Scam Me, My Princess

N I N E

"You all leave, I shall find a way and bring Jamil. Go!" Papa instructed but I know this was of no use, I was the one they came looking for, not them.

If I go, they will let Jamil and the rest of my family go as well. Papa doesn't need to get harmed either does Jamil. What have I brought upon myself? This at this length was too much for me to handle.

Will I ever get the chance to finally escape?

Caspian had stepped forward pushing Jamil down to his knees aggressively, he looked at me, "You either come with or he dies" Caspian said a little remorseful, "These are the orders of the King" he added.

The others behind me gasped as they began to panic, this was our baby, Jamil, no one would want to see him go in such a way. Papa had wanted to resist but I held his shoulders, he looked at me worried, "Don't do this" he said the word slowly.

I shook my head in refusal as I know this was the only right thing to do, I took a step forward as I said, "Bring Jamil over here and you can have me"

Caspian came on to do the exchange himself, "Forgive me" Before I knew it he smacked my neck and I fell unconscious.

Waking up to a dimly lit room, there was a pungent stench oozing out from the kettle beside me which was nauseating, I coughed and sputtered as I covered my nose to avoid the odor from seeping through.

My body was unwilling to get up from the hard bed, and after so much struggle, I gave up. With my body still laid back on the bed, I snatched the candle beside me and lifted it to check where I was.

"Ahhh..." I shrieked as the candle in my hand fell to the ground immediately I took sight of a tall dark figure. I sharply picked the candle from the floor before it burns its way through to the carpet. My voice was low and concerned, as I mentioned a name sounding a bit unsure, "Prince Caspian?"

"It is me, I am sorry if in any way I frightened you, I didn't plan on sneaking up on you like that," He said, dragging stool from his side and bringing it closer to my bed. "how are you feeling?"

"I am okay, my body aches a bit and I can't seem to get up from bed but that is not the case, is it? Where am I, Caspian? This doesn't appear to be the Palace or is it?" I doubted.

"I don't think you will want to be in the Palace at this time. It is very searing at the moment. You shall stay here until everything cools off" He said. "Don't worry, you are in safe hands" he added with a grin on his face.

I wasn't to trust him, he wasn't clear to me where exactly I was if I am not in the Palace as he said, and why is it my body had become so stiff. Caspian isn't a bad person, at least from what I have seen this is what I have taken from it but it is hard to trust anyone that works for the King.

Anyone who falls under the authority of the King from now henceforth was an enemy of mine and that includes Caspian.

I eyed him suspiciously as I maintained silence not wanting to ask further questions as I wanted to rest, it was sad enough that I didn't know how Papa and everyone were doing, that reminds me, Jamil!

"What about my family? You didn't let me see them leave, are they all right?" I asked hysterically.

He nodded his head, answering back, he said, "They left with the Ship, you have nothing to worry about, they left unscathed, I can assure you"

I heaved a heavy sigh and closed my eyes to sleep.

Caspian had left me, and though I wanted to sleep at the same time was unwilling, I rolled back and forth on this cold hard bed, still struggling, I immediately got up, this time my body could move. I stared into the candle-lit room as I notice there was nothing for me in this world.

The thought just came into my mind and I had no idea why but it was facts. My life was just rolling around in circles, I haven't found a thing I have done personally for myself and now I am in deep trouble.

I put my feet first on the ground, wearing the raffia-made sandals as I left the room with a torch in my hand to show the way through the dark path.

I stumbled upon Caspian sitting on a wooden stool, cutting dried bamboo into smaller bits. He was doing this at this hour close to a burning fireplace. I shivered at the cold as I joined him.

"Caspian..." I called to his attention and he slightly turned to me, he tapped on the empty stool close to him for me to come to sit and I did. "Why are you doing that this late at night?" I asked.

He gazed into the moonlight, as I breathed out heavily, "Passing time" he answered before pointing at the full chicken roasted on the fireplace, I drooled over it as the sweet aroma filled my nose, my stomach immediately grumbling for food.

"Can I have some?" I asked.

He looked at it and then at me, "No"

His reply was short, simple, and most important painful, as my grin changed into an immediate frown, "Why?"

Caspian shrugged his shoulders and remained mute, I saw him hide his smile as I nudge him a bit, "It is for me"

“It still needs a bit of cooking time, just wait” He replied.

I beamed with joy looking over at the roasted poor chicken that was soon to fill my belly as I licked my lips waiting patiently, finding it hard to concentrate on what Caspian was saying as I stared hungrily into the Chicken.

“If you look at it too much, it won’t be ready. Wait” He said to me, noticing that my nose, ears, and eyes were blinded by the beautiful-looking Chicken.

“So what should I do?” I pouted scratching my feet on the ground in a grumble, folding my arms beneath my breast. I soon realize I was showing off my vulnerable side which Caspian quickly caught on as he raised a brow at me, I cleared my throat, maintaining my composure. “I will wait,” I said turning the other way to hide my embarrassment, mumbling to myself how stupid I was behaving.

“Hmm…” Caspian went on to focus on the pile of bamboo in front of him.

The silence between us lingered until I spoke, “Caspian… I can call you that, right?” I asked for clarity, if he needs me to add Prince, I won’t mind that either.

“Been called Prince for twenty-seven years of my life, it would be nice to hear my name without it” Caspian replied with a titter, a little sad if I should add something seriously must be bothering him.

“Being Prince must be a heavy weight to carry. I mean I was Princess for a day so I know how it must feel” I made just to lighten up the mood.

He laughed a bit, as his eyes widen in fright, “Oh no!”

“What?!” I asked as I watched him jump to save the chicken that fires gut over. It was indeed a crisis to worry over because now one out of the four Chicken was badly burnt.

So sad, poor thing, it will find a better resting place in my belly.

“This doesn’t look good to eat, I will have to throw it away” Caspian declared and I glared at him.

What manner of wastage is this? Not when I am here you will waste a perfectly okay Chicken.

“I shall eat it, there is nothing wrong with it” I took it from him and set it aside, this should go with freshly made palm wine if there was any around.

While I ate three full Chicken, Caspian ate just one. I didn’t say a single word as I chewed on the succulent Chicken, each bite melting in my mouth so sweetly. It tasted so good, I don’t think I ate this much since my entire stay at the Palace.

I belched loud, cleaning my mouth with the side of my hand as I rubbed my full belly. “This was nice. Thank you so much” I said after gulping down water.

“Glad you enjoyed it. You might need to get some more rest, tomorrow I need to return you to the Palace by then the tension would have subsided” Caspian said as he turned my happiness into a sad one.

“Can’t you just let me go? I don’t want to return there” I said with a plea, I also could try to escape again but I know it would be hopeless.

“It is not my place to decide, I shouldn’t also be keeping you here either. Just come along, I am sure all will be fine in the morning” Caspian said, it was obvious that there was nothing he could do.

I gave up trying.

When the c**k crows the next day, Caspian and I had set our direction to the Palace on his horse, we had followed through the gates and as Caspian had claimed, indeed the ambiance of the Palace was a lot calmer than it was yesterday.

He took me to the King’s Chambers where I was to be presented before the King. I took a deep breath as I stepped into his room.