So it's been about 10 minutes and we're still walking somewhere. At one point I got tired and fell asleep in his arms. Not sure if that's the best idea but I've had a long day my brainpower has been used up. The next time I woke up is in a different room. It was still very fancy, not as much gold but more intricate designs.

My father plopped me down on the bed. "You'll be staying here." Hearing that I shot up from the bed. 'Then what about Hilana, Avia, and the other maids and guards! I shook my head trying to get off the bed. "What are you dissatisfied about? Want to die?" 'I want my nanny and everyone else and no I don't need to die yet! Not until I kill you at least!'

"Hiwana." 'Ugh please just make it stop!' I want to hide in a hole, I felt my cheeks heat up right after my embarrassing word. I peeked at him and he was smirking like what I did had amused him to an extent. 'I want to grab sandpaper and rub that damn smirk off your face.'

"They'll be sent over here." I looked at him shocked. 'He can't be serious.' I was not gonna believe that. "Whether you believe it or not you don't have the option to refuse." He said in his usual bland voice. I would like to fight and differ. 'I can if I want to and I will when I feel like it!' I didn't actually mean it but he was pissing me off to the point I was about to get a heart attack! "No, you can't." He replied back to me. 'Why not! I don't believe I can't fight you and take power!' I glowered at him. "I'm in charge and you're weak.' He smirked. I was about to rage quit this guy but then it finally hit me. 'How has he been replying when I haven't said anything out loud?' My sudden anger vanished replaced by confusion and more confusion. 'Oh boy, he's psychic.' I don't know if I'm easy to read but I swear most of them are psychics and that in itself is absolutely terrifying. He gave me that all-knowing smirk. I can't trust him at all. 'Ah, where's my nanny?! I want Hilana!' Speak of the saint and she arrives. Hilana bowed at my father by the door. My father left and Hilana walked over to me not all too happy.

"Princess being young and curious is one thing but you suddenly up and left with no one knowing was absolutely not okay. When I realized that you weren't in the garden I was worried beyond death. Everyone panicked and kept calling out for you while searching in complete madness, do you realize how worried we all were. We ran around the whole castle to look for you hoping that you were safe. If you try something like that again I'll be forced to take measures within my own limits as your nanny." I swallowed a lump and nodded furiously. "But I'm glad that you are safe and sound." Hilana kneeled in front of me and patted my head. "I want you to live the life you want but this doesn't change the fact that such reckless actions can cause tremendous worry, to not only me but Avia, the guards and maids, and his majesty." Hilana said in a strict but also gentle tone, laced with worry. I nodded my head timidly. Hilana sighed, relaxing her shoulders, and smiled gently at me.

Avia came walking with a smile on her face as usual. "Princess you're okay! I'm so glad! I was scared out of my mind when I found you gone!" Avia walked up to me and puffed her cheeks looking pretty pissed, annoyed, or both. "Next time you have to tell at least one of us or someone so we know and won't have to worry so much." I nodded my head as Avia told me. 'This is what I get for being curious.' I can only blame myself. "I was shocked to find his majesty carrying the princess. Out of anyone I didn't think his majesty would be one to find the princess!" Avia placed a hand on her heart and heaved a sigh as if she let go of a big rock on her shoulders. "With his majesty's temper, I would have guessed that he would ignore the princess or maybe even kill her." Avia said nonchalantly. 'Oh, here we go. Honestly, what is with them and talking about death in front of kids especially when the topic is about the kid themselves.'

Hilana sighed looking in the far distance. "I don't know if this is a blessing or a possible sign of danger. His majesty's temper is very strange for a better or lack of words. I hope it's the former and not the latter." Hilana said looking down then back up at me with her usual smiles. Avia nodded in response and here I was listening to them saying this. Sometimes I wonder if they're purposefully doing this or not because they talk as if I'm coherent of them which I am but, you know...babies or if this is just a natural thing that happens to everyone at one point in their life when they're young.

I spent the day crawling around my new place. 'I shall find my escape routes for I am a smart person.' I was having fun looking at my surroundings and giving my door guards some exercise. It's too much fun not to and besides it helps build up my leg muscles. I have concluded that this body is seriously weak. I'm beginning to think this child's body is incapable of gaining any sort of muscle. Of course, I'm exaggerating cause you need a certain amount of muscle to live whether you like it or not.

