He gave his daughter for a liar

Maria sat in the dimly lit room, her body shaking with fear as she heard the sound of her sister’s screams. She held tightly onto her mother’s hand, her knuckles turning white from the pressure.

The night always scared her. The girls unwound their mistress’s hair, extinguished the lamps, leaving only two small ones. The prince’s daughter knew that there was no other way: She was a tool for her father.

With her help, Vladimir Monomakh had decided to expand his possessions. The whole horror of the situation was that almost everyone understood that the Grand Duke had given his daughter for a liar.

It all started when an overseas guest appeared in Kiev in the spring of 1102. He was expensively dressed, his purebred horse obviously bought for a lot of money. His harness shone with gold and he appeared confident and fluent in several languages.

The moment he arrived, he immediately demanded that his arrival be reported to the Grand Duke. Less than an hour later, a rumor spread through so many cities — the Byzantine heir to the throne had arrived!

Maria had just returned from church with her mother. She, like many others, was very curious: it was not every day that a guest came from Constantinople itself.

But she soon found out that the reason for his visit was not just to exchange pleasantries with her father. The guest had come with a proposal — a marriage proposal for the Grand Duke’s eldest daughter, Maria’s sister, Marichka.

Her father, always eager to expand his power and possessions, agreed immediately. He saw this as a perfect opportunity to secure an alliance with the powerful Byzantine empire. And what better way than to have his daughter marry their heir?

But Marichka’s mother, Princess Euphemia, was not so easily convinced. She had a cold and harsh disposition, but she loved her daughters dearly. And the thought of giving her precious Marichka away to a man she did not even know, scared her.

But she had to comply. She was the Grand Duke’s second wife and had no power to go against his decisions. Plus, she knew that her beloved Marichka would have to bear the burden of her father’s ambitions.

Marichka, who was adored in the prince’s terem, was born pretty. Her hair was light-blond, inherited from her father, and her eyes were dark and bright, just like her mother’s. She was often compared to a beautiful flower, delicate and rare.

The matchmaking for Marichka began early, but her father did not like any of the suitors. They were either too poor or from distant lands, making him afraid to give his daughter away to foreign countries.

But this time, the prince could not resist the opportunity. The thought of having his daughter marry a future emperor excited him, and he ordered preparations for the wedding to begin immediately.

Maria watched as her older sister was dressed in an expensive gown, adorned with jewels and flowers. She was to look her best for the prince’s arrival.

But deep down, Maria could see that her sister was terrified. She knew that Marichka had no say in this marriage. She was just a pawn in her father’s game of power and success.

As the day of the wedding arrived, the streets of Kiev were decorated with banners and flowers. The prince’s entourage arrived, and he was greeted with a grand welcome by the Grand Duke himself.

Amidst all the celebrations, Maria could see her sister’s fear and sadness. She tried to comfort her, but Marichka gave her a sad smile and said, ‘I am sorry, my dear sister. I am not marrying for love, but for the sake of our father’s ambitions.’

The wedding took place in the grandest cathedral in Kiev, with the Byzantine emperor himself officiating the ceremony. Maria could see the genuine happiness on her father’s face as he watched his daughter marry into an empire.

But as Marichka said her vows, Maria could see the tears in her eyes. She knew that her sister was sacrificing her happiness for the sake of their family’s power.

The next few days were filled with lavish feasts and celebrations, but Maria could see that her sister was not happy. She tried to talk to her, to offer her comfort, but Marichka remained distant, her spirit broken.

As the newlyweds prepared to depart for Constantinople, Maria said her goodbyes to her sister. Marichka embraced her tightly, tears streaming down her face.

‘I hope one day you will find true love, my dear sister. Do not let our father’s ambitions dictate your happiness,’ Marichka whispered, before getting into the carriage.

And from that day on, Maria’s heart was filled with sadness and anger towards her father. She could not forgive him for what he had done to her beloved sister.

Years went by, and Maria stayed at her father’s side, watching as he continued to expand his power and possessions. But deep down, she longed for the return of her sister, the truth behind her father’s actions, and the justice for her beloved Marichka.

And as her father grew old and his ambitions faded, Maria knew that it was her duty to make things right. She swore to herself that she would never let her daughters suffer the same fate as her sister.

And so, the night her father passed away, Maria stood at his grave, tears in her eyes, but also a glimmer of hope in her heart. She knew that her sister’s sacrifice would not go in vain and that one day, the truth would be revealed, and justice would be served.