Ch.1 The Sheltered Flower

"Princess, you cannot do that, his highness would be very angry if you did that."

That is what I always hear from the maids and servants around the castle. This time I was playing with a sword from the soldier's trading grounds. However, the only reason the servants stop me is because they are terrified of the king, which is my father.

My name is Jill Crest and I am the only child of the king and queen of Creston. Due to medical reasons, my mother could no longer have children after I was born and I have become the sole heir to the throne. I understand this, and I don't mind being queen in the future, but my parents have become so overprotective of me, that they don't let me do anything dangerous or anything that would cause me to become injured. They also keep me confined to the castle and never let me outside the castle grounds.

I haven't been outside of the castle in all my life and I only can do activities such as sewing, singing, studying, and playing instruments. My parents even monitor how much food I eat and what I eat to make sure I don't die or get sick from malnutrition or weight issues.

I don't like it here. I want to be able to go outside and meet the people of the city and learn how to use a sword.

However, at the moment, Doris the head maid found me playing with a sword and was looking at me with a disapproving look.

"Princess, you know you are not allowed to play with any sort of weapon. Honestly, you can get yourself killed with these."

Doris yanks the weapon out of my hand and puts it back on the weapons rack.

I sighed in frustration. "Doris, don't you think it would be beneficial for me to learn how to use a weapon so I could protect myself? That way I can ensure my safety to become queen?"

Doris looked at me and chuckled. "Now princess, you have the best guards in the city and you are safe behind the castle walls. There is no need for you to learn how to use a weapon. Princess, I hate to tell you, but you only need to worry about getting married to a prestigious man and producing an heir."

I was shocked to hear this out of Doris' mouth. However, it's true, my parents only see me as a way to continue the family line so that the crown doesn't end up in a different family. If they truly loved me, they would let me go outside into town and allow me to take part in activities that are fun.

I was about to leave Doris and go to my room, but Doris spoke up, "oh princess, the king and queen were looking for you. They have something they want to speak to you about."

"Great, just what I need, another lecture or perhaps they'll tell me that I'll have more school lessons", I thought to myself.

"Alright Doris I'll go see them." I said to Doris.

I left the training grounds, leaving Doris behind. I made my way to my parents room which was all the way at the top floor of the castle about four doors down from my room. My parents were very private and it was required for everyone, including me, to knock on their bedroom door if we needed them or visited them. I walked up to their door and knocked.

After I knocked I heard the gruff voice of my father. "Enter".

I entered my parents room and saw my father sitting in his desk chair and my mother was sitting on the bed. My father had a stern and intimidating look as usual, while my mother had a look of frailty to her. I entered the room and bowed to my father.

"You wished to see me father?" I said to him.

"Yes, in a few weeks, you will be turning 18 and it is time to be thinking about marriage." He replied.

My eyes widen in shock. "Father, don't you think that it's a little bit too early for me to get married? I haven't even found a man I love yet."

"Me and and your mother have decided that the sooner you get married, the sooner you will produce an heir and become more mature. All you do is try to act like a soldier, when you should be training to become a dependable queen. Having a baby will make you more responsible and keep you away from those foolish hobbies of yours." He says.

I couldn't believe this. My father couldn't be this much of a tyrant, could he?

"Have... Have you decided on a marriage partner for me as well?" I said depressingly.

My father nods. "Yes, you will marry Roice De Kinz."

"I shudder in horror. "Roice De Kinz?! He's 35 years old! Not to mention he's been married three times before!"

My father frowns. "He is a very respectable and wealthy man. He is also a very good friend of mine who has promised to take very good care of you and the kingdom. You will marry him and be good to him."

"But father..." I start saying.

My father immediately slams his hands down on the desk and yells, "Listen! Ever since you started playing with weapons, you have embarrassed this family! You're a princess! You need to act like one! You will marry Roice and that's final! Please head to your room. Roice will be arriving tomorrow so that you two can get properly aquatinted."

I glare at my father with a tearful look, before running out of the room and up to my bedroom. I close my door and fall into bed sobbing.

Why? Why did this have to happen to me? I don't want to marry a man that much older than me, plus has been married three times before. His previous wives have all died under mysterious circumstances as well. Many people speculate that Roice killed them to obtain their family's wealth. I don't want that to happen to me as well! Not to mention, if the rumor is true, a man like that will become king if he marries me!

I can't marry a man like that! My parents have forced me into a lot of ridiculous things, but there is no way I can go through with this marriage! I must escape.

I look out my bedroom window and notice the great expansion of woods behind the castle. This will be perfect for hiding.

My room is also on the second floor and they're some soft bushes underneath my window. I knew what I had to do. I had to wait until nightfall to escape.

********

While sitting around my room thinking about my escape plan I glacé to my window to see it is completely dark outside. It was finally night and finally time for me to escape. I opened my bedroom chest and took one of my bed sheets to wrap up all the supplies I was bringing with me. I wrapped up a dagger that I managed to take from the barracks, and some food I snuck away front the kitchen a few hours ago.

Once I wrapped everything up, I opened my window and threw the bag of supplies out before jumping out the window myself. I landed in the bushes without injury and grabbed the supply bag. Luckily, no one was around and I was able to make a getaway into the woods. I ran and didn't look back. I kept running and running which seemed like hours. I eventually took a break at a nearby clearing and noticed just how far I had gotten from the castle.

"Wow... I feel like I'm finally free..." I said to myself.

My parents may send bounty hunters after me, but I just need to stay far enough in the woods so that they can't find me.

I decide that I need to keep running and begin to run, until I feel a sudden sharp pain in my neck. I bring my hand to the painful spot to feel a dart injected into my neck.

"Wha-", is all I could say before I began to feel dizzy and collapsed. I don't know what happened but before I lost consciousness I saw a figure walking toward me.

***********

I was very weak when I came to. I felt constricted and uncomfortable. I tried to move but something was in the way. I slowly opened my eyes and noticed I was not in the woods anymore, but was starting down at a hard, wooden floor. I looked to my body to see I've been tied up with rope very tightly. I tried to squirm free, but it was no use. Before I could do anything else, a voice chimed up.

"Finally awake? Care to explain why you were in the woods?"

I looked up and faced a group of unusual men.