Unfortunate Love; Married to the Devil Prince

It was a cool evening, beneath a towering oak tree that had stood for decades. The wind whispered from every direction, stirring the dry leaves into a restless dance across the ground. A low, humming sound filled the air, flowing along with the wind. Seated beneath the tree was a beautiful girl, as still as a statue. Her long black hair drifted gently across her face, carried by the breeze. She wore a flowing light blue gown that shimmered faintly, her skin smooth and pale. It was only her cherry blossom lips that moved as she hummed; it seemed as though it did not belong to this world. Her eyes were closed, her expression calm, lost in a quiet moment of peace. "Your Highness…" The voice came once. Then again. "Your Highness." But she did not stir. It wasn't until a light touch brushed her shoulder that she fluttered her eyelashes open and slightly turned to face the intruder. Abigail, bowing her head, spoke calmly, "Your highness… it is time." She looked up, raising an eyebrow. While placing her hand under her jaw, she asked, "…um, time for what?" Abigail replied, "Time to rest. Tomorrow is a big day. I can't believe you're so carefree about it, your highness." She deliberated on each word as she spoke, although it did not sound in her voice, but her face showed traces of pity as she spoke. "Please, my lady, come take your rest." As she spoke, she got closer to the princess and tried to raise her, but she was stopped by her next words. "Abigail, it's fine. I'll come inside in a bit. Let me spend some more time here, as it may be my last time here." As she spoke, she became so emotional, that she almost had tears in her eyes. Abigail had no choice but to bow her head and leave dejectedly. Most of her years in the castle, Abigail was her only friend, although she was her personal maid, but she developed a more friendly relationship with her. They were more like sisters. They laughed together in secret and wiped each other's tears when no one was watching. This was only done secretly because if they got caught, Abigail would be punished and kicked out of the palace. A princess and a maid must not have that kind of relationship, but they have been able to keep their secret friendship together for over ten years now. The friendship was about to come to an end because tomorrow she was going to be marrying a ruthless prince from a distant kingdom, and Abigail could not come with her to the new kingdom… As she got deeper in thought, she closed her eyes, humming, almost smiling, as tears rolled freely down her cheek. "Slap!" She jolted back to reality in shock as she held her face. Who would dare slap the princess? "You sit out here in the cold, in this freezing temperature. Look how pale you look," Isabella scoffed as she spoke, using her handkerchief to wipe her hand, the one she just used to slap her. "I know her plan, sis. She's planning to freeze to death so she doesn't get to marry that ruthless prince, and her father would pick one of us to replace her after she's dead. How smart." Raising her face with her shaking hand, as the tears flowed endlessly from her eyes, she pleadingly opened her mouth… "Tatiana, I promise you I wasn't trying to kill myself… I… I… just came to say goodbye to this place and my mom's favourite tree… because from tomorrow I would never have the chance to do this again for the rest of my li…" "Shut up!" Before she could even finish speaking, Tatiana cut her short. "How dare you talk back at us, you filthy liar? You think we didn't see through you? You plan to kill yourself, so we would replace you… hahaha!" She laughed. She had always despised her stepsister right from the moment she was born, and when news came to the palace that the ruthless crown prince wanted a wife from their kingdom as a sign of peaceful treaty, she was obviously the eldest of her father's daughters who wasn't married. Her father was going to give her hand out in marriage to the prince, but his reputation scared her so much that she begged her mother, Queen Nita, to convince the king that her stepsister Nyx should marry him. She believed that the prince might kill her after marriage, or lock her in the dungeon, or worse make her life a living hell. Her mother did beg the king, and he agreed. Now Nyx is going to be married to the prince tomorrow. That is why she was furious when she saw her outside in the cold. She thought she wanted to kill herself; if she did, obviously she would be the one to replace her. With a cold and icy voice, "I don't care if you live or die, but live enough to marry that prince tomorrow. Afterwards, you may die, but if you try anything like this again tonight, I promise you…., I will kill you." Tatiana's hand struck her again, while Isabella watched with a cruel smile. They raised their long gowns and walked away, both of them saying harsh words as they left. Still sitting under the tree, the tears from her eyes flowed more than before. Ever since her mother died when she was ten, Tatiana and Isabella bullied her relentlessly over everything. Now she is eighteen, nothing has changed. Tatiana is older than her by just three months, and she is older than Isabella by two years, but both of them treat her like a slave, especially Isabella. She got up, went inside the palace, walking like a corpse to her room. As she opened her door and stepped inside, Abigail was arranging her clothes. She turned at the sound of the door opening. "Your highness." She and the other two maids said in unison as they bowed. "Leave us." The two maids bowed as they hurriedly left, shutting the door behind them. Since it was just the two of them in the room Abigail rushed to her side panicking. "Nyx what happened, why is your lip swollen, did you fall?" She rubbed her lips gently. Nyx just hugged her and didn't say a word the both of them just enjoyed the silence then Abigail pulled apart looking at her. "It was Tatiana," she finally broke the silence. "I knew it. Why won't they let you be, I saw them walking to the tree after I left you there. I thought they wanted to make peace with you since you will be leaving soon". After a little talk Nyx was already feeling sleepy, Abigail helped her prepare her bath. She had her bath and prepared to sleep, Abigail left after she got into bed. "I hope I don't get bullied in the new kingdom." she sighed as she drifted to sleep.