Rise of The Withered Flower

The Royal Palace of Aritish

While the guards and servants were busy preparing for the feast which was just a few minutes away, one particular chamber was filled with chattering and laughter.

”Did Father really plan to choose my husband in this feast? ” A hint of anxiety and doubt was written all over a beautiful young womans face when she asked the question to the three men who were sitting around her. She glanced at each one of them, hoping to hear some response.

The three young men exchanged glances with each other before one of them spoke up.

”This is a serious matter, Isabella, ” Crown Prince Owine Varence answered his younger sister in a serious yet calm tone. ”Why would we joke about your marriage? ”

The Crown Prince tended to be playful at times but Princess Isabella Varence doubted that her eldest brother would joke about something like this.

Was it really true?!

”You will soon turn 16 and maybe Father wants you to prepare for that. ” It was the Third Prince, Saerus Varence who spoke up this time. Looking at his only sister, there was a hint of concern on his face.

”Girls in our kingdom mostly get married when they turn 18, ” Princess Isabella stated, confused. ”Why would Father be in a hurry? Its not like our Aritish is facing a serious problem. ”

”Its not a bad idea for you to marry early, Isabel. As long as the man is someone trustworthy, I will say that its fine, ” Fourth Prince Rayan Varence chimed in. ”That means you should be on your best behavior during the feast. ” Unlike the two Princes, his face was quite unreadable.

Hearing all those words from her three older brothers, the gentle Princess was on the verge of panicking! When she thought of her future, she couldn even manage to utter a word! It was at that moment that another young man appeared from the balcony.

”You should stop playing around with her, ” Second Prince Alanus Varence said with a hint of annoyance in his tone. Though he approached his siblings, he took a seat on another couch that was far away from them.

Hearing his words, the three Princes let out a sigh.

”You ruined the fun! ” Saerus Varence exclaimed while shaking his head in displeasure.

”And the mood too, ” Crown Prince Owine added, bluntly.

Princess Isabella Varence processed her brothers argument until her eyes suddenly grew wide. ”You
e lying? ”

There was no response as all her brothers look away, almost simultaneously. Her second brother was the only one who sat there, unfazed by whatever was happening.

He was always that way!

Feeling hopeless, the Princess turned back to her three brothers. ”I was so scared thinking it was the truth. How can you do this to your only sister? ” She sounded like a mother who was attempting to discipline her unruly sons and despite her obvious displeasure, she heard the sound of a chuckle.

It was her eldest brother, the Crown Prince.

”Calm down, Isabel, ” Crown Prince Owine mused. ”Theres no reason to feel scared. ”

”Because you
e just playing around with me? ” the Princess snorted. There was a strong hint of defiance in her tone which sounded more like a challenge. Nevertheless, the Crown Prince still flashed a calm smile and shook his head.

”No. Because even if it happens to be the truth, I will do anything to stop Father. ”

Her eldest brother sounded warm like always and it instantly made the Princess forget about the rage she felt just a few seconds ago.

”You have four older brothers, ” Third Prince Saerus chimed in. ”Do you think we will let you marry - ”

”Says the one who comes up with this lie, ” Second Prince Alanus interjected his younger brother, much to the frustration of the latter who quickly turned in his direction just to glare at him. To add to the frustration of Saerus, his older brother didn even spare him a single glance!

”I knew it! ” Isabella Varence exclaimed while looking at her third brother with displeasure. ”You always grab every chance to make fun of me. ”

Without even paying attention to the Third Prince who was about to clarify himself, the Princess shifted her gaze to the Fourth Prince who was her only full sibling among the Princes there. ”What about you, Rayan? ” she asked, demanding an explanation.

”You know how persistent Saerus is, ” Rayan Varence sighed. ”Its impossible to make him give up once he decides something. ”

Prince Saeruss eyes grew wide the moment he heard his younger brother. ”When did I - ” He couldn finish his words as the Crown Prince interrupted him.

”Lets talk about something else, ” Owine Varence said while looking at his sister with a little smile. ”I heard something that will surely interest Isabel. ”

”Really? What is it?! ” The Princesss face immediately brightened up as if she forgot everything about the prank her brothers pulled on her. Her reaction brought smiles to the faces of the Princes, including the Second Prince who had a subtle smile on his lips for the first time since they gathered there in the Princesss chamber.

Crown Prince Owine let a few seconds pass before he leaned a bit closer towards his sister who was sitting opposite him and said, ”I heard that General Eloria Camer agreed to attend the feast this time. She will almost arrive by now. ”

The Crown Princes revelation was followed by a surprising silence that last a few seconds as the siblings exchanged glances with one another. Then all of a sudden, the Princess who was the youngest sprung up from her seat. ”General Eloria is coming?! Really, Owine?! ” Her face was filled with excitement and it made Owine Varence laugh.

”Of course, ” he responded in a loud voice and playfully added, ”Im really telling the truth this time. ”

As if she still doubt her eldest brother due to the prank earlier, Isabella shifted her gaze to her second brother who practically isolated himself by sitting alone. And when Alanus noticed her staring at him, he understood her purpose and he lazily nodded. This immediately brightened up her face!

She had heard many things about the famous General and its been so long since she wished to meet her! It seemed like she will finally be granted the chance!

”Im going to meet Father, ” Princess Isabella suddenly declared after a few seconds of silence. Before none of her brothers could speak up, she rushed out of her chamber.

”Shes so excited, ” Saerus Varence remarked while staring at the now empty door. Then he turned back to his brothers. ”Well, its understandable. Even Father is excited to meet the General. ”

”Aren you feeling the same too? ” Crown Prince Owine asked his younger brother with an amusing smile on his face. ”You always talked about wishing to meet her. ”

”I only said that because shes so mysterious, ” Third Prince Saerus sighed. ”Even when someone went to the Camer army camp to see her, she was always out. Sometimes, it seems like shes avoiding everyone on purpose yet shes willing to attend the feast this time. ” He looked at the Crown Prince and asked, ”Don you think shes strange, brother? ”

Both the Second Prince and Third Prince also appeared to be thinking of something but they didn say anything about it. However, they were also all ears on the conversation between the Crown Prince and the Third Prince.

”She must have her reasons, ” Crown Prince Owine responded in his usual calm voice. ”Commander Deric Camer is a reasonable man but he always supports everything that his daughter does. So, even if the General is strange, I believe in her father. Besides, General Eloria already does a lot for our Aritish. Don you agree? ”

Saerus Varence struggled to answer his older brother while the latter simply smiled and rose from his seat. ”Lets get going. The feast is about to start. ”

With the Crown Prince leaving, his three younger brothers followed him out of the chamber and each one of them had a different expression on their face.

In contrast to the confusion, doubt, and calm looks on his brothers faces, Rayan Varence had a little smile on his face. He had waited for this day for a long time…..