CHAPTER 1

I don't have many memories of the first seven years of my life, but the few that I have I treasure in my soul.

Sixteen years later, every day when I wake up I remember them with all my might, every year they seem to want to escape from my memory like water in my hands, I only have to fight over time not to let go of her sweet face caressing my hair and looking at me through the mirror with that dazzling smile.

His hair was golden like a faint sunrise, a pair of brown eyes overflowing with love when he looked at me. That's all I have left of my mother, sixteen years ago a spectacular accident snatched her from my side along with my father. I don't remember much of that day, only that the mansion seemed to shake with the roar of shoes running from side to side in despair.

The armed guards screamed to take their defensive positions, while the servants ran in terror, looking for a place to take shelter. At that time I did not understand, after the news of the death of my parents was known, everyone expected an attack from their enemies.

But that never happened ...

__ Miss Suhaila __. Yup, there it is, punctual as always.

Mrs. Caili has been in charge of my care and education for all these years, love was never lacking. She couldn't have children and I lost my parents, so each one overflowed the love we had without having anyone to give it to in each other.

__ I'm awake __. I let out a tired sigh and slide the covers back so I can look at him.

__ Girl, laziness is a sin __ claims.

Although for her almost everything is sin.

__ Envy too Caili __. I smile heartily at him and wait for his frustrated snort.

__ You are hopeless, no matter how hard I try to educate you. The stubborn and responsive will not go away.

__ Letting go is like losing my identity __. He just looks at me badly and leaves my bedroom slamming the door.

A little giggle escapes me, and then I'll make her content. I get my butt out of bed to go to what they call the bathroom, I named it (private mousetrap) seems more appropriate.

But still a shower is always welcome to remove the drowsiness of a bad night. I stayed up late reading, that's one of the few privileges I can still afford.

I grab my work clothes from the closet and get dressed in a hurry. The horrible dress reached my ankles, its faded ash gray color and with some stains showing its age, it does not fit my body too much, which I appreciate. Its square and high cut covers my full and slender breasts well, that reassures me, the last thing I need is to give those disgusting more reasons to want me. Just being alive is dangerous enough for me to add fuel to the fire.

I put on my slippers and make a messy ponytail stumbling out of the room, luckily and as usual, as soon as I turn the first corridor Ali is there.

A pity that you have not noticed their presence before.

I end up ramming my body against his strong arm, almost throwing myself to the ground if I don't hold on in time.

__ Girl, it's about time you stopped greeting me like that __his thick and grumbling voice has nothing to do with the small wrinkles on his face when forming that smile that I like so much.

__ I swear I don't do it on purpose __. He just rolls his eyes and lets go when he sees that I'm stabilized.

__ If you didn't spend so many hours reading in the middle of the night, you wouldn't have to be on the run every morning.

__ Hey, don't mess with my books __. I give him a zap on the arm causing him to broaden his smile even more.

__ Okay, now let's go. Soon it will be the change of shift and I don't want you down these corridors when those brutes arrive.

Just imagining it I feel my skin tremble with sheer fear, when I turned fifteen my body began to develop abruptly. In just under a year, I went from having a flatter chest than a man's, to having a couple of sensitive and pointed mountains. They were neither too much nor too little, my breasts were the perfect size I would say, always erect and full. At that time I was happy to look at them, I felt feminine and pretty. We are going to be fifteen and see such a plain and observe men bigger than you in those areas, it did not help much to maintain a good self-esteem.

The problem was that my change, being abrupt, ended up drawing attention to myself. That's not good for someone in my circumstances.

A few footsteps echo from the continuous corridor, I know perfectly well to recognize that very particular sound of military boots on the wooden floor. Instinctively, I slow my steps to stand behind Ali, allowing his enormous size to cover me.

Their uproarious laughter echoes down the high walls until they come to a stop very close to us. I could see how Ali tenses, every muscle in the body contracts ready to destroy everything in its path, it doesn't stop walking and I least of all mine. Not at least until a foot gets in my way, does it send me straight to the ground. Another wave of laughter rises, the truth, I would love to keep just that part. I look up and find their leering gazes brazenly observing my bare legs.

I hurry to lower my skirt, putting aside all the disgust I feel. Strong hands take my arm, pulling me up in a single movement.

