CHAPTER FOUR

CRYBABY PRINCESS

Emperor Constantine never had good luck in his life when it came to choosing a soulmate, he had married different women and even witches but none of them seem to stay with him, it was always one mayhem to another and if it wasn’t the bride running away from the palace then it would be death by an unnatural cause. The only time that he was able to find a real partner that loved him regardless of all his flaws was the day that he met a woman who was part demon and half human, the woman loved Constantine and he loved her too with all his heart but tragedy doesn’t live far from the household of the emperor.

The woman became pregnant not long after she got married to the emperor, the news broke out and the whole kingdom of Briggs was excited to hear about the arrival of a new member into the royal family to the point that they even threw a party to celebrate the news, Constantine was very happy but at the same time he was being cautious because he was aware of the bad luck that he carried on his head so he decided to go and see a shrink so that he could know about the future of his unborn child, Constantine received the prophecy but he was not satisfied still, he still felt that there was something missing and he was restless until the day of delivery came, it was then he knew what had been missing from the prophecy.

The wife of Constantine was in labor for two days and all the midwives got tired of trying to deliver the baby because the child wouldn’t just come out, the complications didn’t resolve until four days after the initial day that she was supposed to give birth and during this time Constantine had been looking for different shrinks and familiar spirits in an attempt to make the delivery successful but all of them had been telling him the same thing; it was going to be okay…even though Constantine didn’t believe them he still chose to have faith. The day that his daughter was born was a very joyous one and everybody in the kingdom celebrated with their happy king but as they celebrated with him; that was the same way that they all mourned with him as well because his wife had lost her life during childbirth.

The heart broken emperor raised his daughter with strict discipline but with a generous hand, he spoilt her with jewelry and gave her the best toys to play with, she was treated with extra care and affection as if she was the only girl in the world and that was the main reason why she grew up thinking that everything should go her way and if it didn’t then she would resolve to the last resort that usually worked in her favor… which was crying until she got her wish granted. Benita was a very beautiful and charming princess with a lot of power at her disposal due to the position of her father and the influence that his kingdom had over all the regions, Benita was interested in the art of war and she was eager to learn sword fighting which she mastered over time, she lived her life as if she was a boy and it scared her father to the point where he restricted her from such activities that would make her come off as boyish.

“Why can’t I train with the warriors? That is my favorite activity and yet you want to take that away from me? Why father?” Benita complained to her father, she was in his chambers watching him drink his wine from his chalice, she flicked her jet black hair from her face so that he could see her green eyes that were ready to tear up if her father said the negative.

“I want you to focus on things that would make you look more princess like, the kind of activities that you do are the type that a boy is supposed to do, you even go horse riding instead of you being carried about in a carriage like a princess that you are” Constantine complained to his daughter, she reminded him of her mother but she hadn’t been so boyish or toned, Benita’s face was perfectly built and beautiful with a nose that was aquiline, her eyes were slanted and her pupils were green like her mother’s, her lips was thinly cut but all of her features were perfect for her oval face, the only problem was her body which was getting toned because of the exercise she got from horse riding and sword fighting with the warriors.

“Princess-like my foot, I do not care about any of those irrelevant things… all I want is to have my fun and to do what I like to do, is that too much to ask?” she was already whining and it was a pain to hear her ear splitting whining but not to her father who saw her to be the only diamond in the rough of his life.

“I can give you anything else but all I ask of you is to follow my instructions this time, you can take part in other activities that other girls usually do” Constantine knew what was next and it was the worst part about having a spoilt princess for a daughter, regardless of her age Benita could throw a tantrum whenever her wish wasn’t granted, she would throw herself on the floor and wail until she was appeased.

“I don’t waannttt thaaatttt!! Father, you don’t love me because if you did then you would have let-” Benita was wailing and as things goes; she was supposed to have her wish granted but this time her father was low on patience.

“SHUT UP! Act your age for once! What’s with all this crying? I only told you something that was good for you but since you want to act like this then I have no other choice but to force it on you, I forbid you as your father and through the authority I have as the king of this kingdom… you shall no longer partake in any activity that I had earlier mentioned, if you disobey me then I shall have to discipline you through whipping… is that understood?” Benita stared at her father with her mouth open, she had never witnessed his wrath and he had never spoken to her in such manner before so she could do nothing but stare.

“I SAID IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?” Constantine asked again and this time Benita answered with an aggressive nod, she left his presence sobbing still and the emperor had to release a huge sigh of relief.

“Benita, you are quite an handful but I still love you no matter what… all I want is for you to be happy with a partner but that annoying Ivan is delaying the inevitable” Constantine soliloquized to himself, he loved his daughter but he wanted her to get married to the prince of Mytigon so that he could relax his mind about the prophecy but as time went on Constantine grew more impatient.