Heart of the Forbidden

Bound without choice

What was Prince Vaelor doing in my room? And why does he look like that? Is that blood or something else?

My throat tightened, terror getting the better of me.

'Pr... p... y..." I stuttered as I shivered, the words unable to come out.

He staggered towards me, his angry gaze fixed on me.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM?" He asked, his voice laced with superiority and fury.

I got confused. His room? How? Did I enter the wrong room after dinner?

"Yo... your room?" I asked in shock.

"GET OUT." He ordered me.

"But Queen Neliah said..." Before I could finish, Prince Vaelor grabbed my throat as if to strangle me.

"A serving girl has no place in my chambers. How dare you." He spoke.

I breathed heavily and grasped for help, trying to put his hand away from my throat.

"L... let... let me... g... go." I said as I struggled, my eyes locked onto his, almost bulging out of my eye sockets.

"Pl... ease." I said again, almost out of breath, as tears rolled down my cheeks effortlessly.

Something shifted in him, and he gently let go of my throat. I coughed vigorously, trying to catch my breath, the red liquid on his hands now all over my neck and dripping down.

"Get the hell out of here." He said sharply to me before he turned around and entered the bathroom.

I quickly jumped out of the bed, without picking up anything, not a pillow, not a duvet, and ran out of the room, at least before he made it out of the bathroom.

That night was the scariest night of my life. I squatted in the hallway shivering. What could have gone wrong? I was sure that was my room I was sleeping in, or... hold on... could it be... no way! Could it be my husband was Prince Vaelor?

'No no, no way. No way it's him. He wasn't even at the wedding.' I thought to myself trying to shake off the possibilities.

I slept in the hallway that night, far away from Prince Vaelor's reach, hoping to get answers the next morning, even though I barely slept due to fear.

"And what is the meaning of this?" I heard a voice in my dream.

"I sincerely apologise Your Majesty, she already slept off before I returned to the servants chambers. I don't know what would've possibly happened." Another naive voice responded almost panicking.

I slowly opened my eyes and was blinded by the brightness. It was morning already. I looked around until I set my eyes on an intimidating figure standing before me and that was when I quickly stood up.

"Queen Neliah." I bowed in reverence.

Theron her Queen's guard stood beside her, while Iris stood head bowed.

"My lady." He bowed to me slowly.

"Good morning, My lady." Iris bowed.

"Good morning your Majesty." I finally said to Queen Neliah.

"This..." she stared at the floor where I just rose from. "This has never happened before. Are you alright?" She asked.

"Yes, My Queen. Just that..." I paused for a moment before I continued. "I think you assigned the wrong room to me." I bowed trying not to meet her gaze directly.

Queen Neliah stared at me for a very long time before she finally spoke.

"Leave us." She said looking at Iris.

Iris bowed and left.

"You were saying dear?" Queen Neliah asked me.

"You assigned the..." I paused for a moment before I rephrased. "I think the room you put me in belongs to your son... Prince Vaelor." I said.

"Okay?" She responded nonchalantly. "Do you have a problem with that?"

I looked at her confused. This was clearly not a mistake, she doesn't even care to understand what my concerns are, she's just... I don't know what to call it.

"Your Majesty," I started respectfully, "I don't understand. You said I'd stay in a room with my husband and that King Abeth is not my husband. I don't understand what this means being in Prince Vaelor's chambers." I said, ny heart beating as if expecting some bad news.

"He is your husband. Vaelor is your husband, Liora." She said her eyes fixed on me but void of emotions.

I was shut of words. I felt it yes, but confirming it was on a different level. My heart sank.

"M... my... my father, did he know?" I stuttered.

Queen Neliah chuckled. "Does he really care? As long as he gets salvation for his kingdom dear, I don't think anything else matters to him. Our choices do not matter Liora, what matters is saving our kingdom, that is our duty. You're a princess, born into royalty, you should know that by now." She said then turned to Theron. "Are the horses ready yet?"

"Yes, My Queen. We leave now." Theron responded.

"Good." She said then turned to me again. "Make yourself comfortable, and let Iris know if you have any problem." And with that, she walked away with Theron while I stood there frozen.

"Princess Liora," Iris spoke. I hadn't even noticed she was back. I turned my head slowly to face her.

"You might want to take a shower. I'll get your breakfast to the room too." She said softly.

"I'm not hungry." I responded.

"But you have..." Iris started but I interrupted her.

"Why are you scared of him?" I fixed my gaze on her, her head still faced down. "Raise your head. You can't serve me if I don't know what you look like." I said to her.

Iris sighed and raised her head gently. She was pretty, no scare, no drama, just a normal girl.

"Why is your head always bowed?" I asked her.

"I've been trained not worthy to look into the eyes of royalty, My Lady." She responded honestly.

"Not me. Iris, please tell me the truth, why are you scared of Prince Vaelor?"

Iris stared for a while without a word. "I'm not scared of him. If you'll excuse me now, I have to get your bathing water ready." She responded and left immediately.

After thinking about it, I slowly steeped into the room, Prince Vaelor was absent and Iris already left after getting my bathing water ready. She said something about going to get some herbs so I could take them after bathing as I slept in the cold yesterday.

I was almost finished when I noticed Iris had made a mistake for the first time, a towel was not in the bath chamber, I stepped out of the bathing basin but before I made it to the door, I heard Iris in the room.

"Oh, thank the lights you're here. I need a towel." I spoke loud enough for her to hear me.

There was a pause, as if she was examining my words carefully before her footsteps moved towards the door and slowly the door creaked open to reveal Prince Vaelor standing there with a towel in hand while I stood dumbfounded, naked and water dripping down my body...