Princess Elise

Chapter 7: Feeling Trapped

Chapter 7: Feeling trapped

Elise's Point of View:

This is the first time in my life when I am this close to a male that is not my father's or my mother's knights that are trying to punch me on the training grounds and he is so kind towards me.

I usually don't get attached to males just because they give me some attention, I receive attention from mostly everyone in the castle already, everyone is flattering me because I'm a princess, otherwise I don't think anyone would stay by my side if I would lose my title, but this kind of kindness and attention feels different ... in a good way. It was such a nice feeling to stay there tangled in his arms, feeling him breathing in my scent and I breathing in his, his arms tight around me, unbothered by any a*s lickers that are lingering around me to enter my graces and maybe someday to elevate them, but he was asking for nothing in return. 

Then, we heard Michelangelo coming and the stranger cupped my face and kissed my forehead fiercely and ran away, leaving the food there. It was strange 'cause in every place that our skin met, I felt some kind of sparks and I don't know for sure, but I think he felt it too.

I saw that Michelangelo had no intention to stop and just scold me. He intended to go after that boy and I just knew that I couldn't let him kill that boy or capture and imprison him 'till he'll get executed on that beast's order. He risked his life to feed me when I was starving while the people that 'cared' for me either looked at me with pity or would avoid my gaze at all so they wouldn't feel bad or even guilty because of my pitiful state.

The only thing I've got in mind at that moment was to jump in front of his horse before he was too close to me so he would be able to stop and don't go any further and I began to yell.

-" Michelangelo, stop!", and he tried to go past me and follow him, but I jumped again in front of the horse, leaving him no other option than to stay here and leave that stranger alone. He jumped off the horse just as I imagined he would and glared at me with so much hatred that I can't even recognize him. Then, he did the most unexpected thing I could ever think of. He slapped me ... he slapped me with so much force that I fell down to the ground. I did not expect that a knight would slap me so I was not prepared to take it or dodge it and I lost my balance when his rough hands touched my face and I fell down, facing the ground and scratching my hands in the process.

Before I could do anything, he lifted me up from the ground by the piece of clothing I had around my neck and I've got a hold of the clothing in front of the neck so he won't choke me with one hand while the other I placed on the cheek that was slapped by instinct, widening my eyes. How dare he??

-" Your father will have you w**pped for such a thing! All these years, we educated you ... all in vain! You wasted all those years in a few minutes!", he yelled, now facing me and his veins looked like it could pop in any second now and his face red from anger.

Tho that slap hurt, I will not shed any tear in front of him or in front of anyone else from now on. They don't give a f*ck about me and my well being. 'Liars and traitors!' Not even my parents opposed that beast. 'How could they?' I have no idea when did my father became so distant towards me.

He looked straight into my eyes and he wanted to add something else, but closed his mouth and tossed me on the ground again. 

-" How dare you?!", I yelled now full of anger. He is supposed to protect me, not hurt me.

-" How dare I? How dare you bring this shame upon your father?", he yelled back.

-" What shame? I've done nothing wrong!", I retorted, turning my back to him.

-" Where you not in a stranger's arms just minutes ago? Where you not disobeying King Nathaniel's punishment? And where you not eating with another male?", he yelled again, pacing around behind me as I heard the leaves rustling. ... God ... did he forgot to talk like a normal person? 

-" You have no proof that I ate, you did not saw that. I just hugged that boy. And what do you mean 'another male'? I have no one.", I turned to face him again, frowning. My personal life is non of his business! Or at least it shouldn't ... just if I wouldn't have been a d*mn princess. Because of this stupid title I have no personal life! My parents controls every move I make ... d*mned ranks! That's exactly the reason I sneak out all the time.

-" I have no proof, hm? Fine! King Nathaniel himself will decide if you ate or not, but that doesn't change the fact that you were in the arms of a stranger! I think it's time your father should tell you the truth.", said Michelangelo, still pissed off.

-" What truth?", I asked annoyed. " And since when are you allowed to slap me?", I yelled remembering the slap.

-" Go get your horse and come back at the castle immediately. The King has something important to tell you.", his tone stone cold as he talked to me while mounting his horse to leave me behind.

I did as he told me to and I followed him back to the castle thru the forest and then I remembered that I did not even get that boy's name ... how am I supposed to find him now? it's not like he comes in the same spot everyday from now on to look for me ... right?

