The next morning Ellen woke up at her usual time. Her personal maid was already waiting to attend to her bid.

"My princess" the maid greeted. Ellen simply nodded her head and walked her way into the bathroom to have her bath.

When she was done, the maid helped her to get dressed and quietly styled her hair. The room was quiet. The maid was lost in her own thoughts. Sure enough the maid already heard the rumors about the king planning to marry off princess Ellen to the cursed prince.

She felt sorry for her but she knew it was not in her place to inform the princess, so she held her lips tight together.

The maid was almost done styling the princess' hair when a knock was heard on the door. The maid looked at Ellen for permission and when she noticed the princess slightly nod her heard.

She went to open the door. "my princess, his majesty ask that you join him for breakfast." The maid who just walked in inform the princess.

Ellen simply nodded her head in response . She was in no mood to talk.

she was well aware of the rumors. if commoners where already aware there was no way such a news will be missed by Ellen. After spending time with them she easily gets hold of ever rumor in the kingdom.

She felt her heart ache when she thought of the news and quietly prayed it was just a rumor. she was not ignorant, She knew the situation of the kingdom and she knew they were at the verge of losing. After all she stayed in the camp attending to the injured and she also heard about the visit of Avalon courier.

So she was almost sure the rumors were true. Sighing deeply she got up from her dressing table when the maid was done with her hair and walked elegantly to join her father for breakfast.

When she got to the table she was a bit surprised to meet the Queen and her children already seated with the king.

"Father, your highness" she greeted the king and queen. Both nodded their head and smiled sweetly at her.

Ellen took a seat beside her father directly opposite the Queen.

"Ellen how are you doing? " king George asked feeling guilty about what he planned to tell her.

"I am doing well father," she replied cutly, her face void of any emotion.

The king nodded his head and started eating his breakfast. Once he started Ellen and the rest joined him.

While eating, the family made few random conversation but Ellen did not contribute. She forced on her meal and acted like whatever was going on in the table had nothing to do with her.

Ellen was about to excuse herself once breakfast was over but the king asked her to follow him.

"Your mother and I have something to discuss with you," king George said.

Ellen held the urge to roll her eyes when she heard the king referes to the Queen as her mother. In the end she just nodded her head there was no point to argue about anything. She wasn't in the mood besides it will be of no use. Ellen quietly followed them into the king's study.

Once Inside, the king shut the door and asked his wife and daughter to sit down. Ellen was almost having a nervous breakdown as she could already guess what her father was about to say to her.

She did not want to hear it but she focused herself to stay put and listened. What choice did she have. She took a deep breath and acted composed waiting for her father to drop the news.

The king cleared his voice and informed her about the request made by the king of Avalo. Even though Ellen was expecting her father to talk about Avalo proposal she still felt hurt when she heard him say the words.

"Ellen I really love you and I would never want to hurt you. Believe me if I have a choice I would not ask you to do this. The whole Bozao will be destroyed if we reject their offer. Father apologize for not being able to protect you." the king said in a soft voice. He felt guilty sending his daughter into a marriage that will probably destroy her. But as a king he had to think of his people.

Ellen just looked at him, she felt hurt but she knew she could not blame her father but why must it be her. She was not the only princess in the Palace.

"My poor child" Ellen heard the Queen said in a pitiful voice. She sounded like she was about to break down in tears. Ellen turned her head to look at the Queen, was she trying to mock her? she thought to herself She felt irritated by the act the Queen was putting up .

What was the point of faking her care. She did not understand why the Queen always acted like a lovely mother when the king was around.

Ellen's blood boils and she was going crazy with anger just watching the queens pretentious attitude.

"You will do this for father right?" the king asked when he noticed Ellen did not say anything but looked at him plainly.

"Ahh what was the point of all this sweet talking, not like I have any choice" Ellen said mentally.

She was about to nod in agreement but pause and looked at her father. She had so many questions to ask him but time will fail her, so she choose to ask the one that has been ringing in her head since she entered the study.

"Father, why do I have to be the one to marry the curse prince. Clearly Avalo just asked for a princess, " Ellen asked.

The king and Queen were stunned for a few seconds. Ellen has never questioned her father's decision. She usually just nodded her head in agreement.

" Ellen I have told you before, you are the first child of this family, it is your duty to protect and guide your siblings " the king replied.

Ellen nodded her head, she has somehow expected this answer. After all when she and her siblings fought her father always took their side and tell her the same thing.

So hearing him using the same lines on her was not a surprise. She turned her head to look at the Queen. She felt very irritated when she noticed the sly fox was keeping up her act and looking sad.

"You amazed me your highness, what's the point of pretending to be sad, when you are obviously happy that the daughter of the dead queen is leaving and the Palace will belong to you and your children. You know you don't care what happens to me. why pretend?" Ellen asked looking at Queen Regina indifferently.

She gupes and cover her mouth, when she realized that she said that out loud. She did not mean to say out her thoughts.. Watching the shock expression on the king and Queen's face she suddenly felt goose bumps.