I was not pretending when I broke down into tears on seeing Henley. I remembered the palace well enough even though I only visited one time. It was still lighted up with too many lamps and golden columns filled the corridors, it was still clean with white marble floor and beautiful paintings, it was still warm and smelled of vanilla and summer.

When Tahira put an applause-worthy act of having found me on the gates, the maids who recognized me rushed to get the Prince. All the emotions pent up inside me flowed out as soon as I saw Henley rushing towards me. He and I have been friends longer than we have been lovers. No one knew me better than him, not even my father. He was my first friend, my letter friend, my confidant and the one I came to love.

The only thing he didn't know was that I was a Princess trained to kill because I was afraid he would not see the charm in me or that he might not consider me Princess enough for her strict family who considered women as an object to be treasured and kept inside the rooms. Henley was grown under the guidance of a wise mother, now dead and I hoped that he was better. With time I learned he respected my words and choices but still I was afraid that his father would not allow a Princess who can yield sword and therefore I never had guts to tell Henley.

"Lia," He said and that was all that made me overcome with grief.

I would have stumbled on the ground had not been for Henley coming to my aid. His arms went around my waist and he held me up. I buried my head in his chest and cried not caring what the people audience to my hysterics would say. I was, according to the story, a survivor from enemy torture.

"Lia, I am here now, It's okay." He said in a familiar warm tone I was so used to.

Once he broke the embrace his eyes observed me and I felt myself shrink feeling dirty in his presence. He was still the same Henley with smooth auburn hair, smiling eyes and a feeling of warmth and happiness. I tried not to think that my heart, however, didn't react or my stomach didn't curl in his presence as it did with Bretrarum. Maybe it was just a physical attraction towards the lying Prince.

Henley didn't ask me anything for now as he supported me to walk towards the stairs that lead to the room I was previously allocated in when I came.

I saw the guards and maids give me a look of pity and curiosity, while I noticed there were some new females mostly Princess' I saw during dances or meetings. I tried not to think too much as I was brought to my room. I noticed Henley stop the maids but Tahira accompanied me inside. She has done something to earn his trust.

When we were in the room and I was sitting on a comfortable bed that felt too soft to me now.

He sat down on his knees, his face level to mine now.

"What happened Lia?" He asked carefully, concern clear in his eyes.

For a shocking moment, I wished they were indigo and mentally cursed myself for being such a fool.

"I- I was captured by N-Nevarlia army, they killed everyone, Henley," I said sobbing yet again because I was living the horror all over again as Tahira observed my every move.

"I thought I lost you." He said and I realized that he had that adorable frown on his face.

A tear escaped his eyes.

"I thought so too," I whispered at how devastated he looked.

"Tahira will help you through the bath and cleaning your wounds. Once you take good rest, I will be here again and you can share all your worries and complains." He stated in a typical Henley way, formally.

He got up and I felt myself hesitating. I need to give him a sign or something.

"Henley," I said and from peripheral vision notice Tahira in attention mode.

"Yes, Lia?" He asked.

"They destroyed everything, Henley," I said carefully as tears formed in my eyes.

And saw the pain reflected in his eyes.

"I am sorry I couldn't protect Lillian, the cat you gifted me."

I had no cat, but whenever we would walk out of the place as kids without permission we would always lie that we were looking for a cat named Lillian that I told my dad belonged to Henley. Later we realized we couldn't really fool either of our father with that lie.

And he stared at me carefully, not weirdly enough or showing any visible reaction on my words.

"Don't worry Lia, I am just happy that you are safe." And then he nodded.

I sighed realizing that maybe he got my message.

As soon as he left, Tahira guided me to the bathing area. It was a huge bathing tub made of red marble filled with fragrant lukewarm water.

"Princess you need to stop acting coy and take those clothes off so that I can clean your wounds." She said and I felt disgusted even at the thought.

"I want to be alone Tahira, leave me," I said in an authoritative tone.

She smiled evilly and shrugged.

"As you wish." And left me alone to take a bath and clean my wounds.

Once I was alone, I opened my tightly closed fist and saw the thing Bretrarum subtly passed me. It was a little sand timer, enough to be a pendant in a locket which I no longer owned. Obviously, all my jewelry and accessories were taken. So I tied it under the layers of dress that was laid down for me.

It took me almost an hour to clean all the blood and injuries inflicted on me as I sobbed in pain through the whole things. The mirror reflected a broken, skeletal body with bruises all over and nothing like a Princess should have. My hair and eyes had no luster and my ankles and wrist were too severely injured that slight movement made me wince.

Once I was done I stepped into the water and the warmth of the water hit my injuries and I inhaled sharply at the pain that coursed through me. Before I could get used to the water, a felt a sharp prick on my leg and a yelp escaped my mouth.

I lifted to see the area that was pricked and saw a small mark which was swelling rapidly and changing purplish.

"What happened Princess?" Tahira reentered without my permission and even though my body was hidden in the foam I felt angry at her behavior.

"Get out," I yelled.

"Don't you want to know if that scorpion bite is poisonous or not." She said and gave a sly smiled.

It made sense then, she placed the scorpion in water for me.

"Why?" I asked as I realized that the bite was indeed dangerous because my vision was getting blurry.

"Don't try giving out clues to your Prince and everything will be fine." 

I was stupid and in haste, I made a mistake. She deducted that talk about the cat.

"I am not allowed to kill you Princess but this bite will give high fever and should I say ...some side-effects to the brain. Enjoy the pain, Princess." She said as my heavy eyes closed and everything went dark.

