.
No, I badly wanted to die back then. I no longer had any will to live. Back then, I fully believed you were my life and the only one for me.
However, after wallowing in sorrow because you were engaged to another man, I met someone who healed my wounds and mended my broken heart.
It seems fate had different plans for us.
I am in love with my wife now and plan to cherish her for the rest of my life.
I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me.
Your fated one must be your fiancé.
We must have been torn apart, so we could be with the one who's truly meant for us.
I wish you all the happiness and love you deserve.
May destiny weave you a blessed and healthy life.
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Sincerely,
Prince Andrew Lahar