I crawled all the way to the garden. It was very big, lush, and well-coordinated. Well, it would be if it was spring but right now it's all pretty because it's a delightful fall. I'm kidding the leaves are all dead leaving the trees bare and basically wilted but even then it has a sort of beauty to it so it's not all that bad. I scanned my surroundings while crawling around and looked over to my left to see a pretty guy. He has dark copper hair swept back that shimmered brightly in the sun. 'A really nice angle on him right now.' I couldn't see his face too well but I think he has a slight pink to his skin, I'm not too sure and I can't see his eye's from this distance. 'I think it's probably the same as his hair or at least close to it.' He wore a guard's uniform but it was fancier looking with a black cape flowing behind. 'I guess he can't be a guard but more a knight or general.' Either one I'm guessing. Varying shades of dark greys to black basically giving him a sense of forlorn, unapproachable aura. Though judging by the condition of his armor that's covered in multiple cuts and dents he recently came back from war if I'm not wrong in my guess.

I quickly followed the guy to see where he is going and now that I'm slightly closer to him I could smell it. The familiar smell that's been engraved in my head. The smell of blood. 'Slightly rusted probably took him a while to get back but the scent is so heavy. If I had to guess probably his entire black attire is stained with blood.' I was dazing off into my own mind while crawling and I somehow bumped into a wall. I paused and looked up-whoops I meant I craned my neck back to see the guy. 'Please squat. I don't need a neck condition because I got a few too many things on my plate right now.' The guy kneeled on one leg and looked at me. 'Oh, his eyes aren't copper!' His eyes were a pretty blue probably a baby blue or a sky blue. Either way, it looks pretty. His skin was also very nice. Looking pale, smooth, and flawless with a light tint of pink. A very handsome guy that's around 16 or 17 if I have to guess. I have also guessed right when I smelled blood on him. His armor was stained slightly with rust in different spots and in patches, most likely the dried blood. I stood up from my crawling position and looked dead ahead at him.

"Princess." He spoke quietly in a pretty voice, not low and deep like my father's but very melodic and pleasant to the ears but it still contained a trace of maturity. He lowered his head at me as I heard my door guards coming from behind me, their armor making a racket.

"Princess!" Yup, they're calling alright. I looked around my dress and found my handkerchief in my pocket. I don't know why I have this. 'Don't they know this can be a choking hazard? Why are they giving a baby this? I don't understand their thought process. It seems logic is lacking in this world or it could be me. It's probably me.' I used the handkerchief and wiped away the blood on his face. A pretty, handsome face like his shouldn't be stained with blood. The knight raised his head looking plenty shocked. I just smiled at him.

"Princess please don't soil your thing's on a servant like me." I tilted my head. 'My goodness. This boy reminds me of someone. Not exactly but the way he says things are just so like him...Damn it, Junior, do you have to follow me all the way here! Give me a break you're like the ghost that never goes away!' I patted the knight on his head. I'm just kidding my Junior is way too spoiled and childlike to be like this shy knight.

"Cute!" I said to him with my beautiful child smile. The knight blushed bright red and just kneeled there shocked. 'Yay, I did good.~'

"Did I just hear the princess say the black knight was cute?" One of my guards asked behind me. 'Yep, you heard it right. I called him cute so what!'

"I think the sky is gonna fall. A war is gonna happen." The other one freaked out behind me.

"Hey calm down! Think about the princess! We have to get her out of there somehow?!" Well, there's a rational one- nevermind I take that back he's panicking as well. I stopped focusing on the guards and directed my attention back to the knight before me who was still in the same expression I left him red and shocked. I waved my hand in front of him. 'Wakie wakie.' The knight snapped out of his daze and looked flustered unable to meet me in the eye.

"I don't deserve such words princess. I'm not worth it." He said so quietly that I almost couldn't hear it. He held that sad almost hurtful look which really got to me. 'You know what. I haven't done this for anyone, even for my nanny. Just for you okay you lucky little knight.' I gave him a quick peck on the head and smiled at him showing him an even more glowing aura that's probably spilling from me. Everybody around us just froze and gasped. Yeah, I can guess why. 'This will be fine as long as he isn't here.' The knight froze for a bit then reacted pretty strongly. His face might as well be a tomato. His eyes kept wandering around not sure where and what to look at. with a slightly troubled face.

"What's the meaning of this?" This voice, this presence. No, no it can't be! I turned my head and lo and behold it's my father. 'Oh boy, what should I do now?' My legs feel weak. "Would you care to explain before I off your head?" He pulled out his magic sword ready to strike at any moment. I don't know who he's directing that to? Me or the knight, both are bad.

"I have no excuse. I will offer my life as a punishment." The knight said looking at my father plenty serious. 'Ok, no need to go that far!' I ran up to my father to try and get him to stop but he easily pushed me aside and pointed the sword at the knight's neck. 'No, I did bad! I did real bad!' I regret so many life choices right now!

"Then I'll have your severed head serve as a warning and an example." My father raised his sword ready to strike down. 'Think me! Think!' I kicked my father in the leg. He turned his head to look at me and seemed to be even more pissed than last time. 'Why body?! Why?! Why must you provoke him?! What did he ever do to you?!' My father squatted in front of me. "Any last words." He said menacingly. 'Yeah, I kinda do. Please don't kill me.' I went and hugged my father around the neck. 'I have no idea what I have just done but I'm going with it.'

