Chapter 40

They moved me to my room, still in chains, and I was accompanied at all times. I knew there was something diabolical going on in there to justify being taken out of jail. But it was okay, I didn't feel any more, but it's not even reaction to seeing what looked like a bathtub in my room. Four assholes and two guards to make sure I didn't punch someone.

"What is this nonsense?"

I spoke gasping with hatred.

"Princess, it's for your bath.... It's a tradition nup..."

She began to speak the tramp, with a sweet tone as if I hadn't remembered the wretch in front of my cell debauching my state. I interrupted her, only the first few letters of the words spoken gave away her motives.

"Did you say nuptials? - I glared with hatred."

"Your Majesty, that's it... But we only take orders!"

And even chained up I didn't miss the opportunity to be a headbutt in the face of that wretched son of a bitch! She put her hand to her nose that would see blood, the others were reluctant to get close to me.

"Princess..."

Now one of the guards spoke up

"let the nannies give you a bath, then you sort out whatever you have to be!"

Who was that man? Why did he look so familiar? Where had I seen him before? That kindness was by no means normal in our midst.

I kept trying to remember if he had come to the dungeon to see me, tried to pull up in my mind some memory, whatever it was, and nothing! But I felt in every inch of my body that I had already seen him.

I let them bathe me, still analyzing the expression of the man who was trying to look away from me at all costs. But he couldn't.

When all hell finally broke loose, he dismissed the nannies from the shower, finally a bit of relief. That left the man and one more putting the cuff on me.

"George... Go see if everything is ready and if the princess can go get dressed!"

Said the mystery man to the other, who obeyed without any problem.

When we were finally alone I could ask, but I didn't! I was too afraid!

"Princess..."

He said staring at me

"I have an important message for you. You remembered me, didn't you?"

I made a confused face for sure, I knew I knew him, but I didn't know where from!

"Sorry, I know I know you.... I'm trying to remember here..."

"From the reservation!"

he said softly

And that's when I realized, I saw him coming out of Josh's father's room, I saw him several times around me. But never in a thousand years would I realize that this was an Aaryn from my father's guard.

"You were in the reserve... What are you doing here?"

I asked curiously.

"As I said, I bring a message from Prince Josh."

My heart fluttered in my icy chest, I knew now that he had not forgotten me. Well the message could be "Olivia, I got married, I made twins in Hannah and I really hope you are well", but still I had hope, that maybe it could be something more!

"Say please... "

I said in desperation.

"Follow the orders here so they don't hurt you, he will come for you when you least expect it. We are all appalled at what has happened to you princess.... Truly, I am so sorry!"

My eyes filled with tears again, I was going to cry! I had no hope that Josh would come anymore, I thought of him as someone distant, detached from my black and white reality. Someone I used as an escape so I wouldn't feel like dying during my tormented days and nights.

"Princess, stay alert! Just that! Okay?"

I nodded, just in time for George the second guard to be back in action, leading me with those heavy handcuffs and hard stares to my next horror show. They put me in a pink dress, I couldn't believe it, I thought it was a bad fucking joke!

I couldn't resist, I let them dress me up like a clown, I let them drag me around, I let those damn nannies comb my tangled hair and put a shy crown on me. What did my father intend by this?

To finally be dragged into an even bigger horror show, Petros was there with that lopsided and awkward smile of who was rejected by me and always would be, my father on the throne and the people all around. The hall decorated in a way that a five-year-old would have done a more honest job, was it my fucking execution? Would it? Now that I am so close to finally leaving here.

"Hello, Olivia"

Said Petros, I couldn't stand to hear the sound of his voice anymore, they sounded to me like fingernails scratching the blackboard of a blackboard.

I remained silent, then he continued

"Welcome to our engagement party!"

I didn't listen; it was nothing to me. And even if I were forced to marry him in white it wouldn't make any difference to me, these traditions only live in the heads of those who let them.

When we marry for love and devotion it exists, but when it's something imposed it's nothing but ridiculous idiocy.

"Aren't you going to say anything? Olivia?"

I felt it coming at me like a punch, I was not feeling well, I felt my body revving up and a burning sensation inside me set in. My stomach churned, my head hurt, I felt like I was going to throw up at any moment.

I had never felt this way before... When Petros put those filthy hands on me he pulled away in horror, and I didn't understand.

"Your skin Olivia... It's... Hot!"

What was going on? What was going to happen? I was lost! But judging by the look on Petros' face I was screwed, and something very bad was going to happen.

I just didn't know what!

It would be too much to ask for Josh to come... Now?

He stared at me, in visible shock. He came very close as my father approached.

"Follow the game, because if you don't you will die right here and now!"

I didn't quite understand, but I dreaded it. My body was hot, my head was spinning around as a result of those strange sensations that were completely invading me.

No one seemed to notice anything but Petros, his gaze frowning at me as it had done thousands of times before.

He just whispered in my ears some words like

"Olivia, just say yes!"

My mind was completely scrambled... I stood before my father and just said yes when Petros shook my hand.

Just that and nothing else. And when all the confusion was over I was taken back to my room, but now by Petros. I didn't even have time to despise him. Because I couldn't think and felt that my body was reacting in a way that my mind couldn't keep up with.

I blacked out, but I didn't sleep, just a faintness that I don't know how long it lasted. And when I woke up I was right in my bed, Petros sitting beside me with a dark and worried look on his face. He was running his hand endlessly through his blond hair and across his face.

I stood up startled and feeling the cuffs tighten on my wrists.

"Petros what happened... What happened? What's that face?"

"What face is that? Is this serious Olivia? You don't know what happened there?"

"No, I honestly don't know what happened there! What happened? Just tell me, your face is really pissing me off.

"You slept with my brother, how many times? How many was enough for him to put inside you a monster even worse than him?"

I was cold, I felt my body sink. I was really... I couldn't even say it. I couldn't even put my hand on my belly, I couldn't have any other reaction than to stare wide-eyed at Petros who had even more hatred of me!

"Say something! Now you keep quiet? I should turn you over to your father!"

"How do you know that? I just had a sudden illness!"

"You're an Aaryn Olivia, have you ever seen our skin be hot? Has that ever happened to you? WHAT THE FUCK!" He shouted.

"And you are now an expert on this? You tell me? Traitor from hell! That's an excuse for you guys to kill me!"

"You know how I know? That's what your father told me when I questioned him about my mother! That's what happened when he threatened your life if I didn't contribute to something he already knew! Or do you think I would risk your life for nothing?"

"You've been beating me! You've humiliated me! And you come with this soft talk that you had a higher purpose? Spare me Petros!"

"I'm not here to justify anything to you! But you need to kill this.... Freak! Before your father finds out! Do you understand? He'll kill you like he did your mother.

"I don't care, I won't do it!"