CHAPTER 3

"You are strong." The old granny declared while caressing Sasha's arm.

Sasha took a deep breath and shook her head.

"When it comes to him, I'm not." She said and turned back to look out of the window that was behind the sofa. She put her arm on the headrest of the sofa and then her chin on her arm.

"He terrifies me." She whispered to herself, the old granny was unable to hear her words but she heard the girl muttering to herself. Before she could ask what the young princess was saying, the doors of her room were knocked on twice before the doors were opened by the royal guards.

The old granny immediately stood up from the sofa when the surroundings were invaded by the presence of the king. A tall man with black short hair that was a little ruffled stepped into the room. He was modeling in a long black coat with golden lining on the lapel, long black shoes, and inside he was wearing a black suit. Shoulders broad, long legs, a face that had a heroic handsomeness settled on its gentle features.

He was Jasper, the king of the Logon kingdom and Sasha's soon-to-be husband.

"Your Highness." The old granny bowed at him and stepped aside. Sasha, who was busy looking out of the window, immediately stood up on her feet and looked at Jasper, rather surprised to find him here because he rarely comes around here.

"Your Highness," Sasha slightly nodded at him and he frowned, walking up to her, he abruptly grabbed her shoulders almost making her flinch. "You look sick, are you okay?" He asked.

Her eyes lashed towards the old granny before settling back on Jasper. "I'm better than ever. I was thinking about the wedding and that's why I couldn't sleep the whole night. M-Maybe, that's why." She lied and he smiled at her, cupping her cheeks, he squeezed them.

"Of course, why wouldn't you be happy? After all, you're marrying me." He said and she passed him a tight-lipped smile.

"And I'm happy too, to have you as my wife and as the queen of this kingdom." He said. Sasha kept quiet and waited for him to say something further.

She was never very talkative with him.

She was once too talkative and nice with a certain someone and now she was nothing but a trampled and pitiful princess. She thought Jasper would fix her...but he just couldn't.

He moved back and turned towards the door.

"There is a guest I want you to meet." He said and gestured to the guard standing near the door. After a few seconds, someone stepped in and both Granny and Sasha were left speechless.

It was a woman.

A beautiful blonde woman with big doe-like eyes walked in. She had big blue orbs and freckles were resting on her nose and cheeks. She was extremely pale and was tall and thin with perfect curves.

Sasha was awestruck by her beauty but at the same time, her insecurity doubled.

She didn't stand against her beauty at all.

No wonder, why people thought of her as average. They must have seen beauty like these. Though Sasha never felt average or this insecure before but ever since she became his fiance, these things have started to claw her inside.

"This is Princess Fiona of the Kastron Kingdom, Younger sister of King Ragnar." He introduced her and Sasha's eyes almost went wide.

Kastron kingdom was one of the biggest kingdoms with one of the strongest lineages.

He was marrying Sasha because she was beautiful and had a strong lineage.

After Fiona's introduction, Sasha felt even more insecure. This woman was everything beyond what she was.

And he came here all the way to introduce her to Sasha.

He already fancies her.

Sasha knew this day would come but not this early.

"Fiona, as you know this is Princess Sasha Walton, my bride." He said and both the ladies nodded at each other elegantly with soft smiles adorning both of their faces. Sasha didn't let her expressions waver.

"I've heard a lot about you," Fiona said, stepping forward and Sasha smiled, lowering her gaze to the floor before looking up at her again.

"I hope it's good." She said and Fiona chuckled lowly.

"No, it's too good that it scares me." She said and the room fell into silence, none of them got what she said. Jasper even had a frown on his face.

"Huh? Pardon my awful hearing, could you please repeat yourself?" Sasha asked politely in an apologetic tone and Fiona shook her head while smiling. "Pardon me, I should have come clear." Fiona said and all of them understood that she didn't want to repeat herself. Maybe, she said it out as a farce but no one got it.

"Sasha, Fiona wanted you to show her around," Jasper said and Sasha raised her brows while nodding. "Then, shall we?" Sasha asked Fiona, and the girl nodded rather excitedly. She looked childish and immature but then again, she couldn't trust anyone.

Both the girls along with Jasper walked out of the room, they went on another path and Jasper took another path with his guards following him closely behind.

"So, Fiona, did you come alone?" Sasha asked, both of them slowly walking down the stony lane. "No, my big brother, King Ragnar also came along with me," Fiona said and Sasha passed her a little surprised look.

"Oh, I see," Sasha said and showed her a little around.

"And we also have this huge library that I oft---" Before Sasha could complete her sentence, an excited Fiona clung onto her out of nowhere. "Library? I want to see the library." She said happily and Sasha chuckled.

"I see, you like reading," Sasha said and began to guide the girl to the library. She herself wasn't too familiar with the paths since she rarely left her room but she knew where the library was since she often went there. She wasn't a reader but since she had nothing to do, she read.

