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.