I reluctantly wake up out of habit before a maid can rush in and thrash me awake. Today is going to be a monumental occasion where we host a feast with the upper nobles as the ten-year fight has finished. Not so much a war fought with men and arms, but with people and food.

I call in one of my maids to get me dressed for breakfast with father and mother. I sit there while they prepare everything from my hair to dress. Make-up has become expensive and scarce and I use much less of it now.

As soon as everything was finally finished, I was wearing a light blue dress, which contrasted with my blonde hair splendidly. My orange eyes also show my lineage.

After finishing, I headed towards the dining room where mother and father were most likely waiting for me.

I walk through the hallways and enter the dining room. Servants were all around the room preparing for the meal. For once, everyone seemed uplifted somehow. As if something which has bothered them for years has finally ended.

Although even for me, I could feel a weight falling off my shoulders.

I saw mother and father at the end of the table, waiting for my arrival.

"Dianna, we have been waiting for you."

"Sorry mother, it is just that today feels so different. Did something happen?"

I sat down across from my mother, with my father to my left, at the head of the table.

"Today will be the day we receive the message about the tribute shipment. Once it is delivered, we can finally reassure our weary citizens that all those years of hardship are over."

"Where is brother?"

"He is in his studies. He should arrive soon."

The door opened, and my brother appeared.

"Sorry I am late. I was finishing up an interesting book on philosophy."

"It is alright Damion, we know you love to read the literature. Although I worry about your marriage. You still yet to have kids Damion."

"Father!"

My father really has no tact now.

However, at that moment, the head minister ran into the dining hall.

"Your highness, sorry to interrupt your family time, but an urgent message has come!"

"What is it?"

"Here your majesty."

The prime minister ran up to the king and handed him a small piece of paper. As soon as my father read the message, his brows furrowed.

"Are you sure this is accurate?"

"Yes, your highness, we got it from our dedicated messenger eagle with the royal seal. We just got it from the guard post a few days out by horse."

My father continued to look at the small piece of paper. Despite it not having much to say, it’s easy to tell that he is too shocked to believe it.

"Sorry, I will have to excuse myself from the table. An urgent matter has sprung up."

"Yes, dear husband, or should I say your majesty?"

My father only nodded back and quickly rushed out of the dining room along with the minister. Being curious about what was going on, I ran up next to the door and listened closely. My mother and brother only sighed in disbelief.

I could hear my father and the minister talking.

"Minister, get the emergency council together. Draft up proposals from parliament. I want every option on the table soon. We must come up with a solution within the month."

"Yes, your highness, since a session of parliament was scheduled to happen tomorrow, we can get going on that. It is unfortunate that this had to happen today..."

"Yes, your right. Damn it.. You are going to pull through more Gerald."

"yes your highness."

I could hear Minister Gerald briskly walking off into the hallway. Things were going to get busy again. But what made father so frustrated? I have a hunch, but I don't want it to be true.

My father walks into the dining room and closes the door behind him.

"My dear husband, what has happened?"

My father contemplated what to say. It was obvious it would not be easy to say.

"I'm sorry, honey, but I need to discuss this with you in private. Now."

"I'm sorry Damion and Dianna, but we are going to have to excuse ourselves. I promise to tell you tomorrow."

Me and my brother nodded and my mother and father left the dining room into the main hallway.

"Damion, what do you think is going on?"

"Beats me. It could be another food rush again. Those damn nobles hoarding everything."

If possible. Food riots have become somewhat of an issue. But there have been less of them considering that many are too busy or starving to riot. If only we had the power to rein in those wealthy nobles. Maybe father can finally get the legislation in the parliament passed restricting the amount of food which can be bought.

Father would only seem distressed, but now it seems like he is furious. Something I have never seen.

"Damion, forgive me, but I need to head out."

"For what exactly?.... Never mind. I won't stop you."

I left the dining room with my brother, exasperated.

I walk up to my father's and mother's room. I listened in to see if I could hear anything. I cannot wait until tomorrow.

"The tribute ship has sent an emergency message by eagle. It says that its been attacked, and we need to prepare another tribute."

"Dear! You know that won't be possible! That was everything we had. We cannot afford to do it anymore. The people cannot continue to starve like this. They will eventually revolt and we will have our heads on pikes!"

"Then you must already know of the only alternative."

I froze and tensed up for a moment. If the tribute has truly been sunk, then the only way to make up for it is to....

"Send Dianna?! For once, I thought our family could live a decent life.. but now!?"

"It is the only alternative unless we want to see thousands starve. If we let those people starve, there could be a noble backed uprising."

"I know, dear... but isn't there any other way? Do you know what will happen to her when she gets there? She will be one of 10 concubines in the palace for sure. Only living her days out as a slave to the king. Plus, they only want her for our family magic. I don't want to see that happen to our child."

