Eclipse On Alpha

Chapter-2

[Irene Miles POV]

It was almost midnight when the carriage stopped. I was so scared that I couldn’t even put up a resistance. They held my hand and pushed me down the carriage. My wrist hit the rough ground. I wasn’t bleeding, but was certainly bruised. They dragged me into the Liezer palace from the back gate. Stumbling, I tried to keep up with their pace. The hallway they used was cold. Even my fragile breaths echoed. The ceiling was high above, making the hallway look more spacious. The torches that were ablaze flickered, disturbing the shadows as they took me into a room.

“Stay here until further orders. If you try to run, you die.” One soldier shut the door after pushing me inside the dark room with a small candle burning on a table. Everything was dark. I couldn’t see anything properly. I felt the walls with my fingers and trudged into the darkest corner of the room. Sinking on the floor, I curled my legs and hugged myself tightly.

Why suddenly? Why me? What is going on? Crown prince’s bride? I am sure it’s for some kind of sacrifice or ritual. Are they going to kill me because I am ugly? Do people like me really don’t deserve to exist? Did father know they might do something like this to me one day? Was it the reason he hid me from the world until now? I wish I could disappear like the air, but still exist. I want to go home. Moon goddess, please help me.

My thoughts were the only thing that made me feel alive and the cold floor that drained my warmth in the darkness. I knew I might seize to exist and no one would even remember I even existed. I wished my father would at least remember me. And so, that night, I felt warmer in the icy darkness of the palace.

I could hear the birds chirp and leaves rustle when I heard several footsteps rush to the room I was in. I buried my face in the void made between my knees and my hands. Please don’t see me. Let me go. I thought. In my entire life, I had never had the confidence to talk to anyone but my father. But for the first time I was confident that no one was uglier than me in whole Lycanaria. And so I was confident that I was going to die soon.

The door creaked and was wide open. Maids slid the curtains, lighting every corner of the room. My dark comfort and escape were gone.

“Queen, she is the one we brought yesterday from the Sin Garden. She is really ugly and the scar on her face is unbearable to watch,” it was the same voice from before. The soldier who brought me to the palace.

An exquisite voice smoothened like soft ice in the room. It was calm and organised. Of course, it was of the queen of Azalea — queen Inara. “We can separate diamonds from coal, but discovering the best coal in a mine becomes tough. Our pack and the nearby packs have a lot of exceptionally beautiful ladies, but finding an ugly lady is like searching for a needle in a pile of hay. Until now, you brought only five ladies and all of them were average looking, not someone you could claim to be ugly.”

“I am sure she will meet your standards, queen.” He spoke. I was hearing their conversation carefully, but didn’t lift my head nor allowed light to touch my face. I was still wishing for some miracle to happen and I would disappear. He walked to me, and with one swift movement, he pulled me to my feet.

I shut my eyes as tight as I could. I could hear some footsteps approach me. It was the queen. Her slim, icy fingers held my chin and lifted my face. Don’t! Don’t! Don’t! No matter how much I wished, I knew it was no use. She immediately withdrew her hand and stumbled away from me, “she is… she is…” her voice trembled. I parted my eyes slightly just to see her holding her forehead as she cried, “what am I doing? Why am I doing this to my only son? If it wasn’t for the… no! I have to stay strong, it’s all for his safety.”

She gestured to the soldier to leave me and came closer to me as I shifted back, looking at my feet, “what is your name, girl?” She asked, and I went blank. No one had ever asked my name. They never needed to. You ask the name of someone only when you want to know that person. No one ever wanted to know me. She tried to look into my eyes, but I averted them.

“How dare you not respond to the queen! Tell her your name!” The soldier yelled at me. Flinching, I started panting. Whimpering, I kept on shifting back until my back struck the wall.

“How dare you talk in such an indecent tone to the possible bride of my son! Everyone else can leave. I want to talk to her alone.” The queen ordered and everyone left the room. “There is no reason for you to be scared. My soldiers were inconsiderate in having brought you here against your will. I apologise. It had been months since I gave them the duty to find a possible candidate for my son, so they were frustrated and under a lot of pressure. Their act can never be justified. Please accept my apology.”

What would I say? What could I say? The queen was apologising. I wasn’t even worthy to talk to her. I didn’t know how to respond, and it was unlikely for my mouth to open when I was in a storm of emotions, insecurities inside.

She waited for me to speak and then continued, “you fit the criteria I was searching for my son’s bride along with four other ladies who are here. I want my son to talk to the five of you and decide, but he isn’t ready to talk. He is reluctant to have a mate, but for his safety and health, we have to get him married. My dear, please tell me your name. I promise, no harm will be done to you or your family even if the Crown prince rejects you.”

My eyes moved restlessly, glancing at every inch of the floor. Fidgeting, I lifted my eyes and dared to look at the queen. She gasped and looked straight into my eyes, “goodness, your eyes…” she said and I immediately looked at my feet, tensing my brows and body. She chuckled, “please don’t be scared. Your eyes are enthralling. I think even no beauty has beauty of their own.”

What did she say? My eyes are what? Do I have beauty? What does that mean?

She, of course, looked at something in my eyes that others — even I — had ignored because of the scar across my face. I had no clue what she was talking about. All I wanted was to go home and die in darkness. My anxiety and nervousness kept on amplifying with each passing second, each glance.

“Tomorrow is the last day for brides to come here. Once I have all my possible candidates, I will bring Zane to see all of you. This is a guest room. Please feel free to stay here at ease and do whatever you want. If my son rejects you, I promise I will make sure you return to your family safe and sound.” I wanted to ask her what if he chooses me, will I be able to see my father again? But I couldn’t utter a word. “I will leave. There will be two servants outside the door. If you need something, let them know.” She elegantly walked out of the room. I had never seen a person so beautiful as the queen. Her face was heavenly, perfect by every inch. Her gown was white with gold work on the hem and the transparent white cloak attached to her shoulders with the help of golden accessories. With every step she took, her clothes fluttered like waves.

So this is how royals look, I thought.

The room was enormous, eight times the size of my hut, even more. There was a huge bed in the middle of the room covered with white sheets with red thread work on its edges. Royally decorated with furniture arranged randomly around the room. There were vast windows ornately designed, but all very closed and covered with rods arranged like the ones in cells.

So this is where royals live, I thought.

Since childhood, I had never imagined about money, power or royal lifestyle. All I was concerned about was, no one should see me and I have to behave myself to make my father happy.

“If the crown prince rejects me, I will go back to my home, my father. I pray he rejects me, please goddess.” I joined my hands and prayed, looking at the sky outside the window.

Soon after she left, a few maids entered my room. They placed the plates they were carrying with them on the bed. Each one was covered with huge handkerchiefs. “These are the clothes, her highness sent you. Please change into them.” One of them said. None of them looked at me, and I was glad they didn’t.

“We have prepared a bath for you.” They slid the large curtain that separated the bathroom from the main room. A very foreign but sense blurring aroma surrounded me. It was as if hundreds of wildflowers bloomed together.

“We’ll be assisting you as you take a bath. Please allow us,” their heads were held low, and they stood motionless, waiting for me to speak.

I stepped in a corner; my arms wrapped around my chest. They said nothing and nor did I. Not until one of them reached out for my clothes, “uh… l-leave…” I said in a low tone.

They looked at one another, bowed, and went out of the room. I slid down the wall, panting. “I can’t do this… I just hope the prince never sees me. Father…”