War. Cordelia had never wanted to be a part of the war. In fact, she avoided it. She made her opinion strongly known. Her older sister, Pearl, even agreed it was too dangerous.

So why, oh why, was she standing here?

A flag featuring the blue and silver of Rosanwe swayed with the wind, flapping restlessly on its pole with five united petals in the center, each a different color. Red for Tierians, gold for Ksewens, aqua for Yealonars, violet for Discarams, and white for Penarnians, like herself.

They won. They’ve won the war.

And Cordelia couldn’t have felt worse for it.

Being the sole successor of the Yvelin line—due to her brother’s sacrifice and Pearl being a general—expectation was always high. Be perfect at this, be amazing at that, don’t speak with him, go talk to her…

For once, Cordelia just wanted a break. And so she ran away.

Running away was one thing, being as priviledged as she was. James was right; she really had no idea how to live off on her own. But running away during a war?…

She was just asking for trouble.

And trouble came for her.

Well, it was more like _she_ came to _it_.

Stumbling into a Gwernest camp, she was captured, interrogated, and lost her freedom. All in one night.

Pearl would have laughed.

* * *

Sighing, Cordelia had been forced to wait out in the cold, shivering in the tent that was constantly guarded by not one but two people. Did they really think she’d try to escape?

“I brought you this.”

Cordelia didn’t expect kindness. When she looked up, she was somewhat relieved to find a hardened gaze staring back at her. Shark green eyes assessed her movements, looking for vulnerabilities. Too bad her entire persona was a vulnerability.

Her father would have screamed.

“I’m Herrald.” The same boy said, looking over her shoulder as she fiddled with some sticks.

“What are you doing?”

Cordelia blinked at him, her own light blonde hair far past her shoulders.

“Playing a game.” She replied, her voice soft.

Oh, how she wished she had kept her tongue silent.

“With only yourself?” Herrald scoffed, his own messy brown hair falling over his eyes, resulting in him grumbling something under his breath as he tried in vain to fix it.

“Who else would I be playing with?” She asked.

She wish she didn’t. Looking back now, if she hadn’t spoken, she likely wouldn’t be here, hearing her parents speak. Her insane father. Her cruel mother.

Neither of which were truly hers.

* * *

“Have you ever ridden a horse before?” Herrald asked, watching Cordelia as everyone seemed to be packing up.

“No.” She replied, wondering if she should have.

“Imagine!” Lucas, one of her ‘protectors’, exclaimed. “Lady, would you mind riding with me?” He joked, fluttering his eyelashes.

Herrald scoffed, getting on his horse. “I’m sure she can learn. If not, throw her in the crates.” He dismissed the conversation with a wave of his hand.

Insulted, she aimed to prove him wrong.

He was right.

Mother would have wept.

* * *

“I’m so sorry.” Briar whispered, standing off to the side of the stage. “I wish they hadn’t…”

Unlike many, she knew the truth. Her green eyes were twinkling with tears. Cordelia gave her a soft smile, hoping she could pull off the act and reassure the maid—the one who truly acted like a parent—that it wasn’t her fault.

Because it wasn’t. It was her own.

* * *

“Here we are.” Herrald’s voice was stern, leaping off his horse as it neighed and gave him a harsh glare. “Tie the horses up.” He commanded someone else, everyone looking identical in their armor.

Cordelia wanted to ask where they were. She wanted to ask where they were going.

She knew the answers already.

If she had just kept her tongue…

Lucas and Marvin both yanked her forward, forcing her to follow them to the steps of what looked like a splendid palace, high in both structure and design.

She said nothing on the way in, nor anything once they _were_ in. Paintings featuring every monarch lined the walls, the infamous purple and green snake-like design of their people seemingly embedded everywhere she went.

Herrald bowed before the king.

Cordelia curtsied.

“Are you King Carlos?” She asked, stilling as she heard how loud she was.

If she had just kept….

The king stared down upon ber. His eyes weren’t cruel, but they were calculating. Suspicious.

Then surprised, enraged.

“Why have you brought a traitor’s daughter into my realm?” He shouted.

Herrald flinched, as if he were expecting a different reaction. “She—“

“I _know_ who she is! That bastard rat stole her from me. Poisoned her with promises of glory and violence, I bet. Like a disease, rotting her from the inside out. You bring me a songbird to love and cherish just for the family cat to leap on and devour. What say you, General Herrald? Why have you brought this bird into the cage?”

“I am not poisoned,” Cordelia defended herself. “I have no disease. If you do not want me here, I am happy to return home.” _Please return me home._

__

_“_Hm.” The king sighed, looking upon her with newfound interest. “Do you know of your own history, Pearl?”

