When I used to practice day after day with Gerald, it never made sense to me why I, a princess would be taught such things. Why I was taught the basics of battle and politics of war. But everything made sense now and I regret that I didn't work harder for that. 

I merely trained because it was fun. Little did I knew that when it all happens to you it's not fun.

My days in the palace were monotonous.

Morning, I had breakfast alone, followed by a stroll with Tahira in the garden as suggested by Queen. I had no idea what her purpose of doing this was. At the afternoon I  joined the practice of the League which by the way was not easy. Even though I had a weird kind of energy that  I presume I picked up from Bretrarum's training, my core muscles were weak. After running for miles with the league I would feel dizzy and nauseous. My whole body didn't even get time to recover after all the injuries and torture.

I would throw up once I was away from the curious eyes of soldiers who awed me for handling weapons so well.

For a week, each day would pass like this. And I started feeling the panic of a month deadline. Henley visited me daily but I had no idea how to ask him about the secret that their Kingdom was hiding. Also while living in the palace I realized that there were other princesses invited by Queen as the prospective bride of Prince.

Even though Henley paid all the attention to me but I knew how royal weddings go, it's what parents decide is best for Kingdom.

By the end of the seventh day, I came to know that Queen was my enemy.

___

As a part of the celebration of King's birthday, there was a party at the palace. Exotic dancers were brought from across the kingdoms. Obviously, I was there as the Queen wanted and with me was Tahira keeping eye on my every moment.

I tried writing a help note to Henley and send it back hidden in left food or tried conveying subtle hints during League practice when I challenged Henley to fight. And every time Tahira reminded me she noticed and that I will pay for that. She was always there to muddle Henley's brain to my hints and words.

"You look beautiful as ever." Henley complimented me leaving all the gathered dancers and princesses unattended.

Queen looked furious but I was being risky. I know I had no future with Henley and I knew that I only had people that hate, pity or wanted me dead. But I was done with my share of crying every night when I stood on the edge of the window and think about jumping but couldn't.

"Thank you." I smiled with a flirtatious smile at him feeling weird just by doing this.

But a fuming Queen made me feel better.

He talked about the league practice, court politics, his perspective on the Kingdom tournament but my eyes followed the alcohol that servants carried. I needed to get Henley drunk to save his life and pretend to get the secret. I gestured Tahira who got the gist of my plan and brought us the jar of alcohol and glasses hoping I would get secrets out from the drunk Prince.

"Since when do you drink Lia?" He asked with a confused frown.

"I don't. It's for you." I said with a smile.

Stunning girls danced with grace and allure right in front of us and all the gathered soldiers and council members ogled them hoping for a night of pleasure and I felt disgusted at that. Just the King looked tired and Henley paid all the attention to me. As flattering it was, it was hurting because he was the kind of son who never rebelled against his parents.

He was giving me false hope unintentionally with his gazing.

"Drink with me?" He asked softly.

"I will drink water," I said shyly staying sober for the whole thing.

He nodded with an amused smile.

If only I had the luxury to love him back.

I sat attentively as Henley drank and enjoyed the dance, followed by an act put up the court jesters and beautiful singing performance from a girl who looked like her soul was broken and she had no desire to live.

When I noticed more and more people drunk around me with an equally drunken Henley, I called for Tahira. King and Queen were long gone and only left were soldiers, some dancers who sat in laps of people who were paying enough. It was weird for me to see how King could allow this, how Henley could allow this.

"I need to take him alone in the room," I said and she nodded.

We carried him to the room, I huffed in the tiredness of carrying a well-built man to the room and gulped down a whole jar of glass.

"Leave us alone, I don't think I will be able to talk to him let alone seduce in front of you," I said hoping she would agree.

"Do you think I am a fool?" Tahira smiled slyly, "You don't have to go through the whole act just ask him the question."

"Henley," I whispered and realized I was feeling weak all of a sudden.

"Princess, stop being dramatic and ask him," Tahira whispered furiously.

But my eyes lids started getting heavier.

"What did you do?" I asked trying to yell but my voice was a mere mumble.

Before a shocked looking Tahira could utter a word or help me, I heard the door open in distance and I saw a blurry image of Queen.

"Take care of my son Tahira, I need to take Princess away." She said.

But by now my body lost all the energy and I became weak, my mind still searched for weapons to attack but my body was limp as I felt Queen drag me while I struggled to even move my mouth. And then I was greeted by darkness as my energy gave away.

___

My eyelids were heavy and it took me a lot of effort and eye-watering to open them. I blinked once and then twice to make sense of surrounding. I tried to breathe normally and move my almost paralyzed body but suddenly  I felt a movement of a hand on my leg.

Shock shot through me and my vision cleared a little my body still too numb to move.

A drunk council member, twice my age was pervertedly running his hands on my leg. Fear jolted my senses and disgusted I desperately tried to move my body away.

"Oh come on Princess, you should let me have some pleasure. It's not like your captives were saints." He slurred and I felt puke rise to my throat at his words.

Queen drugged me and my whole body was weak, she made me this way so that I can't defend myself. Yet with all my strength, I dragged my trembling body a little further and the man laughed at my attempt like I was a mouse, trapped and helpless.

Fury built through me and even if it shot pain through me I stretched my hand to reach the knife next to the fruit plate. But I was slow due to the induced drug and I felt my eyes tearing up at my useless attempt. I wanted to cry as he grabbed me forcefully tearing down my gown sleeve in the process.

My hands shook as I tried my best to hit him any way possible. I grabbed the man's front jacket and pulled out the brooch with as much force as I can muster tears flowing down my eyes feeling hopeless and trapped.

As he came closer and ran his fingers on my neck, my limp body flinched in disgust and I hit his arm with the brooch pin at a point Bretrarum taught me, that paralyzed his arm. I notice through my fuzzy brain his eyes narrow in anger as he pulled me closer harshly dipping his head closer to my face and this time I\ scream rose in my throat breaking a slight hold of the drug.

I squeezed my eyes shut as I saw flashes of color in front of my eyes and tears flowed down my cheeks. Next thing I heard was a loud sound of something breaking. I opened my eyes again hoping the blurriness will clear and saw the familiar tall dark silhouette, the one I saw the day I went to collect the map.

Who did I meet then?

My fuzzy brain tried to make sense of the situation as I almost saw the tall form slash the throat of the council members groping me.

"S-Stay away," I mumbled with as much fierceness as I can manage which was just a whisper.

And then the tall form bent down and took off the mask.

I blinked once, twice, thrice and his face registered. Was this another dream?

"Bretrarum," I asked and notice his eyes blaze with anger.

"Where is the amulet I gave you? I said call me whenever you are in trouble Princess." He scolded me with I swear tears in his eyes.

Definite hallucination.

I was supposed to hate him but my brain was drug induced and I just stared at him like he was a hallucination, maybe he was.

My adrenaline dropped back, my numb muscles stopped struggling to work, my lids fell heavy again and my mind and heart relaxed for some reason to see him and I was engulfed back in a drug-induced sleep.

-----

Damn, this girl was not giving up even in that state!

I am proud of Lia, lol.

thoughts on the reappearance of the Dark Prince?

By the way, why does everyone feel like drug-induced Lia on Monday? At least I do. LOL!

HAPPY READING!

NEXT UPDATE: Friday.