Kayle pouted, sitting lazily in her throne. She hated it all, being a princess was tougher than one would like it. You always had to be proper, act it, look it, pretty much be perfect with every little detail. Not to mention the fact that you had to marry someone you might not even like.

And that was exactly what the prince that had been chosen for her was. She hated him with a burning passion, and she had to marry him in two days. He was from a neighboring kingdom, one that was in truce with her own, and while he liked her for her looks, she didn't much appreciate it. Kayle wished she was like other women, not having to care if they're proper, being able to choose their own ways.

She sighed, then quickly sat up-right in her throne once the door to her room had been opened. It was her father and her mother. Her mother was a thin woman, long flowing brown hair, a beautiful dress, and not to mention her grace. Kayle took after her mother more than her father, having almost the same attributes, but her blue eyes came from her father.

Her father was a some-what large man, his stomach jiggled every time he took a step, his beard combed to be neat, and his hair wasn't entirely all there, but his crown hid it enough so no-one would notice. They were both adorned with gems and jewels, showing their wealth.

Kayle herself wore a small tiara-like crown, the norm for a princess in her time. Her dress was long, almost the same as her mother's, only hers was a beautiful baby blue and not a grape-violet.

"There's my little daughter!" her father laughed, walking over, "the little Queen-to-be!"

"Dad, please..." Kayle muttered, looking away as if embarrassed.

"I hope you're excited about your wedding, my love." her mother smiled warmly, walking up to her as she took her hand, a gesture for her to stand up. Kayle did so, staring at her mother, "it's a special day. I know you may not like who you're marrying now, but you'll come to it. When you spend enough time with him and all..."

"Mom, I don't want to marry that guy, he's way too... I don't know, selfish?" she shrugged, taking her gloved hands away from her mother as she rested them at her sides, looking to the ground.

"Oh, trust me! That's exactly how your mother felt about me first time we met." her father laughed, his belly rippling like small waves caused by a raindrop, "You learn to love them later in life, trust me."

"Besides, dear, Prince Malin isn't as bad as you think he is." her mother spoke softly, pulling her into a short embrace, "You'll make him happy, and he will make you happy as well if you just give him a chance. We meet tomorrow for the rest of the wedding plans, you're going to be getting to know him as us and his parents talk as well."

Kayle rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. She didn't say anything, she just went to her room in the east wing of the large castle. It was getting later, the moon soon coming out to play with all the small stars that began to join in the small part the moon brought. She had walked out on to the balcony, staring up at the sky.

For a moment, she had thought she saw a trickery of the night, the air shimmered far away, then it was gone. She checked it off as nothing, then slowly retreated to her room. She slipped out of her dress and into something much more comfortable before laying on the large bed. She didn't bother in shutting the doors that lead to the balcony. It was a warm night, the breeze was much more than welcome.

She dreaded what was to come. She had to talk with that damn prince that she detested.

Kayle had thrown on a different dress, this one was red with golden ribbons and small flowers detailing all around it. She also had flowers put into her hair as they braided it. She hated it when they did that, her hair tugged so hard at her skull she got headaches. Again, the pains of being a princess.

She rode in the carriage along with her parents. she tuned them out as they talked about riches, what they'd do once she was married, blah blah blah. It bugged her to no end. She didn't want to get married, she wasn't ready for it. Especially with someone like Prince Malin. Ugh.

"Kayle, dear, are you alright?" her mother asked, looking to her. Her father just grinned broadly, patting her shoulder.

"I'm certain she's perfectly alright, dear! She's probably just holding in her excitement in meeting Prince Malin again."

"..Yeah, sure..." she mumbled.

After a two hour ride, they had arrived at the kingdom. Stepping out of the carriage, the two families exchanged pleasantries and walked into the large castle. Kayle let out a soft groan as Malin ran his mouth about how he envisioned their life together would be like. The average thing. Kids, controlling the town they'd be the King and Queen of, plans, yada yada.

"That's nice..." she shrugged, walking beside him, making sure her dress wasn't touching the dirty grass of the garden she had been lead to by Malin. He was showing her around, telling her things about the flowers, the gardener that cut beautiful animal-looking bushes. She just nodded and agreed, saying 'oh that's interesting' and all the things along those lines. She already couldn't wait to go home.

Malin, by the way, wasn't that bad looking of a guy. He had short, black hair, a strong jaw, looks that could make any woman, but Kayle, weak in the knees. He also had a very interesting taste in wardrobe, mixing and matching his outfits. It was weird the way he dressed, but all that wasn't what Kayle had a problem with. It was just the way he acted, talked, and treated people lower than him. He was only nice to her because she was a princess.

It was all good in a sense, until she heard a sudden scream. Her mother it sounded.

She and Malin ran towards the source, what were they doing out near the forest? Kayle took a moment to catch her breath, just about to ask what was wrong when she saw it.

There ,hanging from a tree upside-down, was a skinned body. They couldn't be sure if it was a guard, or a citizen. They all stood, bewildered.

"Who would do such a thing?" Kayle's father boomed, staring at the dripping, bloody body.

"Bandits. Twisted ones, or a witch." Malin's mother shouted out.

Kayle wasn't certain what sort of witch or bandit would do this to a person and leave it out for all to see, but whoever it was, she was now both scared, and slightly interested to see who could do such a thing. The body looked fresh, too, like it had just been hung. Fresh blood still dripping from all the pink meat. It sent shivers down her spine.