IVORY
Picked.

Today, the sky is shining brightly. The white cloud clumps on the vast expanse of the beautiful blue sky, as well as the free-flying birds, look so happy with their world.

Unlike the nature that seemed to give hope, Ivory looks gloomy. It was like waiting for a death sentence that counted the hours. However, the saddest part was that this was all real to him. A reality he never even imagined, when he realized if he would be faced with various training activities in the kingdom. The goal, to make Ivory more know and understand the procedures, procedures, obligations, and also responsibilities during life in the palace.

Today, she was wearing a Lilac-colored dress, with the neck forming the letter V slightly low, the fabric on the sleeves slightly shrewd as it was not given a furing, she said, and there are also flowers attached to the three points of the front. So fit in her body that is slender and beautiful. She did not wear makeup at all, just the powder she used. For hairdo, there are two braids on the right and left, tied at one point, then neatly shouldered. Ivory looks so beautiful.

“They arrived.” it was Monic's voice telling Ivory who didn't want to leave the room yet. Ivory felt unprepared to meet once more with the prince. “Quickly stand up and join in welcoming them, Vo.”

Ivory stared bitterly at the figure of Monic who did not also feel sin had pushed himself into the terrible abyss.

“Iya. I know.”

In the yard is already rowdy. There were many soldiers of the guards and their horses, there were also people who mingled and flocked to come just to see the procession pinangan prince on the would-be princess who would be his life companion.

In the front room devoted to receiving guests, Ivory, her parents, the king, and the prince were sitting face to face. There are some valuable items brought by the kingdom as a condition of proposal for the bride-to-be.

“So, in addition to our arrival to propose your daughter, we also invite the future princess of the kingdom to take basic training for every woman who comes from outside the royal palace environment.” said the king, initiating talks.

Ivory lowered her head, biting her lips while watching her fingers interlocked. This was the part he disliked the most that he often heard from the rumors of the girls when they were gathering. He may live a secure life and not lack anything there, but he must be willing to exchange all that for his freedom, the freedom that makes him live happily.

“You're ready, miss Ivory?” king Geogini.

Ivory raised her face, turned to the direction her parents were, then looked back down while nodding resignedly. Prince Grey, who caught the inscription of the Ivory gesture, only commented on a faint smile.

“I used to, also married in the same way.” the king started telling me about the past. “I also did not love the queen, back then. But, as time went on, I realized that the woman who was willing to give up her freedom to accompany me was such a good woman. She is also a generous woman. Since then, I have started to love him. And my love grew even greater when our first son was born.”

Grey often hears this boring fairy tale from Yulia's aunt, the woman who took care of him since toddlerhood. But for some reason, when he heard his own grandfather telling him a story today, it sounded so meaningful. Like getting a picture and also a message for him in the future.

“And even to this day, I still love him so much. Although he has preceded me to face the creator.”

Until finally the king finished the story of the first time he met the queen, the atmosphere of silence. Then Rose's voice interrupted.

“We are deeply moved to hear your story, Your Majesty. And we hope, our daughter will also be a figure like a queen. May she be a good daughter, generous, and not look at others because of strata.”

The king agreed.

“I can only say, so that he does not forget the place he came from, and live with respect to each other with the prince. May they be together until they age, and be happy.”

Ivory doesn't take it with her smart-ass mother. Slowly, his feet touched the floor, and when he found the soles of his feet, he stepped on it with considerable pressure to make his mother squeeze the clothes worn.

Brash kid. If only there was no king here, I would have beaten him.

“I also often talk about that with my grandchildren.” continued king Geogini turned to Grey. “She and her older sister grew up with a nanny. Both his parents have also gone before.”

Grey was claustrophobic when he heard the story of his parents who died from a conspiracy at the palace when he was seven months old. All of it was told by Yulia's aunt after she was seventeen, back then. Grey down.

“And I also often advise him to be a man who is dashing, strong-minded, and thick with steel. But going back to the definition of a real man, he must respect a woman. Loving and assuming the woman is a part of herself, especially a wife.”

Grey looked at Ivory as the king was talking about it. His gaze sharply struck, and Ivory could not deny that the Grey prince was a resolute looking figure.

“The wife is the queen in the palace, she is home when we are tired of all the problems of the world, and the wife is everything, because she is a part of our lives.”

***

“Why do moms brag so in front of the king?” whispered Ivory in an annoyed tone while putting clothes in a large bag that he would carry the palace.

Oh yea. He will undergo special education starting tomorrow, and he can go home to visit his parents once a week with the control of the royal soldiers. Then, if she had been declared a graduate and could live independently, she would soon be married off to the prince and become part of the royal family. Being there for a long time, or even forever. No more freedom, or whining home for the elderly.

“Mother will regret saying that.”

Suddenly, the mother threw a punch right in Ivory's head until the girl grimaced in pain and rubbed with pursed lips.

“Stupid! Mom did that for you. If the prince was smart and not ignorant, he would understand the intent of the mother's remark aimed for him.”

Ivory was amazed to hear that. A smile spread across her lips, then tightly hugged Rose before their togetherness would end today.

“Thank you, mom.”

After the drama of crying to remove Ivory, the girl sat languidly in a stretcher lifted by six bodyguards. He stared at the food parcels his mother had brought him to spend when he arrived at the palace.

His palm stretched out to wipe the plain blue cloth and returned to recall the shadows of his father and mother at home. Then, the shadow disappeared when one of the people from outside the palanquin gave information if they would reach the palace.

Ivory sighed, and prepared to live her new life that would definitely feel heavy and hard to get through.

And here he is today. Faced with various welcoming events, applause and also boisterous ladies who have worked and served for a long time in the palace. And at the end of it, there is another incredible welcome that is at the core of all the events. An empty chair beside the king. Another pair was already filled, which Ivory guessed, was Grey's biological sister. If not mistakenly named daughter of Lilac Verhouten Geogini.

Walking along the welcome red carpet, Ivory's heart suddenly beat faster than ever. His hands were sweating coldly, and his head felt dizzy. Until a baritone voice quietly whispered in his ear with great emphasis and real, making his heart and guts instantly shrivel, shrieked.

“Welcome to the hell we call, Palace.”[]