----

I could hear the panic in Henley's voice but my whole body was sore and I couldn't open my eyes or mouth.

"I think while she was tortured she was bitten by scorpion laced with dark magic." Tahira lied acting efficiently.

My throat constricted as I tried to open my mouth and yell.

"She is burning with high temperature," Henley said and I realized there were more people.

"Henley calm down. The physician gave her antidote and other pain medicines. She will be fine." I know that voice, Henley's best friend and army General, Darwin.

"Can you see her condition, Darwin. I don't even know if I can help her. I was not there for her and she got hurt so much. I don't even know how much they hurt her. Look at the injuries on her." He yelled his voice heavy with grief.

I felt slightly happy and hopeful that someone cared.

"She is here now Sir and you can take care of her," Tahira said and I felt myself grabbing a dagger and stabbing her somewhere.

"Yes Henley, just calm down and give her all the care. She has no one but you  now." Darwin's words made my heart squeeze in my chest.

"I will protect her now," Henley said and next thing I could feel his lips lightly touch my forehead.

I wanted to get up and hug him, thank him but the poison in my body didn't even allow me to open my eyes as I fell asleep once again too weak to do anything.

---

I don't even know what day it was but when my eyes opened it was dark only the light of moon pouring in through the window as the curtains swayed with the wind too strong.

"Tahira, "I called out to check where that conniving wench was.

But silence responded back. Carefully and slowly I got out of the bed and sharp jolt of pain shocked my body as I screamed and fell back on the bed. My scream was loud enough and I waited for someone to enter the room, Henley or Tahira hoping for the first.

Something was wrong because no one came, Tahira wouldn't leave me alone.

I gathered all my courage to get up again from the bed and to walk to the door my heart beating faster now. I looked around the room and picked up candelabra next to my bed as a potential weapon.

My feet throbbed with ache as I moved, my body screaming in pain. I tried opening the door but it was locked. For a fleeting moment, I felt despair. Did Henley lock me in? Was I a prisoner all over again? What did Tahira say?

But Henley would never do that so I knocked, nothing but absolute silence answered me.

Was Henley safe? Did I risk his life by giving him a clue?

Instinctively my hands reached to the layers of my dress in panic and in the middle tied safely was the sand timer. I didn't do anything just clutched it tightly in my hand in case I needed help.

"Henley," I called out taking a chance.

Silence.

What went wrong?

"I am already dead and you are here to get Henley killed as well?" My father's voice said and  I turned sharply to find my dead father standing in the moonlight.

He was in the room and I squeezed my eyes shut hoping this was one of Bretrarum torture tricks. Because I was not crazy enough to see ghosts.

"I taught you to survive and look at you, living as a spy, sent as a tool to seduce secrets out of Prince." He said in a menacing tone.

"Leave me," I shouted and surprisingly it did.

"Fool, falling prey to a man's allure." Gerald was there with an arrow through his heart.

"STOP IT!" I yelled and glared at the vision through teary eyes.

"I am sorry Princess, I am sorry I trusted you." I turned again to find Henley, blood dripping from his mouth a dagger plunged through his heart.

"Henley," I said now sobbing at this unending torture.

I fell on my knees and sobbed, hoping that when I will open my eyes it will all be gone. But next thing I knew I was pulled in a warm embrace. Not the kind Henley gave but the kind that made me want to snuggle closer and forget all the worries, the kind to make me forget that I was the princess and I deserved comfort in life.

And I knew that familiar masculine scent.

"Princess, please break through this." His urgent voice said as his hands caressed my hair soothingly.

"why are you doing this now, I am gone now?" I asked but didn't move away from his embrace because it was acting as my anchor in that dark moment.

"This is not my doing Princess. Please look at me," He said using his old soft tone with me.

And I did. He was there, beautiful in the moonlight without the mask. It was impossible to not find him attractive with sharply sculpted features and deep mesmerizing eyes.

Darkness was overwhelming and so were the images I just saw but his indigo eyes made them all go away.

"Liahna, love, breathe and just look at me. Focus on me." He said like we were back in arena and training.

"You broke my ability to trust," I said now crying shamelessly.

He pulled me back in an embrace, "And I will pay the price for that but for now Princess, my priority is to keep you safe so focus and wake up."

My breathing calmed down and his words registered in my brain. He said wake up.

And I realized I was dreaming. It was all part of that hallucination, mental torture Tahira told me about as scorpion poison side effect.

"Bretrarum," I whispered, half agitated and half worried.

If this was a dream, he will leave. His warm embrace will be gone. I was indeed a fool, Gerald's vision was not lying.

He bent closer, his hands resting on my waist and his lips softly touched my cheekbones and my heart sped up for completely different reason now.

As he pulled away, I knew my dream was about to break.

"Princess stay safe, please." 

And I woke up opening my eyes to harsh sunlight pouring in, a sleeping Tahira on the chair next to me. Her eyes shot open at my slightest movement.

"Let me inform the Prince that the damsel is awake." 

I covered my eyes with my arm as I tried to not cry at the fact that I missed Bretrarum's presence even from the dream. I needed more determination to hate him.

-----

HONESTLY GUYS, what do you think of Princess right now?

She has gone through a lot and I feel she has a right to crave for some love.

But most importantly what was your favorite part of the chapter?

Also, cold is the worse kind of torture bestowed by nature.

That will be all. HAPPY READING!

NEXT UPDATE: FRIDAY.