The sound of strings being pulled echoed in the quiet forest and soon three arrows ensued tearing the cool breeze and landing straight on the mark.

A triumphant smile ghosted on pink petals as the little warrior celebrated her small victory. Her brown curls bounced in the air. Raising her chin, she again pulled the string to take another perfect shot when someone interrupted.

"Y/N?? YOU HERE AGAIN??"

Y/n creased her brows expressing her displeasure. She put her bow down and glared at Rose who stood beside her while panting hard.

"I've been searching for you everywhere," she spoke while catching her breath.

"Can't you wait? Don't you see I am busy?" Y/n snapped at her and turned to leave. Rose was staggered at her rude response but soon a sad sigh escaped her lips because it wasn't something new.

She has become used to it now.

Still, she pulled up a smile and approached her. "I am sorry but Jin Oppa has been asking for you. He couldn't find you in the Palace so he called me for your search operation." She tried to lift her mood and circled her arms around her neck. Y/n didn't grace her with any response and continued packing up her stuff.

"For what does he need me this early in the morning?" She spoke dryly and squirmed to get out of her grip. Rose's smile dropped. She grudgingly moved away from her and looked at her sadly.

"He wanted to see you Y/n. He was worried for you. You know his day doesn't start after seeing your face." She teased her only to earn a dry chuckle. Y/n turned around and looked at her amused.

"Well, he has his wife. He should start his morning after seeing her face not mine," saying that, she took her small duffel and walked away leaving Rose stunned. Her jaw dropped as she stared at her retreating figure in disbelief.

*****

Y/n sauntered inside the palace. The maids immediately took her duffel which she quickly handed to escape the daily scolding but too bad for her since Jin was already at the entrance waiting for her.

"Had fun with arrows?" He taunted and glared at his sister. Y/n sighed; her shoulders slouched as she looked at him with bored eyes.

"Good morning, Future King. You requested my presence," her voice lacked the charm as if she forced herself to let out those words. Jin was infuriated. He marched in her direction with predatory steps and glared down at her.

"What's with your tone huh? What is the matter with you? Didn't I tell you to stop practicing archery and fencing?" He lashed out at her. Y/n lifted her burning gaze. She was equally exasperated.

"Save your lecture. And what makes you think I will listen to you? I am a master of my own. I won't take orders, especially from you." She gritted her teeth. Her fists clenched as a vein in her forehead popped up.

Jin was gobsmacked. It was as if she had slapped him with her words. Even the guards were shocked at her tone.

"Y/N!!!" An ear-splitting growl came from behind. Y/n shut her eyes because she immediately recognized the owner. Her nose scrunched as soon as her lungs filled with the strong scent of jasmine and lilies. Opening her eyes, her gaze clashed with the shimmering brown ones that were glowering at her with contempt.

"How dare you talk to your brother like that? I can't believe you have changed this much. Even Dad and Mom have no idea what turned you so bitter and malicious that you start hating everyone. Do you even realize how much you're hurting everyone because of your attitude? Neither do you divulge the reasons nor do you appreciate if we put efforts to have a civil conversation with you. You're stuck on acting like a brat and now have started insulting Jin, your elder brother in front of everyone." Jisoo criticized her vehemently. She couldn't put up with her insolent behavior anymore.

Her words struck a chord with Y/n. Angry tears rushed in her azure pools.

Swallowing her sobs, she covered the distance between them in long strides before shooting her a death glare. Jisoo frowned and waited for her to speak. She matched her glare but deep down she wanted Y/n to confess. She wouldn't mind even if she screamed at her because all she wanted her to spill the beans. Confide her problems, her anger, her fear, and grief to her. She desperately wanted to know the reasons behind her indifference. The Y/n she knew was long gone. Everyone had now started believing that it was a mirage. The fluffy ball of joy had morphed into their biggest nightmare.

Jisoo waited but just like every day, Y/n walked past her but not after bumping her shoulder against her harshly making her stumble. Enraged and frustrated, she pivoted and tried chasing her but Y/n dashed to her room and shut the door in her face.

Jisoo stilled but soon rage coursed through her veins. She banged her fists on the door and started yelling.

"YOU CAN'T ALWAYS RUN AWAY, Y/N!! I AM TRYING, WE ALL ARE TRYING BUT I THINK IT'S A WILDGOOSE CHASE BECAUSE THE PRINCESS WE KNEW IS NO MORE." She kept screaming but soon her eyes gave in and tears slid down her cheeks.

They were hurt. Y/n had completely estranged herself from the family. Their sweet little doll had turned so venomous and the worst part was they had no clue about her sufferings.

Y/n kept listening to her screams which eventually ceased. Her eyes stared at nothing while Jisoo finally left in defeat.

As soon as things relapsed to silence, a sob escaped her mouth. Her knees buckled and she immediately palmed her mouth before sliding to the floor lifelessly. Her body shook as big, fat tears rolled down her chubby cheeks. The crybaby which she had hidden in the armor of the heartless woman surfaced.

It hurts. It hurts so badly.

Pulling her knees to her chest, she buried her face and cried out loud. The day she traded the life of her child with Jungkook and returned to Moonland, Mrs. Jeon changed the timeline to the day when Jin came back to meet her. She was successful in erasing her past which was filled with Jungkook and his good memories. No one remembers anything except Y/n. It was her choice but with passing days, it turned into her biggest regret. It was because she couldn't digest how everything turned so normal.

During the initial days, Y/n tried to cope but the happy faces of her family slowly started becoming a sore in her eyes. The ripples of laughter and joy all over the palace evoked her dormant swarm of agony and rage.

Jin was the first one to notice her predicament. Y/n started spending more time alone. She did that to not be inconspicuous but her family has always been too nosy. She tried to dodge their questions first but they weren't ready to give her space. Her biggest problem was that Jisoo who had always had Y/n under her dominion started demanding answers and that's when Y/n lost her patience. She had yet to forgive her considering she was the root cause of her problems but Jisoo who was oblivious to it took it as a disrespect. She instantly rejected Y/n's right to 'privacy' because according to her, she should be completely transparent with her. They weren't ready to accept their decisions and eventually, it resulted in a big fight.

Y/n couldn't bottle up her emotions anymore and to unleash her demons, she started taking lessons in archery and fencing. She wanted to be a warrior but with time her desire turned to pure madness. Although there were no restrictions on girls in her family, Jin knew his sister inside out. He didn't want to stop her until one day Y/n nearly killed the trainer during practice. He was shocked to see the rage in her eyes. She needed blood on her hands that day. Worried, Jin rushed in the middle of the game and snatched the sword from her hand. Y/n who was still in a trance lunged to attack him and her father shouted at the guards to intervene. That day she stunned everyone in the Moonland and ever since she was kept under house arrest. But Y/n wasn't ready to acquiesce which led to her fighting with her family every day.

Y/n sobbed and sobbed until her tears ran out. Resting her head on the door, she stared at the ceiling with empty eyes. She was tired. It was as if she had no purpose to live. She knew her family wasn't the one to be blamed for her sordid fate. They were only trying to figure out her problems but she doesn't want that. All she needed was to be left on her own. Raising her left hand, she lifted her sleeves which were filled with scars. She not only punishes them but herself too for killing her child.

Slamming her hand on the floor, she stood up on her wobbly legs and dragged her feet to the bed. The Princess had chosen isolation and would stick to it no matter what happened. She didn't want to see the faces of those who kept reminding her of her past.

Slumping on the bed, Y/n closed her eyes and drifted to darkness; another quick escape from this dreadful reality.

*****