Cordelia blinked. “My name isn’t—“

“No, they renamed you, didn’t they?” King Carlos spat. He sighed, his shoulders slumping with the weight of the world. “Oh, my child. It’s been years. I had a daughter, too, once. My wife had fled from me and took her, too. I am alone.”

Despite herself, Cordelia felt some pity.

“Pearl is my sister.” She told him. “She partipates in the war effort and she—“

“Pearl! Blue eyes, black hair, sharp jawline, small nose?” King Carlos guessed.

Cordelia blinked.

“It is her! It is her, my child. She’s in this war? I did it because of Fredrick. My efforts will be wasted if she’s killed in the conflict!”

Without wasting a moment, the king stepped towards her, his eyes ablaze with determination and newly found purpose. “Tell me. Tell me everything you know, sweet child.”

His cold hand touched her hair, and she couldn’t help but shiver.

If she had just…

* * *

“And now let us thank you, Cordelia, my princess.” King Fredrick smiled on the stage. Only Cordelia knew how sinister it truly was. Her mother, Raquel, didn’t even look at her, dark blue eyes on the crowd, hands neatly folded as if she belonged there.

Cordelia nodded, her throat dry. She wanted to scream. Instead, she stepped forward.

* * *

“Dad.” Cordelia sighed with relief as she returned home, wanting his arms to wrap around her, wanting his warmth.

She was met with cold silence and a disapproving frown.

A door swung open, Pearl dropping everything.

Unlike her father, Pearl didn’t hide her love. She embraced it.

“Where have you _been_?” Pearl sighed. “I was about to come looking for you. Literally. Kingdom or no kingdom, war or no war—“

“We can do just fine if Cordelia ran.” Raquel stepped forwards, blue eyes twice as cold than Cordelia remembered.

Pearl stepped protectively in front of her, noticing the change in their parents as well.

“What’s—“

“Leave us.” King Fredrick demanded. Then his eyes softened once more, but the threat in them remained clear. “Please.”

Pearl hesitated, looking torn.

“I’ll be fine.” Cordelia promised.

“You better be.” Pearl mumbled, reaching to grab her stuff. With one final glance, she had left the room.

If she had…

* * *

“Our daughter, Cordelia, had given up a lot to ensure our victory.” Queen Raquel spoke out, looking upon the crowd with disgust.

“She had snuck free from King Carlos’ kingdom, even with the threats against her life, and informed us of how to defeat him.”

Queen Raquel finally looked upon her youngest daughter who stared numbly back, silent.

“It is a shame what happened next.”

* * *

“But you— hey!” Cordelia cried, trying to push herself up from where she was chained on the floor.

“It needs to be believable, sweetie.” A male voice laughed.

“Let me go!” She shouted.

“Cordelia!”

Pearl.

“Let her go!”

Cordelia heard Queen Raquel tsk.

“Really now, Pearl, I thought you were smarter than this.”

“I’ve heard it.” Pearl drew her sword. “I’ve heard everything.” Her voice wavered.

Cordelia couldn’t help but feel like crying herself, knowing what Pearl must be going through.

“I won’t serve you any longer.” Pearl declared. “I—“

“Silence her.”

And just like an obedient servant, the king Fredrick himself obeyed.

“No!” Cordelia cried, trying even harder to break free. “No, no, no, no, no—“

“Make her quiet, too!”

Cordelia’s eyes glistened with tears. “I’ll tell them.” She swore, backing up.

“I’ll tell them that you lie to your people.” Her back hit the wall. “I’ll tell them you plan on causing war, causing havoc, just for fun. Just so you stay in power from all the confusion and chaos.”

Cordelia tried not to look at the body.

Queen Raquel leaned in close, Cordelia able to smell her breath. She felt soft hands grip her chin, forcing her to meet her gaze.

Queen Raquel spoke slowly, as if speaking to an infant, her voice sickingly sweet.

“You’ll do nothing of the sort.”

* * *

“King Carlos had cut off her tongue.” Queen Raquel sighed. “He had paid, I assure you.” She looked upon the flag, smiling. “Us, united, can never be defeated.”

Cordelia felt Briar hold her hand. Her eyes were soft and caring.

But she didn’t know.

“Unfortunately, King Carlos had played dirty. He sent assassins in the middle of the night to kill our daughter, Pearl.” Queen Raquel’s voice filled with mock sympathy.

Cordelia pitied the poor souls she had killed to make it seem true.

“But we have won.” Queen Raquel reminded them all. “And together we will stand proud. Fight for Rosanwe…”

“Fight for all!” The crowd finished.

Cordelia looked upon them.

Amidst the roaring applause, a silent tear fell, reflecting the untold story she could never tell.