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Chapter Five

"How do I look?"

"You look beautiful your majesty," Scarlette said excitedly clapping her hands.

I glanced at myself in the mirror. My skin looked less dry, and was slowly becoming healthy. The light ashy look wasn't completely gone but I no longer appeared like a white painted ghost. My hair was short, but following the Nycturian beauty secrets it appeared healthy and curly. A simple purple jeweled butterfly decorated it.

The gown I wore was black, decorated with black obsidian stones that shone in the candlelight. "Hmm, this will do. With me having still not debuted it's better to look under stated."

I ignored Baros snorting, while Cirilo and Dalton kept stoic faces.

"Let's go," I shouted marching out of my room.

I'd been eager to see what the world looked before the streets were covered in blood and bodies from the end of succession war. The smell of flames didn't greet my nose once we left the palace.

"Princess, please don't hang out of window."

Dalton truly was a wet blanket.

"I just wanted to smell some fresh air, you can't tell me you're not happy with leaving that cesspool of a palace."

Dalton ignored me pouting and asked me instead. "Where is it your highness wanting to go?"

Seeing him be so serious I decided to play a bit, and lifting the tip of my shoes I brushed it up his leg.

"Princess." Flustered his scrambled his ears and cheeks turning red as he looked at me alarmed. "Please, stop," he grabbed my ankle firmly.

"Oh, why?" I asked leaning back, not pulling my foot from his hand. "Don't you think you should start taking me seriously. I'm may not be out and out psychopath like my siblings but I'm still their sister."

His dark eyes stared my own. I'd never notice how I was reflected in his gaze.

Lowering his gaze he gently set my foot down. "Princess, I know much of the darkness under the light. In taking my vow I've accepted what that would mean. I know you are not cold hearted as you wish us all to think."

I chuckled, looking away.

"What do you think you know?"

I asked even as my throat tightened.

"I'm an enigma. Used to be forgotten and ignored, if my own father was asked if he could trade me for another he'd do it."

I hated how he was being quiet and not arguing with me. At least then I could offer an amusing and witty comeback.

The feel of his steady gaze on my skin crawl.

"Princess, no matter what the emperor choice. I would follow only my master, and no one else."

I closed my eyes seeing my body bloody from being beaten. My mouth parted as I tried to breathe through the blood that escaped my mouth as I wished for someone to save me. A cool armored covered hand lifting me but the person who'd lifted me wasn't taking me to safety but returning to my cell to repeat another my torture.

My agony then could have swallowed me whole.

"You'll excuse me if I don't wait for you to prove it," I whispered.

The rest of the ride was quiet as I lost myself int the memories I tried hard to carve out of my heart. The times I've tried numbered in the thousands. I still was left with pieces of my torn flesh in my hands. My fingers stained with bloody evidence of my attempts.

I'd rather be insane than sane, the minute I am no longer mad I might fall to pieces.

**

Ten minutes later were entering the capital. The lights from the festival running through the city were vibrant in their color. The people chattered and laughed as the walked among the vendors.

"Pr—Mistress!"

I hopped from the carriage the minute it stopped and eagerly ran into the crowd. Baros, Cirilo chased after me as I moved from vendor to vendor. I snatched cookies, fresh back pies and chicken skewers. Everything was so good, I stuffed a few in their hands as moved on to the next Vendor.

Spotting a pretty red stoned ring I reached for it, only for another hand covered mine.

Surprised, I looked up to meet red eyes and a very handsome face. "...Will you marry me?"

"No, Mistress." A hand landed on my shoulder and Dalton pulled me back against him.

Unfortunately, Dalton stopped me mid proposal and the red eyed individual stared at us in confusion. "I apologize on behalf of my Mistress she doesn't speak the Imperial language."

"I'm insulted," I exclaimed elbowing Dalton. "I am imperial, of course I speak it well." Taking a step forward I put my hand out. "Here, I'm Zorya Agryos, seventh princess of the Empire."

What I was expecting was either a handshake or for the stranger to drop to his knees. Instead, what started off as a choking noise turned into out and out laughter. Soon the man I'd proposed too was barely able to breathe as he clutched his stomach.

"Hmm, is it that funny?"

He nodded, brushing a finger his eyes. "Ah, yes."

They were really pretty.

"Hmm, well tell me if this funny to."

"Princess."

"Stop her."

I grabbed his collar jerking him forward forcing his hood to fall back and slammed our lips together. Letting my tongue through his mouth I sucked his bottom lip into mine before shoving him away.

"You've just had your kiss taken by a princess. You're welcome." I swooped the ring up, and tossed a coin to the Vendor.

"Maybe next time bow," I shouted over my shoulder as I ran away with the other hot on my trail.

Pov Switch

Pressing the back of my hand to my lips I watched the young woman take off. Her three knights chasing after as her cheerful laughter rang. The sensation of warmth against my mouth hadn't abated when my guards approached me. All of them wear twisted expressions.

"Duke Amauri, we're sorry. I didn't think she'd be a threat to—." Clayton stopped as if trying to find the words to say.

I'm sure he wasn't expecting that during my inspection of the capital I'd be interrupted by some mad princess. Or woman who claimed to be a princess. I'd never heard of a princess named Zorya.

Then again with the way the emperor was still cautious about anything dealing with father in the North, our family the Amauri hadn't been invited often to the capital city for parties.

Only recently did we receive invites, and that was the emperor sought to have a hand in my marriage. In his usual fashion he'd try to make it so we wouldn't make any ties with any the powerful families here or in the south.

I ran a hand through my hair and chuckled. "Never mind, it looks like I won't have to worry about getting married after all."

Leaving the festival I headed to our mounts to ride back to the palace.

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Author Note: Our first ml...what do you think?