2. The Shocking Proposal

"Here is the pair of earrings you asked for, my lady." Laura said as she gently placed the box carrying the pair of earrings on the dressing table.

Sage looked up at Laura with a forced smile and replied softly, "Thank you…" 

Laura smiled back and her eyes suddenly caught on the horrible and ugly mark on Sage's neck .

"Oh my God , princess what happened to you?" Laura screamed immediately as she sighted the mark on Sage's neck. "Did a beast bit you or something?"

"It's nothing, Laura. You don't need to bother about it." Sage said and immediately adjusted the scarf on her neck to cover the hideous mark.

"Are you sure you don't need some first aid, my lady? I can inform the k-"

"Enough! I said I'm fine and there's no need for that!" Sage interrupted.

She sighed and added, " I know you are just concerned but please I don't want anyone else to know about this. Please keep this secret between me and you, okay…" 

Laura was a bit sure at Sage's cut off, but she had no other alternative than to obey her lady, so she replied..

"Yes, my lady." She smiled and excused herself. Sage turned back to the mirror immediately after Laura had exited the room through the large doors.

She sighed again as she recalled last night's events, the mark slightly itchy but the pain had lessened and she felt a different sensation inside her - like a connection, but to what?

She was glad to survive her beast attack and get back to her quarters safely. If not for Aaron she would have died laying there.

She could still remember how unbearably painful it was when the teeth of the beast dug into the flesh of her neck, her eyes were shot wide open and her scream could have awakened the dead…

The only thing she could remember after that was her consciousness slowly leaving her and she felt as though she would die…, but now here she was seated in front of the mirror staring intensely at herself trying to find answers as to why it had to be her - The sorrowful and cursed third princess of Atlanta.

'What a shame' One would say to her situation and she herself knew what a shame' it was to the whole royal clan.

A bite from a monster would definitely make it evident that she was cursed and that was why she didn't dare to report to the king, unless she would face the punishment for disobeying orders to not leave the palace for any reason.

She sighed for the umpteenth time as she had a more complicated problem in hand.

It was the day if her royal ball and she would be given to some royalty all for her father's selfish desires…

Although she was quite happy to finally be seen and get to leave the hell of a palace for a new life.

She hated to be royalty and preferred a normal life with a husband and kids, but what was that? All a dream!

She had to face reality and accept her fate….

With full self encouragement and determination she picked up her tiara and gently placed it on her head.

It enhanced her beauty and he glitters fitted that of her lovely dress. She had always resembled her mother with nice figure, beautiful lips, blonde hair, and a pretty fair face, but she sometimes wished she didn't because her mother seemed to be the king's unfavored mistress…before she died.

Her smile fell as she remembered her mom's dead corpse right in front of her, but then it curved back up after some seconds…

She got up and looked at herself one last time before stepping out through the large doors.

The ball was about to begin and Sage kept the crowd on mute as she descended down the stairs like an angel in a pure glittering white dress.

All eyes were on her and her stunning dress and tiara bummed in the dim light, lightening up her environment like an angel…

"Meet the third princess of Atlanta." The bishop announced and the trumpets were played by the knights. The king rose and declared for the ball to begin.

The crowd fell dumbstruck, they had no other choice but to act as though there was nothing unusual, but deep down they all wanted to know why the royal family would hide such a beautiful princess from birth.

Sage scanned the hall nervously as everyone's sight occasionally deviated towards her direction. 

Sage was directed by the King to speak with different princes and dukes and she eventually engaged in a dance with them each time, but she would always fail in her dancing steps as she was not trained to dance like a princess instead she was kept like a prisoner all her life.

After several dances with several princes and dukes, she sighed deeply and took a sit as she was quite exhausted.

Everyone suddenly turned towards the large doors as a big and charming figure walked in along with two hefty men.

The charming figure looked elegant in his princely outfit and charming demeanor.

His long hair was well styled and elegant and his expression charming, but cold with a smirk attached.

Sage's heart raced as the man walked up to her alongside his hefty men. She recognized his as the third prince of crestthane and the cursed being that everyone claimed he was.

She lowered her head in order to stop herself from looking into his eyes as it was said that the prince uses his eyes to charm people and take their souls.

He suddenly stopped in front of her and stretched his left hand towards her requesting for a dance.

Sage reluctantly agreed and they walked to the dance floor as the crowd of royalties made way for them.

Although Sage wasn't a good dancer she was able to follow his rhythm and guides. Their dance ended in five minutes.

"I, Lucian Crest, the third prince of crestthane, would love to seek for the third princess of Atlanta's hand In marriage."

Sage suddenly heard the words of the third prince and her eyes widened in shock as she wasn't expecting to hear those words from him, but she found out that she wasn't the only one surprised as everyone seemed to be equally surprised.

Lucian bowed slightly to the king after he had accepted his proposal with a slight nod, but sage felt as though she had been stabbed in the heart

Was her father going to make her marry the known cursed and depressed young prince with the lust f

or human blood?

Her heart trembled as Lucian turned to her with a knowing smirk…