11 — An Unexpected Visit

A large hand caressed Zahra's right cheek, causing her to frown in her sleep.

She felt an uncomfortable sensation on her cheek but was unable to wake up from the nightmare she was having.

Soon, her body was covered with cold sweat.

Someone was shaking her body aggressively, trying desperately to wake her up from her nightmare as desperately as she wanted to break free from that nightmare.

"...a!..."

"Tia!"

"Wake up!"

A familiar manly voice was calling her out.

She jolted awake from her nightmare, sweat covering her body.

"Are you okay?! I was calling for you and you weren't waking up. I was so worried!" Issac spoke, quickly embracing Zahra into his arms.

However, Zahra didn't show the usual enthusiastic expression she would show whenever she was with Issac.

Zahra's cold attitude triggered Issac's curiosity.

"What happened?" He questioned, loosening his grip off her waist.

He slowly let her go and took a seat on the bed beside her.

"Why are you here so early in the morning?" She inquired about his unexpected visit.

"Morning?" Issac forced a laugh. "It's almost 1 pm, Tia." Issac's warm expression turned into a colder one.

His smile disappeared, leaving a serious expression.

"What's wrong with you, love?" Issac inquired, with a worried expression.

Zahra who was observing his actions let out a laugh.

"You change your expressions faster than a chameleon changes its colour, my love," the way she implied love seemed ironic.

However, she didn't mean it that way.

"You didn't look for me at all, did you?"

"I did! I was looking everywhere! I even complained to the police about you being missing, however..." He stopped.

"However?" Tia stepped off her bed and stood in front of Issac, looking at him, furring her eyebrows.

She was already disappointed with her own father— he wasn't even her father but with Issac as well. She was unsure whether she should trust him at all.

"In the news..." Issac proceeded with his explanation. "On the TV... everywhere, everywhere I could look, it said you were the lost princess of the neighbouring kingdom... I was... so confused..."

Issac paused.

"I... I tried going to the palace where it appeared that you might be in but I couldn't get inside... I mean, they are royalty," Issac rolled his gaze in a disgusted expression to his left.

"I mean, we normal citizens can't go there as we please. Hence, I couldn't contact you."

Issac grabbed Zahra's hands tightly, looking up at her.

"Forgive me."

He pressed his lips against her hands.

Zahra's cold expression soon turned to a flustered one.

She gave him a soft smile, and pulled his hands closer, kissing his hands as well.

"I should be the one saying sorry. I left you in the forest all alone. It was wrong to do that. But I know you wouldn't let me face this alone if I stayed there." Zahra looked at Issac.

"I'm not mad at all. I'm just glad you're safe and sound." Issac reassured. "I would let you confront everything but I wanted to be by your side no matter how difficult the situation was at that time," Issac stood up, looking into her eyes.

Just as Issac was about to continue talking, an individual knocked on the door, interrupting him.

"Where did Sylvia and Cocoa go? Is it them?" Zahra asked Issac who looked just as confused.

"They went to work. They called me because they didn't want to wake you up mostly after everything you might have gone through. But it's not supposed to be them," Issac shrugged his shoulders.

"I'll check," Zahra stepped towards the entrance.

Issac naturally followed her in case it might be a dangerous person. After all, the neighbouring was known to be a place where a lot of criminals wandered.

Zahra opened the gate only to see a face she didn't want to see, not now, not ever.

A familiar ash blond-haired young man stood in front of her.

"You?" Zahra frowned at the sight of that man.

"Good morning, princess," Yuden curled his lips into a bright smile that clearly looked fake to Zahra.

"What you want?" Zahra rolled her eyes.

"Nothing much. The Queen Dowager is waiting for you outside. You should go greet her."

While speaking, Yuden examined Zahra from head to toe. His gaze fell on the hand she was holding. The man he saw with the time they met at his club stood beside her, motionless.

Yuden scoffed.

"Did you escape from us to come to him?"

Zahra raised an eyebrow, halting at him before he could proceed.

"Get the hell outta—" Zahra was interrupted by the sudden flashlights blown her way. A few people appeared behind Yuden with cameras in their hands along with microphones.

The sudden appearance of the media took Zahra aback.

"Are you for real?" Zahra scoffed.

"Crown Prince Yuden, I heard this girl here is the princess of Averlyon, the neighbouring kingdom." A woman spoke.

