Stefan's Captive Bride

Princess Sofia was the only child of the traditional rulers of Kismaros Village. It was a human community and they lived in peace and harmony among themselves. Sofia's parents, King Henry and Queen Maria both upheld the kingdom with pride and dignity while preserving the cultural heritage and history of the community. Sofia, their daughter on the other hand was a complete contrast to them. Sofia always wished she was not from the royal family due to the high expectations which her royal life had to come with.

She had always struggled to keep up with the bureaucratic nature of the royal life which she considered as too overwhelming for her

The queen was sitting in front of the dressing mirror alongside Sophia, both elegantly dressed

"Sofia darling, you must learn to smile with your eyes. Not just your lips" her mother the queen instructed as she adjusted her makeup

Sofia forced a brighter smile as the weight of her responsibilities weighed down on her

"Yes mom" She mumbled

"You know your dad and I both want the best for you " The queen assured as she drew her daughter close holding both sides of her head

Sofia was too lazy to react so she simply nodded her head lost in her own thoughts of being overwhelmed by her royal life.

They had a royal breakfast to attend with the chancellor and as such they were both getting ready for it.

The maid which they had excused earlier came back in and adjusted both of their dresses. They were both putting on formal court dresses with embroidery, pearls and colors which matched their skin tone perfectly. Their hairs also were styled perfectly to match their facial features with golden hair ornaments on them depicting their royalty.

"The Chancellor must have arrived by now" The queen said and together they both proceeded to the royal dining room for the breakfast

They got to the dining hall and their guest had already arrived and settled in. King Henry, Sofia's father and the Chancellor were seen chatting and laughing already. Besides the chancellor sat his son. He was a youthful teenager who was definitely older or around Sophia's age.

"Good morning Chancellor" The Queen greeted

"Morning, Your Majesty" The Chancellor answered

They all exchanged greetings and sat down to start eating

"We apologize for the late coming we had to brush up a few things" The queen said

"I totally understand my Queen. I know women and their makeup and maintenance activities take a lot of time" Chancellor Von said with a chuckle as the king supported the motion.

"I'm glad you know that as well" The king added and they all laughed

Sofia stared blankly at the young man (The chancellor's son) in front of her as he offered to pour her tea and she nodded reluctantly with a forced smile

"You know, ever since my wife died..." The Chancellor continued "My son and I...we've been inseparable. He's all I have left, and I cherish every moment with him. We still remember his mother dearly, and her memory remains evergreen in our hearts. That's why I understand the importance of women's priorities, especially when it comes to their appearance and well-being. My wife always used to say that a woman's beauty routine is not just about vanity, but about feeling confident and empowered. I've carried that lesson with me, and I'm glad to see that our queen and her ladies share the same values."

The Queen smiled warmly at the Chancellor words In appreciation

"You're the definition of a true gentleman Chancellor Von" She applauded

"I'm sure your wife will be smiling so happily wherever she is right now considering how well you acknowledge her and how well you trained your son to be" She added looking up to the fine young man

"Thank you, Your Majesty" The Chancellor son said bowing his head

"A fine young man indeed" The King commended as well

"I really appreciate, Your Majesty"

"What's your name again?" The king asked him

"Xavier" He responded

"Hmmmm Xavier...Nice name" The King hummed nodding his head

"Sofia" The King called out to the princess who had already lost interest in whatever meeting or breakfast they were having and was wondering what she was even doing in the midst of these older elites

"Yes Father" Sophia responded

"We've picked Xavier here as the man you're to marry" The King announced to the surprise of none other but Sofia herself

She paused and looked around in shock as she tried to process what she had just heard.

"What? She said in shock with a faint smile

"Is this a joke or something?" She asked, stuttering as she looked around trying to search her mother's face for answers but she got none. Her mother's expression remained neutral but she saw a hint of sadness behind her eyes

"You heard me right Sofia. You and Xavier are getting married probably in a month time" The King confirmed

Sofia simply could not process the whole information as she immediately withdrew her chair and ran outside the dining hall not caring at that moment about the shouts she heard after her.

"Impossible..impossible.." She kept saying as she ran straight to her room and locked herself in

Sofia collapsed onto her bed, her mind racing with thoughts of rebellion and escape. She couldn't believe her parents would do this to her, arranging a marriage without even consulting her.

She thought about Xavier, the young man she had just met. He seemed nice enough, but she didn't know him, and she certainly didn't want to marry him.

As she lay there, Sophia heard a soft knock on the door. It was her mother, the queen.

"Sofia dear, please open the door. We need to talk," the queen said gently.

Sofia hesitated, but eventually, she got up and unlocked the door. Her mother entered, looking concerned.

"Sofia, I know this is a shock, but please try to understand. This marriage is for the good of the kingdom," the queen explained.

Sofia shook her head, feeling a mix of anger and desperation. "I don't care about the kingdom! I care

my own life, my own happiness. And I won't marry someone I don't love!"

The queen sighed, looking sad. "Sofia, you're a princess. You have duties and responsibilities. Sometimes, that means making sacrifices for the greater good."

Sofia felt a lump form in her throat as she realized the enormity of her situation. She was trapped, with no escape from the fate that had been decreed for her.

"I hate the fact that you and dad don't care about my feelings. I expected you, mom, to understand me better but no It's always the kingdom, the kingdom and the kingdom! That's only what you both care about. My welfare or emotions means absolutely nothing!" Sofia with tears and walked out

She just wanted some fresh air due to the whole overwhelming situation. She walked passed the throne room and overheard her father shouting in fury

"She had the guts to run out and ruin the royal breakfast and cause me humiliation! No matter what her marriage with Xavier still stands!" He declared

That only worsened Sofia weakened emotions as she ran away in tears. She just needed to be away from everything. She got on her horse and away she rode for a stroll to the city outskirts alongside her guards just to clear her mind from everything. They rode for long until they got to the market, making Sofia pause and get down from her horse. She was beyond astonished as she admired the simplicity in life she saw in the common people. She smiled as she looked around in admiration. People were negotiating, buying and selling various products while chatting and enjoying each other's company, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere and she was so captivated by the sense of community, freedom and joy that filled the air.

"This is where I belong" She said to herself as she preferred the freedom of the common man to the luxuries of her over structured and overwhelming royal life

Later that night, she lay on her bed thinking. She knew what her heart wanted and she had to get it done knowing that her heart played a big role in her life decisions, She thought as she laid on her bed reminiscing her fun experience outside the palace earlier. She had to run away from everything that threatened her peace and freedom. The arranged marriage, the weight of her responsibilities, the high expectations, she had to run away from it all.

With a newly found courage she picked up her cloak and sneaked out of her room out into the unknown not caring what the future held for her