I reached the castle and everything seemed normal, everyone bowing politely and smiling a bit at me. Everyone except for Michelangelo that showed no emotion at all. Then I reached to the throne hall's entrance and once the doors were open I've got a glimpse of my forever pissed off father while mother was avoiding my gaze. As always, Michelangelo got the time to go and tell them everything before I could.

-" Elise, I'll ask you only once ... What. The. F*ck. was in your head when you stopped into the woods to eat and be so close to a male? HM?!", asked father, looking like he's gonna explode in any second from the anger.

-" First of all, I did not eat, and secondly, I've never talked to a boy outside the castle walls before. I'm big enough to meet people ...", but, as always, father cut me off and yelled his lungs out at me.

-" Let me make this clearer for you ... you are a princess, you can't just talk to any commoners that gets in your way!"

-" And why not?", I yelled back at him.

-" Because I betrothed you since you were a baby!", he yelled as he rose up from his throne and came towards me and I widened my eyes at hearing the news. He ... he betrothed me.

-" Who ... who am I betrothed to ...?", I asked, dumbfounded.

-" You are betrothed to King Nathaniel. The 'beast' you disrespected last time and gave you the p**ishment.", he said looking coldly into my eyes and I felt lightheaded, falling down to the ground, looking blankly nowhere precisely.

-" He requested of me to tell you about our arrangement and that you shall behave next time you address him. Otherwise, I'm afraid he t**eatened to don't give you such a light punishment for you. In other words, he wants you to act like a real princess and not as an ungrateful b*at that you were last time. You get time 'till you'll meet him again.", he finished turning his back on me and I've found the words to ask.

-" And when is the next time we are gonna meet?", I asked, the words coming out more like a whisper. All the confidence I thought I had was gone. He stopped in his tracks and looked at me over his shoulder, not facing me fully.

-" The spring festival.", he replied and took one more step before he stopped again, not looking at me at all this time. " I forgot to announce you, on your 19 birthday he is going to take you to his territory and also, is going to visit you more often once you will turn 17.", he announced and I had no idea what to say or think anymore, all I felt in that moment was numbness that was overwhelming me. For a moment I thought that I saw my mother bowing her head to look at the ground so she could avoid my gaze, but I was not sure. Before I could look at her again, she rose from the throne and left along with my father. I don't even recognize him anymore. He used to be so sweet and tender towards me. He always made sure I had everything I wanted and loved me unconditionally and now I just found out that he decided my fate since I was a baby ... All I see in him now is a heartless King. He is going to give up on me just like that ... his daughter ... his only child!

As soon as they left the throne hall, I heard some mumbles outside the doors but I did not understand what they were saying as I was not focused on them. Then, Michelangelo appeared into the throne hall with another knight looking younger and stopped in front of me. The young Knight looked like he would apologize for something that's going to happen. I was sure that being w*ipped as Michelangelo suggested is almost impossible as this would have to be done by that filthy beast, they are very possessive of their 'belongings', 'cause that's what they consider me!, and he is not here for now so I'm not worrying about this, what could he look sorry for? And then Michelangelo broke the silence.

-" Princess Elise, I have strict orders to escort you to your room and make sure you will remain there until I get new orders from his Majesty, the King.", replied Michelangelo as coldly as the King was earlier. Then, I realized that that young knight is going to guard my chamber's door and not Michelangelo. It should be easy to escape him. That when I will get angry again and shook off this feeling of numbness off me.

I followed them quietly and I've got locked up into my room. I've never sneaked out twice in a single day, but I can't stand this castle and all those stupid rules I have to follow anymore. I have to leave. And it seems like it's time for me to change my favorite spot in the forest.

It was around 18:00 p.m. when I finished tying the sheets from my chamber and try to climb down the wall and escape. Actually, it was much easier to escape than I expected. that knight was not even standing at my door, he was on the hall so I won't leave the room. They did not expected me to do such thing as a rope of sheets. Got ya!

I went down on the rope created of sheets smoothly and I ran away without taking my horse this time, maybe if the horse is in his stable I could buy myself more time to look for the stranger. Then I climbed the mound and did my best to jump over the gate safely on the other side. I can't believe these people are trying to remove my mound!

Once I was down I began to run and I didn't look back.