Princess Alice of Venya

"Come on!" Jude linked my hands with his, causing me to giggle as we both ran into the woods. The wind rustled through my hair and I felt a feeling of adrenaline rush through me as our feet's pace synced.   I turned to the side to watch his blue eyes brighten as he lurched forward. He was cute and beautiful as his sweet innocent soul.   After a while of running around, we were both tired and decided to take a break.   We sat on the accommodating green grass and leaned on each other as we watched nature do its thing. Dancing butterflies flies buzzing near manure, and bees honing for food.   I didn't realize how much time had passed as we sat there until Jude heard a rustling in the woods. He immediately helped me to my feet and got in front of me in a protective stance.   "Please don't stray away from my side princess."   I sighed, also staying on guard even though I couldn't sense whatever he was sensing.   A gush of wind hit my face causing my red hair to cover my face.   Just then, a figure ascended from an array of trees and leaped at me.   I froze in surprise, unexpectant of this sudden movement.   "Watch out!" Jude pulled me into an embrace and pushed me gently into the green grass. Visibly aware of Jude being on top of me but not crushing me with his body made me blush.   "Princess, what are you doing?!"   I looked above me and my jaw dropped when I saw that it was my maid, Irma.   I placed a hand on Jude's chest and he took the cue to roll off me when he saw that the invader was no one dangerous.   "Irma, what are you doing here?" I asked as Jude helped me to my feet.   "I should be asking you that, princess." Irma folded her arms across her chest and looked away from me. "While everyone is worried about you, you're here having fun."   "Why are you exaggerating, Irma? I already told you I was going to see Jude. Why is it such a big deal?"   Irma sighed and dropped her arms to her side before closing the distance between us and looking at me seriously. "The thing is that your parents found out."   I swallowed nervously.   "Your father… he ordered me to tell him where you were and I had no choice but to tell him the truth."   I bowed my head and exhaled. There was no doubt my dad would be pissed when he found out that I had a boyfriend who did not have a high ranking.   "What was my mother's expression like? Was she disappointed?"   Irma looked at me with sad disappointed eyes and then grabbed my hands and shook her head. "Don't worry about it princess, you should go home now. Your parents found out something important and they wanted to share it with you."   I sighed and removed my hand from Irma's before turning to Jude.   He gave me a sad smile but said, "I understand. It's late, you should go home to your parents."   "I love you, Jude. And I can't bear to part from you. This is the first time we've hung out in a week only for it to be cut short—"   "—Princess," Jude cupped my face in his hands and smiled. The crinkles around his almond-shaped eyes made me feel like a teenager in love. "I promise to work harder so I can climb up the ranks and be able to ask you on a date with me, officially."   My cheeks felt hot, "Jude…" I whispered, my eyes blurry with tears.   Jude and I embraced one last time before I rode on Irma's woven back to the palace.   On the way, she'd asked me a good question that I couldn't stop thinking about.   "Are you going to end up with Jude? I know he's the only one you feel a deep connection to apart from your parents but… Is Jude worthy of what you have to offer?"   "Think about it princess. The only link he has is with a Colonel who happens to be his uncle. You are a special werewolf with the inability to shift because you don't have a wolf. You need more people around you than normal to survive. Jude cannot cater to any of your needs. I think it's best you break up with him before it becomes harder for you."   "It's too late." I simply answered. "I've been caught up in a web of love since I laid my eyes on him a year ago."   ***   Once I got back into the palace, I noticed that the number of workers seemed to have reduced significantly.   I checked my father and mother's private quarters but they weren't in there. Their assistants seemed to be missing as well, so I asked a random guard who gave me a stiff look before begrudgingly answering that my parents were in the throne room.   I skidded across the hallway and pushed open the doors to the throne room.   I walked in and spotted my parents sitting on the table across the room with both of them leaning on the table away from each other.   I smiled, were they sleeping? They were so cute!   My gaze traveled to the two golden cups that were arched on the table. I slowly walked over to the table, feeling conflicted by the scene in front of me.   Were my parents asleep because they drank too much? It was weird. My mother could pass out from drinking too much, but never my dad. He had a really good stomach.   "Dad?" I walked over to my father whose face was shut close, looking as peaceful as ever. But his hands… were in a tight-clumped fist.   "Dad why are you…" as my gaze traveled to my mom, I saw blood at the corner of her lips despite her lid-shut eyes. And her face was as pale as a ghost.   The sight had me stumble back and shake my head in disbelief. No… this couldn't be possible. They couldn't be dead. Even as I thought this, I found myself screaming as I rushed to my mother's side and shake her awake.   "Mom!"   I did the same to my father without getting a response from either of them.   They were dead.