Chapter 3 Princess

Chapter Three

Princess?

/-Jade-/

Who was he?

The King? No, that couldn't be right. We just greeted the King and Queen. So... the Prince?

He was dressed in a thick black royal robe with very rare embroidery. That was more than enough proof that this man was royalty. Which meant I was in deep trouble.

The best thing to do at this moment was to run. But my legs wouldn't cooperate with me. It was like they were rooted to the ground.

"P...Please...listen to me... " I stuttered out, in a pathetic attempt to lie my way out of it. "This is all a misunderstanding I promise you..."

"Thief," the words left his lips again as he approached me with slow, majestic strides. The temperature in the room must have dropped by a couple of degrees because of the chills that ran down my spine.

My eyes watered. "I just lost my way. I'm not..." The words died in my throat when he appeared in front of me.

My heart stopped, eyes widening in raw fear as his cold fingers wrapped around my neck. My eyes watered.

Oh goddess! Is this really how I am going to die? All I did was obey my uncle, I didn't even have a choice.

"A common thief in the heart of Skyspire?" Those words, despite the rich deepness of his voice, sounded like judgment. A tear rolled down my cheeks.

"I beg you..." I pleaded and his hands tightened around my throat. I wanted to reach for them, struggle with all my might to get them off but my body was paralysed with shock and fear.

I couldn't move a finger.

"Don't do this..." The tears came pouring down. "I'll do anything. Just spare me please..."

Yet, despite my tears, even though my body was limp and trembling in his hands, his eyes... those rosegold eyes remained emotionless.

He still stared at me like I was something abstract.

He released my neck and my lungs received a sudden burst of air. I didn't even realise how much he was choking me because I was more concerned about being publicly executed.

I coughed out, gasping for air. Before I could even think he had let me go, he grabbed my arm again.

"Where are we going?" My voice broke in panic. "Please let me go, I won't come back ever again, I swear."

He didn't respond to me. For a second, it made me worry whether he could speak English. Was that why he hasn't said more than one word at a time? Does he even understand me?

His fingernails dug deep into my arms as he pulled me along with him like I was weightless. To the bannister just outside the room. My heart was pounding hard now. And fast.

Is he trying to make me confess before the entire guests? Beads of sweat formed on my forehead. He wanted me to hand him my own head on a platter?

To think that down there, two floors below us, the main perpetrator was dancing and laughing. Safe. While I was about to die for his plan.

"Worthless..." the word came out cruel and unforgiving, just like his eyes. "Criminal..." This time, it was louder, accusatory and very death-worthy.

I fell on my knees, rubbing my hands together in plea. "Please listen to me... I admit I broke into the treasury room, but I swear to you I had a good reason for it..." he lifted me by the neck almost effortlessly.

"Please..." I dangled in the air, struggling like a fish out of water. "I said I'll do anything!" I didn't mean to yell but I did. Out of sheer, blinding desperation. Which was probably a very bad choice.

"Then die," the words came out so calmly that I almost thought I imagined it until he tossed me over the bannister like a piece of garbage.

The world began spinning immediately, and I let out a terrifying scream as I crashed over the bannister, gravity yanking me down at full speed.

Faces blurred. Lights twisted. All I could hear was the wind and my own scream.

I thought I was going to die so I waited for it. The intense pain that came with the shattering of flesh and then nothingness.

But none that came. Instead, I was hearing murmurs and gasps. Did I die of a heart attack before I hit the ground?

I mean, that would be a relief. Dying without experiencing pain...

"Is she alright?"

"What happened to her?"

"Who is she?"

Okay, what is going on? Why did it feel like I was hanging midair? My heart skipped.

Oh goddess, did I hang somewhere while falling? Was it waiting for me to open my eyes so whatever was holding me would snap and I would complete the fall?

The mere thought of that sent terrifying shivers down my spine. Maybe if I stayed unconscious a little, they would be motivated to get me down.

What should I do? What do I....

I felt a hand on my cheek, slapping it gently. "Hey! Hey! Are you okay?"

That made my eyes go wide open, and then I realised that I was being held up by three guards. Relief washed through me instantly. My shoulders slouched and my body relaxed upon realisation that I was out of danger.

I was placed on my feet gently and that was when it hit me. The intense stares piercing through my skin, the murmurs and questions from the crowd.

"Young woman..." The authority in that voice made me flinch. It was the Lycan Queen herself. "What happened to you?"

Oh Goddess! What do I do now? What would I say I was doing upstairs? What if that scary man comes down here to expose me?

Isn't that death on the spot? How could I be wanted in both RedClaw and Skyspire?

"Don't keep me waiting," She snapped. "Raise your head and answer me!"

I was about to do just as she said when that dark aura infiltrated the room again. The guests began moving backwards. I glanced over at them. Their faces were all pale, eyes wide with fear. Expressions that made my stomach twist in a knot.

Were they afraid of him too? I thought he was royalty!

I could hear his footsteps descending the stairs, but I didn't dare look.

"Is he allowed to be in here?"

"We have to run! Before the devil's spawn kills us all!"

"Get out of my way!"

"He'll curse us all!"

Just like that, the entire hall was in chaos with guests scrambling for their lives. I searched the crowd frantically for Uncle Terad and Merida, but of course, the cunning man seized this opportunity to escape with his daughter, leaving me to my fate.

In a matter of minutes, the hall was empty. Everyone was gone except the guards who held me in place. I could feel their hands trembling on my body.

They were fighting the urge to run as well..

In all this, the King and Queen remained on their throne, but the fury in their eyes? I just wanted the ground to open up and swallow me.

Not only did I succeed in getting caught, but I also ruined the entire event. There was no hope of escaping now. I was doomed.

"Look what you've done! Because of you, everything is ruined! Who gave you permission to step your feet here?" The Queen sprang off her seat in anger.

My knees went weak as conniption gripped me. "I...I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I didn't mean to..."

"I merely punished a thief,'' his icy response cut through mine. So she was talking to him?

"A thief?" She repeated. I could feel their eyes on me now. Without any hesitation, I fell to my knees.

"Please spare me, your majesty. I swear I can explain. This is all a misunderstanding" I lied. It was the only way to save my head.

"Raise your head. I want to get a good look at your face!" She ordered and I gulped hard.

It would be more difficult to lie if I had to look them in the face but I couldn't disobey her either. I raised my head slowly, praying to any God that was listening to save me. Even if it was just this once.

Her eyes widened the moment our gazes locked. She staggered back in shock.

A puzzled look crossed my face. Why was she staring at me like that? Like she just saw a ghost? Her husband immediately rose to support her.

She pointed at me, her fingers trembling. "It's... h-her..."

Me who? What did I do this time?

He followed her hands and the minute his eyes landed on me, they widened.

"Princess Annabelle?!" He exclaimed and I blinked.

Huh?

"It's you!" He blurted. "You're alive!"