Milenna sat on the plush window seat and gazed at the starlit night sky absentmindedly.

A lot of things were going through her mind. She had watched Isabella storm inside the castle and runoff towards the Court room. Any other time, Milenna wouldn't have given two thoughts to what her sister did with their father. No one said, but both knew that King Darius favoured his older daughter more than his younger one.

It pained her. She had always done everything in her power to make him happy. She had gifted him paintings on his birthday, learned the art of healing to take care of his injured soldiers.

It was never enough.

She would never lift a sword; she cried when someone got hurt and that was all her father ever saw.

She remembered the first time her father had taken her to a shooting ring. Even as a nine-year-old, she was a natural with her bow and arrow but she had never gone back. She just couldn't imagine killing anyone, no matter what.

You must put an arrow through a heart if you want to be loved by the King.

Milenna had learned to live without his love. She had learned to lock her feelings in the darkest corner of her heart and act indifferent. She wouldn't beg for his attention.

Milenna's lips curled down in distaste when she thought about her sister. At least, father was forthcoming with his disappointment in her. Isabella, on the other hand, acted like nothing was wrong and Milenna was simply childish for being cold to her.

Well, what would she know? She had grown up basking in their father's pride. His precious one.

Now, father had called his favorite daughter to the Court room. Milenna couldn't care less but one irregularity had caught her attention. Isabella really loved her horse. Mera was her darling. After every ride, she would slide down, pat Mera's snout and feed her an apple. That was their ritual.

Isabella had never done otherwise until tonight. The moment she had dismounted Mera, she had handed her rein to the stable boy and ran off.

Something was wrong.

She stood up from her seat and walked in front of her mirror. It was framed in a detailed wood work. She was proud to say that she had been the one to make it. Chipped and polished it all by herself. Wood crafting was her favorite hobby.

A few months ago, she had disguised herself in tattered clothes and went to the market, unnoticed, with a piece of her art. She wanted to see if she could sell it. If people liked her work genuinely or simply praised her because she was Royalty. Milenna was proud to say, she had sold it within minutes.

She sat down in front of her mirror. Then she pulled off all the pins from her hair and parted it from the middle into two bunches. She picked up her favorite brush and started brushing her red mane. She knew she got it from her mother. The pictures all around castle told her so. Isabella had got their father's hair, and both of them had got their mother's chocolate brown complexion.

She meticulously combed her hair, counting hundred strokes to each. Once she finished brushing, she braided her hair and tied it with a green ribbon.

She was adjusting the bow of the knot when she heard a knock.

Thinking a maid had come to summon her to the dining room, she asked her to come in without removing her eyes from her reflection.

"Milenna?"

Milenna jumped up from her seat. She didn't remember the last time her sister had visited her in her room.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

Isabella opened her mouth and closed it. Then she frowned. "Can't I be here for no reason other than just to see my sister? "

Milenna stared at her incredulously for a moment. "No, Isabella."

Her sister looked down and sighed. She took a step back towards the door and said, "Father wished that we have our dinner without him. Come, Milenna. Dinner will be served."

Then without waiting for any reply, Isabella turned on her heels and walked away.

After a second, Milenna turned towards her mirror and adjusted her bow one last time. Her sister must have thought she could hide it under the layers of her clothes but Milenna had seen it.

Isabella was carrying her short blade with her and Milenna had to know why.