Once upon a time,There was a land called 'The Amaranth'. The kingdom was full of beauty, authority and Royalty. People, living in it,were the happiest people that they live in abundance of grace and Mercy. Some people call it 'Heaven on Earth',others call it 'The kingdom of peace'. The people were ruled under a king named Steven. He was the most beloved king of the kingdom because he is filled with glory,as one might say, with passion for his people. King Steven loved his people so much that everyday,he walked in the city, alongside with his horsemen and guards, to greet his people, helped those in need. But one day,sent for a shoe cobbler to cobble his shoes. Unfortunately,the cobbler couldn't make it because he is sick in bed. So,the shoe cobbler had to send his daughter to the king and her name was Annabelle. She was the most beautiful maiden of the kingdom that the young lads,rich men and even youths of men fell in love with her. Some sought to seek her hand in marriage,others had to visit or befriend her in a way to draw closer to her.

Annabelle, carrying the tools for the cobbling of the king shoes, with rugs and polish, walked all the way to the king's castle. She knelt down in front of the king,in his room and began cobbling his shoes. When seeing her beauty and her kind and calm soul, the king fell in love with her. Since then,the king has been sending letters to the cobbler, hoping that soon,one day, he might marry his daughter. The cobbler, realizing his daughter has found favor in the king's eyes, accepted the proposal. And every day, the king would take Annabelle to his royal gardens, have a royal banquet with her and having plans for the future. Then one day, they both made it public to the kingdom that they were getting married. Then, under the moonlight sky,full of stars and nice cool breeze from the seas, the couple wedded. Everyone came to pay them their tributes and gifts and few days after the wedding, the claimed Annabelle as their royal queen of Amaranth.

Few months later,under the winter snow, the queen gave birth to a baby girl and they named her 'Ophelia'.

Ophelia started growing up as a playful child. When she turned 3,she would play around, run from one door to another, servants would find it hard to find her, even during her bath time, Ophelia will be running around naked that she ran to her father's royal court in a meeting with the elders. When she turned 5,she watched as the royal guards swing their swords, wrestle with others, and washed their weapons. She found them fascinating and began swinging her own wooden sword. Although, she is just a child, people find it odd for a princess like her to be loving manly stuff. Or if she really just wants to try it.

One day, Ophelia was practicing swinging her sword when she was being sent for by her father. She skipped to her father, who's outside the garden, sitting on the royal bench and looking at the flowers.

"Father," Ophelia said as she sat struggled to climb on the bench but was picked up by her father, and he placed her on it beside him "You sent for me."

"Aah yes," he said and turned to her "I can see that you love playing with your wooden sword,"

"Oh yes yes, Father." she smiled as she swing her sword "I've been practicing a lot actually and one day, I'm going to rule Amaranth with discipline and guidance." she said confidently. King Steven laughed.

"That's so ambitious of you..." then he stopped laughing and looked at her with a bit of smiling face. He took her sword and placed it on his thighs.

"My darling Ophelia, that's a good thing to try sword fighting but... you're a princess,"

 After Hearing those words her father spoke, Ophelia just stared at him...and asked just one simple question.

"Why is it bad for girls to learn Sword fighting, but it's good for boys to learn Sword fighting?"

Her father, the king, could see her teared eyes but neither of them came out. He then knew that what he said was so hurtful that he doesn't even know how to explain it to her.

"Ophelia my dear," he said as he picked her up and placed her on his thighs why caressing her hair…

"You're the princess of this kingdom, and I don't want anything, concerning this sword fighting... thingy to hurt you...

"But it doesn't make any sense," she finally broke down in tears....

The king later realized maybe what he said was actually kind of discouraging to her... But what else could he do...she is soon going to be the Queen of the kingdom, and he doesn't want anyone to look down on her when she actually becomes a knight.

"Listen Ophelia, I know sword fighting and that what makes you happy.... But… You're the princess and also a girl... please, I don't want any of our family members or legacy to be disgraced in the presence of other kingdoms...so please, don't feel bad" The king finally explained.

Though, the words he spoke calmed down Ophelia's Mind...but deep, she felt.... controlled.

 Few days later, King Steven was invited to The Emperor's royal birthday party in China... He is supposed to go two days before the emperor's birthday. He left with his trusted Advisor, Jeremiah, who went with him for the emperor's birthday. Jeremiah, although acts loyal around the king, hates the king more than fire itself. He and other trusted guards plan to eliminate the king. And this journey with the king to the emperor's birthday would be an opportunity for him to achieve his plan.

After the king said to his wife and daughter goodbyes... He went on that journey alongside Jeremiah and The royal guards.

When it then hit the 7th hour, there was a great storm and rain… The rain was falling so heavily that there was a lot of mud on the ground. The chariot couldn't go any longer. The wheels were stuck in a mud and the horses were scared in the hearing of the thunder and flashing of lightning from the sky.

