The Princess’s Head Before Court Meeting
Rafael had lied about seeing the blood stain on the portrait. But one thing was certain- he knew that she definitely was right about it. Somehow, he knew to believe her, to trust her, to believe that the princess was special. She was a human, that was certain. But there was something about her that he couldn’t wrap his hands around.
A voice rang in his head. If there was anyone who could solve a case like this, it was her.
He stood on alert as she clamped her eyes shut, as if waiting for a force to throw her backward just like it did with him. And after a whole minute had passed and she still stood in one piece, she slowly opened her eyes and glanced at him.
“Wh…why? It isn’t angry at me. Why?”
He was just as oblivious as she. “Because it’s you, princess.”
“Wait,” she gasped. “I feel something.”
He watched as she pushed her fingers deeper into the hole, her eyes widening when they came in contact with a hard object. “There is something in here.”
His brows snapped together and he was by her side almost immediately. “What is it?”
“I think it’s a box.”
A box? He had expected something but definitely not a box.
Elora gently clasped the object between her fingers and began to pull it out slowly and steadily. Once her hand and the wooden box were out of the hole, it mysteriously closed all by itself and the portrait returned to its normal form, as if it had never been touched. It wasn’t magic, Rafael thought. It was a lot more.
She stepped away from the portrait and hid eyes fell on the medium-sized wooden storage box. He squinted, a line appearing on his forehead as he tried to recall where he’d seen the object. It was very familiar.
“That was a gift from Arielle,” he blurted, his voice a low whisper.
“What?”
“Just two years ago, Arielle gifted her this storage box.”
Elora’s mouth fell open. “Then it truly belonged to the princess.” She lightly shook the box. “What could be inside?” She found the opening.
“It could be dangerous. Give that.” He took the box from her and examined it. She stood on her tiptoes, eyes wide and heart pounding loudly in her chest as she waited for the box to open and reveal whatever could be inside.
But Rafael was about to open it when he suddenly paused. His ears tingled as they picked up a sound from a distance away. Urgent footsteps were approaching the room that they were in.
“Wh…what is wrong?”
“Someone is coming.”
Elora quickly stepped backward, fear gripping her throat. She feared that they were going to get caught.
“We’re going to get caught,” she cried.
Rafael swivelled around and looked through the room. When he found no exit, he held the box in one hand and with the other, he wrapped it around her waist and began to lead her to the bathroom door at the side.
He urgently pushed the door open and shut it behind them when they were in.
He gently pushed her against the wall right beside the wooden door.
“Breathe, Princess,” he whispered. “Our presence is concealed. He won’t find out.”
But her breathing became even heavier and her heart skipped. “The guards. You….you.”
“Killed them?”
Her lower lip trembled “Yes.”
“They’re replaced. Take a breath.” He cupped her right cheek and made her stare into his eyes. “Listen to me. Take a breath. A deep one. He can’t hurt you. I’m here, I’ll protect you,” he reassured and finally, she took and released a deep breath, and slowly, her breathing regularised.
Barely a second after, the door of the room flung open and footsteps hurried in.
“How dare that bastard reject my daughter for a mere human bitch?” It was the Prime
Minister.
Rafael’s jaw tightened.
“I believe the second prince will come to his senses soon. Please be patient, Lord Valric,” a second voice sounded.
“I do believe he is only infatuated by the human princess’s pussy for now. But I cannot be patient for a while longer. It is decided. I give permission. Get me the princess’s head before the next court meeting.”
“Lord Valric!”
“Crown Prince Lucian!” Valric yelled right back. Something collided with the floor. As if he’d hit something in anger. “Do not disrespect me. I am the reason the Thornewood is sitting on the royal chair.”
“Forgive me,” Lucian whispered. “I was only to make you see reasons. A princess just died. It would stir up thoughts for another member of the royal family to be found dead. Moreover, the princess is an alliance item between the humans and vampires. It would cause war.”
“I do not care about weak creatures. It would be splendid to get rid of them or even still… defeat and rule over them.” The prime minister’s laughter reverberated in the room. “The princess’s death would only be to our favor.”
Rafael’s fingers curled into a tight fist, so tight that his fingers dug into his skin. Thick veins propped up in his forehead and neck. He was doing everything in his power to stop himself from going out there. To end the lives of the men who’d dared to plot against his wife. But he knew it might cause a war.
War meant Elyria being in chaos and Elyria being in chaos, she might get hurt. His eyes glanced downward and when he found her glossy eyes staring back at him, for the first time in his years of living, his heart grew tight. He’d promised to protect her, to keep her away from danger. At that moment, he came to a conclusion. He must fulfill his promise, even if it means her returning to Yvlies, away from him.
“My daughter’s happiness is way more important.”
“We’ll do as you say. I’ll inform the others. The princess must have the same fate as the late princess.”
The room was silent for a while. Lord Valric’s voice broke the silence.
“The late princess was a happy bright soul,” he hummed. “Too bright for my dark world. In her next life, I do hope she doesn’t become a royal. Maybe then… I wouldn’t have to ruin her.”