Berryanna had just finished the meeting with the nobles.
The room still smelled faintly of parchment, ink, and the nervous sweat of men who feared saying the wrong thing. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, cutting across the long table where maps and documents remained spread out, untouched now that the meeting had ended.
Apple had been present, sitting beside her as always. He had smiled when required, nodded when prompted, and said nothing unless spoken to directly. Berryanna did most of the talking. Since the accident years ago that left Apple with a brain injury, ruling the nation had quietly fallen into her hands. There had been no announcement, no ceremony, no official transfer of power. It simply happened, as many heavy things did, slowly and without permission.
Though Apple carried the title of king, Berryanna handled the affairs of the state. She read every report, approved every decision, signed every order. The nobles bowed to Apple, but they waited for Berryanna to speak. As the only two surviving royal blood left, the responsibility rested on her shoulders. Apple remained the public figure, the symbol the people adored, the face they bowed to, while Berryanna carried the weight they never saw.
When the meeting ended, everyone left the office, including Apple. He stood, gave her a cheerful nod, and reminded a guard it was his pudding time. He never missed it.
The doors closed behind him. Only two nobles remained standing in front of Berryanna. They lingered longer than necessary, shifting their weight, clearing their throats, their silence stretching just enough to be noticeable. Berryanna did not look up immediately. She continued signing a document, her pen steady, her expression calm.
"You are already dismissed," she said at last. "Why are you still here?"
The two men exchanged a glance. Noble Tayan Levi, the newly appointed Lord of Finance, stood stiffly beside Noble Daren. Tayan looked nervous, his hands clasped behind his back. Daren looked more confident, though his eyes betrayed impatience.
"Princess," Levi began carefully, "the people are still discussing the marriage matter. They keep sending proposals, requesting that you and the king get married."
Berryanna did not pause her pen.
"I have a wife now," she replied without hesitation. "We got married yesterday."
The words landed heavily in the room..Both nobles froze. They looked at each other, clearly unsure of what they heard, or apologize for hearing wrong.
"I don't understand, Princess," Levi said after a moment. His voice was cautious, as if stepping onto thin ice. "Do you mean you have a wife, or the king has a wife?"
Berryanna finally looked up. Her gaze sharpened, steady and cold, like a blade that had found its target.
"Is it wrong for a princess to marry a woman?" she asked.
"No, Princess," Daren said quickly, stepping in before Levi could speak again. "Whatever decision you make is acceptable. Of course it is. But no one will believe you are married because there was never an announcement, and there was no wedding."
"End this discussion now," Berryanna said immediately, cutting him off. Her tone did not rise, did not waver. "If you have nothing useful to say, leave."
She returned her attention to the document, clearly dismissing them. She expected them to bow and go. They did not.
"Princess," Daren said again, hesitant but persistent. "I have something to show you, if you can spare a little time."
Berryanna leaned back in her chair slowly. The wood creaked beneath her weight as she folded her arms.
"What is it, Lord Daren?" she asked.
"We have not held a royal hunt for years," he said. "The people are asking why. The royal hunt is a symbol that connects the king and the people."
"What people?" Berryanna said.
The single word hung in the air, heavy and sharp. Daren hesitated, his confidence faltering for a brief second.
She continued before he could recover. "The last time there was a royal hunt, what happened?"
Daren lowered his head. His voice dropped. "The late king died during the hunt. But that was eight years ago. The culprit behind the assassination was punished. Everyone has moved on. The king deserves to meet the people, to relate with them. If it is not done, people will think the throne is empty, and..."
"Get out," Berryanna said coldly. Both men stiffened.
"Both of you," she continued. "And Daren, you are dismissed from office. I do not want to see your face within these walls again."
There was no room for argument. They bowed quickly and left, their footsteps echoing as the doors closed behind them.
Daren's face was tight with displeasure as he exited, his jaw clenched, his eyes dark.
Berryanna remained seated for a moment after they left. Her fingers pressed into the armrest of her chair, her nails digging slightly into the polished wood. She exhaled slowly, then stood.
She made her way to the weapon room. The room was quiet, almost reverent. Hunting gear lined the walls neatly. Spears rested in their stands. Bows and arrows were polished, untouched, preserved more as symbols than tools. Her gaze lingered on a particular armor set.
Her father's.The armor he used to wear during the hunts. Berryanna stood there for a long time. Memories pressed against her chest, heavy and uninvited. The last time she had seen him wear it, she had been little. Back when everything was still perfect. Back when she was only the king's daughter, running through halls, laughing too loudly, playing, being mischievous with her brother, never knowing what life had planned for her.
She reached out and took his bow. It felt familiar in her hands, like something that had been waiting for her.
She turned it over, testing the weight, pulling the string slightly. The tension was still strong. Still reliable.
Berryanna stepped out onto the balcony to give it a try. As she practiced, her movements were smooth, practiced, controlled. Then her eyes drifted downward.
She spotted Straw walking through the courtyard. Berryanna watched her. Every movement. Every misstep. The way she looked around like the world was something new and exciting. The way she paused to admire statues, tilted her head at nothing, nearly tripped over her own feet.
Her clumsy behavior made Berryanna's lips curve without her realizing it. She smiled. If staring at Straw were a job, Berryanna would be exceptional at it. Observation had always been her strength.
The moment was ruined when a maid approached Straw. Berryanna's expression changed slightly. It darkened when Straw smiled at the maid. It worsened when Straw handed her a flower.
"She is breaking the rules," Berryanna muttered under her breath, eyes locked on the scene below.
Before she thought better of it, her hand was already on an arrow. She aimed, she did not fire immediately. But when Straw stumbled and the maid caught her, Berryanna released the arrow, It struck near them. She did not hesitate. The second arrow flew. Then the third. That third shot was when Straw finally looked up and saw her. Berryanna stopped staring. Straw immediately left the garden. Berryanna lowered the bow, her jaw tight, her expression unreadable.