Akia remembers everything that happens that night as she's laid in a random bedroom to sleep.

" My lady, you must stop struggling. If we were to hurt you.. our hands would be cut off." One of the maids said gripping tighter on Akia's legs.

After hearing the maid's words Akia stopped struggling, they were just doing what they were told. They shouldn't be punished for something they have no control over.

Akia was in a grand wooden tub, the water was tinted white from the heat, covered in flower petals and the scent of rose and vanilla extract.

Two maids held her hands up while another two with sharp edged blades in their hands shaved her.

She lets herself be shaven, completely hairless. She lets her hair be washed, massaged then held up and decorated in two tight braids to the back of her hair.

The braids were then decorated by expensive hair wear. Akia only ever wore her mother's old broken head wears because they were overly expensive and she didn't want to break or ruin them. Her mother also simply didn't permit her any, she said the hair wear was a gift from her husband and that Akia will receive her own when she also found a husband.

After the finish another maid came between her legs with some sort of milk and small tray of towel strips.

Akia shakes as she remembers the blinding pain she felt as the ripped hair from her most sensitive area. With the many hands holding her down again there was nothing she could do but face the sizzling pain.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Akia cried and the maid with the towel like slips in her hand shot her a sympathetic look.

"The king doesn't like body hair." She replies curtly before asking for Akia to be turned so she could an even more private part of her.

Despite her cries she was made completely bare with the warm buzzing of pain under her skin. They placed aloe Vera on the areas they had to shave, before wrapping her in a robe and walking her to a bedroom next to the palace hall.

Akia fell asleep, it's only when she wakes that the fear settles into her skin again. It happened so quickly, from the state of blissful sleep to pure panic like the sudden transition from being sober to dazed drunk.

She stands up and walks passed the furry area around a high bed to the cold area marble area leading to the door. She twists the handle but she's unable to open the door. She walks around the empty room looking for a window she could leave out. That's when she heard the chirping and the clicking on glass. She lifts her head up in search of the sound only to find a giant hole in the high ceiling. A pretty blue jay aggressively hitting the window.

It seemed to be looking at her with curiosity. she lifted her hand up and it flies away.

Akia continues her search for a windows but finds nothing but mirrors. She's captured by her appearance, she brings shaky hands to her face. They hadn't stopped manipulating her looks even in her sleep.

Her eyelids were now underlined with a reddish brown tint. Her cheeks reddened with some kind of powder and her lips stained red.

She cannot look away.

The door opens snapping her away from her daze. She makes a sharp turn to look at the person who opened the door.

It's a taller girl who walks in holding a large tray. With big greenish brown eyes, paper pale skin and short straight shoulder length hair. Her nose is small and narrow, she's pretty.

Akia remembers her from the bath, she remembers she helped braid her hair

The large tray she carried effortlessly was filled with fried and boiled eggs, toasted bread, soup and roasted sausages. A medium sized bowl of separated Cut apples, oranges and pears on the side.

"Good morning, my lady. You look beautiful." The girl said before heading to a short dark wooden table next to the high bed, she placed the tray on the side of the table before she began removing food from the tray and putting it on the table.

"What's your name?" Akia asked eying the door with want and deviance. She sees a figure standing tall outside and assumes making a run for it wouldn't work.

"A high ranking blood such as yourself shouldn't have to learn the name of a mere servant." The girl said with a gentle smile.

"I want to make you my friend, in order to be friends we must atleast know each other's names so please tell me what your name is so I can call you a friend."

"Mina, My name is Mina .. my lady." The girl said keeping her head down and eyes away from Akia's.

"Mina.. I had a rabbit named Mina, she was so smart and so beautiful. She was worthy of her name, I know you will be to." Akia said, knowing there was a possibility she wouldn't be able to leave this place as soon as she wanted. She knew she'd atleast need friendly company.

Akia was going to dig her way out of here with her bare hands. Just like her rabbit had.

"I hope I don't disappoint you." Mina said quietly.

"Just be a friend, you can't be disappointed by a friend." Akia said, sending her a sad smile in return.

Mina smiles widely, she opens her mouth to present the food to Akia but her words were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Another two girls come in, one holding a tea kettle, jar of water and juice. The other holding eating utensils as well as small rounded cakes.

Akia doesn't eat, despite the maids urging her to do so. She stares at the food until it turns cold. After a while she lays down on the bed wordlessly.

-

The personal guard walks sluggishly into the dining center where the king was. A small limp in his movement. Shoulders slightly hunched, not enough that his posture is considered bad because that's unacceptable in the king's presence.

His back aches severely, the small patches of skin that had been ripped off was now stitched back together, dark purple and some still bleeding.

The guard walks until he's besides the king, he bends his unwilling tormented body into a bow.

"You called for me your majesty." Clast said mouth dry.

"We were just celebrating Clast, your father has approved of your sister's place in the palace." The king said flashing the male a small smile.

Clast's throat swelled up, a tight bubble that threatens to suffocate him. Clast didn't like his father's ideas about many things but the way he raised his little sisters were never one of those things.

It was extremely difficult to grasp to that his father, the great warrior Kenya who treasures his daughter Akialine more than the sun herself had given her away carelessly without even contemplating the reality she'd have to endure.

"I supposed then I should make preparations to properly remove her from your household. Tell me what your household lacks." The king said and Clast wipes the look of shock on his face and forced a smile. The king had already decided to ignore the terrible thing he'd chosen to do on a whim, now he was just attempting to patch up all the cracks. As if you could just kidnap someone's child and send them a couple gold bars to cover their pain.

