I woke up pretty early today and anyone could tell that i didn't sleep well , i was restless the whole night and i didn't even care all i wanted was to see my family .

« your highness good morning im sorry i've overslept » Maria startled me when she got up , i was getting dressed ready to go and get informations from his majesty .

« Don't worry about it , i'll be back » i finally got ready and left our tent to visit sultan suleiman , i found a man standing there speaking to someone i was very familiar with .

My brother .

« Alexander » without thinking twice i ran towards him and he immediately hugged me not wanting to let go of me .

« My dear sister , i have been thinking about you » he put his hand on my hair and patted my head gently .

« I couldn't sleep because i've been thinking about you , what happened to you and my father after that ? please tell me the truth »i finally stated at him and i was hoping to see a glimpse of hope in his eyes .

He looked around trying to escape my gaze then looked at the ground , he grabbed my hand and put his over mine .

« I am sorry , our father is dead » my ears were betraying me and my brain stopped thinking, i felt as if all of my thoughts were shut down and my world had seized moving .

My father .. my father died .

« How did this happen ? it can't be true - no you're just mistaken he promised me » i let go of his hand refusing to let anyone near me .

« Please don't do this .. we will go through this together » My brother hugged me at once and didn't want to let go while i couldn't control my tears .

My father was gone , he left right after my mother . my heart felt shattered and i felt fear , anger and sadness at the same time .

« Your highness , his majesty wants to see you » one of the sultans guards interrupted us and had to take my brother away from me .

« You too princess » i was caught by surprise as i was just processing what just happened but i had to force myself to follow them and see his majesty .

my sons were uncontrollable, i was having a hard time breathing or calming myself down . i took some time with maria a little bit far away from everyone and tried to calm myself down .

« i think i'm ready » i wiped my tears away and gathered all of my strength to go see the sultan , my brother was already inside and i followed him .

the sultan was not alone , there were also his ministers and his prince . i didn't like the attention at all .

« As i said earlier , your fathers blood will not stay on the floor . this will not go unpunished and i will not turn a blind eye on this » sultan suleyman affirmed and i was quite relieved we had someone to rely on .

« Prince Alexander , you're now declared the king and don't doubt that my support will always remain for you i will send 10.000 soldiers with you to ensure your safety and establish the capitals security once again »he continued

my brother thanked him and expressed how the country was suffering and that the riots didn't look like they would stop .

« you will have my full support and i will also send Mustafa pasha with you so he can help you with decisions » he was so kind and gentle , just like how i remembered when i was young .

« As for princess Sofia , there is no way i am sending you off with your brother until everything gets in order there » i felt like being stabbed , i didn't want to stay i wanted to go to my home land with my brother .

« we can not risk your safety princess » my brother reaffirmed «  you will stay with us and when i myself make sure the order is back and it's safe i can send you back » the sultan confirmed .

I didn't want this , i wanted to go with my brother and fix this together i felt like i was betraying myself and my people .

« You will see your father and then you'll get escorted to the imperial palace thus you can see your father and give him a proper funeral » I nodded and didn't say a word , i was too stunned and my mind was obviously not working like it usually does . the only thing i wanted right now was to see my father

« My sister is in good hands i am sure of that » Alexander patted my shoulder softly and i just stared at him .

« Don't worry , you're my daughter from now on . your father always loved you and i'm sure he would want to see you move on and be happy . whatever you need shall be fulfilled » I smile , it was not a genuine one because this was definitely not what i wanted to hear at this moment

what i wanted to hear was your father is waiting for you in the palace and that there is nothing to be scared of anymore .

« Thank you your majesty , if you excuse me i want to dismiss myself » i bowed down to him and whoever was in the room and went back to the tent where i stayed in .

I didn't speak to anyone , even Maria . i didn't want to see anyone nor talk , she was busy packing our stuff that we needed to go back to my hometown tonight .

Maria suddenly came to my side and i immediately felt sadness rushing in , i couldn't control my tears anymore

« It's okay Sofia , you need time . time heals and you will eventually get through this , you have your brother and me we will help you » She reassured me but for some reason this worsened me even more

« but it's not the same with my father gone » i cried « i just - i don't know » i wiped my tears away and just held onto her

« i have to get strong , i know for the sake of my father and for the sake of all of you »

« See ? when you're hurt we're also hurt . but you need time , i told you you have to take care of yourself and whenever you're ready to go on with your life do it » she put her hand on mine and reassured me .

She was right , time was going to fix everything for me and for everyone .

I made sure to bring my necklace he gifted me when i turned eighteen . after i pulled myself together it was finally time for us to go we got into the carriage and we left .

it took us a lot of time due to the condition of the weather , it was snowing and it was hard for us arrive in daylight .

I pulled the curtain away and stared from the little window , the city was destroyed and we could still hear riots everywhere . we took another path that could go unnoticed and we finally arrived to our palace .

once the carriage opened , i could smell in the air depression and pain, it was cold outside .

Guards were running in and out of the palace but they stopped once they saw me and my brother . we were escorted inside by the main guard and we got into my fathers room

I took deep breaths and tried to get myself together before we entered , he was laying on his bed lifeless with doctors by his side .

« your highness » they bowed down to both of us and we dismissed them . we wanted a moment with our father .

I came close and sat on the side of the bed right by his bed , i touched his face and it was as cold as the ice .

Tears started streaming down my eyes and my heart sank deep , it hurted me physically and mentally to see his lifeless body .

« I swear whoever did this to him will never see the light again » My brother said in deep pain as he stared from afar .

this made me realise that for him the revenge was much greater than his pain but for me it was the contrary . this was definitely going to change my mind and perspective about life in general , this broke me in pieces and there was no one that could get them together again .

except for myself , i was never going to be sofia again , his daughter whom he loved arguing with and and listen to her talk about her passions , his daughter who came to seek refuge in him , whom he protected from everyone and everything

He died protecting me , just like he always did and i was not going to let him die in vain .

Someone had to pay the price