The fairy-blood Princess

Nestled amidst towering, ice-capped mountains, the kingdom of Oreforge stood as a beacon of
prosperity and splendor, its very foundations laid upon a treasure trove of gold and silver. The
castle, a colossal structure shimmering with iridescent stone that transformed with the changing
hues of daylight, was a testament to the ki ngdom's grandeur. At dawn, it glowed with golden
and rosy tones, while at dusk, it deepened into a sapphire blue reminiscent of the night sky.
Sharp, dragon-like battlements adorned the crest of its walls, each encrusted with a dazzling
array of rubies, emeralds, and sapphires that twinkled like stars against the velvet expanse of the
night.

Oreforge's primary industry was the extraction of precious metals and gemstones, a pursuit that,
mysteriously, left no detrimental impact upon the environment. Day and night, the kingdom's
inhabitants toiled in the mines, operating colossal
machines that churned out an abundance of
armaments, tools, and jewelry. These exquisite
wares were then exported to allied kingdoms,
securing a steady stream of goods that Oreforge
itself could not produce, thus maintaining a
thriving economy.
An aura of magic and mystery permeated the
kingdom, an almost ethereal quality that
captivated visitors from far and wide. Foreign
merchants marveled at the craftsmanship of
Oreforge's swords and knives, their strength and sharpness unmatched, while curious tourists
flocked to witness theatrical performances and purchase an array of jewels and handcrafted
goods, each imbued with a spiritual essence that left them awestruck.
Of course, Oreforge's renown extended beyond its opulent resources and enchanting atmosphere.
The kingdom's royal family, a lineage of seven remarkable individuals, played a pivotal role in
shaping its destiny.
King Tristan, a figure of noble bearing and unwavering justice, ruled alongside his queen,
Clarissa, a woman of angelic beauty and unwavering resolve. Together, they guided Oreforge
with a firm yet compassionate hand, never straying from the path of righteousness, peace, and
kindness. Their reign was marked by a harmonious balance of power and authority, earning them
the unwavering love and admiration of their subjects.
As befitting their regal lineage, the royal couple's five children were paragons of virtue and
excellence.
Aurelius, the crown prince and eldest son, embodied the very essence of valor and greatness. At
the tender age of twenty-two, he had garnered a reputation as a brilliant strategist, leading daring
expeditions to distant lands to forge new alliances and secure lucrative trade agreements.
Amatista, the second princess, was as elegant and reserved as her namesake gemstone. With a
keen intellect and a knack for financial matters, she oversaw the kingdom's treasury, devising
innovative strategies to maximize profits and ensure the prosperity of Oreforge. From a young
age, she had received an education nearly identical to her brother Aurelius, a testament to the
royal couple's unwavering belief in her potential.
Cassius, the third prince, aspired to join the ranks of the Royal Guard, his heart ablaze with a
warrior's spirit and an unwavering devotion to his kingdom and family. At the age of eighteen,
he dedicated himself to rigorous training, honing his combat skills and mastering the art of
weaponry, driven by an unwavering desire to become the kingdom's finest protector.
Valerian, the fourth princess, was a beacon of courage and determination. At the mere age of
sixteen, she yearned to follow in her elder brother's footsteps, joining the Royal Guard to
safeguard her family and kingdom. Despite the rarity of female soldiers in Oreforge's army,
Valerian's unwavering spirit and unwavering commitment to her calling defied all odds.
Lysander, the fifth and youngest prince, was a prodigy of exceptional intellect. Recognizing his
extraordinary potential, the king and queen provided him with an education far surpassing that of
his elder siblings. The young prince spent countless hours in the royal alchemists' tower,
fascinated by the intricacies of potion-making and the transformative power of minerals, often
putting himself at risk with his daring experiments.
Despite their shared lineage and deep-rooted love for one another, the royal family harbored a
secret that set them apart from their subjects. Princess Amatista, shrouded in an aura of mystery,
never revealed her face to the public, always concealing her features behind a veil of white silk.
Whispers swirled amongst the populace, some speculating that she bore a hideous deformity, a
divine punishment for a transgression in a past life, while others believed her veil to be a symbol
of chastity, to be removed only upon her marriage. These rumors persisted, casting a shadow
over Amatista's existence, a burden she had carried since childhood.
The truth, however, lay far from these speculations. A closely guarded secret, known only to the
royal family, was a matter of utmost urgency, a revelation that could jeopardize the kingdom's
stability and threaten the very crown upon which the royal lineage rested. Forced to maintain a
façade of normalcy, they remained