It's a terrible shame that the Kenya's had enough gold bars to buy half of their kingdom.

"My household does not lack anything, we've always been favored by the king so how could we ever lack anything." The personal guard said earning a cheer from the officials.

"A bright excellent young man.. here- have some wine." General worship said raising his glass.

"I'm on duty General worship, I appreciate the gesture but I simply cannot." Clast said, he placed his hand on his sword as a bitter taste filled his mouth. Clast felt betrayal looking at his father's oldest friend, consenting to this as well.

Sure he'd betrayed his sister first but his father had sold him to the king a long time ago. This was what was expected of him.

"You're not on duty Clast, I didn't call you here to serve me. I want you to grab a chair and sit alongside the men who built this kingdom." The king said gesturing for the maids to bring in another chair.

"To think by this time next year our sun will greet us with his cries." Official Noah, Head Officer of the treasury said dreamily.

"You should get to work immediately your majesty." Official Elijah, The tax collector said with a sick smile.

Clast sits down besides the king, who looks at him vigilantly. Clast shivers under his cold gaze but says nothing.

"I will let her rest. We will prepare a ceremony next week, then I will have news for you." The king said leaning back against his high chair, finally taking his eyes off Clast who struggled not to let out a breath of relief.

"April Kenya, a sight for even blessed eyes like yours your majesty. I'm certain she'll prove herself worthy of your loins." Official worship said and the king takes a sip of his tea.

"If you say she's a sight I'm inclined to agree but I've been told it's Akialine Kenya who is known to be the prettiest flower in the south." The king said and Worship's mouth gaped at that.

"So why did you bring April in and not her?" Official Elijah asked and the king furrowed his brows. "My interest lies in Akialine and not April." The king said and the official hummed cheerfully.

"The younger the better I always say." Elijah said raising his glass to the king who doesn't seem to share his cheer.

"Don't be revolting." Official Noah sneered.

"Regardless, they're both the songs of the south." The official Noah finishes and the king nods.

"A glass for our kind and considerate king!"

Official Noah said and all the 15 officials across the round table pulled up Their glasses.

" May he live long." They toasted.

The queen's maid walks into the dining hall and introduces her.

The queen walks in, graceful and elegant as always. Her red hair is tied tightly in a tight bun decorating by gold sticks, her face clear and fresh. Wearing a dark blue dress with dark embroidery every now again with a dark cloak over her shoulders. Her hands are tucked into their position inside her dress.

She seems to be happy as she greets the generals around the table before turning and bowing to her husband.

"How'd you sleep my queen?" The king asked and the woman smiles warmly.

"Excellently especially after I heard the good news. Where is the girl?, I'm bubbling with excitement just to meet her." The queen said cheerfully. The king takes her dainty hand in his own.

"There's no rush darling." He says endearingly.

Clast stands up and bows to the queen offering her a seat.

"Oh- no, don't mind me, I don't want to interrupt the men while they're at work." The queen said winking playfully before excusing herself.

-

The next morning, the king sat on the throne.

He was feeling rather joyous this morning. He enjoyed a burning endurance exercise that morning in nice cool air with the sun resting calmly in the sky. The gentle winds and the teachings of sacred fighting techniques had put him at ease.

The warm bath he told with his beautiful wife right after all made the day better.

He allowed himself to sink into his throne. There weren't many visitors permitted this early in the morning so he thinks for a second he be permitted to slouch.

There was a loud crash out side, Clast steps up from behind the king, his sword already drawn as he begins pacing towards the sound. The heavy double doors of the palace's throne room were thrown open and there stood a short, light brown skinned woman with dark short hair. arched brows, her eyes big, covered by long lashes with round lips.

She bowed respectfully with her head on the ground. The king could then see the sight of destruction she had created.

There were about 4 guards on the ground behind her.

"April?!" Clast exclaimed.

"Your highness, I should be punished severely for disturbing your peace. I will take whatever punishment you deem worthy but I beg of you to let my younger sister follow me home today." April said her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Clast put a sword to her neck but both him and the king knew it was just for formalities. He'd already proved his loyalty, the king would be cruel to ask him for more than what he'd already done.

"She will not be returning home." The king said, expecting that to be the end of it.

"There are far more appropriate maidens your highness, please reconsider this decision." April begged.

"You seem to not understand the implied disrespect behind all your actions so far. But because I trust that since you're Arthur Kenya's daughter, this is just the blameless actions of innocence I'll let you go. Try to reframe from this kind of behavior in the future. I have very little forgiveness to give."

The king had spoken his final words.

"Your majesty, thank you for your kindness. please let me see her. Please let me reassure and comfort her." April said standing up. She knew it was a losing battle now.

"If she needs comfort, I'll make sure she's comforted. There's no reason to disturb her with your presence." The king said and April starts sobbing.

"Is she eating well?, is she getting fresh air?" April asked in a rush walking towards the king. A sword is placed extremely close to her throat by her elder brother.

"Go home. Take care of mother, that's what she would've wanted." Clast said to his sobbing sister.

"Clast.., do not dare speak about her as if she's passed." April said angerly tears still falling down her light brown cheeks.

"She is under our majesty's protection, besides father has approved" Clast said and then very quietly, "what else can be done?."

"Father would never approve of this!" April exclaimed loud enough for everyone in the throne room to hear.

"He has, April." Clast replies emptily.

"Then tell me brother, How do I tell mother that the king has taken her most precious gem away?." April asked with worry in her every breathe.

"If it's too much trouble for you, I'll send a hawk." The king said causally with far too much on his mind.