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The hissing and scratching winds of Jiin scraped the fogged moor. The trees black and dead, standing twisted and thin towards the sky. All plants were valued as deadly and covered in poison or thorns. Here the sky was so dim it could be mistaken as night, but night was more treacherous and terrifying then the day.Jiin was a land painter in plains of moors and dense giant forests that lie threatening and dormant. Many folks say that Jiins forests house witches, thorn-bloods, ghouls and dark spirits. Jiins royals ruthless monsters, bloodthirsty and evil. They’re people twisted and cruel.The kingdom of Jiin was much different from that. Witches, thorn-bloods, ghouls and dark spirits, did, in fact, live in the dark dense forests and foggy dim moors. But they had no dark intentions. They mainly lived alone, foraging and living with the land. Covens travelling from small town to small town, offering alchemy services and foraged plants.Most of the workers in Jiin lived remotely, towns only having a little less then 80 people.The royals, the King of Jiin, lived in the largest city, in a valley before giant mountains. The city still was small, with 200 people housed. Their palace was like a haunted mansion, dark and quiet.The royals were kindhearted rulers, with no intention of harm. They controlled trade with other Kingdoms and alliances.Seven Kingdoms rule the land.Koll, the Kingdom of Soot and Coal. A mining kingdom, with mountain cities and remote contact with other Kingdoms.Jiin, the Kingdom of Loneliness and Alchemy.Lyyne, the Kingdom of heaven and riches. The “golden” kingdom, with pure royal bloodlines and vast lands of country and crop.Yuffk, the Kingdom of Salt and Oil. A coastal village, that is know for its oil reserves and many fishing towns.And Frua, the Kingdom of Deception and mystery. A kingdom based in a swamp, with little known royalties. Mainly a no man’s land for criminals.
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The glimmering lights of Lyynes palace, that shimmered across the extremely long dining table, did not impress Duchess Lilith. She sat, her icy stare gazing around the bright and colourful room. Her home, Jiin, was much different from Lyyne. The thought of her land being so distant from Lilith, made her stomach roll. Her amber eyes glanced to the door, seeing movement from the corridor that could just be glimpsed from her seat at the table. Two figures approached, one significantly taller then the other. Both angered and muttering to each other. Lilith frowned, keeping her expression dull. The Kings hunched stature was quite recognisable. She gripped the table edge, causing her black and silver rings to send a faint clink through the room.
The taller figure threw explosive hand movements before straightening themselves and opening the door.
The heavy creek of the door pieced through the light air.
“Hello Princess.”
The cool, almost cold voice of Prince Vince rang through the room, his father, King Kullp stood behind him, the Kings crumpled posture making Vince seem taller then ever. Lilith nodded her head respectfully,
“Prince Vince, glad to finally make your acquaintance.”
She used my manners, the were nailed into her by various behaviour tutors. Vince already seemed bored by her. King Kullp whispered something to Vince before shuffling away, closing the large door behind him.
The Prince sat at the opposing end to the long table.
“I suppose we should talk, get to know each other. Before wedding rings are burned into our fingers,” Vince groaned, boredom displayed on his face like Christmas lights.
“I suppose,” Lilith stated politely, enjoying this false impression of her brewing in his eyes. She watched as he cringed, looking her up and down with a judgemental expression. Lilith kept her face blank and polite, but hidden deep in her eyes was an untameable sensation. A feeling of relief and comfort, yet that untouched emotion had to be buried for the sake of her marriage.
“Are you interesting at all?” Vince grumbled, scrunching his nose.
“That depends who is asking,” She said blankly, placing her hands into her lap.
“I should probably ask from your name,”
“Princess Lilith of Jiin, from the Blackblood Royal Line,” The taste of my lies where bittersweet. The Blackblood family was barely a royal line, Lilith wasn’t even a true royal. The King found her as a teenager, barely 15. Lilith had been living alone since her mother died when she was 9. She was raised and lived in a small cottage by the moors, slightly into the giant forests. Lilith was of witch and herb blood, meaning the connection to her land and people were strong. Her mother taught her all she could of Liliths home, yet illness gripped her tight for longer then Lilith could remember. The Blackbloods also found another witch blood, Liliths coven-brother, Robin. Ever since they met they were a secret coven of two.
If one spill of Liliths past slipped into this palace, then the marriage might as well be over.
“I was Duchess Lilith for a long while, but I had to take the Princess name to marry.”“Really? Why step down?”“I didn’t need the title…” Lilith lied, well half lied. She didn’t want the prince intrigued, it would lead to a dangerous curiosity.“Hmmm, why didn’t you need the title? As a Princess you would be treated much better,” the Prince questioned,“My people come first. They didn’t need another Princess in the family”“Right. Your people of course,” the Prince replied, his curiosity fading. Lilith fiddles with the lace of her dress.“Do you have any idea when the wedding will be?” The Prince asks, badly hiding the annoyance in his tone.“Three days I hear,”“That quite short.”“Yes well that’s what the people want.”“Are you anything more then a servant to your people?” The Prince asked, a smirk sliding onto his pale face. Lilith couldn’t reply, he couldn’t k ow the truth. Although the lies tore apart her heartstrings,“I guess not,” Lilith sighs, trying to keep her posture.“Oh,” Vince seemed so thoroughly bored and annoyed by my replies. He went silent, waiting for his fathers message to pardon him from the room. At least he is respectful, Lilith thought. Her mind seemed to drag her into a daydream of the woods and moors. Of foraging mushrooms and cooking soup, learning alchemy…“Lilith?” Her name was so abruptly spoken, Vince’s voice rang throughout the dining hall. “Apologies, you seemed to be… daydreaming?”“Oh! I ummm was only thinking of the benefits of this marriage,” Lilith was even boring herself with her own replies. Luckily Vince lost interest.