-Jade-

An hour later Jade was sitting on a chair in the kitchen. Her arms were bandaged from her elbows down to her hands. The bandages had been applied meticulously and they reached all the way down to her thumbs. Her fingers were naked but the rest of her hands and arms were covered in white strips.

The cuts had finally stopped bleeding, but now they ached something terribly instead.

Still, the thing occupying the entirety of Jade's mind was the lingering sensation of William's lips on her cheek. The little patch of skin felt warm and slightly tingling.

Without thought, she touched the area where his lips had been. Her thoughts  swirled. Once again she had been given signs of that he cared for her, but this time it was clearer. It seemed like he hadn't cared if someone had seen him do it. He had just... kissed her.

This thought left Jade confused, even more confused than she already was... and somewhere deep inside, a light was coming to life. Hope? Jade frowned as she searched the emotions stirring within. It wasn't hope... it was something deeper... she couldn't place it.  

He threw himself before the knife without thinking... He put himself in danger to save my life... She thought and disappeared into the memory of what had happened in her chamber.

She hadn't even noticed that Elizabeth suddenly were helping her to stand and petted her cheeks with affection. Elizabeth's caring and gentle fingers pinched Jade's cheeks to bring her out of her mind. Her eyes glimmered with some sort of relief and softness as Jade came back to her.

"Come now, child." Elizabeth sighed and motioned Jade to walk with her by placing herself to Jade's side. "You must be exhausted..." she cooed softly. "Let us go and find you a new room to sleep in."

. . .

The next day a servant girl woke Jade up when she pulled the curtains open.

Bright sunlight drenched the room and Jade turned to her side, too tired to get up. Her arms still ached and she could feel how the bandages stuck to her skin with the dried blood. The rest of the night hadn't brought her much rest. She had woken up frequently because of the pain her wounds caused her, with tears slowly making their way down her face she had tried over and over to sleep - but had failed.

Someone was talking in a low voice to the girl as she approached the door which had been left slightly ajar. Jade opened her eyes and looked over. The girl was standing with her eyes fixed on the floor while she nodded at what was being said to her. Afterwards she disappeared out of the door and closed it behind her.

Elizabeth entered shortly after and Jade noticed that she held a bucket in one hand and a basket in the other.

"Good morning." She said and closed the door behind her. She looked like nothing had happened last night, and that she had gotten a whole night's sleep. You couldn't tell by looking at her that she had been up for hours taking care of Jade.

"Was it you, talking to the girl?" Jade asked and rubbed her eyes, still drowsy with sleep.

"No." Elizabeth answered shortly and Jade understood that it had been William. It had to been him. "Give me your arms." Elizabeth demanded as she put down the bucket and basket next to Jade's bed. She sat down and Jade held out her arms like she was told.

"Was it William?" Jade asked shyly even though she knew it probably was him.

"We need to get you ready for tonight's dinner." Elizabeth said and Jade felt that she knowingly avoided her question. It felt like she confirmed Jade's suspicions without even answering.

"Dinner?" Jade asked. "That won't be for several hours. What am I to do until then? Just sit here?" A bleak smile crawled up on Elizabeth's lips.

"You've been sleeping all day, child." Elizabeth explained and had now removed all of the bandages. Jade looked down on her arms and was surprised that Elizabeth had succeeded to remove the bandages without causing her pain.

There were red lines screaming at her all over her skin. "This is going to sting." Elizabeth said as she started to cleanse the cuts with wet rags. Jade bit her lip hard when Elizabeth's prediction came true. As Elizabeth carefully wiped away dried blood from Jade's cuts her eyes watered. It hurt so much.

"Why did no one wake me?" Jade asked so her mind wouldn't focus on the pain. Elizabeth lightly shrugged her shoulders. As if the fact that Jade had wasted a whole day in bed wasn't a problem.

"He didn't allow it."

"I am assuming that you're talking about William." Jade muttered. "Why not?"

"He's been in a very foul mood since last night and when the girls went to wake you up this morning, the guards didn't let them in on his orders."

Jade looked confused at Elizabeth as she continued talking.

"He came to me personally and asked me to wake you up and then see to it that you would be ready for dinner..." she said and her eyes were lowered. It made Jade suspect that William did not actually want Jade to know this and that Elizabeth was telling her this in confidence.

For the dinner Jade was dressed in a dark, wine red dress. Where the arms ended her bandages were visible and it bothered her that everyone would know what they were and what had happened. Her hair was in a loose bun and Elizabeth had made sure that some strands of hair were hanging free around her face, like Jade wanted it.

