The Last.

[mire]

Helena Rosinder sat alone in a big, spacious room, her small fingers absentmindedly fiddling with the thick band of gold wrapped around her wrist. The bracelet, given to her by her late father, was the only item in her possession with any relevance to her heritage. According to the late king, had once belonged to the very first queen of Rosinder, the delicate metal work said to have been her favorite. The old man had also gone into detail about how the bracelet had been made, and by whom, who had worn it since, what had transpired while that bracelet had been in different hands, and so on and on. Frederic Rosinder cared very much for the history of all Rosinder, and was known to let his tongue loose with information whenever possible.

“The old man sure liked to talk…”

She held her wrist up toward the sun, admired its beauty against the sunshine.

Taken captive by the Renovatio forces responsible for the fall of the Rosinder Palace, Helena continued to live the life of a noble, albeit with some restrictions. As she was told by a man on the day of her arrival, she was—and would always be—a princess of Rosinder.

Helena lowered her arm, and with the shake of her head came a scoff.

“A princess. Is that all I will ever be?”

[|°ὺ₯₳ↄĸJONES]

[right:23qii75w][/right:23qii75w][hr:23qii75w][/hr:23qii75w]
[justify:23qii75w]

• "Only if you choose not to be Queen of Rosinder someday."

Ebon wings; star studded and riddled with galaxies of various shapes and sizes, glimmered like diamonds bathing in the great day-star's light. Illumination, manifested within the form of numerous watercolored bars reached far and thin, becoming mere gradients that faded into the realm of nothingness. An aura of vainglory bled glistening specs of stardust, twisting and swirling about the towering frame of his Highness.

• "Helena... right?"

Exus Prime spoke soft while his wings allowed claps to vociferate prior to tucking in neatly at his backside. Minus a wing stem, said wings folded and sunk into his back as if it were quicksand. A few feet behind him rested a worm hole, and the space affront of its entry undulated, bestowing a soft hymn in the Recreational God's wake. His arms extended at his side, resembling a crucifixion though simply welcoming the regal entity before him.

As if a hug was to be offered, said appendages slowly motioned back towards his center so that his hands would touch and cup. They yearned not for a sensual touch, but a humble greeting were she to set her soft palms atop of his cold metallic digits, scoffed and war-torn.

• "I've pictured you in my dreams, and I must say: You're far more beautiful in person. It is an honor to have you here with me. I do hope my men have treated you with the utmost of care and decorum?"

He gifted Helena with an honest smile, one in which heroes were only capable of offering, but unfortunately she would not see it. For he was without a face. All that was on display was an imperturbable canvas, drawn blank by some sick god who evidently had a sense for humor.[/justify:23qii75w]

[mire]

Aside from the occasional visits made by the servants and guards assigned to care for her, Helena’s chambers were largely unperturbed by outsiders. On those rare times she was visited by what she assumed were figures of power among the Renovatio forces, they never intruded upon her. They announced their arrival, asked for entry, spoke gentle words, and took their leave, all within minutes. It was all fine by her; she was without the need for conversations with others. She’d grown so accustomed to the silence of four walls, that upon hearing the sound of another’s voice, she shot up from her seat, startled.

From the darkness emerged the silhouette of a man, his appearance the most remarkable thing she’d seen. He spoke once more, this time her name, without a title before it. She almost let her pretty lips break into a sneer, the contempt bubbling within her chest easily suppressed by the thought of massive, cold hands wrapped tightly around her neck.

“Yes, I am Helena Rosinder.”

Though she felt the urge to question his identity, she opted to let that subject be something he brought up himself. She made no movement, only observed his doings. Pleased by the compliment he paid, her lips turned into a smile, the tension bundled up in her shoulders gradually dispersing.
Though he did not disclose his name, the last of his words hinted at his position of power. Immediately intrigued, she shook off her concerns about speaking.

“You must excuse me if I question how it is that I, a princess without a kingdom, can have managed to be part of the dreams of a man who commands Renovatio.”

[|°ὺ₯₳ↄĸJONES]

[right:33khykbj][/right:33khykbj][hr:33khykbj][/hr:33khykbj]
[justify:33khykbj]Her voice reminded him of a requiem sung by bellus angel's, serenading the Renovatian Overlord without the slightest hints of dubiosity. With such inquiry, normally his highness would reply with an equivocal answer, but such a question granted Exus Prime with a window. A window in which he could peek through, intent on learning the edifice's design and how it functioned; her mind and how it worked.

Concerned all the while with the predicament that now rested on his lap. Had he any eyebrows, one would rise in utter curiosity as the other would bend hell-ward. Hovering centimeters above a pool of gold that impaled her flesh like a sword with a dull tip, not in search for a soul but a sign of some sort.

• "No man is capable of fathoming what I dream, Princess."

Primus' right arm retired to his backside as his left continued to occupy her hands whilst his towering frame bending at the waist; bowing mere inches out of respect for her royalty. Or maybe for her question? She knew naught of the asshole that laid dormant within.

• "I see you in my dreams... as the Queen of Rosinder, Helena. I've conquered many lands, and at times I feel I'm spreading myself out too thin." His frame shifted some degrees to his right. "One day I had an epiphany... or something similar to that... and decided: why not make things a tad-bit easier not only on my part, but for the people once ruled by these fallen kingdoms?"
  
