The Rebellious Princess Running along the plains, Natalia was barefooted as she dashed across the muddy field. There it was, the deer running along the plains; this particular deer had been coming to visit for weeks and destroying the rice farm. Natalia suddenly stopped, and she held her stance before she drew her bow; letting it escape would mean it would come back, and it would damage the farm even more. "I am sorry." She apologized as she released the arrow; she watched it project towards the targeted aim; she heard the deer sneer before it fell with a loud thud; a victorious smile plastered across her face as she ran towards her game. "And how long do you intend to apologize to the animals before you kill them?" She heard the familiar yet pesky voice that approached her, and she frowned. She pressed her right foot against the abdomen of the deer and forced out the arrow from it. "I still don't think you are fit for hunting." "Josiah!" She snapped back a small frown and creased her eyebrows. With a smaller smile, Josiah bowed slightly. "I apologize to them because I have no power to make their lives, but I am killing them anyway." "Then do you think they would forgive you because you apologized?" Josiah mocked even further, and Natalia frowned. "That deer was probably returning home to its children, but then you shot it, and you think a simple apology can make up for the life you have taken?" "Did my father send you here?" She asked him instead. "That doesn't answer my question, Princess." He said with another mocking bow, and Natalia clenched her fists. He was right; she had no right to take the deer's life. "Are you avoiding it?" "I am not, as much as I would love to avoid bloodshed; the path of a huntress is the one painted in with blood. Just as she wanted to fend for her kids, I needed to protect the food of my people. Anyone who is a threat to it, innocent or not, I will not hesitate to bring my arrow upon him. This is the path I have chosen." She drew her arrow and aimed at Josiah; this time, he lifted both of his hands in surrender. "I will not tell your father." He promised he understood why she aimed to kill him. "I swear on my honor, princess." She pulled back her arrow with a scrutinizing look on her face. She wondered why Josiah chose to play this game with her; he was the chief commander of the village and one of the best warriors they had. If he wanted to, he could take away the bow from her, yet he chose to play weak. "Aren't you going to attend the festival?" Josiah asked, and almost immediately, Natalia's eyes widened as she remembered she was supposed to attend the Ishani festival with her sister, and now she was missing. She was about to leave when Josiah noticed she wasn't wearing any footwear. His eyes narrowed. "Princess, where are your shoes?" He asked curiously, with genuine concern ringing in his voice. Natalia stared down at her bruised legs; they hadn't hurt until he spoke about it. "If your father sees you walking around without shoes, he would be furious." Josiah scolded and got down on one knee, spreading his back in her direction. Natalia paused for a while, and a small blush covered her face. "W-What are you doing?" She stuttered in embarrassment. "Princess, get on my back," Josiah said again. "This is the only way you will get to the shrine." She paused for a while before she agreed to it. "Then, if you would excuse me." She got on his back, and Josiah's arms reached for her, holding her closer to his body as he carried her gently across the plains and back to the village. He gently set her on the wooden stairs, the ones that led to her room. "Thank you." She smiled briefly; Josiah had been like this right from the time they were younger; she remembered he used to be so short, but suddenly he grew almost twice her size. That is the difference between men and women, and Natalia hated it. Why did she have to be so small? Josiah reached for some fallen strands of her hair and pulled it behind her ears with a small smile. "I could also help you to treat your wounds." He offered harmlessly, but Natalia didn't want to be indebted to him too much, so she turned him down. "These are just scratches; I can manage." And almost immediately, she ran across the stairs and disappeared into her room, in a hurry to change. "You are late," Griselda gritted between clenched teeth, glaring at her little sister, who was now dressed in traditional attire. "I know, and I am sorry." Natalia apologized as she adjusted her robe; her eyes flitted across the room in search of their father. "Luckily, Father has yet to arrive as well," Griselda answered the unasked question, and a fat grin spread across Natalia's face. She was pleased; he should never find out she was running in the plains, shooting down the animals that were destroying the crops. "You should wash your feet." "Ah, right," Natalia said as she headed towards the fountain of life to wash her feet as a sign of respect to the goddess. **** Griselda applied balm on the large scars on her sister's feet; Natalia winced, and Griselda shook her head; her sister was just too rough for a woman. "Josiah came out of nowhere, and he offered to carry me," Natalia explained, peeling more tangerines and stuffing them into her mouth. "Now that I think about it, it is annoying that he appears everywhere and out of nowhere, don't you think?" "That's because you are dumb, Natty." Griselda chuckled. "You still don't know that Josiah likes you?" "Wait, what? No, that's disgusting!" She exclaimed as she glanced back at her sister, who laughed softly. "How on earth did you even think about that? He is so annoying, and he is rude; he always makes fun of me." Natalia rambled. "Of course he does." Griselda chuckled again; it was quite comical how her sister was a bit scatterbrained and clueless about things. It was as clear as day just how Josiah adored her, yet she failed to see it. "If I were Josiah, I would have given up already." Natalia paused for a while as she thought about what her sister had said. It was true that Josiah was always hanging around her, but he had never done anything strange. It didn't matter, or so she thought. She turned on her right side of the bed once more, admiring her sister's beauty. It was true what they said... Griselda is truly the reincarnation of the goddess Ishani, the goddess of beauty and purity; she was the most beautiful woman in the world, and tales of her beauty had traveled far and wide. Emperors, kings, and dukes from far and wide had shown interest in getting Griselda's hand in marriage. But their father, Izaiah, had rejected every one of those proposals because he wanted Griselda to remain in the tribe; he thought it was much better for both of his daughters to be within the tribe. Natalia sighed, lost in her sister's otherworldly looks; everyone who had met her had always been captivated by her charms. How convenient to have the most powerful weapon. In this world, women are ornaments, and your value is measured by how beautiful you are; in other words, Griselda is the perfect woman that every man would want. She was the ultimate weapon. Suddenly, they both heard a knock outside their room. Natalia glanced at her sister, and their eyes shot to the entrance. "What is it?" Griselda asked the guards who were gathered. "Forgive us, princesses," Izek said with a light bow along with the men with him. "Your father has sent for you in the inner court." Natalia's eyes widened immediately; for anyone to be summoned to be summoned in the inner court meant something terrible had happened. Natalia became very nervous; it was possible that the meeting was because of her, and she shivered slightly from the cold night air. As they neared the inner court, Natalia trembled. They entered the fairly lighted courtroom; some of the high-ranking officials were present, the elders of the tribe, and the chief of the tribe, Izaiah Ayala, was seated on his chair, stamping on papers with his inked thumb. Natalia always looked up to and respected her father so much. "Father..." The ladies bowed their heads out of respect for their father as the chief of the tribe. "Ah..." He raised his head towards them, and as he finally noticed their presence, Natalia's eyes darted to the side, and she noticed Josiah standing very close to one of the tribe elders and the chief advisor, Malevich. "I see you are here, Griselda and Natalia." There was a stretch on "Natalia" that made her heart skip. "Three days ago, I received a letter that contained a marriage proposal." He started, his voice stoic; this was probably another marriage proposal for Griselda. Natalia was curious about what kind of man the groom would be; it would probably be a king or a knight from a neighboring kingdom. "But I rejected the proposal." His cold voice came back again, and Griselda frowned; he had never told her about any of the proposals she got, and since he was telling her this one, she felt it was a pass. "Why did you reject it this time, Father?" It was the very first time Griselda was questioning her father, which surprised Natalia. "The Emperor of the Dragon Lairs sent the letter." He answered. The girls both gasped in surprise. That crazy blood-sucking demon, why would the Emperor of the Dragon lairs of all people ask for the hands of Griselda in marriage? This was bad; this was all types of bad. 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