Elizabeth was waiting with Jade by the table and they were almost completely alone. Jade's newly arranged company of four guards were also in the room but they stood by the doors.

"Surely they have better things to do than looking after me?" Jade whispered to Elizabeth who shook her head slowly.

"Not now. The prince made sure that you won't be attacked again..."

"It's ridiculous." Jade snapped but not at Elizabeth. "I am not a child."

"You sound like one." Elizabeth snapped back and Jade couldn't resist chuckling at Elizabeth's temper. "He is simply looking out for you. It wouldn't kill you to think of him as someone of kindness for once."

"He has not..." Jade stopped herself when she actually was wrong.

Two times now, William had saved her life... He had saved her from the bandit and now the woman from last night...

"He still needs to work on his behavior." She settled with saying. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and Jade couldn't control a quite chuckle from slipping past her lips. Her governess seemed to be very strong-willed, but at the same time a very warm and kind woman. Jade knew that if she was to spend the rest of her life here, she would need this woman in her life.

Afterwards William entered and this time he sat down next to Jade. On her left side, so that he would be in between her and his parents. His eyes were dark and the face hard. Elizabeth was right; he looked like he was in a terrible mood. Jade covered her bandages the best she could with her hands as he glanced at her.

"How are you feeling?" he asked but didn't look at her. Jade could still hear that somewhere, deep under that cold exterior, he cared for her. He was just very skilled at hiding it underneath that stone mask of his.

"Better... I wish you wouldn't have told the girls to not wake me up. I wasted a whole day." She answered quietly and looked at him. "Mrs. Coen must have been upset that I missed my lessons because I was sleeping all day." she said quietly.

William kept his eyes on the window as she spoke. Why is he not looking at me?

"Good." He said. "Mrs. Coen was informed of why you weren't attending your lessons." he added. Both of his answers did not really require a reply.

Did he not want one or did he simply not want to talk to her at all? No, that couldn't be it. If he didn't want to talk to her at all he wouldn't have asked her how she was...

"Good?" Jade asked. Still a bit puzzled by his behavior.

"Yes." He said quietly. "Is it not good that you are feeling better?" he asked, a bit condescending. Like Jade was too stupid to understand what he was saying.

"Would it hurt you to talk to me like an adult?" Jade hissed under her breath. William looked at her with a slight turn of his head, and without answering her returned to looking at the windows again.

William's parents arrived. Jade was baffled at the cold stare William gave his mother.

Do they actually hate each other? No... or at least his mother can't hate him.

The queen wouldn't have been so hateful towards Jade if she had hated William. She hated Jade because she did not think her worthy of her son, or his title more correctly. This meant that she must love her son.

Be it deep, deep down but she still loves him. I hope. She thought as the King gave her a quick nod and a warm smile. Jade returned his gesture.

"How are you feeling, child?" he asked gently as a servant poured him his wine.

"I am alright, your grace. Thank you." Jade answered with a shaky voice. She still couldn't believe that she was speaking to a king. He smiled at her once again and put their conversation to rest.

During dinner Jade tried her best to move her arms. It was very difficult because Elizabeth had wrapped them a bit too tight. This made it hard to eat without making the bandages come undone. William ate in complete silence and did not even look at his parent's direction. The king tried to make conversation with him but William barely answered, which agitated his father.

"Is it wise to fight with both of your parents?" Jade whispered and kept her eyes on her food.

"It is none of your concern." William answered her immediately. Jade raised her brows in amazement that he acted the way he did.

"Apparently not." Jade muttered and drank a mouthful of her wine. William ignored her.

The tension was palpable and uncomfortable. It was enough to make a person lose their appetite. Jade forced herself to eat four potatoes and some meat. Suddenly she felt the bandages on her right arm loosen. Frustrated she put her knife and fork down and leaned back in her chair. Discouraged. She was hungry but couldn't eat due to the tension in the room and now this. William glanced at her and noticed that she had stopped eating.

"Is something wrong?" he asked while continuing eating his own food.

"No." Jade lied.

"You're a bad liar, Jade." He stated and gave her a quick but scrutinizing look.

"I don't have to be good at it." She hissed. "It doesn't matter how believable you think I am. It is not like you are listening anyway. No matter what comes out of my mouth." She said and pushed her chair out a bit.

The queen seemed to react to her motion instantly. Her piercing eyes were fixed on Jade.

"Is she leaving?" she asked, sounding both pleased and relieved. "Thank God, I can't stand to look at her trying to eat properly for another second." Jade exhaled slowly, trying to not let her temper get the best of her.

Don't say anything, don't snap back... just breathe... she pleaded to herself and folded her left hand over her right.