  "My latest endeavor has blessed Rosinder with anew freedom. From a democratic point of view, of course. So far so good. Your people love to voice their opinions more freely than ever before. Some have even requested a greater voice, a speaker for Rosinder of Rosinder. That was when I had this dream. Your people need someone like you to speak for them. To show them that the world they live in now is not ruled by dictators. I believe you can bring a greater happiness to them than any freedom fighter could."

Again, he smiled and still it would not be seen.

• "I'm offering you something these freedom fighters are sacrificing their lives for. To be honest... I'm getting bored with killing... my hands... are tainted by the blood of countless individuals... forevermore. But I have yet to attain a global calm. Join my revolution. Let us make history together."

[/justify:33khykbj]

[mire]

So that was it.

The reason for her imprisonment, simply said, is to help fulfill the dreams of another.

He stood before her, a towering man without expressions, and told her of his dream—of his most sincere wish for the people of Rosinder. He held onto both of her delicate hands as he spoke, the pale color of her flesh was intensified surrounded by the darkness of his massive, gloved digits. Where she imagined his eyes would be, Helena stared. By the end of his provocative speech, the princess’ sole response to his proposition came in the form of an intrigued eyebrow, bent upwards. Certain by now he would not harm her, she slipped her hands out of his grasp, brought them to rest behind her back. She broke the corners of her mouth to form a dubious smile, the pretty violet of her eyes giving nothing of her thoughts away.

“That is quite an offer, your Highness.”

Peace, the fabled comfort of a people accustomed to war, was merely a word away from becoming a reality. If she said yes, so many lives would be saved. If she said yes, destruction would end. All she had to was join the enemy.

Too simple.

Incredulous of his apparent kindness, Helena stalled for time.

“Would you not rather make such an offer to one of my older siblings? I can’t say for sure if they live, but on the day I was taken, so were they, albeit by knights of Rosinder. If they live, the empty throne would go to them first.”

[|°ὺ₯₳ↄĸJONES]

[right:2986wnrx][/right:2986wnrx][hr:2986wnrx][/hr:2986wnrx]
[justify:2986wnrx]Her smile gave it away...

• "Please. Call me, Primus."

Sentimental pograms occurred frequently within the Overlord's mind now. Jostling thoughts of utter serenity and yet the most phlegmatic expression remained on display. No evident gestures exhibited how he felt about Helena when she spoke such words. Little did Helena know that she provoked the hauteur within; compelling Primus to reply assertively with antipathy dancing upon the tip of his tongue.

• "Pleasssssssssssssssse, Helena."

He begged of her sarcastically, situating both of his appendages at his backside.

• "The throne will go to whomever I see fit in actuality. Your royal blood line no longer own these lands. Therefore, such a system you speak of no longer exists... I'm somewhat saddened... Helena. One day you are to be Queen... it is inevitable. You should show me the ambitiousness that comes with such a grand title."

He spoke soft, and calm, though the rapture of his words could be mistaken for a king scolding his child. Wanting the best out of that child and nothing short of.

• "You're no prisoner, Helena. You may turn down my offer if you feel you're not up for the job. But you should consider the fate of your people. With you as their voice, Rosinder can rise to heights rivaling Renovatio. These lands are as young as you are, Princess. Don't let your adolescence misguide you."

[/justify:2986wnrx]

[mire]

Her smile, aesthetically beautiful and empty, crumbled off her pretty lips to give way for the formation of a menacing sneer. Primus’ elongated speech serve Helena’s intended ruse for time well. Halfway through the unnecessary chastise, the princess had made a decision sure to benefit her—err—Rosinder’s future. Although Primus had managed to irked Helena by commenting on her youth, the princess allowed the incident to pass, albeit she could not help her tongue from making a comment about it.

“Foolish I would be, if I let my youth be an obstacle to the restoration of Rosinder.”

Hopefully, the irrelevant issue would not rise again.

Though no other word utter by the Renovatian Lord could undo the ambition she’d created for herself, Helena chose to continue the exchange of words without the decision she’d made being known. After all, there was much more she both wished and needed to know. She parted from her position by the window, retreated to one of the wide sitting chairs scattered across the room. With her hands neatly folded on her lap, her feet elegantly tucked to the side, and her pretty mouth transformed into a mischievous grin, Helena never looked more like the mermaid her mother had been rumored to have been.

“My Lord, you must understand if I am weary about your intentions. Upon your coming to our lands, I was told to hate you. I should, really, since thanks to you, I am without a family.” Her eyes danced quietly to a dark tune, the last of her words inflected without emotion. “I cannot easily decided to join you.”

[mire]

[spoiler:2oszu9a8]Dre went missing, like a nigga going to get milk. I doubt he will mind me doing this to keep the story going.[/spoiler:2oszu9a8]

Primus understood Helena’s position. The wounds Renovatio had inflicted upon Rosinder were far too fresh; the princess had not forgotten his status as the enemy. Nevertheless, the princess was eager to restore the ailing nation, and after some persuasion from the Renovatian Lord, agreed to be trained by his court in the ways of ruling a kingdom.

Little by little, Primus decided, Helena would be reintroduced to Rosinder. For now, her existence would remain a prevailing rumor among the freedom fighters.

/Primus gone