Chapter 1
Snow fell in thick, silent sheets, burying the mountain peaks beneath a blanket of white. Frost clung to every branch, and the forest that had once been lush with green now stood still beneath winter's embrace.
By the frost-rimmed window, Zynia sat in silence, her thoughts as restless as the snow swirling beyond the glass.
"Sister Zynia!"
The familiar voice shattered the silence. Zaire burst into the room, her boots tapping against the polished floor as she hurried toward the window.
Zynia turned from the snow-covered landscape and offered her younger sister a faint smile.
"Yes, Zaire?"
"What are you doing?" Zaire asked, settling beside her.
"Just watching the snow," Zynia replied softly, her gaze drifting back to the mountains cloaked in white.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. Snowflakes floated lazily past the window, and the silence between them felt heavier than the winter outside.
"Your wedding is only five days away," Zaire finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Zynia lowered her eyes. "Hmm."
"What are you going to do about it?" Zaire asked.
Zynia frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Sister..." Zaire sighed. "Please don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about."
"I don't understand," Zynia insisted.
"You're not actually going to marry that old man... are you?" Zaire asked, disbelief filling her voice.
Zynia's fingers tightened around the windowsill. For a long moment, she simply watched the snow fall.
"I don't know," she admitted quietly.
"What?" Zaire sprang to her feet. "How can you say you don't know?" Her voice rose with every word. "This is your life, Sister! You can't just let the King and Erica decide your future for you."
Zynia finally turned to face her. Though her expression remained calm, there was sadness in her eyes.
"Zaire... he is not only our king. He is also our father. Mother always taught us to honor and obey him."
"Mother also taught us to stand for what is right," Zaire shot back. "Would she have wanted this for you? Would she have wanted you forced into a marriage with a man old enough to be your father?"
Zynia's composure wavered, but she held her ground.
"This marriage isn't only about me," she said softly. "It's about the kingdom. Sometimes, being a princess means carrying burdens we never chose."
"That's not a burden," Zaire snapped. "That's a sacrifice no one has the right to demand of you."
Sister, this isn't choosing a dress or deciding what to eat. They're deciding your entire life for you."
"It's not that simple."
"Then make it simple!" Zaire pleaded. "Tell Father you won't do it. Run away if you have to. Fight for yourself."
Zynia gave a sad smile and slowly shook her head.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because Father has already decided."
"So? Since when have you stopped standing up for what's right?"
"I've accepted my duty."
"Duty?" Zaire repeated bitterly.
"Mother always taught us that our duty to our family and our kingdom comes before ourselves."
Zaire's jaw tightened.
"Mother this, mother that." "Forget Mother," Zaire snapped, her voice trembling with anger. "If she truly cared about us, she wouldn't have left us here to suffer under Father and Queen Erica. She would have taken us with her."
"Zaire."
The warning in Zynia's voice was quiet but firm.
"I mean every word," Zaire continued, refusing to back down. "She left us behind. That's the truth."
"Zaire..." Zynia whispered, shaking her head. "Don't say such things."
"Why not? It's the truth! Every day we've suffered in this palace while she was gone. If she cared, she would have come back for us!"
"Enough!"
"No!" Zaire cried, tears spilling down her cheeks. "You keep defending someone who isn't here! You keep pretending everything she did was right!"
"ZAIRE!"
Zynia's voice echoed through the chamber.
For a heartbeat, silence filled the room.
"Take it back. Take those words back," Zynia said her voice trembling, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Zaire lifted her chin defiantly.
"I won't."
Before Zynia realized what she was doing, her hand flew across Zaire's face.
Slap!
The sharp sound echoed through the chamber.
Zaire staggered back, one hand flying to her burning cheek. Her eyes widened with disbelief as tears gathered in them.
"Sister..." she whispered. "You... slapped me."
Zynia froze.
Her raised hand slowly fell to her side as horror washed over her face. She had never struck either of her sisters before.
Tears blurred her vision.
"Never speak of Mother that way again," she said softly, her voice breaking. "Whatever happened... whatever forced her to leave... I know she loved us. I know she did."
Zaire looked at her through tear-filled eyes.
"You slapped me for trying to make you face reality," she said bitterly.
"That isn't reality," Zynia replied, struggling to steady her voice. "It's your pain speaking."
"No." Zaire shook her head. "It's the truth you're too afraid to accept."
For a moment, neither of them moved. The air between them seemed to freeze.
"Please, Sister," Zaire pleaded, her voice cracking. "You still have time. Stop this wedding before it's too late."
A knock sounded at the door before Zynia could answer.
The door opened slightly, and Zelda stepped inside. Her bright smile faded the moment she noticed the tears on both their faces.
"What happened?" she asked softly, looking from one sister to the other.
No one answered.
Zelda's eyes settled on the faint red mark blooming across Zaire's cheek, and her heart sank.
"Sister..." she whispered, turning to Zynia. "Are you really going to leave us?"
Zynia's expression softened.
"Zelda..."
She crossed the room and gently cupped her younger sister's face.
"You know that one day I'll have to get married and leave the palace. We can't stay together forever Zelda, but you know I'll love you both till eternity."
"I know that," Zelda replied through trembling lips. "But... why does it have to be now?"
The question pierced Zynia's heart.
She forced a smile and opened her arms.
"Who said I'm leaving today? I still have five whole days with my favorite sisters."
Zelda immediately threw herself into the embrace.
After a brief hesitation, Zaire joined them as well.
The three sisters held each other tightly, as though they could stop time itself.
"Sister," Zaire murmured against Zynia's shoulder, "we don't want five more days. We don't want you to leave at all."
"Please," Zelda whispered. "Cancel the wedding."
Zynia closed her eyes.
"I wish it were that simple."
"It is," Zaire insisted. "Just say no."
A sad smile touched Zynia's lips.
"Whatever happens... I need you both to be brave. Promise me you'll look after each other."
Neither of them answered.
They simply held her tighter.
Another knock interrupted the silence.
"My princess," a maid called respectfully from outside the door. "Her Majesty, Queen Erica, requests your presence."
The warmth in the room vanished instantly.
Zynia's body went rigid.
The color drained from her face, and her hands tightened ever so slightly around her sisters.
"I... I'll be there," she replied, her voice barely steady.
The maid bowed from outside the doorway and left.
An uneasy silence followed.
"Erica wants to see you?" Zaire asked, suspicion flashing across her face. "What could she possibly want now?"
Zynia took a slow breath before forcing a calm smile.
"Zelda... take Zaire back to her room."
"What?" Zaire frowned. "No. We're coming with you."
"You can't."
"I'm not letting you face Erica alone."
"Zaire," Zynia said gently but firmly, "please."
Zaire folded her arms stubbornly.
"I'm coming."
"Zelda," Zynia said, her eyes never leaving Zaire, "take your sister."
Zelda hesitated before nodding.
"Come on, Zaire."
She reached for her hand.
"Don't touch me, Zelda," Zaire warned, pulling away.
"I'm sorry, big sister," Zelda said apologetically. "But I have to listen to our eldest sister."
Before Zaire could protest again, Zelda caught hold of her wrist and gently but firmly pulled her toward the door.
"Zelda!" Zaire struggled. "Let go! I'm not leaving!"
"You'll only make things harder for her," Zelda said quietly.
"Don't touch me Zelda! Let me go!"
Her voice echoed down the corridor as Zelda led her away.