At the same time, William slammed his cutlery down and the sound of them hitting his plate along the way echoed through the dining hall. For the first time during the meal, he turned his gaze towards his mother.

Jade rushed to her feet before William could open his mouth. There wasn't a single part of her wanting to be caught in the inevitable storm that was coming. Without excusing herself or asking for anyone's permission, she headed for the door. The guard standing beside it didn't react fast enough and Jade flung the door open herself.

On the other side, Elizabeth was waiting. Her eyes widened in shock as Jade slammed the door hard behind her. "What are you doing?" she whispered her eyes darting between Jase and the door.

"I cannot stand that spiteful woman." Jade answered and gave Elizabeth a very stern look. She felt her anger run off her like water when frustration and sadness washed over her.  "I just..." her words died. "My bandages have come undone. I couldn't eat." She finally said.

"Oh, dear..." Elizabeth sighed and looked at Jade's arms. "I am so sorry, dear. Come-"

The door opened and Jade could hear remnants of sharp words coming through it. But they were targeted at the one standing before Jade. William.

William closed the door behind him. Jade and Elizabeth looked at him, equally confounded to why he was standing before them. He quickly noticed their confusion and straightened himself a bit.

"I'll show you to your room." He offered his arm to Jade. "You can retire for tonight, Elizabeth."

"No." Jade objected, holding out an arm towards her governess. Not letting her leave. "I already know where my room is. I don't need you to lead me there. I also need my bandages changed." She said, making it clear that she didn't need him for either of those things.

William's eyes narrowed and his facial features hardened.

He didn't appreciate that...

"Your governess does not answer to you when I'm here." He explained coldly and shot Elizabeth a look.

Jade exhaled in pure shock as Elizabeth quietly excused herself.

"Eliza-" She began but recieved a pair of captioning eyes. They told Jade to go along with things and not start a fight. It seemed to upset her very much when Jade talked back at William. 

"Are you serious?" Jade hissed when Elizabeth had turned a corner, leaving them alone.

"Shall we?" he suggested. Ignoring her question. Jade pushed his arm away.

How could he treat her this way? Still? Again? She was starting to suspect that he was truly a madman. In one second he was cold and distant, the next he talked to her but ignored her answers and not to mention the kiss... Which of these three people was the real William? Or was there a fourth part of him that she still had not met?

"No, what is wrong with you?" she raised her voice. William gave her a surprised look and raised his right eyebrow. He appeared to have a hard time to grasp the fact that she had just pushed him away, and how she had dared to do it. "Why would I go with you when Elizabeth-"

"Why not?" he interrupted and sounded agitated.

"Why would I? Why would there be a reason for me to have you escort me to my room, when my governess, whom you've so generously provided me with, could do it instead?" Jade's voice was as cold as she wanted to be.

William's eyes betrayed him when she could see how his patience was running very low.

"Shouldn't you be in there, talking about me as if I do not exist?" She asked. There was nothing but a dark expression in his eyes now. She turned and walked away from him.

As she took her fourth step he cleared his throat to get her attention. Jade froze in her step and turned slowly.

"What?" she sighed.

"It is expected of me to be a gentleman." William said with a dark voice that sent shivers down Jade's spine. "Which you are making me want to ignore, completely." He continued.

"I am sorry that I don't appreciate it when you treat me like a child." Jade hissed.

"I am impressed by the fact that you possess the ability to agitate me as much as you do." Jade opened her eyes in disbelief.

"Excuse me?" she laughed, but not humored at all. "Are you calling me rude?" she laughed again. "Are you really?"

"Yes, you are. At least one of us is trying to be civil..." he muttered through his teeth. "And since you don't seem to understand: it is not you." Jade pressed her lips together, trying her very best not to let her rage rain down on the man in front of her.

"If this is you being civil..." Jade began. "Then I would love to see you actually trying to be kind." She snarled. "If that is a quality you even possess." She spat out the words and turned and left him where he stood.

When Jade turned the corner at the end of the corridor she started running. Her hair escaped the bun Elizabeth had made. The sound of her hairpins hitting the floor echoed but died out quickly. Her hair fell down and swung from side to side as she ran down endless sets of staircases. It felt like as soon as one staircase ended, another started.

Finally, she was standing in what seemed to be a great ballroom. The curtains were not closed yet and darkness danced on every surface. There were no candles lit in the room. Only moonlight made it possible to see what was what, but the light was very bleak.

"Well, Jade. Now what?" she mumbled but still felt relieved that she was alone.

With calm steps she walked to the windows and looked out. She must be standing in the other side of the castle. There was no city skyline outside. It was gardens.

