His Caged Princess

12. A Birthday Gift 

It had been over a week since Layana had retrieved the book for Cordelia. Over a week since she had seen Declan. And over a week since she learned that war was nearing. It had hit her like a cold bucket of ice, once the initial shock had worn off, she pondered over the woman’s words over and over trying to make sense of what she had meant. Finding barely anything, she started to find information on the dark lord, but all she found was short stories told to scare children. 

She rarely saw her father and to her relief queen Myra. Her father was busy in meetings for most of the day or stuck in his office attending to his work. 

The palace was becoming busier with more knights and nobles visiting whether it was for the meetings or other reasons. Her sisters placed it down Terania’s engagement that was coming closer, but Layana knew the truth, a truth she could tell no one about. She had noticed guards were thickening, and training for the knights had been lengthened and had been raised several notches. With rumours going around that the new commanders in charge of training were brutal, ruthless, and skilled. Aren of House Silver Mountain and Declan of House Storm. 

Despite the darkness of war that threatened to shadow the kingdom of Ehlesaar, the princesses were blissfully unaware and were spending their days over pretty fabric palettes, admiring and selecting precious jewels and designing their clothing with the help of the royal seamstresses for the upcoming wedding. 

Layana who usually loved to design her own did not have the heart for it, but for Terania she tried her best to hide the trouble in her mind. Even for her eighteenth birthday dress, she had no interest or spark that she would hold in normal circumstances. After all, it was not every day one came of 

age. 

The morning after her sneaking into the library, queen Azalea had told her that her father had retracted his extra 500 pages of punishment thanks to Declan of House Storm. It had made Layana’s heart skip a beat when her mother had told her with a smile how the brooding male had told her father to not punish her for his demand for answers. 

This had only added to her growing curiosity and opinion she had of the arrogant male. He surely had two sides to him, and she had seen the other. She often found her mind straying towards him and told herself it was because she wanted to thank him for cutting her punishment. 

She had seen him once or twice from afar in the halls of the palace, their eyes meeting for a fleeting moment like strangers who had never spoken before Declan looked away first. 

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It was now the day before Layana’s birthday and a week before the start of Terania’s wedding ceremonies. The weather was extremely hot, the sweltering heat beating down on the capital. 

Layana was wandering the palace gardens, dressed in a chiffon pale pink strapless dress that was ruffled to her waist, and then flower out into a flared skirt, the cotton under layer hugged her thighs, leaving her legs to show slightly through the chiffon skirt. Her hair was in a bun on top of her head, a few curls framing her face, a pink ribbon encrusted with small clear diamonds was tied around her bun. In her ears she wore silver and pink diamond studs, with matching silver bangles set with pink diamonds on both arms, her neck was free of all jewellery, and she wore silver sandals set with pink jewels. 2 

The palace gardens were a wonder, with large orchards of flowering trees in stunning shades of white, pink, purple and blue. Fountains, ponds, and flower beds were scattered around, with benches set here and there. The wounding path was made of shimmering white stone, and small pebbles lined the flowerbeds. Large marble pillars and arches separated each garden from the next. 

It was quieter in this area of the palace and Layana could almost forget the two guards who followed several feet behind her. Rina held a white cotton umbrella over her head. 

“I have the trees for shade, Rina,” she said 

“My lady your skin will burn,” Rina replied curtsying as she protested. 

“It will not, that is an order Rina,” Layana replied her soft voice carrying on the wind as she sat down on the wooden bench. 

Looking out at the large pond before her, the soft pink and white lotus blossoms. floated on the water that glittered under the shining sun. 

“Yes, your highness,” Rina said quietly stepping back from her mistress. 

Layana’s mind once again returned to that night, she felt frustrated and wanted to know more, but she was kept in the dark. She wondered when they would be told the truth. 

There was also the strange whispering voice that she had heard three more times. in the last few days. She wondered if she should talk to her father about it but 

decided against it after all he had enough on his head. 

“Leave us,” The king’s voice came from behind her and Layana’s eyes flew open as she turned in surprise to see her father out in the gardens, she stood up curtsying to him. He stood there his brown hair moving slightly in the soft 

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breeze. His sharp grey eyes on her, his face emotionless. 

“Father,” she said politely, the two guards that flanked him fell back alongside. Layana’s guards, as Rina took her leave. 

wore 

The king walked over swiftly, a silver band sat on his head, he a rather simple blue tunic with brown pants yet the aura around him could not be missed. 

“Take a seat Layana,” he said curtly and Layana sat on the edge of the bench. wondering what her father wanted. Did he read her essay? 

He sat down on the other end and looked out at the pond, a pleasant silence between them. The leaves rustled in the trees, birds chirped and the sound of a squirrel or frog occasionally made their presence known. 

