Riana
Legacy Name: Riana

Silver hair that shone like metal, jewel-toned eyes, luscious lips and glowing skin: the meaning of beauty itself. Men treated her as an equal, for she did not lack in strength or valour. Women desired to be like her. Her own brothers and sisters longed to have her virtue, her dignity, her power. When Princess Riana sat upon her throne, she was the statuette of glory. She was battle-ready, a true warrior at heart, but also kind to her People when they needed her most.

Social norms that she set up, she followed like all her citizens. She was one among them and she often pointed out: A true leader is nothing but the voice of those who cannot speak, the hands of those who cannot do and the eyes of those who cannot see. The People adored her. They graciously accepted her and hung onto her every word like moths drawn to a brilliant source of light. The injustice and suffering that soiled the land during previous reigns were wiped clean by her touch. She ruled with a fiery nature mixed with the compassion of a sister and love of a mother. Nobody found a reason to stand against her. Until now.

With her power and popularity came the jealousy and hatred. At first it began as a small seed sown into the minds of some of the weaker and easily convinced Knights who served the Princess.

"How could a woman be allowed to command the most glorious empire? Where was she leading it? The Vrathkul clan are not Defenders, we are Warriors. Surely we must be allowed to fight? Since when did we require a reason to round up our cavalry and draw our swords?"

The seed slowly sprouted. Yes, ever since the Princess had taken over, there were no battles to be won, no lands to be conquered or annexed. Everything was solved with a simple piece of paper called a "Treaty". The Empire was not expanding. They were dormant, subdued.

"The Princess will get married soon. What then? Can she be an efficient ruler with a child spawning inside her? And if came a day when she had to choose between her family and her People, who, then, would she choose? A woman's heart is fragile. She is not fit to rule.

The seeds of doubt were planted. Perhaps the Princess is not ready to rule. She has been in reign only for four seasons. There are wiser, more capable rulers in this country. Is pure heritage reason enough to rule an entire kingdom?

Hunger and lust for the crown were stirring. Small outbursts began to occur, causing cracks in the once perfect system. There were two sides now and loyalties were shifting.

Who is the man who spread the rumours, you ask? Well, all we know is, he wears a hood and has a limp. Nobody significant. Not yet.

One morning, the princess woke up to some commotion outside her quarters. She heard her helpers begging incessantly. The cries and shouts got louder until they were just outside her room. Without announcement, four of her Knights barged into her room, followed by her maids, falling to the ground in, faces masked with horror, asking for forgiveness for not being able to stop the men. The Princess calmly raised her hand, silencing them, and pulled her robe over her shoulders and addressed the Knights.

"What is it, Brave Sirs? Did one of mine break the law-"

"To hell with laws and treaties! Battles are not won with papers and ink! They are won with blood and swords! We have come to a conclusion that your way of ruling has brought us no forward! We were once a tempestuous sea! Now we are a laughing stock! Never to be taken seriously! We shall not stand it anymore! Step down, Princess or we will make you!"
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"Aye! Aye!" the other Knights agreed.

Fools, they were. Little did they know who they were up against. As the Princess stood up and stepped out of her robe, the Knights were shocked to see her wearing a cow hide, chain-belted dress and above her white tunic. She pulled out her unsheathed sword from underneath her pillow.

She sleeps in this attire with a sword under her head? Outrageous!

Her sword caught the light as she drew it from the sheath and pointed it at them.

"In that case, Sirs, I shall take you up on your challenge!" she said with a smile.



Credits:

Profile by chi ♥️
Story by Chii
Art collaboration by chi & Chii
Overlay by: lux