I could hear my mother breaking down, crying as she yells out my name. I could only imagine that my father was quietly comforting my mother.

I stood up and walked from the door near the window. I looked out and saw the yard with soldiers protecting all the entryways. If one day the guards are to defend the palace, it will not only spell doom to the nation, but to my family.

Damion is not the bravest of our family, but he is a capable ruler. If I left the kingdom to his discretion, then I can be relieved. But heading to the Tillerian empire... is quite a change of environment. I was eventually going to be married off, but this would not give many benefits to the kingdom or our family.

I really don't want to go to the Tillerian empire. Oh protector, why must this happen? Did I not follow your instructions?

Just at that moment, I saw a person outside the palace. The person was a young woman in her early years. She looked mortified and begged the guard to give her baby some food. The palace guard could only nod his head and continue to stand guard.

At that moment, I knew that I had to go to the Tillerian Empire. If not, then our country will only continue to see fewer children on the streets. I cannot just stay in this palace, knowing that our country's demise is because of my inaction. For our kingdom and people, I must.

I could feel tears trickling down my face.

Why...

The next day, my mother and father confronted me with my brother about their decision.

"Dianna, Damion. I have news that the tribute ship was destroyed on their way to the Tillerian empire."

"What? How can this be!? After many years of no problems, the last tribute failed to reach the Tillerian empire?"

"I am afraid so. And now we must prepare another tribute."

"But father, we do not have the resources to prepare another tribute."

"If we scrounge up the remaining grain storage in the vault and ask around, we could find other grains."

"But father, you know that is almost impossible. The nobles would never willingly agree to such a deal, and they would gain nothing."

Damion and my father were going back and forward. But father is hesitant. He hasn't resolved himself. But I cannot let this happen knowing what I heard.

"Father, send me to the Tillerian empire."

"Dianna...."

"Father, listen to me. I know that we can send someone from the royal family as a substitute for the tribute. If it means saving this family and the kingdom, I would rather head to the Tillerian empire."

"Dianna, the Tillerian empire is not a desirable place to send you. They will make you one of many concubines there and your life will be...."

My father hesitated before saying anymore, as he didn't want to burden me, but I had to know.

"Father, I know going to the Tillerian empire won't be fun, and I will most likely have hardships my entire life. But I cannot life conscious of the fact that this family and this kingdom's people may die out because of my inaction. I must go, father."

"Father, please send me to the Tillerian empire instead!"

"Damion, you know that isn't possible. You are the heir to the throne."

"But I would receive better treatment than Dianna. They would use me as an assistant to the court or some magistrate doing papers all day. Its pretty much all I do, anyway. Just send me."

"Enough you two!"

My father thought deeply and then spoke to me again.

"Dianna, why do you want to go to the Tillerian empire despite everything you know?"

"Father!"

"Damion, quiet! I am asking your sister."

My brother looked frustrated.

"Father, yesterday I saw someone come up to the gate again. I just cannot live in this palace knowing that people will continue to starve while I live here. Father, you know, and I know that I cannot continue to live here anymore. My future has already been determined since you received that message regarding the lost tribute."

My father could only look sad and frustrated.

"Father, this is my decision."

I felt lightheaded and could feel my hands getting doused in sweat.

"Dianna, do you want to go to the Tillerian empire?"

"Yes, of cour-"

"No, I mean do YOU want to go to the Tillerian empire?"

I couldn't handle it anymore. My pent-up feelings have finally boiled over.

"Of course not, father! Do you think I want to go? I would like to just stay in this palace and live with you and Damion! But I always knew that one day I would leave. Its just that I wish I could have stayed longer. Maybe find someone I like. Why?..... why must it be like this..."

I could feel tears running down my cheeks as I looked towards the ground.

I could hear someone get up and hug me. I felt my mother's hair fall upon me.

"I'm sorry, Dianna! I'm so sorry, Dianna."

"Mother, why are you apologizing?"

"Because even though you don't want to go, I still cannot find you solace. I'm sorry. I'm a terrible mother."

"Mother, please don't cry. I thought you were supposed to be comforting me?"

My mother continued to comfort me, but my father was still sitting, thinking deeply.

"Dianna, I'm sorry."

My father could only hold his head.

That night would be a night of mourning. Though no one has died, it felt like someone did.

The next morning, I left to the port with my mother and Damion. My father had to prepare for any fallout with the Tillerian empire.

As the carriage stopped in front of the ships taking me to the Tillerian empire, I looked at mother and Damion.

"Be sure to rule the kingdom into prosperity again Damion. I'll come and visit sometime, perhaps?"

"Yes, sister, be sure to do that. I will always wait."

My mother hugged me again.

"Dianna, I know you are strong, so don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

"I know, mother."

I got out the carriage and walked towards the ship. I stopped and looked behind me and saw my mother and Damion looking back at me.

One day, I will come back.