“You’re turning eighteen tomorrow,” the king stated and Layana looked at him silently, he had never mentioned her birthday or ever wished her a happy birthday. It was the last time he had seen the woman he loved and every year that the day came around was a painful reminder of her absence. 

“I do not have anything to say in my defence, I have never acknowledged your birthday before, but it is not every day you turn eighteen,” he said quietly, “I was going to tell Azalea to speak to you regarding a certain matter as she did to Cordelia on her eighteenth. But as I am your only biological parent present, I thought I should do this myself,” 

Layana felt a wave of sadness fill her, was it really because of that reason or was it because of the upcoming war? 

“You have grown to be a fine woman, Layana, albeit a little too headstrong, and with some not so convenient traits, but a fine woman overall. And by coming of age, it is time you find a suitor.” The king spoke, Layana used her willpower to not make a face at her father, 

“Terania’s wedding ceremony is the perfect occasion for you to mingle with the nobles of Ehlesaar and even the princes of Azhar and the Silver Isles. By the end of the wedding celebrations, I am expecting to see you and Cordelia both with men who will become your fiancé’s and by the end of the year your husbands. It am not getting any younger, and I wish to see my daughters safe and settled,” Evaan continued. Layana frowned slightly, even now it was clear he was not going to mention the threat of war. Evaan looked at his daughter, seeing the frown on her face he sighed quietly. 

“Speak your mind Layana, I will not punish you this time,” he said, Layana looked at him 

“I feel as if there’s’more to it, the fact you are rushing everything, almost as if it’s 

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a race against time… is something going on father?” she asked now looking into. her father’s grey eyes wondering if he would tell her. The king frowned deeply looking into those inquisitive unique eyes. If he lied, he knew she would make things more difficult, and she would not obey easily. 

“Perhaps there may be some trouble approaching, if so, I will ride to battle… I want to see you all settled. I will not sugarcoat it Layana, not to you, keep this between us but there is the chance we may go to war. After only fifteen years of peace…” the king sighed standing up and folding his hands behind his back as he stared up at the sky. 

“I need Cordelia to marry within the kingdom, and I would prefer that for you too … but if there is someone from a neighbouring kingdom you prefer then I will not oppose it. You do not need to fall in love Layana just choose a partner with who you can live a comfortable life. Your sister has already named a potential interest, and I will talk to him today if he agrees they will marry shortly after Terania,” he continued now turning to look at his daughter who sat there silently, a frown on her face. She was surprised her sister had someone in mind already as she had mentioned nothing but Layana was happy for her. What concerned her was her father’s reasoning. 2 

“Then you are preparing to die, the way you are talking…” Layana said her heart. clenching as she realised, she may lose the only biological parent she knew. Evaan sighed 

“The chances are high, but it is my duty and my honour to die for my country,” he said 

“No! The kingdom needs you alive! Terania needs you,” Layana said standing up, “Being a king does not mean I should sit and do nothing, I did that fifteen years. ago and I regret it, this time I have the choice and I will take it, I will ride into battle if the need arises,” he said curtly 

“Father Terania is too young to rule yet, you know there are many who would try to dethrone her. And if she falls pregnant then it will be even more dangerous… is that… why you’re pushing for Cordelia and I to marry soon? In case Terania is killed that one of us takes her place?!” Layana said, Evaan frowned 

“It is a precaution needed,” he said. 

“Father if you had a son- 

“I do not! I do not have a son Layana! This is something I have to accept!” Evaan hissed not letting Layana even finish her sentence. A tense silence fell between them, and the king sighed. Layana looked at him thinking he looked a little thinner and tired.” 

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“I have said what I needed to… tomorrow is your eighteenth and I will grant you one gift, ask for something, and do not ask to be pardoned from marriage,” the king said narrowing his eyes. Layana looked at him. 

“I won’t, will you give me whatever I ask for?” she asked quietly. 

“Yes, ask anything for yourself, anything but to avoid marriage, you have my word,” he said watching his daughter sharply. 

When Terania had turned eighteen she had asked for seven schools of arts to be built in her name in the major cities of the kingdom and a visit to the kingdom of Azhar. 

A few months ago, for her eighteenth Cordelia had asked to visit the southern city. of Midaro where one of the largest libraries stood and a jewel mine to be put in her name, the king had instead gifted the library to his daughter and it now stood in her name as well as giving her, her own jewel mine. 

However, he was now anxious about his third daughter’s request before she had even spoken it. Knowing she would not ask for materialistic luxuries. But he knew her request would be the most difficult to grant. 

Layana’s eyes glinted with determination, her soft voice was clear in the quiet garden as she voiced her request, 

“I ask, for a wager,” 

13. Lightning