Broken

Asha ran towards Prince Mayo as soon as Prince Denna hurriedly let her go after hearing his brother's voice. Weeping and struggling to repair her robe which was in disarray, she hurried to Prince Mayo to save her while he scolded his nonchalant brother. 

"What do you think you are doing Denna?"

"What does it look like Brother?" Denna asked defiantly, his eyes still on Asha as if he was about to pounce on her yet again despite his older brother's presence.

"Has your recklessness reached the point of forcing yourself on innocent girls who happen to be daughters of a chief? A daughter of a chief? Denna!"

"Don't bark at me. You should be grateful I taught that little brat her place. If you hadn't arrived in time, I would have finished giving her a proper lesson!"

"That is not acceptable Denna! You can't go around hurting people because you think they are lower than you! You are royalty, you should act better!" Prince Mayo declared boldly, making Asha feel he was on her side. 

"You can see what he did to me and where he kept me pinned on the bed while he tried to…" she paused, unable to describe the horrible things Prince Denna had done to her poor body. "Please you must help me report your brother to the king! I need justice! I did nothing to deserve this!" Asha said, still gasping for breath. No matter how hard she tried to adjust her robe, they just wouldn't stay. And she had marks all over her ebony skin which indicated the signs of her struggle with Prince Denna. 

Despite her tearful explanation and her pointing out the wounds on her skin, Prince Mayo turned blind eyes to her plight. 

"Look, you better get dressed and get back to the celebration and pretend this didn't happen!" He scolded Denna, pointing at him. 

"But how can you say we should pretend it didn't happen when it did? You must help me report this cruelty to your father. I am the daughter of a chief, and I don't deserve such treatment. Nobody does!" Asha insisted passionately.

In that intense moment, Mayo turned sharply towards her, as if preparing to attack her like his brother had done. However, he inflicted pain with his words alone.

"So, you expect me to take your side over my brother's? What do you think of me? Do you believe anyone would believe you when you claim Prince Denna tried to harm you? First, what were you doing in his room, and why aren't you at the celebration?"

"But your father, the king..."

"Shh! Use your brainless skull to think. You were tasked with bringing him some food to appease him, but no one instructed you to enter his room, did they? You're just as foolish as your sister, Zeep, playing games and thinking you won't get hurt!" Mayo's words pierced Asha's heart, revealing his true nature. To worsen matters, Denna joined in the laughter as he approached.

"If you know what's good for you, go to the servants' quarters, have your clothes adjusted by one of them, and then attend the ceremony as if nothing happened. Refuse, and you'll bear the consequences alone!" Mayo uttered these hurtful words, prompting Asha to flee the room in fear. In the kingdom of Maribah, the royals were revered like gods, and Mayo knew she'd make the right choice out of fear of the royal house.

"You are an absolute disgrace to our family!" He spat his brother. 

"Like you are any better!" His brother retorted but Mayo didn't spare a glance or even say a word in response as he made his way back to the ceremony. 

"You're an absolute disgrace to our family!" Mayo spat at his brother.

"Like you're any better!" His brother retorted, but Mayo ignored him, not sparing a glance or a word as he made his way back to the ceremony.

"You won't tell what happened, mistress? Did you have an accident?" Nemere asked Asha with concern, but Asha remained silent, cautious because another servant was watching them.

Unable to trust anyone in the palace after her ordeal with Denna, Asha fought tears, the memory of her struggle still fresh. 

"What are these marks?" Nemere inquired.

"Focus on mending my dress and stop being nosy!" Asha snapped at the maid, her anger escalating. The maid quietly apologized as she continued repairing Asha's dress.

Bitter and sad, Asha had no idea how she was going to go back to the ceremony, pretending that everything was fine, and that Denna hadn't just... The more she thought about it, the more tears threatened to rush down her cheeks. She couldn't dare to cry now; she must wait until after the ceremony, then she could cry in the quietness of her room.

She repeated this to herself as she walked back to the gathering. No one paid attention to her, as all eyes were fixed on what the king was saying. Only the queen and Prince Denna observed her as she returned to her seat. The queen gazed at her with a hint of pity, while the prince wore a satisfied look on his face.

"How did it go?" Nena inquired as Asha joined them, but Asha blinked, attempting to suppress her tears.

"Asha, I asked how it went! Did he forgive you? What was the conversation like?" Nena persisted.

"Leave me alone!"

"Can you both hold it? The king is about to announce who the Prince's wife will be," Zeep interjected, sparking more anger in Asha's heart. She wanted to hurl insults at Zeep but the King's voice stopped her. 

"As is tradition, the prince's wife is typically chosen during the royalty celebration, and this one will be no exception. My dear people of Maribah, I have decided that Japthan's daughter, Zeep, would make a perfect wife for my son!"

Gasps and screams of joy filled the air as the king stood there with a smile. However, the prince did not share the enthusiasm. His gaze remained fixed on Soma, who bit her lips in anger while everyone hailed Zeep.

A group of women escorted Zeep to the front of the throne, where she bowed to the king and his family. He patted her back, and she rose, smiling at her father. Even Prince Mayo managed to smile at her even though his attention had been on Soma ever since. 

Amidst the joyous celebrations, Asha harbored pain, knowing the prince and his family were evil. She hoped in her heart that Mayo would never marry her sister and that the royal house would crumble.

While everyone stood, clapping and cheering, she stood reluctantly, unable to force a smile on her face. She thought her emotions was in check but she had no idea that there were people who noticed her reluctance to celebrate her sister's marriage to royalty and the king was one of them. 

Asha noticed then that Prince continued to watch Soma from time to time and she vowed then that she would do everything in her power to reveal the truth to her sister. Maybe then, the king would be forced to take action against his sons in public, which was what she wanted. 

She told no one about what happened to her that day not even her sister Nena who kept bugging her with questions about it. Her own form of revenge was bringing disgrace to Prince Mayo and Soma for his insensitive words regarding what his brother did to her. She had nothing planned for Denna but she will eventually have her revenge, she vowed. 

" Behold your queen! Soon, sisters, my home will be at the palace, and you'll have to seek permission from the king to see me. I'll parade the whole of Maribah with my guards while people bow at me!" Zeep proclaimed as they walked home after the festivities. Only older men and a few young men remained at the ceremony; younger ladies like them had to return home.

"Did you see Soma's face when they announced you as Prince Mayo's wife?" Nena asked, laughing. Zeep mimicked a sad expression, causing Nena to burst into laughter. Asha couldn't comprehend their joy at the news, considering they would bear the brunt of being in-laws to the evil royal family. Bitterly, she thought, "Evil! All of them!"

"Asha, are you not happy for Zeep?"

"I am!"

"Well, you don't look it. Not that your happiness would make any difference!" Zeep scoffed, but Asha remained silent, hastening her steps to get home and cry before her sister caught up with her.