Chapter 7: The Princess They Came For
Morning came softly to the village, as if the world itself was unaware of the storm approaching.
Seraphina woke to the sound of birds and distant laughter, the gentle hum of a life she had built with her own hands. For years, this had been her world—simple, peaceful, untouched by crowns and cruelty.
She stepped outside her small home, the cool breeze brushing against her skin. Children ran past her, calling her name.
"Seraphina! Dance today!"
She smiled.
"Always," she replied lightly.
To them, she was not strange.
Not broken.
Just Seraphina.
But peace… never lasted long.
The first sign was the silence.
Birds stopped singing.
Laughter faded.
Even the wind seemed to hesitate.
Seraphina's smile slowly fell.
She turned.
And saw them.
Men in armor.
Dozens of them.
Standing at the edge of the village like shadows that did not belong.
The royal crest gleamed on their chests.
Her heart skipped.
No… not skipped.
Stopped.
"Who are you?" one of the elders demanded, stepping forward protectively.
The man at the front removed his helmet.
His face was stern, unreadable.
"We come under the command of His Majesty, King Aurelian."
The name struck the air like thunder.
Seraphina's fingers curled slightly.
The king.
Her father.
"We seek a girl," the man continued, his eyes scanning the crowd.
"A girl bearing a mark."
The villagers exchanged glances.
Fear crept in.
Because they knew.
Of course they knew.
Everyone in the village knew Seraphina was… different.
Slowly… too slowly…
All eyes turned to her.
Seraphina stood still.
She could run.
She had survived worse.
She could disappear into the forest before they took a single step.
But something inside her…
Didn't move.
The man's gaze landed on her.
And held.
"There you are."
The words were quiet.
Certain.
Final.
The elder stepped in front of her. "She is one of us. You have no claim over her."
The soldier's expression hardened.
"She belongs to the crown."
Seraphina let out a soft breath.
Belongs.
As if she had ever belonged to them.
"I'll go."
The words came from her before anyone else could speak.
The elder turned sharply. "No, child—"
"It's alright," she said gently.
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
"I've been running from this long enough."
The villagers protested, voices rising in fear and anger, but Seraphina only smiled softly at them.
"It will be okay."
She wasn't sure if she believed it.
But they needed to.
As she stepped forward, the soldiers parted.
No chains.
No force.
But the air around them was heavy with control.
She walked past them… and didn't look back.
Because if she did—
She might not leave at all.
The journey to the palace was long.
Silent.
Tense.
Seraphina sat inside the carriage, her reflection staring back at her through a small polished metal mirror.
The scars on her face were as harsh as ever.
Twisted.
Uneven.
Unforgiving.
She had learned to wear them like armor.
But today…
They felt different.
Her fingers moved to a small pouch hidden within her dress.
Inside it was powder.
Dark.
Carefully made.
She had used it for years.
To make the scars worse.
To make sure no one would ever look at her and see anything else.
Slowly… she applied it.
Deepening the lines.
Darkening the edges.
Turning something painful…
Into something feared.
"If they want a monster," she whispered softly,
"I'll give them one."
By the time the palace gates came into view, the sky had begun to darken.
The towering walls stood like a memory she had tried to forget.
But never truly could.
As she stepped out of the carriage, servants and guards stared.
Whispers spread instantly.
"Is that her…?"
"She looks—"
"Disgusting…"
Seraphina heard every word.
And felt nothing.
Inside the palace, the air was colder.
Heavier.
Familiar.
She was led through long halls until the great doors opened.
The throne room.
Her steps slowed.
Just for a moment.
Then she walked in.
King Aurelian sat upon his throne.
Exactly as she remembered.
Untouchable.
Unmoved.
Unchanged.
Their eyes met.
For the first time since the day she was born.
Silence fell across the hall.
The court watched.
Waiting.
The king stood slowly.
Descending the steps.
Each step echoing like judgment.
He stopped before her.
Close enough to see every detail of her face.
Every scar.
Every imperfection.
His expression didn't change.
But his eyes…
His eyes betrayed him.
Shock.
Then something deeper.
Something darker.
"You lived," he said quietly.
Not relief.
Not joy.
Just… recognition.
Seraphina tilted her head slightly.
A faint smile touching her lips.
"I did."
The court held its breath.
Aurelian straightened.
Composed once more.
"Good," he said coldly.
"Then you will serve your purpose."
Her smile didn't fade.
"Of course," she replied.
But her eyes…
Held something far more dangerous than obedience.
From the shadows of the hall…
Another pair of eyes watched her.
Sharp.
Unyielding.
Curious.
Kael.
And for the first time…
He saw her.
Not as a rumor.
Not as a story.
But as the girl he was meant to marry.
His gaze didn't soften.
Didn't waver.
But something in it shifted.
Just slightly.
Interest.
And Seraphina felt it.
Even without looking.
The game had begun.