Chapter 2 The Extra Finger

• Ariana's POV
• After a secret getaway afternoon with Joshua at our usual hideaway beyond the fields and meadow, I concealed myself in my bedroom and started writing in my journal.
• 'Dear Journal.
• Joshua is turning into the most handsome young man I've ever set my eyes on. He's charming and a darling at the same time. He looks out for me and never wants to see me get hurt. Today, he held my hands while we crossed a stream and he moved branches out of the way so they wouldn't snag on my dress or my face. He has been there and had always been a dear and sweet friend but lately, I've been developing these unexplainable feelings towards him. The type of feelings that seem like there were butterflies in the pit of my stomach and when he's near to me, I can see myself kissing him. I know this is wrong. My father would have his head and mine if he was ever to find out that I was falling for him. He would never approve of him. Joshua is too much of a low-class he would say.'
• I sighed loudly, hid my writing, took my afternoon bath, got into a clean dress and had my dinner in my bedroom.
• The next morning, at dawn:
• KNOCK KNOCK
• There came another knock on my door and I knew that knock.I went to the door feeling most annoyed.
• "Princess."
• "Victor. What do you want?"
• "Your father is away, thus, leaving me in charge of his empire and of you, of course. Your presence is requested in the courtyard. Follow me immediately." He turned on his heel and like a puppy, I followed behind.
• __________
• I hated the courtyard. It was a place of horror and screams and tears and pain and suffering. I was baffled by how my father found such a great deal of satisfaction in other people's miseries.
• "Have a seat next to me," Victor said as a command as he pulled out a chair. The courtyard was located at the back entrance of the castle. Its tall gates framed in circularly and were inescapeable unless the guards were to let you out. Rows of seats lined the area like a fighting arena and it was rumored that this said area was a gladiator arena where fighting to death was an entertainment to the people but after my mother's untimely death due to an ailment, my father put a halt to the fighting and reserved it into a courtyard where he passed and handed down his wicked judgments.
• __________
• Soon enough, the soliders dragged in someone whose face was covered in a black sack but by the figure, I was aware it was a woman. They led her over to alter and removed the sack. Tears was already streaming down her face and she was scared.
• "This woman has been found guilty of having an extra pinky finger. It is said that on every hand there should be five fingers and on every foot there should be five toes. Her extra finger must be chopped off and she should be punished for hiding this. Pass your judgment, Princess Ariana," Victor said and he sipped from his goblet with a smile.
• "My judgment? Father left you in charge."
• "Yes, but I'm handing you this opportunity to show your father that you are capable of following in his footsteps even in his absence."
• "I'm not going to rule to impress my father or someone like you so I'll advise you to remove that smile off your face and leave the woman to be."
• "Excuse me!"
• "You heard me."
• "You have no authority. You're to instruct the solider to remove the finger and punish that woman right now!"
• "I'm not going to instruct that upon another woman, Victor."
• "Leaving it to me is a grave mistake, and I'll let the kingdom know that it was your judgment."
• "So you'll lie?"
• "I also make the laws. They don't apply to me. DO IT!"
• My chest rose and fell quickly with anger as my hands balled up into fists. I was cornered by the snake and I knew he would take the utmost pleasure in doing his worst to this innocent woman.
• I stood up. Everyone in the courtyard who were present to witness the scene were looking at me.
• "Remove the finger," I instructed.
• "And?" Victor asked in a hushed tone.
• "And her punishment for concealing this from her king and kingdom, five strokes."
• Five strokes were the minium.
• Victor scoffed as usual but his smile came right back. I was certain he was buoyant he had gotten me to bring pain to another person in this inhumane way.
• "You could have done better but I'm sure your father would still be proud. I'll be telling him the news myself."
• I took my seat again and hated myself as I watched the blade came down on the woman's finger, cutting it clean off. She was then given five strokes on her back and sent out of the courtyard just as someone else was drag in with a black sack over their head.
• "I've already had enough of this. I'll be in my bedroom."
• "Princess, may I remind you that it is strictly forbidden to leave the courtyard during judgment, however, I'm willing to make an exception only for today. You may leave!"
• I didn't hesitate. I got up and went back into the castle where I ran into Joshua in the hallway.
• "I saw what happened out there, Are you going to be all right?" he asked with concern.
• "Victor made me do it, I swear, Joshua, I didn't want to but Victor said that if I left it up to him, he was going to do so much worse to her. I felt like I didn't have a choice but to hurt that woman. What kind of Princess am I?" Tears welled up in my eyes and I was hyper.
• "Ariana, I understand but you have to calm down. This isn't your fault and when you turn queen, I know you would change things for the better for all your people. We're anticipating the day you take your seat as the queen."
• Joshua had a calming effect on me. One smile and a hug was all it took for me to feel better and I took the chance to look into his soft and friendly eyes.
• "Joshua! Joshua! Where are you?" we heard a frantic voice calling his name. It was Joshua's mother. Her face carried panic when she found us in the hallway.
• "Mama, what's wrong?" Joshua asked her.
• "We have to leave. We have to leave right now," she answered.
• "Why, what's wrong?" he asked again.
• "They found out," she answered.
• "Oh no."
• "Found out, found out what?" I asked in confusion.
• "I'm sorry but I have to go." Joshua and his mom were off like flashes of light and I was left wondering. Something terrible was happening and I haven't a clue what it could be.