I'll need to find Elizabeth... she thought to herself when she felt a strange feeling on her right arm. When she looked down she saw a dark patch on the fabric. She was bleeding through her bandages. How did it start to bleed again? I didn't hit myself on my way here! She thought tiredly.

"What are you doing here?" A man's voice called out to her. Jade turned and in a door frame stood a man. He had a very stern look on his face. It was the priest she had met on the courtyard when William had brought her here.

Why is he walking around in the darkness?

"I lost my governess." She lied when she saw the foul mood that was written on his face. "She was supposed to take me to my room, but I must have taken a wrong turn in the corridors and lost her..." Jade kept lying and straightened her posture. The priest didn't believe her, instead he set off towards her.

"Your governess, my child, is making preparations for your new room. Why would she be here, in the ballroom?" he asked without wanting an actual answer. He knew that she was lying. "How stupid do you think I am?" he snapped.

As soon as Jade was within his reach, he grabbed her roughly by her left arm and raised it as you would a child's.

"And you are a terrible liar." He added.

You're not the first one to tell me that tonight.

Jade whimpered at the pain when his grip caused her cuts to throb. She grimaced and did not answer him.

"Your governess personally told me that the prince himself would escort you. Not her!" his grasp tightened and Jade could not stop herself from whimpering again, but louder this time. Humiliated she fell on her knees from the pain. It shot from her arm up into her torso and through her whole body.

Suddenly Jade felt the priest's attention drifting from her to something else. The old man was looking at the staircase Jade had descended from earlier.

William stood at its foot. His eyes, from what she could see in the darkness, were fuming.But it wasn't Jade they were staring at. They were fixed on the man hurting her.

"Priest!" William's dark voice exploded. "Let go of her, immediately!"

The priest's grip loosened and a second later his hand disappeared from Jade's arm. She cradled her aching arm and saw that the man's rough touch had made this arm start to bleed as well.

"If I ever catch you touching or speaking to her as one of the servants again, I will personally make sure that you are hanged." William threatened the priest while walking towards them.

The priest took several steps away from Jade while assuring his prince that this was the last time it would ever happen.

William's hands smoothly helped Jade on her feet again. He pulled her into his arms as to make sure that the priest did not approach her.

Jade could not decide which alternative she preferred: the priest's sadistic grip or being in the arms of her future husband, whom she did not want to marry...

For now she settled with being rid of the pain in her arm. William's left arm was around her like a protective wall, the hand rested on her right hip. He had turned her body slightly against his so that her chest touched his.

"I am so sorry, your grace." The priest said. "But the girl did not want to come...freely." He lied and smiled at his prince. The smile was so fake it made Jade's blood freeze.

"That is no true." Jade objected harshly. "I got lost on my way to my room."She said and was grateful that William was holding her, because the priest's locked eyes with her. His gaze frightened her. He quickly got other things to worry about when William ordered him to leave his sight in a way that made Jade shiver.His voice was so dark she could have sworn he wasn't even human anymore.

The old man left immediately but Jade felt that she had just made herself an enemy.

"You shouldn't be walking around on your own in the castle, Jade..." William said when they were alone. He motioned her to follow him towards the staircase. Jade walked with him, allowing his arm to stay where it was, for now.

"He did not-"

"Don't lie, Jade. I saw what he did." William interrupted her with a dark voice. "And I wasn't talking about the priest." He added. Jade stopped at the base of the staircase and placed herself in front of William.

"Then what are you talking about?" she asked. "Is there someone that wants to hurt me?"

"It seems that there is..." William answered in a sigh. "I am suspecting that my mother is one of them." He continued and Jade's blood went cold. The hairs in her neck stood up.

"Them?" Jade exclaimed. Was there more than the woman that had tried to kill her and the priest? She was aware of the queen's hate towards her but was she so filled of it that she wanted Jade hurt or even dead? "The queen? It is you she should be angry at!" Jade protested and let go of William's arm. "I did not choose this! You did!"

"My mother is more than angry at me." William said quietly. "But she won't hurt the heir to the throne..."

"I don't want to be a part of this! It's not fair that she tries to hurt me in order to get rid of me... I am not the problem." Jade was beginning to feel very anxious and at the same time furious.

"To her, you are the problem, I am afraid." William answered. "She doesn't want me to marry you or to make you the mother of my children..." he continued.

"Then she and I have two things in common..." Jade growled.

"Stop..." William said quietly. "We'll discuss this further in the morning."

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I was a bit tired when I revised and edited this chapter but I really wanted to publish one. So if you see any errors, please comment so I can correct it! :)

Have a great weekend!

Love Jenny