The Princess And Her Alpha Bodyguard

PROLOGUE

I had never thought my eighteenth birthday almost turned out to be my funeral.

For years, I lived a life full of everything I needed. Even for a princess, I was considered the luckiest among all others because Zariya Kingdom was a matriarchy. Instead of a king, a queen was the one who ruled. That was how my mother took the crown after my grandmother even though she was the youngest sibling. Her eldest brother, who was also my uncle, married a princess from another kingdom and became the king there. It had been so ever since the ancestors found our land. The women stayed and rule while the men moved away after they were married.

So, to put it simply, I wasn't just a princess.

I was the crown princess.

I was the one who had it all. I got parents that cared for me, siblings that spoiled me, and a fiancé who loved me. Though it might sound exaggerated, it was the truth. My fiancé was the type that every girl was dying for—a handsome prince charming that truly existed in reality and not only in fairy tales.

But they were all gone now. They belonged to the past. Memories that were too fresh and painful to forget. That was what hurt the most. Given how the tragedy occurred just three days ago, the memories were still at the forefront of my mind. I could picture all those horrible things before me so vividly that it looked as if I was still there at the scene.

It all began that day. Or rather... that night, where I expected to see fireworks as usual. But what I got was so much more. It was brighter than any fireworks could display. It wasn’t just a spark but an all consuming fire that took away everything and everyone I held dear in just a fraction of a second.

"Princess Laelia, please wake up." A frantic voice yelled next to my ear. It belonged to none other than my lady-in-waiting/best friend, Damara Cherro.

Before I could open my eyes, something rocked my body as if there was an earthquake. Except there had NEVER been an earthquake in the Kingdom of Zariya. It had always been the most beautiful and peaceful kingdom among all lands with fewer natural disasters. Even manmade calamity, commonly known as war, rarely happened in the last few hundred years. It was all thanks to the graceful leadership of our queens.

What’s with the alarming voice just now? I thought to myself as I stirred in my sleep with a frown. Out loud, I said, "What's wrong with you? Why are you screaming as if your tail is on fire in the middle of the night?"

"That's just it, princess. It is a fire!" continued the voice.

"Your joke is even funnier than mine, Damara." I laughed and pulled the cover higher to my chin before turning away to the other side, hoping she would leave me alone to get back to my sleep. "You don't even have a tail. How can you catch fire?"

"It isn't my tail that is on fire. It is the castle! The castle is on fire. Princess, you have to wake up!"

This was where my sleepiness instantly vanished. It was as if Damara poured a bucket of cold water on my face.

"What did you say?" I kicked the cover away and bolted upright on the bed.

"Our castle is on fire."

"How? What happened?" I asked, grabbing her forearms. This time, I was the one shaking her.

"Ouch! You are hurting me, your highness."

"ANSWER ME!" I ignored her plea.

"I am not sure. Everything became chaotic. I rushed to your chamber as soon as I heard the noise. But I heard the king and queen are being held captive inside the throne room."

"What about my brothers? Are they with my parents?"

"They… they…" Damara trailed off like she was reluctant to say it. And that was what irritated me even more. Unlike my mother, patience was my weakness.

"SAY IT!" I dug my nail deeper into her skin, which made her flinch.

"Last I heard, they were in the tower."

I breathed a sigh of relief and let go of her arms. "That is great. They should be safe up there. It must be the nannies. They don’t usually look that smart, but they were quick to think this time. It is good."

"No, princess. This is... not... good." She choked on her voice.

I frowned as I looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Except for the throne room and your chamber, every part of the castle is on fire. The tower included."

"You mean…" I gasp, finding it hard to finish the sentence as I am struggling for breath.

"Yes, Princess. The tower is also engulfed in flames."

"We have to help them!" I jumped out of bed. "Get my shoes and coat! Hurry!"

I expected Damara to do what I had told her to. But she only stood still and looked at me with sympathy.

"Are you deaf?!"

"Princess."

"Fine. I'll get them myself." I headed to the end of the bed to find my shoes. However, Damara caught my wrist. "Let go!" I tried shaking my hand free, but I couldn't. She had always been stronger than me.

"It's no use."

"What are you talking about?"

"The fire is out of control. And…"

"And what?" I stood still and turned to face her. "Say it," I commanded.

"The princes already passed away."

Strength left my legs at this tragic news. My body would have hit the floor if it weren't for Damara's hand supporting me. Tears blurred my vision, knowing I would never hear them teasing me at the breakfast table every morning. "How did this happen? Are there intruders? No." I shake my head in disbelief. "We have been at peace for centuries. It can't be. Damara, everything was normal before I went to sleep. What is going on?"

"It may be hard for you to believe, princess. But I heard something from the servants as I ran here. They said this was an act of Prince Iorwerth."

My eyes widened in shock at the name. I thought I must have heard her wrong, so I asked her one more time. "Who did you say responsible for this fire?"

"It was Prince Iorwerth Frost. Your fiancé."

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©️StellaKMary | The Princess And Her Alpha Bodyguard