Within the grand hall, the towering stone walls stretched towards the vaulted ceiling. Sunlight
streamed through the latticed windows, casting golden patterns upon the polished marble floor.
The air was heavy with the scent of earth and metal.
The councilors, nobles, and members of the royal family sat upon ornate chairs arranged around
a massive oak table. The backs of the councilors' and nobles' chairs were carved with intricate
designs of pickaxes and shovels. The chairs of the three elder princes were adorned with inlays
of gold and precious stones, signifying their elevated political and social status.
At the end of the hall, upon a raised dais, stood the thrones. Two imposing chairs of solid wood,
carved with scenes of miners toiling in the depths of the earth. The arms of the thrones were
embellished with filigree of gold and silver, and the cushions were upholstered in deep blue
velvet.
The king, with his grizzled beard and golden crown, sat upon the throne to the right. Beside him,
the queen, her hair braided and her gown of silk, occupied the throne to the left.
The councilors presented reports on the mines, taxes, and kingdom affairs to Prince Aurelius,
Princess Amatista, and Prince Cassius. The king and queen merely oversaw their children's
work, occasionally issuing orders. From all that was heard and read, the kingdom was
flourishing.
Meanwhile, the nobles whispered amongst themselves, casting furtive glances towards Princess
Amatista, who, as always, wore her customary veil concealing her face.
The ever-observant queen noticed this detail and did not hesitate to interrupt the meeting.
"Gentlemen," her soft voice, despite the ongoing conversations, echoed throughout the grand
hall, "may I inquire as to what so captivates your attention regarding my daughter?" The question
was posed politely, yet the queen's tone made it clear that it was more of a demand to which they
were obliged to respond.
All eyes turned towards the nobles.
One of the men cleared his throat and replied cautiously.
"My Queen," he began, "we were merely commenting on the fact that we have never had the
privilege of witnessing the Princess's undoubtedly beautiful face." He raised his hand in the
Princess's direction. "She always wears that veil. And, well, we would like to know the reason
for it."
"Because it has been Amatista's wish," Prince Aurelius retorted sharply, his voice laced with
defiance.
The startled noble immediately raised his hands in a gesture of peace.
"Oh no, Prince, do not misunderstand," he said, "it was not our intention to offend."
Another noble, one of the younger ones, spoke up.
"It is rather curious that she conceals her face, but it is concerning that we do not know the
reason behind it."
He directed his gaze towards Amatista, who remained silent and still in her seat, her face turned
towards the noble, conveying that she was watching him through her veil.
"We have a right to know," he continued, "besides, Princess Amatista is of age for marriage.
There are several offers from young princes of very illustrious kingdoms. We must consider the
benefit of our beautiful Ore-... "
"Benefit for Oreforge, or benefit for you, Duke Morgenstern?"
Everyone fell silent before the serene yet imposing voice of Princess Amatista. Her tone was
low, but it carried an air of authority and confidence.
"Do not make the mistake of believing that my brothers and I are unaware of the... interesting
offers you have been receiving in exchange for my hand."
The Duke attempted to mask his nervousness at being so blatantly caught. But the Princess
interrupted him again.
"I suggest you gather your thoughts and determine where your
loyalty lies," she said, "otherwise, my brother's sword will not
hesitate to pierce your pathetic neck. Oreforge has no room for
traitors."

