Royal Love Beneath The Lies

My brush wandered across the canvas, a terrible choice of colors that seemed to mock me. I could no longer keep records of how many of my mornings began this way, my right hand moved randomly as if it had lost its inspiration. Maybe it's time I accept that I might have truly lost the inspiration to paint. My eyes caught on to something, I stood up abruptly with a little excitement in me as I drew my large room curtain. My mouth opened slightly at the view. Outside, the palace buzzed with so many fun activities, but inside my chamber was not much different from a prison. My eyes were kept locked on the different activities going on, at least my Father was generous enough to bless me with a chamber with a better view. 

 My room creaked open, my eyes flew to my door and I was about to ask Imogen to join me when I noticed her cheeks were dangerously flushed, and I could almost taste the anticipation hanging in the air. Her smile was too obvious and eager. “Guess what? My lady” she blurted out too quickly while stylishly brushing out the invisible dirt on the folds of my peach-coloured long dress. “This Prince.…My lady! He is—” 

“Pretty, charming, muscular. Ready to be rejected” I cut in. The words tasted bitter as I blurted them out but I said them regardless, forcing a tight smile that didn't reach the ounce of my eyes. Imogen’s face fell hard and for a minute, I almost regretted being sarcastic. 

 She lowered her eyes “Can we have a little faith this time around? 

I wanted to console and assure her that things might go well this time but I didn't have the energy in me to do that, I just stared at her.

Seeing her looking so dejected, I almost teased her as she was acting like a rejected bride but I swallowed my thoughts and held her hands slightly. “Imogen, no one desires to leave this damn Palace as much as I do each day that passes……..

 I took a deep breath “The reason for my sanity is gone and—I don't even care if I have to get married to an old king to leave this Palace” 

“I would rather chew one of your ball gowns than to allow you marry an old man,” Imogen said to me with a loud sneer that erupted a loud laughter. I laughed along with her genuinely, no one could understand how much I craved to leave the Palace but my Father kept on rejecting every reasonable suitor that came to ask my hand out in marriage. My father’s unreasonable overprotectiveness was so suffocating and frustrating for me. Despite being a grown lady, I had never had the chance to explore my so-called Father’s kingdom. I could taste the scent of my room on my tongue now after being long engraved like a prisoner in my chamber. 

“My lady, I got some little information about your new suitor,” Imogen said out loud to me again. 

 “There we go again” I muttered low as I moved away from her and covered my ears in defense. “Imogen, trust me. I'm not interested in getting to know the new suitor. I mean, what's the point?

 “Oh wait—my lady—” Imogen ran after me as I rushed to the balcony to avoid her ranting over how charming some damn Prince is. 

“Paaahhhh!!! 

I could hear the sound of my heart beating wildly as I heard the crash of a vase that sounded like a gunshot. my eyes opened wildly while I moved my heavy legs back into the room. “Please God, let it not be….let it not be” I kept muttering slowly till I got into my room from the balcony. 

“Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry my lady….I didn't mean to knock it over——it was a mistake” I could see the fear and sadness in her eyes, she was genuinely sorry but this was not acceptable. 

I stared at the broken vase with the flowers in it scattered on my Mable tiles. I had woken up every day to water and take care of this flower and cherished the vase. My eyes were moist and I could taste the bitterness curling in my heart. “Kai—Kai” I stammered with my shaky hands over my mouth. 

“My lady” Imogen called out to me nervously, with her trembling hands holding on to the helm of her dress. 

I wanted to embrace her and check if she hadn't sustained injuries, I wanted to tell her that it was just a vase and that it was okay, I wanted to reassure her that I was fine and she shouldn't feel bad but I was only able to utter a word “Leave” 

I felt strange at the sound of my tone, it took me a minute to realize that I was all alone in my room now, Imogen had left me. I sat down abruptly on the floor and picked up the parts of the broken vase with my trembling hands as if I could mend them back. My eyes pricked with tears as the thoughts of Kai flooded into my head, and my heart tightened at the sight of the vase he gave me. 

_flashbacks_ 

“I will be gone for long this time around, Ara. Take this vase with you and caress it whenever you miss me” Kai said with so much happiness that he was gifting me but he was going on a mission with the remaining soldiers” 

end of flashbacks 

Tears rolled down my eyes, the vase was gone. My only reminder of him was gone, I had never for once had a peaceful day ever since the death of Kai. I missed him so much every day that it hurt, I missed him being my bodyguard. I missed those days when I fell in love with my appointed bodyguard and I had to sneak to check him out. I missed how he smelled and the little kisses on my forehead. For a moment, I had forgotten about my new suitor. The ignition of revenge lightened within me again, I had woken up every morning dreaming about how to take my perfect revenge on the murderer of my love. Beneath my sweet, easygoing, and beautiful facade was an ignition of revenge I could not wait to seek one day. 

“I will shatter you like this vase, Prince Althan! 

 I shall seek my revenge on you one day” I said with so much bitterness in my heart as tears smeared on my face.

 I could feel the darkness brewing inside of me “Oh, the girl I was once died with you Kai”

I was immediately startled by the deep voice coming outside my door.

 “Your Highness, your attention is needed in five minutes” 

 I could hear the sound of the soldier's shoe leaving my room entrance. I stood up from the floor and rushed into the restroom, I quickly cleaned up my face and brushed it up with a little light makeup. I left my room with a brand new smile as if nothing happened a while ago, I raised my gown slightly so I wouldn't trip. I was about to adjust my long brunette hair when I halted at the sound of a voice coming from my Father’s chamber. 

“It can't be—, Altan??!! My body went rigid, it couldn't be him!