Always Yours

Chapter 12

As they descended they were greeted and Amanda was also greeted with a lot of “Happy Birthday” and some even gave her some presents along the way. There were other presents that were stacked on the long table.

I fiddled with the sleeve of my dress, I wished to hold a small gift, maybe even a gift that contains a bracelet or a book would be nice. I smiled hopefully at the thought.

Then after the guests were able to greet Lady Amanda, the King then took Lady Amanda’s hand and that made my heart twist in different knots. The King and Lady Amanda then went towards the throne walking with such grace and both radiate with confidence with every step that they take. Once they reached the throne, the King smiled warmly at Lady Amanda before he shifted his attention to the people.

“Twenty years ago, a beautiful baby girl was born on this day, the 18th of September, she has been through a lot of hard times when she was growing up, but she manages to get up and fight. She has been through thick and thin, she had managed to make people smile, she cared for everyone and has a kind heart” he paused, I thought that he was talking about me but when he faced Lady Amanda like she is the only woman here on Earth that is when my heart ached in pain, he wasn’t talking about me was he?

“And today we are here yet again to celebrate the day of her birth, her special day. Ladies and gentlemen let us all clap for the birthday girl, Lady Amanda” he said as he lifted Lady Amanda’s hand and kissed it as he smiled at her, they looked like the perfect couple, like no one was going to tear them apart.

I averted my gaze and attention away from them. My eyes blinking hard as I bit my lips to stop the tears from falling down.

My heart constricts ever so painfully, the unknown emotion has me in confusion and anguish. All I wanted was to escape from this room, away from seeing the sight of the King and Lady Amanda practically showing their love and affection tone another.

Why was I reacting this way? Why did it hurt so bad?

When they both had sat down on the throne, the music then again started but this time it was a livelier one, people also started to dance.

I focused my gaze on the King and Amanda as they laugh about something, then suddenly the King stood up and walked towards Lady Amanda to face her, he offered her his hand and Lady Amanda took it and giggled.

“May I have this dance, beautiful?” with a final giggle coming from Lady Cecilia, she nodded before she accepted his hand and the King led her towards the center of the ballroom. A different music was played as the King placed his left arm around Lady Amanda’s waist while the other was interlaced with hers, they both swayed to the music and I could see the people awe at the sight.

My heart was in conflict while my mind was in confusion. Why was it that I badly wanted it to be me who dances with the King? Why was I feeling this abnormal emotion? The need to have and claim the King for my own. I selfishly wanted the King’s heart for my own, even if he didn’t know who I am.

My mind is a mess; it is in utter turmoil, something that I can’t explain. Why do I feel this emotion? Why do I feel jealousy? Why do I feel the pain when I see them together? Why? Why can’t I answer my question?!

I push my way against the people, hoping to catch some fresh air and for me to calm down, but mostly because I might lose my mind if I continue to stare at the couple for even a few more seconds.

But before I exit the ballroom, a guard grabbed my hand tightly as he prevented me from going out.

“Where do you think you are going?” he snarled at me and I tried not to flinch. With a shaky breath I answer.

“I was about to go out and catch some fresh air” I whispered, my voice cracking as if there was something caught up in my throat.

He eyed me up and down and I just lowered my gaze so that I wouldn’t let him see the pained look that I am putting on.

“You can’t, I was informed that you would be a part of today’s celebration” I was confused, I was a part of today’s celebration? What did he mean?

He let me go and I just stared at him with confusion before I then sighed and went back towards the crowd. Thankfully the dance just ended and they all started to clap for the King and Lady Amanda.

After they had danced, the King whispered something in Lady Amanda’s ear and her eyes glimmered in surprise before it transformed into happiness, she nodded her head towards the King and the King grabbed her wrist, before he faced his loyal subjects.

“We have to go to somewhere special, enjoy the party, we will be back before the game” and then they disappear, I wanted to know where they were going to go and what they were going to do. That had made my heart contort into pain again.

The men and women danced, ate and conversed with each other, then after an hour and 30 minutes later, the King and Amanda came back to the ballroom.

“The games will be starting soon, please go back first to your rooms and prepare, then after that the games will be officially start” the people nod excitedly as the corners of their mouths form a grin as the men led their wives, girlfriends and lady friends towards their rooms, I wonder what kind of game that would be.

After 30 minutes, everyone came back wearing their normal clothing, the woman wore jeans and a plain crop top with cardigans, while the men wore their jeans and polo. The King and Lady Amanda also wore normal clothing and it was such a sight since I have never seen the King wore normal clothes before. He still stood out.

