CHAPTER 3 KIDNAPPING

Three months passed. My hands and legs felt strange, and my nanny was giving me special massages and training while my mom and dad watched. They always wore a special look on their faces, as if they were expecting something. I didn't know what it was. I couldn't read their minds, could I?

I felt uncomfortable as someone picked me up from my bed. I was still sleepy but managed to look around. It was dark. Oh, it was night already. But who was this person? A masked figure? The unfamiliar scent around him filled me with unease. What was happening here? I cooed softly—oh, did I make that sound?

"Looks like she's awake. Let's get out of here before they figure it out," the masked man said.

"Are we going out?" I cooed again.

"Where are you taking my sister?" A voice broke the tension.

Liam and Noyal stood in the doorway, glaring at the masked man. "Looks like you're not alone," Liam said, assessing the scene.

Suddenly, five more masked men emerged from the shadows, their intentions clear.

"I'm not in the mood to fight, Liam," Noyal said, his expression calm, almost bored. "You can handle this, can't you?"

"Of course, brother. Give me five minutes," Liam replied, stepping forward with confidence.

In a blur of motion, Liam engaged the five men, his movements precise and powerful. With quick strikes and agile footwork, he easily dispatched them, showcasing his training and strength. The clash of fists echoed in the darkened room as he fought, and within moments, all five attackers lay defeated at his feet.

"Step back, or I'll cut the princess's throat!" the last remaining masked man shouted, pressing a knife against my throat.

"Alright," Liam and Noyal said in unison, instinctively backing away.

Suddenly, the masked man's head rolled from his shoulders, landing just inches from where they stood.

"You're late, Father," Liam said, not even glancing back as he wiped his blade clean.

My father stepped into the room, gripping me tightly to prevent me from falling. "Looks like she's fine."

"Your security is pathetic!" my mother shouted, her fury palpable as she stepped forward with her sword, her eyes blazing. "Is this how you protect my child? How did intruders slip into my palace?"

The tension hung in the air. My father opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off. "This is inexcusable! I will not tolerate negligence regarding my children's safety! You better sort this out before I take matters into my own hands."

She glanced down at me, her expression softening. "I need to know you're safe, my little Elysia. You deserve to grow up without fear."

"Who would have thought they would use sleeping scent around the palace? We've never had an incident of kidnapping before. I don't understand why it happened now. At this point, I may need to look into hiring assassins for security. My love, please don't be angry with me," my father implored.

Oh, my goodness, were they all fighting for me? I cooed and chuckled softly.

Why had it gone quiet again? They looked surprised.

"Did she smile?" Liam asked, his eyes wide.

"Yes!" everyone exclaimed in unison.

"She looks like Mom," Noyal said, grinning.

My mom leaned down, showering me with kisses that made me feel ticklish. I chuckled again, revealing in the warmth of my family.

"At least something good came out of this," mom said, her smile lingering as she looked at me.

Everyone seemed to calm down, but then my attention turned to my brothers. That's when I noticed Noyal separating the head from the body of one of the dead attackers.

"Are you wondering what he's doing?" my father asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

I looked at my father's face, then back at my brothers, trying to process it all.

"Noyal likes to collect heads and display them in front of the palace," Liam explained, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

"It's something I enjoy doing," Noyal said with a proud smile.

I thought to myself that my family was indeed quite strange.