Empress in a Golden Cage

Chapter 1

Warning: Some description of violence. Read at your own discretion.

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It was a perfectly beautiful morning.

The morning sunshine passing through her bedroom windows was gentle and warm.

The sounds of the birds chirping outside were cheery, as if they, too, were celebrating her special day.

She had a warm rose-scented bath and the maids had dressed her up carefully in a beautiful white dress adorned with thousands of pearls and precious gems.

She had been waiting for that moment when she wears a pretty wedding dress like that for as long as she can remember.

She had been dreaming of walking along the aisle with her esteemed father toward her beloved future husband who would be waiting for her on the altar.

"Your Highness, you look so beautiful."

One of the maids praised her cheerfully.

"Of course, she's the most beautiful woman in Altaire! Our precious jewel, Princess Luscinia Ava Altaire."

Her nanny, Linda, who was also the head maid raised her chest and proudly exclaimed.

Her pale pink-blonde wavy hair was dancing fluffily when the maids arranged it into a half-bun. Her diamond-like eyes sparkled excitedly as she looked at herself in the mirror.

She looked perfect. Just like how she imagined she would look on her wedding day.

She thought the day would be as perfect, too.

It was her wedding day, after all.

"Ay, my dear Lucy. You look so beautiful. This mother is somehow sad to think that the day that we had to marry you off has finally come."

Luscinia turned her head around after hearing her mother's voice.

"We greet Her Majesty the Queen."

All her maids bowed respectfully.

Her mother, Queen Martha of Altaire, walk toward her slowly and gave her an embrace.

It was the last embrace she'd ever receive from her mother.

But she didn't know that, yet.

"Esteemed Mother!"

"Now, now. Today, at least, I wished you would call me 'Mom' like when you were little. My only daughter has grown up well."

The queen sighed as she smiled.

A servant who came together with the queen walked toward them and kneeled. He presented them with a blue velvet box that he brought with him.

The queen slowly opened the box, then took the jewelry inside it and placed it carefully on top of Luscinia's head.

It was a tiara adorned with sparkling diamonds in various sizes. But the centerpiece of the tiara was the most eye-catching of all. It was an egg-sized pale-blue diamond that was sparkling gloriously, brighter than the rest.

"As I thought, it suits you perfectly. It's the same color as your eyes, my dear."

Luscinia touched the pale-blue diamond as she appreciated it through the mirror.

It really looked so much like her eyes.

"When I married the king, it didn't look that good on me. It didn't match my eyes at all."

The queen laughed. Her eyes were emerald green.

"It was said that the owner of this national treasure, the first queen of the kingdom, had the same eye color as the "Tear of the Goddess" diamond adorning it. You truly are her descendant, Lucy. It looks as though it belongs to you."