39

She was indeed ugly, there was nothing beautiful about her, her physiognomy was disgusting to look at, and even the makeup that was applied was of no use.

She didn't have the distinct features of a woman, without the clothes she wore, it would have been easy for one to say that she was a man without hearing her voice.

"How did the King fall in love with these things?" I asked myself.

" Love is blind they all say but was he that blind? Or was it just his power as the king to take whoever he wants to as a wife regardless?"

I bothered myself with those questions when I shouldn't have, she came closer and hugged the King before asking,

"Who are these?" 

"Those slaves I brought from Aeradonians," the king replied and she didn't waste a second to fire back at him.

"And what are they doing inside the palace, and in the queen's chamber?"

"Relax wife, they are helpers if I should say, it appears that the daughter of King Romeo is a smart one in dealing with these things, "

" Does she know about the-

"No, she doesn't have to, but I believe even if she does, she wouldn't change her mind," the king replied to her question before the queen could ask.

"So, you are the Princess huh?" She peered into Princess Agatha's eyes with a gaze that could kill, I couldn't tell why she stared at her like that but I guessed it was hatred for Aeradonians.

"Yes I am my queen, it is my honor to meet you," the Princess bowed her head in respect and so did I.

" And you are the one that my son claims to love?" She asked. The whole topic of the king's son being in love with Princess Agatha was still a mystery that we were yet to uncover.

"I appear so my queen, I haven't seen the king's son that I hear of this much but I can't wait to see him-

"Well he will return tonight, and I hope that you still love him after tonight," she added and the Princess raised a brow.

"I do not understand your majesty, but hopefully I will when the time comes," the Princess tried to be calm as she reacted to the situation.

"Where is Ariel?" The king asked her and I assumed that Ariel was his daughter.

"She is out, looking for the dress for tonight's feast, it is going to be a night to remember and she wanted to look good for it," she said those words and skeptically looked at Princess Agatha.

The discomfort I felt was unimaginable, the mysteries of the Tersian royals were too much to have wrapped my head around, but I was impatient to meet the prince, something kept telling me that it was going to be Prince Andrew but I had my doubts.

" Come with me Princess, I have a lot to show you before tonight, I'll make sure you look dazzling and perfect for the occasion," the queen took the Princess by the arm and led her towards the vanity.

"Pardon me my queen but I already have someone to do that for me-

"Nonsense talk!" The Queen Interjected.

"I will take over from here, you!" She called me.

"Yes my Queen," I answered. 

"Do not worry about her makeup, I will do the work from here, you should go out and help out in setting up," she instructed me and I was worried, not because I was leaving the princess alone nor because I was scared, but because I didn't trust her to make the Princess look like a damsel with the way she looked herself.

"Yes my queen, I shall leave immediately," I left immediately because I had been yearning to, the princess smiled at me before I left but I didn't smile back because I was disappointed in her.

I was surprised that I was left alone to navigate through the palace, and I wondered if they trusted that I wasn't going to do something bad or escape and to be honest, I was scared of escaping or going contrary to command because of the fear that had been inflicted on me by the entire sequence of events.

The palace was huge and since I was new, it was difficult to find my way around, unlike Aeradon, the hallways were empty, so I didn't see anyone to ask for directions, I was even scared to speak to anyone at all.

I walked towards a bend and hoped to see someone, but as I got closer, I heard two people speaking.

"Yes, but I cannot believe his majesty's plan to do such a thing," I heard a masculine voice say to the other.

" Listen, just take this scroll and burn it, it's the king's order," the second voice sounded like Azrael and I was certain that the scroll contained vital information that the King wanted no one to know about.

"I wish I could get my hands on the scroll," I said to myself but amidst my thoughts, I was startled by a sudden voice that spoke to me from behind.

"What are you doing?" I stood at a spot, shocked for a moment. Azrael came out of the bend also when he heard the voice, with the guard who held tightly onto the scroll.

"Greetings my Prince," Azrael saluted him and that was when I turned around swiftly so that I could see his face.

To my disappointment, if I should say, it wasn't Prince Andrew, so I bowed my head immediately and apologized.

"I am sorry my prince," 

"Are you lost?" He asked me as he raised my head gently.

"I ... I am-

" She is new here my lord, I will show her the way, follow me! " Azrael commanded me.

" Don't speak for the lady, she has a mouth, doesn't she? " His speech was supposed to sound harsh but his tone was rather calm and collected.

"I am indeed new to this premises my lord," I replied.

"Is that true, because I could have sworn that I saw you eavesdropping,"

"What? " Azrael exclaimed and stole a glance at the scroll.

" What did you hear, you know this could put you in trouble right? " He nagged.

" Let the girl be, besides if I hadn't said this, then you would never have known, just be cautious do you understand? " The Prince raised his voice at them and then turned to me.

"You should be careful too, my sister got herself trapped in a statue forever for this sort of reason," he said and I raised a brow.

" Don't act surprised, aren't you a Tersian?"