I leaned back and smiled at my father. "Papa!" Come on sweet babyface. You haven't failed me yet so don't fail me now. He looked slightly surprised but didn't look satisfied. I'm just here smiling still. 'What more do you want from me!' He kept looking at me. "You wanna die." He casually said in front of me. 'No, but I wanna kill you.' I kept up my smile and the atmosphere was tense. We basically had a nonverbal stare-off. He then flicked my head hard and I backed off from that. He stood back up and looked down at me as I rubbed my forehead. 'This damn prick really enjoys bullying me!' I could almost see that self-satisfied smirk on his face. "

My father then directing his attention to the knight that was still kneeling before him. "I'll see you in the study for the report and get rest. I don't need a half-dead knight going out and fight." The knight nodded his head. My father picked me up and me not expecting something like this clung onto him afraid of falling to my death. "I should drop you in the lake." My ever so lovely father said with a full intention of probably doing so. I just smiled at him hoping he won't kill me off so early on. "Better yet you can survive the winter outside." I swear if he does that then I'm no better than a dead man wait- no a frozen man. I kept smiling at my father and punched him in the chest. 'Body! No! Ah!' My body doesn't cooperate with my mind. I'm beginning to think this child has some problems or it could be that- you know what nevermind. I'm not going to even finish that, it's stupid.

I looked at my father and he's got his usual cold stare. 'Oh boy. I am so going to get it.' I still have no idea where we're going. I'm scared for this child's life. "Since you have so much energy then you can stay outside and play....forever." I did not like that pause. I really hated that pause. 'This guy is going to kill me off! I can just feel it in my bones! He's ready to drop in a lake at any time!'

I looked to find the scenery change and the smell of water. We passed to a clearing and there was a bright lake with a large pretty boat. It's similar to a sampan but not really since those are designed to be smaller and the boat would have to be pretty long. This boat is small, fitting properly five people but big enough to install a cover with pillars supporting the edges of the cover. Thin white curtains were tied to the pillars and a table was set in the middle with fancy chairs on both sides cushioned with pillows. They even went and added in a blanket. 'Geez, this guy has so much money to waste.'

Once we got closer I was able to get a better view of the wood. It seems to be a mixed type between ash and oak wood. I'm not quite sure if it's the best combo or if this boat is built human weight. I didn't study much about boats since there was never a need to and don't ask me how I know this, lets call it a self-study thing.

We got on the boat and my father rested me on one side of the seat while he sat on the opposite side. The table was filled with fruits and sweets. It was awkward as we just sat there and watched the scenery pass by us. I'm not sure if this is the best weather for boat rides. Though the fall leaves are very pretty to see from all sides.

Like this, it was a calm ride listening to the water moving below us. Speaking about the water it's really deep but extremely clear. I'm kinda shocked by how clear it is. I looked at the things under the water and it looked so nice. Well, it's mostly a bunch of lotus leaves and flowers but hey no one's arguing. They are extremely pretty ranging in different colors. 'They look so pretty. I wanna pick one for Hilana.' I reached out my arm and body, very close to grabbing it. Completely forgetting about self-preservation. 'Just a little more. A little more then I can grab it.' I leaned forward even more and my fingers barely touched it. 'C'mon almost there.' I really question if my mind has or hasn't degraded into a child-like state.

After a little bit more push I finally grabbed the lotus but my other hand slipped and I fell into the water. I felt the cold water hit my side first then the rest of my body. I wanted to swim up but all the heavy clothing was restricting most of my movement. Everything was a clear blurry mess. 'I need to swim up or else I'll drown!' I used my arms to gain some momentum but each time I tried the heavier it was for me to move. 'I can't hold on for much longer.' The air I held inside was starting to get tight and hard to hold in. I closed my eyes and a flashback crossed my mind. I was in a human test tube with some kind of liquid filling it up. I banged on the glass trying to get it to open, I screamed for help. No one came to help, no one came to save me, I was going to drown to death with them looking, staring, observing... Like a test subject. I opened my eyes and flailed around like I was restrained. 'I can't die! No, I can't die! It's still too early for me! I don't want to die!' I let out the air I was holding in and breathed in the water letting it fill up my lungs. 'Is this is how I'm going to die? Is this how my second chance will end?' Even at this point where I'm drowning I can't help but think I dug my own grave for this one. 'I'm kinda shocked but blames on me.' I thought before closing my eyes, unable to breathe.

I felt a strong force pulling me until I broke the water's surface and hit something hard. I felt a hard pat on my back and coughed out water, leaving my nose and mouth. I was still lacking air and desperately trying to swallow as much air as possible. I looked up at the person who saved me and it was my father completely drenched. The look he held was still cold but ever so slightly did it hold concern. Just slig-who am I kidding. The day that guy shows concern is the day I die! I leaned my head against my father. 'I don't know how long I was in there but it felt way too long. You are such a terrible father but I brought this onto myself so I guess you're fine for now.' My body felt cold and heavy.