And to emphasize the clear threat, Cassius slowly slid his

beautiful sword from its sheath and placed it on the table,
pointing at the Duke.
The Unveiling of a Secret in the Princess's Chambers
The King, who had been observing the entire scene from his
throne, decided it was time to intervene.
"The meeting is adjourned," he declared, rising to his feet. "Everyone, please retire."
One by one, the nobles and councilors rose and exited the hall, wary of provoking the king's
wrath.
When the hall was completely empty and only the members of the royal family remained, small,
muffled giggles could be heard from a corner.
With a tiny smile on his face, Cassius spoke up in a slightly raised voice.
"Come out of hiding, you little gossipy ruffians," he said, his amusement evident in his tone.
Slowly, a small door leading to a secret passage opened in one of the walls behind the thrones.
Valerian and Lysander emerged, both with mischievous grins and forest attire.
It was obvious that before eavesdropping on the meeting, the two younger siblings had been
exploring the woods.
"It's so funny to hear Mati threaten someone," Valerian said as she approached, "everyone is
soooo afraid of her."
Little Prince Lysander went straight to his other older sister
and looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to remove her
veil.
Amatista, realizing this, untied the small knot and revealed her
face.
The shape of her small, delicate face was beautiful, worthy of
any princess. Her hair framed her face in soft, delicate waves
of copper. And her eyes, her mark of magical blood, shone
brighter than ever in the light that filled the hall. One eye was
gold and the other purple, making her look both beautiful and
ethereal.
Lysander smiled and hugged her.
"Sister, you have the most beautiful eyes of all."
She smiled at that and picked him up.
"Too bad not everyone thinks the same, little one."
"We must do something about the nobles. This is the third time they've insisted on the subject of
Amatista," Aurelius said, looking at his father. "Tell me what to do to eradicate this. One day
they will come for her."
The King gave his eldest son an understanding look. "We'll take care of that."
They discussed important matters of the kingdom and production. Each one had a job to do to
keep everything in order. Communication and teamwork were important for the proper
organization of everything.
Soon, the Queen excused herself, announcing that she was going to rest in her chambers. The
King and the Crown Prince retired to make their usual rounds of the castle.
Finding himself alone with nothing to do, Cassius walked over to where his sister Amatista and
his two younger siblings were having a pleasant conversation and decided to join them.
"...All the stories are true, Lysander," Valerian was telling the youngest of the siblings.
"Well, it's time for the fantasy hour and no one told me," Cassius said, then standing next to his
siblings.
Amatista gave him a tender smile.
"I was just telling Valerian that it's time for Lysander to hear our story and know why the color
of my eyes."
Cassius frowned, showing his concern.
"Isn't he a little small, sister?"
"Nonsense, Cass!" Valerian dismissed her brother's words with a gesture. "Lysander is much
smarter than all of us at that age," she caressed her little brother's golden hair. "He can handle
this."
"Besides, in the circumstances we're in, it's better for him to be informed so that the comments
around the castle don't come as a surprise to him," Amatista said in support of her sister.
Cassius, cornered by his two sisters' stare, could only sigh and nod in agreement.
No one can beat them.

Moments later, the siblings were gathered in Amatista's chambers.

The walls were made of smooth stone with touches of amethyst and sapphire, creating a serene
and mysterious atmosphere. A canopy of purple velvet covered the bed, and the sheets were
embroidered with silver threads.
Next to the window was a small desk where the Princess spent hours studying ancient scrolls and
maps.
Amatista, Cassius, Valerian, and Lysander settled down on small cushions next to the large,
beautiful window that overlooked the vast sea.
Amatista cleared her throat.
"Well, Lysander," she began, "our sister is always the one who tells this story. But today I'll take
charge."
Lysander gave her a radiant smile. "Go ahead, sister. Please start now."
"Alright," she adjusted her dress on the cushion and thought about how to tell the story. Finally,
she decided to tell it the way her father had told it to her brother Aurelius and her. "A long time
ago..."

