The Rose That Blooms In North
Prologue

No one knows that the darkest night will be the beginning of history. The beginning of a story.

Fresh blood stained the entire room. The red velvet carpet turned dark red, the floor was flooded with blood and cries. The air was filled with sorrow and vengeance, as well as the roar of a woman's heartbreak. A Queen loses her King.

Heavy rain, strong winds and rumbling thunder in the middle of the night rang out from outside the royal palace of Schiereiland, muffling the sound of screams and cries roaring the Queen as she saw her husband lying helplessly on the floor. The gold-encrusted crown and the gemstone he always wore proudly lay just about anywhere on the floor not far from him. The world collapsed before him. The sounds of footsteps could be heard faintly in his ears. The tears in her eyes blurred the view.

The Queen knew then that she had to be tough and prepared for the worst possible outcome. A Queen is not allowed to mope and grieve for too long. The cry had to be stopped immediately because their enemy was still somewhere inside the Palace. Sooner or later, they'll find him and probably kill him too. So lost was his hope to defend their kingdom. The fate of millions of his kingdom lies in the strength of his heart. If she was strong enough to leave her husband's body, gather the remaining soldiers around the Palace, devise a strategy of vengeance, her people as well as her kingdom might be able to save her. But the Queen could not think clearly. His heart was broken, his mind was in turmoil, he was overwhelmed by fear and sadness.

Their kingdom had long been at odds with the neighboring kingdom. A land filled with ice and snow, the Eternal Winter Country with the highest witch population among the other kingdoms. A wonderland, full of myths and legends, famous for its beauty but also for the cruelty of its people. The Kingdom of Nordhalbinsel was led by the King who people in the north believed to be a descendant of Nordlijk, son of the Great Fire Dragon and Great Queen of Zhenra.

And the king killed her husband. The kingdom is now ravaging their entire Palace. And later, if the Queen is not strong enough to stand up and go, they will also take away her entire country.

But had not been able to leave the place, in an instant the Queen was surrounded by the Nordhalbinsel army complete with their armor. All fully armed. Nordhalbinsel's forces filled the room circling the Queen and drew their swords in unison toward the Queen.

The Queen is unarmed. Nor do they have the strength to fight them all. He was surrounded and no one could help him. I think, by then, it was all over. Even against this, the man she loved is gone. There was no reason for her to stay afloat other than her obligations as a Queen. But without her King, without her kingdom, she was just an ordinary woman, not a Queen. So he sat weakly without a fight.

One of them walked forward before the Queen. The soldier in armor opened a red scroll containing the King's edict and read it.

"In the Name of the North Sun, King Vlad of Nordhalbinsel will take over Schiereiland."