I didn't know when but we had reached the shore and I was being carried to somewhere again by him. It was always by him. I raised my arm and hit him in the chest as hard as I can. 'You deserve that for being such a bad father. Really just kill me if you despise me this much! Quit making me suffer for your own enjoyment! Even I have limits you jerk!' I hate him. I'll kill him one day. I'll kill him. I'll kill him! Calm down me too early. I felt too tired to complain or deal with his intent to kill me so I closed my eyes and decided to sleep could be for a bit or for a long time.

The next time I woke up I was suffocating. It's so hard to breathe, my lungs felt like they were parched and on fire. My nose was blocked and my body was going from cold to burning within intervals. I really can't believe what I'm experiencing is a cold. This is worse than a typical fever or a cold. 'This child. This poor child is just having the worst time of her life.' I sympathize with this body, after all, it's not my body. I pathetically opened my heavy eyes just a bit to look around to find everything slightly blurry. 'Why do I get a sense of dread and familiarity with this situation right now.' I took in deep breathes but it felt like I took in none.

"How could his Majesty do this?! The princess is running such a high fever!" I heard Avia yell and it kinda sounds as if she was crying. 'Don't cry. If you cry this easily then you'll be showing your weakness.' I felt something cold get placed on my head.

"I was shocked when his Majesty brought the princess back with both of them all soaking wet. I don't know what happened but I doubt it's good." I heard Hilana's voice. 'What's wrong with all of them. Is there a funeral going on? Someone tell me. I'm out of the loop.' It's so hard to concentrate on anything right now. "It seemed as if his majesty was finally opening up to the princess but maybe I was overthinking it all." Hilana said her voice straining.

"I don't get it? Why would his majesty harm the princess? He's her own flesh and blood?! How can someone be so cold-hearted as him?!" Avia shouted and Hilana immediately shushed her.

"His majesty has gone through so much. He's lost so much. It must be hard for him to open up to anyone anymore." Avia looked at Hilana with confusion.

"I heard rumors that his majesty killed his family and took the throne with bloodshed. He even killed all of the previous retainers. I also heard that all the children that were given birth were executed with the concubines." Hilana said nothing to deny or agree with what Avia said. 'Wow and I thought I was bad. I'm still pretty awful in terms of kill count but you know what-nevermind I'll shut up now.'

"Those are rumors. The truth is seen by those who's been there but even the sight can trick the mind." Hilana held my cold hand trying to warm it up. "It's best to leave the past in the past or else it'll only bring more trouble than peace." Hilana sighed.

"At least his majesty was out in battle when her highness gave birth to the princess," Avia said with a sigh of relief. 'Yeah, that is a relief. Glad he was gone for the birthing process.' Can't tell if I was trying to make a joke there. "I just still can't believe that even through all of that not only her highness but even her majesty was..." Avia's tone suddenly shifted to being quite solemn.

"Halyn(1) has eyes, Dymir(2) has ways. With such existence in this world, it makes many of our choices seem pointless in the long term but in the end, we still persist. Her majesty and her highness had also persisted till the very end. Whether it was good or bad, love or hate, friend or foe, they never stopped, not once." Hilana said with a nostalgic longing.

"I just worry about the prince and the princess. They're still so young that it doesn't seem fair to them and his majesty doesn't seem intent on caring for them all that much!" Avia complained in a worried tone to an annoyed one.

"If only the gods and goddesses weren't so cruel then maybe things would've turned out for the better. If Halyn could be charitable and Dymir could be forgiving then maybe things would turn out much differently." Hilana said and then a wave of silence covered the room. "I made a promise to her highness, and it will be one I will not break even if it ends me." Hilana quietly whispered and thankfully my hearing didn't go down. "Even if I have to...I won't hope you forgive me but hope you grow to be in health and life." Hilana muttered with a saddened look. 'I wonder if Hilana is married but she has to take care of me, then what about her child. Maybe all grown up. Nah, Hilana looks too young.' Things are becoming very confusing for me.

I woke up after a week and I was fine by then. Of course, my body is still pretty weak but I was able to move around and do things. Well, I take that back since Hilana has been pushing me to stay in bed. I love my nanny but she's gotta let a child have room to breathe.

(Song-Lady of the Dawn©, December 5, 2019, Composed by-Peter Gundry)

1. Halyn (Ha-leen)- Similar to heaven but also a similar place to the underworld instead it's where the gods, goddesses, or any celestial beings live.

2.Dymir (D-m-year)- Similar to the underworld more towards the Asian version where life and death are both judged there.