"What do you like to do?" The girl asked and Sasha's smile slowly vanished.

'I liked swords.'

"Nothing much," Sasha said and gestured to the guards to open the library doors. The guards bowed at her and obliged. Once the two royals stepped inside, the guards closed the door behind them.

Fiona was awestruck.

"It's huge just like mine. Can I look around?" She asked and Sasha immediately nodded at her. "Please do as you please," Sasha said and the girl hopped away. The castle was filled with guests, she thought she would find some people there but the library was empty as always.

Sasha watched the girl hop upstairs and lowered her gaze.

She couldn't believe it.

She had become so negative.

She thought bad about her.

With a sigh, she walked further into the library and started to look around to find something interesting for herself. While she was looking around, she spotted a very interesting book. It had that maroon velvety cover with golden lining on it. She wondered what it was about.

She moved forward and stood on her toes in order to get the book but she was unable to even touch it. She tried harder and stretched her arm further to the point where it started hurting. She gave up and was about to get down on her feet when all of a sudden a tall shadow came behind her out of nowhere making her flinch badly. She felt someone behind her, too close to her. Her breath was stifled and goosebumps started to rise on her skin.

She saw his hand moving forward towards the book. The hand was big and long, actually too big even for a man. He was wearing a black glove that didn't cover all of his fingers. Sasha swallowed thickly and abruptly turned around to look at him but what she felt next was a too-familiar presence that terrified her to the core like a zap of current.

She flinched and attached herself back to the bookshelf. He was tall, very tall, a lot taller than Jasper. She had to crane her neck to look up at him and what she witnessed next, almost made her legs go weak.

Though, there was no resemblance yet there was so much resemblance. The man before her had long shiny dark silver hair and dark gray eyes. The one she knew had black hair but the aura was extremely familiar. His face was hidden by a black mask, only his eyes could be seen.

He grabbed the book and brought it down, forwarding it towards her. She stared down at the book in horror. Her complexion went pale as sweat started to coat her body.

Was it really him?

If...if it was him, he wouldn't show up in disguise.

His entrance would be rather bold.

She was exaggerating every other thing.

That man has left his imprint on her and now she sees nothing but fear when even a little thing resembles him or makes her aware of his presence.

Maybe she needs to go to the physician again.

With her trembling hands, she grabbed the book. Trying to stop her body from shaking but it was useless.

The man said nothing so she hesitantly raised her head and her heart almost lurked to her mouth when she found him peering down at her.

When they made eye contact.

His eyes...they were also familiar.

Sasha was terrified.

Before she could turn and run, Fiona's voice startled her.

"Princess Sasha, I was looking for you." Fiona said while walking up to her with a book in her hand but her pace slowed down once she saw the huge man standing in front of her.

"Oh, brother?" Fiona stared at the man in front of her, calling him 'brother'.

Sasha's eyes slightly widened when she realized who this man was and why he was covering his face.

He was King Ragnar, the king in disguise. He didn't show his face to others. Only his people and family knew what he looked like. People had their own theories about him. Some said he was too handsome that's why he hid his face, some said it could be a disgusting scar that he was hiding and some said that he was not that handsome and only his hidden appearance was extraordinary.

He doesn't seem to care about these things at all.

Sasha relaxed a little but she was tense as ever.

Fiona smiled and walked up to them, she wrapped her arm around her brother's arm and looked at Sasha while smiling. "Oh my, did my brother scare you?" She asked, her smile dropping instantly after seeing Sasha. The girl was a wreck this morning. This many jumpscares never come to her before. Sasha passed a glance at her brother and he was still staring at her, so she immediately dropped her gaze back to Fiona while shaking her head, a fake smile plastered on her face.

"Oh, that's a relief. People usually get scared due to his huge appearance." Fiona said.

"Anyways, brother, this is Princess Sasha Walton, the bride."

"And Princess Sasha, this is my brother, King Ragnar."

Fiona introduced them to each other. Both of them passed each other with a slight nod. She should be saying something, a whole damn king was standing in front of her but words wouldn't leave her mouth.

She was just uncomfortable.

She wanted to leave immediately.

The monster she knew was known by no one and this was King Ragnar, one of the greatest kings in his lineage. Kings of all kings.

She really needed to say something here but instead of that, she excused herself and trekked away.

Embarrassing herself.

Entering her room, the first thing she did was drink a lot of water.

This happened three times today.

She flinched so much as well.

And someone stood before her who resembled him.

Him...

Her terror.

Her destroyer.

The wedding must happen.

"I will come for you, my butterfly." His words rang in her mind with the exact tone he spoke with.

"No, No, No...the wedding must take place a week before." She thought while pacing around the room.

When his fear fell upon her, the wedding she thought couldn't save her was suddenly her only desperate option.

There was nothing else to save herself from him.

To be exact, not even this wedding.