“We will conduct the traditional game that was chosen by Lady Amanda. It’s predator vs Prey, I am sure all of you are familiar with the rules. The first one to catch the prey wins. Now, let’s all go to the woods” they all nodded before they exited the ballroom and went towards the woods.

I was about to go upstairs and change when someone clasped their hand on my wrist and with that touch it sent my brain to override as it sent electricity to bring out the life of the butterflies in my stomach as they start to erupt. My lower regions start to heat up and I tightened my thighs together, trying to stop the warmth from spreading.

I gasp at the contact as I looked up to see no other than the King himself.

“Where do you think you are going?” he asked in his smooth velvety voice that sends shivers to my spine.

“I-I was a-bout t-o go upstairs, your M-ajesty” I stuttered as my mouth failed to produce a straight sentence as I bowed my head.

“I don’t think so; you’re coming with me” my heart fluttered with hope and I stared at him with wide eyes before I bowed my head blushing.

He led me to an area before he released his grip on me and I instantly missed the warmth of his hand, he gave me a small vial, I looked at it with confusion.

“What am I going to do with it your Majesty?” I mentally gave myself a pat on the back for not stuttering.

“Drink it” he said in an obvious tone. I noticed that he clenched his jaw as he looked away.

I didn’t ask for any more questions as I placed the tip of the small vial on my lips and gulped down the contents of it, it tasted like water and I gave back the vial and the King looked at me with an arched eyebrow.

“What is it your Majesty?” I asked him as I tuck a piece of my hair behind my ear.

“You didn’t ask about the contents of the potion” he answered blankly.

“Why should I?” I asked in confusion, why should I ask? I was taught not to question everything.

“Why shouldn’t you? Maybe it contained poison” he said with his brows furrowed together, almost meeting each other at the center of his forehead.

“But it didn’t, did it?” I asked with a smile.

“But maybe it could have, are you like that? Naïve enough to accept anything that they give to you?” he asked with a tight voice, my smile faltered.

“I guess I trusted you enough” I smiled and he only stayed silent.

After a second of silence he spoke again in his monotonic voice.

“The game is starting soon, let us go” with that he started to walk away from the kitchen and into the woods, with me following him in suit.

I tumbled along the way due to the darkness, I tried to keep up with the King but I managed to fall and scrape my knee. I winced and looked at my dress that was smudged with dirt.

I bit my lip as I looked back up to see no one. The King was gone and I was all alone in the woods with no idea which direction I should go.

I got up and looked around for people but I could only see darkness, trees and fog was starting to show up. I tried not to panic but my heart was beating in fear of the dangers. I knew that I was not safe, dangerous animals roam around in these lands.

I heard a loud growl and I trembled before I started dashing off. I looked back to see that there were wolves running after me, I widen my eyes before I picked up my pace.

I heard howls coming from the wolves and it pushed me to run faster. I ran and ran until I couldn’t run anymore, my feet now had scratches and some wounds due to the bareness of my feet, and the dress also had tiny slits on them due to some bushes having some spiky stems. I was also panting furiously, my breaths were shallow and my lungs burned as if a pit of fire was burning my lungs, I licked my lips trying to make it hydrated.

I was still vigilant to my surroundings in case I saw a wolf running towards me. It was my fault for not being cautious and got left behind, now I have a pack of wolves chasing after me.

I started to notice that there were no wolves chasing after me. I slowed down and after confirming that they were gone I walked, trying to catch my breath.

I cautiously try not to make any noise so that I would not attract any attention, but when I was so focused trying to make any sound as I step I didn’t even notice that a part of the ground that I was walking on had a huge chunk of it missing.

I fell forward as I put my arms in front of my face as I try to protect my head, there were a lot of sharp stones that hit some parts of my body and I try not to yell in pain, not only that but the ground was also muddy, as I reached the ground my body let out a huge ‘thud’ as I collapsed on the ground.

I gently removed my arms away from my face and I looked up from the place that I fell and I could see that I fell from a cliff, I try to stand up but instantly regretted it as pain exploded at the right side of my torso, the dress was now completely torn off as a huge slit was made at the end of the dress, there were also holes on both sleeves and my face and hair was filled with mud and grime. The rocks made cuts on the different parts of my body; blood was now flowing freely from the abrasions and punctures that I have received on my body.

The dress was now dirty, patches of dirt were ruining the whiteness of the dress, I hold on to a tree as I clutched the side of my torso, I groaned in pain. Then with all the bad luck in the world I heard growling form the top of the cliff and that is when I painfully forced myself to run.