Chapter 3

Few days has passed but both of His Majesty and Her Majesty fell into comma and I was sent as a part of the delegation of the Empire’s enemy as per His Highness, the first and Crowned Prince’s command.

We stayed in guest rooms of the Palace for a month and the Belmonth’s Emperor granted me an audience several times, convincing me to sell them informations about our Empire in a round about way but I showed my great refusal to the idea.

He killed men that were part of our delegation everytime I refused. I did care less on the life that perished because of my refusal. I did not want to betray the Empire I grew up.

We were sent back with their praises as a cover up on what the Belmonth’s Emperor did.

I did not plan on waging a war so I kept the secret of the Belmonth’s Emperor to myself.

“Lady Maxineirah is here.” The Royal guard outside Princess Charminia’s room said.

The Crowned Princess, Princess Charminia requested to meet me because she wanted to talk something to me.

“Please sit, Lady Maxineirah.” Princess Charminia said politely.

Her yellow hair flawlessly moving in the air like a warm sun ray, her small face that looks so bright and inlove with the Prince was so soft like a cotton. She looks like a joyful person too.

Seeing her small smiling face, the urge to crash her in my own hands flowed inside my mind.

I immediately dismissed the thought. That was treachery if someone knew my thoughts. .

“Greetings, Crowned Princess.” I greeted and bowed at her.

“Do not be so polite with me, Lady Maxineirah.”

“I can not do that to Your Highness.”

“My word, you really are kind and respectful just like the Mother Empress and Father Emperor described.” She said cheekily. I was silently startled and frozen on the spot.

Mother Empress? Father Emperor?

Sh was still not married to the Prince but…

I swallowed the lump on my throat sat on the chair infront of the Princess.

“I was really sad when I heard the news on Your Majesties.” I told her after I settled.

“I, too, they both kind to me ever since I came here. Even as a prison of the Empire, they treated me warmly. I do not know why are there people who wants them gone.” The Princess said in a sad tone. The sadness was written all over her angelic face.

“Anyways, I requested your presence here I want to confirm something…” she said and I did not know why I felt nervous instantly.

She reached for the teacup in front of her and drank before saying anything.

“Are you really engaged with the Crowned Prince before I came here?” she asked in hesitance.

It was my turn to drink the tea.

I am. If you just not showed up and remained to your Empire I…

“… Yes… Your Highness…” I replied after a moment of silence.

She became teary eyed and suddenly got up from her seat but I was startled when she approached me. She kneeled and reached out my hands.

“I am so sorry! I took the place that must belong to you! I really am-!” before she could even finish her words, the door threw opened and it emitted the Crowned Prince.

He did not even glanced at me but instead, his eyes landed only to the Princess kneeling infront of me.

His face darkened as if he wanted to kill someone -me when he saw the Princess face in tears and kneeling infront of me.

The Princess was smitten. “Lei…?”

Lei? She even called His Highness in his nickname that even I, could not call him?

A fang of pain intruded my chest. I clenched my fists over my lap.

The Prince walked in large and angry strides towards the Princess and carefully helped her to stand on her feet. I stood up in the side.

I saw a Prince held a Princess gently like a fragile flower even in his anger. He looks like they came out from a fairy tale book. Was this really the Prince?

I wonder.

He passed the Princess to the Knight behind him before he finally looked at me and glared with his mad eyes.

“Leave with the Princess here. I will deal with this insolent woman.” The Prince commanded the Knight holding Princess Charminia.

“W-wait! Lei! She is not-!” the Princess’ still not done with her words when the Knights mindfully dragged her outside the room despite how she fought back in refusal.

When the door finally shut closed, the Prince immediately grabbed my wrist and pulled me near him.

I shrieked when I felt his nails digging in my skin, plus the tight grip he was giving me.

“What did you told her?! How dare you make my Princess kneel?!” he asked seriously with a grim voice that echoed the whole room.

I remained silent. He would not listen to me anyway.

“After you poisoned the Majesties of this Empire, you still dare to lay a finger on my Princess?!” he asked in gritted teeth.

W-what-?

“Now, you can not even talk, huh? Guilty? Cat got your tongue?” he asked with a devil smirk on his lips.

His grip on my wrist tightened more when I did say nothing. I tried freeing myself from his tight grasp but he was stronger than I am.

He was suspecting me that I poisoned the Royal Majesties?

“You do not even defend your self. What a vixen you are.” He spit and threw my hand forcefully. I stumbled backward of how strong he was that I even met the pointy edge of the table.

“Ahh!” I shrieked in pain that rushed in my body but I stopped myself from making a sound.

His highness looked down on me with his grim face.

“Do not ever approach the Princess ever again.” He threatened.

He then turned around from me and left the room fuming mad.

My body hurts but it was nothing to the pain I was feeling inside my chest.

MY brother immediately went to my chamber that night when he heard the news.

“What have you done?!” my fifth brother asked in anger. All I could do was to lower my head from him. I cannot face him for the shame I have done.

Right. It was all my fault.

What happened between us three in that room spread like broken dam. I looked like a total villainess in their eyes now and people were cursing me for what I have done to their lovely and kind Princess.

I was bedridden for days after what happened but without hesitance, I forced myself to get up and dressed after hearing news. The Prince wanted to punish me for my insolence but Brother Maxwell took the blame.

“My Lady! You can not -!” the maids could not stop me from leaving and went to the throne room, with my legs trembling, eyes blurry and dizzy.

When I arrived at the hall…

“Your Highness! Please kill me and spare my sister’s life!” my brother pleaded, kneeling and ready to kiss the floor. I walked slowly towards my brother who was ready to die in my place.

No… Brother. Not you too…

“Are you sure?” the wicked Prince asked grinning.

I want to protest, to say anything but my throat dried and a lump formed on my throat.

The Prince rose from his sit and looked at me with his mocking eyes.

I trembled on the look he was giving me at the moment, I was frozen on the spot and my limbs would not move anymore. I might collapse if I take another step.

He walked with grace and dignity while walking towards my brother with his attention solely to me. He was showing me his other side, the other side I would not never want to see ever.

“Lift your head.” The Prince said to my brother.

My brother lifted his head but he was greeted by His Highness’ sword. Everything played like a slow motion in my eyes.

My eyes widen in shock, my heart stopped beating for a moment and I collapsed on the red carpet of the hall when I saw how the Prince swung his sword in the neck of my brother.

The floor was stained by my brother’s blood and my brother’s kneeling body completely fell on the ground, lifeless.

B-brother-

“Maxwell-?!” I heard someone barged in the throne room without any notice but I did not care. My full attention was on my brother lying on the floor.

I was still on the state of shock and my mind cannot move on on what I saw. M-my b-brother is…

Dead…?

No! Why do my eyes also tricking me?! Why do my senses are tricking me?!

I heard heavy footsteps and someone passed me.

Dad kneeled beside my brother and picked him up on his lap.

“Your Highness! You are too much! How could you-!”

My sight went blurry and a static sound was all I could hear. I also felt numb before everything turned into nothing.

I also did not shed tears on my Brother’s burial. How could I? I was the reason he died. It was all my fault.

“His father and brothers are crying but she dare not.”

“See? She is still not shedding a single tear.”

“She can not even pretend to weep.” How could I pretend and jokingly shed tears on my dead brother?

I clenched my fists and stopped my self from bursting my anger on them.

There was not a day I lived my life peacefully. My image on the public worsened.

I could not even sleep a wink at night because nightmares kept flashing in.