"And that she was lost for a couple of years," A man continued, pointing his mic at Yuden.

Yuden remained silent. He simply grabbed Zahra's right hand and began walking down the stairs.

The journalists followed the crown prince with their cameramen, desperate to obtain news for their companies.

"Prince Yuden, please say something!"

"Your Highness!"

While the reporters were questioning Yuden, Zahra was clenching Issac's hand as hard as she could, making him follow them.

"Let go! You're doing this again?!" Zahra yelled at Yuden, attempting to reach his ear to speak louder over the reporters' loud voices, but couldn't as he dragged her away. "Let me go, bastard!"

Yuden turned deaf to her complaints as if he couldn't hear her at all. His grip tightened each time Zahra twisted her wrist to get out of grip.

Once Yuden reached outside, a black car was parked, waiting for him. It was fairly evident since in that neighbourhood, everyone was too poor to own any car.

From outside, a womanly silhouette could be glimpsed. Queen Dowager Emera was inside the car, waiting for Yuden to bring Zahra.

Yuden turned around, facing the reporters. His gaze fell on Zahra's hand which was gripping Issac's hand as tightly as possible. He curled his lips, grinning at the cameras.

"I'm sure everyone has been curious for the last few days. I know the royal family hasn't replied to any of your questions. However, as the crown prince of this country, I must give answers to my people. So, go ahead and ask," Yuden kept holding Zahra's wrist tightly.

"Let go!" Zahra greeted between her teeth. "It hurts! Let go before I say anything in front of the media and fuck up your pretty image," she threatened him.

Yuden scoffed. He didn't reply back. He remained calm and kept his smile intact.

"Your Highness, who is this girl?"

"We heard the news that she might be the lost princess of the Averlyon Kingdom, is it true?"

"Why are you with her?"

"Why did you come here on your own? This place is… too filthy for your royal highness," one of the female reporters pointed out.

"That is… indeed a lot of questions!" He chuckled. "Well, she is Princess Zahra, Princess of Averlyon, indeed," Yuden spoke, pulling Zahra next to his side and in front of the cameras. "And my would be Queen," he added.

Yuden's words left the reporters shocked, including Zahra and Issac.

"What fucking—" Zahra halted talking as she felt Issac's hand slipping away from her grip. She quickly turned around to look. She saw Issac pulling his hand away from her, leaving her speechless.

The journalists had the news that Crown Prince Yuden would be getting married to Princess Layla and their engagement was just a few days ago. However, now he was getting engaged to her elder sister.

"But Princess Layla—" A man spoke out, however, he was interrupted by Yuden straight away.

"Princess Layla and I were getting engaged for the sake of the promise between our kingdoms as he nearly lost hope of finding the princess. However, my initial fiancée has always been Princess Zahra and now that she was found, it will remain so," Yuden spoke before proceeding to walk towards the car.

"Issac!" Zahra yelled while being dragged away by Yuden.

However, Issac remained behind the reporters who were following Yuden and Zahra.

Zahra desperately kept calling out his name but in vain. He didn't step forward nor utter a word.

Yuden opened the door and slid Zahra inside the car.

Zahra furred at the sight of Queen Dowager Emera.

"Why are you here again? Let me go, please! I'm speaking nicely now, so please let me go!" Zahra signed. "I can't handle this bullshit."

"I appreciate your help, Crown Prince Yuden," Emera spoke, ignoring Zahra as if she had turned deaf to her words.

"You're always welcome, Your Majesty," Yuden bowed. "I shall your space and leave for now," he closed the car door.

Emera remained silent for a second, waiting for Zahra to speak. She thought Zahra would complain like she did before however, Zahra's unexpected silence surprised Emera.

"Princess Zahra, I hope you are conscious that you are no longer a normal girl," Emera spoke.

The car was soon surrounded by people in the neighbourhood who had heard of the presence of the royal family.

Emera confronted Zahra as she gazed out the window.

"These individuals are supposed to respect and aspire to be like you. There is a clear distinction between them and us. Everyone desires the opportunity to cross that boundary. Yet, you hold the power to step into our world," Emera remarked.

"The decision is in your hands, Princess Zahra. I trust you will make a wise choice. Whether you wish to continue enjoying this luxurious lifestyle or return to your previous life where no one paid attention to your pleas is up to you."