“In a kingdom where whispers of secrets echoed through ancient forests and the stars wove
threads of magic across the night sky, Prince Eirik, heir to the throne, rode through verdant fields
and beside crystalline streams. A young man of striking beauty, his eyes mirrored the heavens
themselves.
One day, while exploring an age-old woodland, Eirik stumbled upon a creature of unparalleled
grace. Lysandra, a fairy with hair like spun silver and eyes that sparkled like distant stars, stood
before him. Her wings, transparent as crystal,shimmered with an ethereal glow, and her skin
seemed bathed in moonlight. Eirik was captivated by her otherworldly beauty and enigmatic
aura.
Lysandra, too, felt an undeniable connection to the prince. Their laughter mingled with the songs
of birds, and their gazes met beneath the canopy of an ancient oak tree. They fell deeply in love,
yet they knew their hearts' desires faced insurmountable obstacles.
The nobles and advisors would never countenance a union between a human prince and a fae
being. Rumors and intrigue would spread like wildfire through the kingdom, threatening to
engulf them both. Thus, Eirik and Lysandra vowed to keep their love a closely guarded secret.
On the night of their clandestine wedding, as the full moon bathed the forest in its silvery glow,
Lysandra revealed her true nature. Her wings unfurled, and her skin shimmered with an
otherworldly luminescence. Eirik was awestruck by her ethereal beauty, yet fear for his beloved
gripped his heart. How could they protect their love and the crown?
Together, they sought a way to make their bond work. And they succeeded.”

"And together, they ruled with wisdom and compassion. Lysandra shared her gift with the land
and the metals, and Eirik became a just and beloved king," she finished the story.
Lysander's sea-colored eyes were wide with wonder.
"Wow!" he exclaimed, "So, we all have fairy blood?"
Valerian answered for Amatista, "In part, yes, little one. But since that was many generations
ago, it has been fading."
"So, why does Amatista have different colored eyes? I guess it's her fairy mark."
Amatista blushed slightly.
"We still don't know very well, little one," she replied softly. "Finding out means giving
information to the scholars, and that could put me in danger. You know, people are afraid of
what they don't understand. All I know is because our family has left the records in diaries."
Lysander nodded, processing everything.
"The story of our ancestors teaches us that true love transcends barriers," he said. "It doesn't
matter if we are humans or fairies, nobles or peasants. What really matters is the courage to love
without fear, to protect what is precious, and to honor our blood and our history."
Cassius nodded. "We also learn that magic doesn't always manifest itself in wings or precious
stones. Sometimes, it's in the way we look at others, in how we take care of our kingdom and
those around us."
"Who would have thought that our princess would carry the mark of a fairy?" Valerian joked.
"But that's what makes our family unique. We are a blend of worlds, and that makes us strong,"
she said, looking at her little brother with a loving gaze.
Lysander looked at his older siblings with all the love his eyes could express, and then said,
"Maybe we all have a little magic in us. Maybe our gifts aren't magical like Amatista's, but I'm
sure they're there, waiting to be discovered."
The Queen, who had been listening to her children all this time from behind the door, decided to
add her own contribution, surprising the princes.
"Our blood is a bridge between two worlds, and we must protect it. It doesn't matter if we wear
crowns or swords, what matters is how we love and how we leave our mark on history."
"Mom!" the boy exclaimed happily, then ran to meet her.
"Mati," Valerian called her. Amatista looked at her sister and she gestured, "Show him your
magic."
"Magic?!"
Amatista laughed a little. But then she concentrated and showed her gifts to her little brother.
They were subtle, but very powerful. She could feel the earth beneath her feet, communicate
with the trees, and transform stones into precious gems.It had taken a lot of time and study on her
part, but now she could handle them perfectly.
The royal family fought against all those who threatened its members. Their bond grew stronger
over time, and although whispers and questions continued to float through the beautiful stone
corridors of the castle and the beautiful streets of the kingdom, Oreforge remained the most
prosperous and powerful kingdom of all time.
So, what does this story teach us?
That love and magic know no boundaries. Our true heritage lies in how we love and the
footprints we leave on the world.