Jeremiah came out of the chariot to see what was taking the guards so long to get the wheel off the mud. Then the king also came out of the chariot.

"Jeremiah?! What's going on?" the king asked

"the wheels are stuck in the mud and the guards are trying their absolute best to get it off!"

The king was covered in rain water, there was strong wind, thunderstorm and lightening … The horses were terrified of the loud noise and the guards were trying to calm the horses down.

Then something struck Jeremiah's mind… The plan. He knew this was his chance to kill the king and take what is his. He brought out his dagger, without the king knowing, Jeremiah struck the king's 4th rib by his left... Without a second if explained, King Steven fell to the ground... dead in his pool of blood and mud. Jeremiah… To hide his scheme… Rushed to the guards.

"The king!! The king!! Is killed!!" Jeremiah shouted.

All the guards rushed to the king, whose body is covered in mud and blood. The guards wondered who would do such a thing. Jeremiah, though his face showed distress and great terror, was filled with happiness in his heart, he didn't feel any happier than what happened today....

The next day, Queen Annabelle was sitting in her bench behind the castle in her royal garden... Her maid of honor rushed to the queen.

"My lady, The elders are here to see you, and... The guards brought some tidings...

The queen, couldn't understand why they want to see her, so she followed the maid.

  As the Queen followed her maid of honor to the court room... She couldn't believe her eyes.

On the floor, there was the king's body, covered in white clothe. Queen Annabelle couldn't believe that it was her husband lying down on the floor… Lifeless…

"No," she said in disbelief as her eyes were filled with tears "This can't be... NO!!!" she rushed to her husband's lifeless body... Trying to wake him up… Everyone watched in sadness and heartbroken souls.

Queen Annabelle cried and wailed so much, that even a horse could hear her miles away. Ophelia, playing with her toys, heard her mother's cries and ran out of her room to meet her mother. But what she saw, got her looking pale. She watched as her father was covered in white clothe, her mother wailing and lamenting, the guards and maids crying or feeling uneasy with their heads bowed, and the chiefs, elders and advisors were just... Looking.

 Few moments later, that same night, Ophelia couldn't close her eyes because it will only remind her of what happened earlier.

"Is papa sleeping? Maybe he's just sleeping in a deep sleep... Yes... My dad is sleeping," she kept doubting that her father is dead. Then, reality walked in.

"But why was mama crying and shouting?" Ophelia thought to herself...

The next day, everyone wants to know how the king died but the only answer they could get was

"Maybe he got assassinated"

"No! Maybe he accidentally fell on his own dagger because of him not seeing well due to the heavy rain and sandy breeze."

"Or maybe it's because the chariot had a downfall and hit a big rock"

People came up with different ways the king might have died. Queen Annabelle , still in a mourning state, calmed herself down... Now she has to rule Amaranth alone.

  This angered Jeremiah , who was behind the great pillars watching her rule the kingdom... does the kingdom need only a Queen to rule the people?

they need a king. Jeremiah thought.

 Throughout the night, Jeremiah planned his next scheme to achieve his glory. But something struck his mind. A witch could help him of his scheme.

"But who?" Jeremiah wondered.

Every single day, Jeremiah couldn't bear to watch Queen Annabelle rule the people with peace and harmony... And everyone loved her. Jeremiah watched in rage and jealousy, seeing the Queen took his glory... He had no choice but to find any powerful witch to help him.

  He rode on his black horse, rode through a dark forest with his personal guard, Lucas. They both rode through the night until came to a little cottage. The cottage was so scary that even little children wouldn't pass that place.

"This is it" Jeremiah said in joy.

Then a witch came out.

"You want to see me?" she said in her wrinkled skin, mouth looking rotten and a long crinkly nose with pimples and a strand of hairs on each place on her face. Head full of lost gray hairs with few on it. And her eyes filled with mischievous ways and evilness.

On seeing the woman for the first time, Jeremiah felt worried. Some part of his mind telling him to turn back, the other telling him to continue for he made it this far. He can't let everything he built for go to waste.

"Yes," he said, masking his fearful heart with dominance, "I want to take my rightful place as the king of Amaranth. I want the Queen dead at all cost."

The old witch, in hearing this, laughed so eerily.

"Then you must bring me the heart of a young Virgin by tomorrow night when the moon comes out."

The personal guard, Lucas, doesn't feel safe at all.

"Are you sure you want to do this, sire?"

"Of course," snapped Jeremiah , "I've walked all the way here just to achieve my goals. I can't let all this hard work go to waste." Then Jeremiah and the Old witch made a deal. Jeremiah will bring the heart of a young Virgin, and the Old witch will perform her witchcraft against the queen.