Chapter 9 Your Highness! Please let me help you!
Amarien’s POV
I bounced rhymically through the passageways that led out of the Outer Courts. My destination was the imperial courts, where I hoped to see Daevir.
I know I shouldn’t be here. But I care less about that right now. Not when I know it will be a full moon tonight and the Alpachipa charm I gave Daevir will wear off any moment.
To renew the charm, all I had to do was get Alphacipa roses. They don’t grow in the palace. From what I heard, there were once many here, but the Emperor had them uprooted. I wonder why?
Since I couldn’t get any nearby, I had to sneak out. It was pretty dangerous and risky, considering all eyes are on me now that the emperor has my attention.
It still sickens me that the Emperor of the whole realm snuck into my room. I thought it was over. I thought I was going to be stripped and raped mercilessly. But I was wrong. The emperor is really as frail as they say. He only stared at me creepily for what seemed like half an hour. The moment he attempted to get off the bed to touch me, he felt ill and began coughing. I only stood there, terrified.
Thankfully, there were guards around to come to his rescue. He was carried out of my room in no time. He didn’t stop staring despite being sick and frail. He stared and smiled as he said. “I’ll make you my little queen one day. I’ll be back.”
While that horrid day comes, I have to keep my friend a stable werewolf. After I successfully sneaked out, I traveled miles to the Alphacipa field and fetched as many roses as I could. Roses come with thorns, so I have many tears on my skin as my souvenir for sneaking off to the Alphacipa rose field. My skin still bleeds even as I walk up to the imperial courts right now.
When I got back to my quarter, Eunuch Corvin caught up with me. Somehow, he knew I had sneaked out. I couldn’t tell him where I went, and this only infuriated him.
Corvin released his pent-up anger on me and beat me up with his wooden Eunuch shoes. I cried for help, but no one would hear me. It’s not uncommon for Eunuch to discipline the concubine they preside over. Even if such a concubine has been ‘visited’ by the emperor.
I was beaten up and locked in my room all day without food. But if Corvin thought a little starvation could stop me from protecting the only friend I have, then he is wrong.
Being under strict discipline from my father for years had taught me how to pick locks. All I had to use were my old hairpins to unlock the keys to my room, and I’m out.
My skin bleeds, and I walk with a limp (Corvin’s shoes did some real damage). But I don’t care. As long as I get these roses to Daevir. Corvin can do whatever he wants to me.
My eyes rested on the gates of the imperial courts. The giant walls of gold, jade, and sapphire.
Ah… so beautiful…so intimidating.
I limped in, smiling at the guards who watched me with suspicion. They must know who I am by the golden pin tugged in my hair. The pin the emperor gives his concubines for their recognition in the palace.
I limped past them, ignoring their questioning gaze.
Where could Daevir be? I wondered. This place is so big and wide, I couldn’t tell where to turn. I clinched tighter to the bunch of Alphachipa roses, their thorns sticking to my flesh. And I kept walking, hoping it would lead me to where Daevir is.
After roaming for what seemed like hours, I couldn’t find him. My heart heaved with anxiety. Evening was setting in. I had to give him these roses before the first sighting of the full moon. He will never be able to control his impulse when he shifts.
I looked around, my eyes blurry with tears.
Did I lose him?
Would I ever find him in this large imperial place?
How could I? What was I thinking? I’d never find him here.
“Hail Prince Daevir of the Black Sun!” The voice rang out of the blue. I lifted my eyes and saw him!
Your highness!
I raced towards him. He was just walking out of the Imperial Courts, flanked by guards on all sides.
I didn’t let that stop me. I raced forward, the thorns from the rose prickling my skin. The full moon will be out any moment. A second of hesitation would be disastrous.
As I got to the station, where he approached, some guards tried to stop me. “Get yourself together, girl!” They grabbed me. But I slipped out of their grip and approached Daevir.
Our eyes met. His eyes, those ember eyes that held warmth for me the day he arrived in the palace. I smiled. So happy to see him. And slowly I approached. My heart racing, but my steps steady.
Daevir approached me, his eyes never leaving me once. When he was close enough to me, I bowed my head and stretched out the roses to him.
He didn’t flinch. His eyes left me in a second, and he walked past me like I wasn’t there in the first place. His garment brushed mine, sending chills down my bones.
My hands remained stretched out, my head bowed, my body frozen in shock.
Did he see me at all?
Or did he just ignore me like I wasn’t there?
I turned around to see him walking away from me. His back against me. He didn’t look back. Didn’t acknowledge me. Didn’t even look at me.
My heart ached in my chest. My fist tightened on the roses I held, the thorns sinking deeper into my skin. My blood leaked to the floor.
I took a step forward, but suddenly someone snatched my palm back.
Wam!
They slapped my face.
“You little roach! How did you escape your quarters?!” It was Eunuch Corvin.
How did he find me?!
“Let me go!” I screamed. My hands stretched out to Daevir to save me. But he didn't look back.
“Stupid girl!” Eunuch Corvin slapped me again.
I cried in pain, my fist still clinging to the roses. “I have to give the prince. He could die if I don’t!” I cried out.
But Eunuch Corvin won’t listen.
“You’re an embarrassment! Stupid, stupid girl!” He said as he hit me several times till Daevir was out of sight.
“You’re going to pay for the distress you caused me!” Eunuch Corvin yanked my arm and pulled me out, dragging me out of the Imperial Courts. I gave in. My heart ached at the gut-wrenching coldness I got from Daevir.
Why did he ignore me?
Was I wrong to think I had a friend?
Daevir didn’t even look at me. Not once.
Tears pooled down my face as I was dragged out in shame. And then, I looked up and saw something that shook me to my core.
The full moon was in sight.
Daevir only had minutes before he shifted.
I shut my eyes and let the fire burning in my heart consume me. In one swift snap, I snatched my hands off Corvin's grip and escaped.
“Hey! Come back here!” Corvin cried out. But his words were breeze in my ears.
“Your highness! Please let me help you!!!” I cried out as I raced back to the Imperial Courts.