Ali clenches her fists of courage __. Leave them already __ whisper __. Not worth it.

One of them makes a move to come closer to me, but he pushes me, being covered by his body in front of me, only that does not prevent me from hearing him.

__ Some old day, you will not be with her and the princess and I will dance like the bitch that is __. Argus, his disgusting voice can only be compared to his scent, it is not easy to stop recognizing him.

__ Well that day, I hope you are prepared to die __ spits Ali.

__ We'll see old man, you can't protect her forever __. He lets out another laugh before disappearing down the hall with the others.

Ali turns around and taking my chin he forces me to look at him __. You have nothing to fear, I'm not going to let him lay a hand on you.

I part my lips to let in the air I've been avoiding, my eyes sting from the tears of relief I struggle to hold back. I just nod, I doubt that talking will be able to contain them.

Ali was one of my father's trusted men, he took it upon himself to protect me almost from the day I came to this world and even after their death, he continues to do so every day. Thanks to him I am still in one piece, I know very well that he is willing to give his life for me. Only for that reason I keep silent about what I have been living for years, since I was sixteen.

If he found out, he would do everything to kill him, and that would cost him his life, so I just shut up, shut up to save him, I can't lose someone else in my despicable life. I have few and I am not willing to lose any, even at my own expense.

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Ali was one of my father's trusted men, he took it upon himself to protect me almost from the day I came to this world and even after their death, he continues to do so every day. Thanks to him I am still in one piece, I know very well that he is willing to give his life for me. Only for that reason I keep silent about what I have been living for years, since I was sixteen. If he found out, he would do everything to kill him, and that would cost him his life, so I just shut up, shut up to save him, I can't lose someone else in my despicable life. I have few and I am not willing to lose any, even at my own expense. Aside from his protection and that of a few other guards, the only weapon I possess is my precious broomstick, he and I share a strange friendship relationship. The good thing is that, being an inanimate object, he cannot reveal what I tell him, the bad thing is that he does not answer me no matter how hard I try, is that, or speak literally to myself.

The Korkmaz mansion is where I grew up, it is named after our family name. Here I have spent every day of my life, the closest I have been to freedom, is when I can occasionally go up to the roof and look at everything around me, feel the warm breeze and the touch of the sun on my skin.

Just for that moment I close my eyes and imagine that I am far away, in a place where I am not afraid, where I am loved and cared for. Where I am free to run through a green meadow that caresses my bare feet. A beautiful dream that to April my eyes, it destroys my soul when I realize that no matter how much I want it, I am still here.

A delicate throat clearing brings me back to my reality, Ali cocks a smile and I realize that we have already reached the north corridor. It is where the elegant bedrooms of the mansion are, or better known as my morning work area. I glance down the long corridor that awaits me before glancing at Ali and smiling back.

Before leaving, he takes a look at the high guard guarding the corridor, he just nods before Ali turns and walks away.

__ Little girl __. I wince with a heart attack to hear him so close to me.

__ You know? If you want to kill me, do it at once __. I turn around to discover a fleeting smile, his gesture is so subtle that I begin to doubt if it really happened.

__ The mansion is somewhat restless today, there is a lot of movement, so do not get away from my sight.

Brazy is only a few years older than me, but his burly anatomy and serious demeanor give him a commanding and fearful edge. Although his golden skin and well-trimmed beard, accompanied by bushy eyebrows that hide beautiful light gray eyes, his rudeness was not ignored before. He leaves without even giving me time to answer him.

I let out all the air at once, the boy is as cute as he is rude, he grew up in the mansion. He is the son of one of the men who was in charge of my father's safety, he also died that day. We are both orphans, just two children who faced a terrible loss at the mercy of fate.

From then on Ali took him in, raised him like a son and trained him to be the best soldier. He and I are her only family, and therefore Brazy is one of the few men she trusts to take care of me.

Brazy is what I call, a man of few words and no conversation. We've barely spoken words in our entire lives, but I know that deep down he appreciates me, the way he looks at me. It is not with desire, nor with pity, he looks at me with respect and deep down, deep down, with some affection and that is more than what he offers to others.

I take a few steps until I reach a large white and gold door, Kiara's room. I tap twice and just a few seconds later I hear the acceptance for admission.