"Who's there?!" A gruff, indifferent voice and a quick sheathing of sword echoed inside the room as I was warped upon and that moment, I knew, it was the Crown Prince, Reden Elias.
Scared for my life, I then forced myself to talk. "I-It is me, Prince Reden, Princess Shine." I murmured, stammering.
Then, there was silence and before I knew it, I felt an intimidating presence behind me. "Why are you here? Didn't you know that your kingdom is being ruined right now?" It asked, its voice cold and quiet against my ear, before he passed before me to lock the door.
"I-I was there and tried to flee, but my teleportation magic isn't that good yet, and instead of being warped somewhere far, I was summoned here." I admitted it honestly.
Hearing that, he scoffed. "Honest, aren't you?" He teased mockingly before turning his back on me. "As much as I don't care what that foolish brother of mine does to your kingdom, I hope you know that you aren't safe in here." He adds, muttering.
"I-I know that, my prince. But somehow, it feels safer here than to wander in this castle in the dead of the night." I murmured back, unsure of how he'll take it.
Then, he turned and looked at me with a frightening grin on his face, his blue piercing eyes boring a hole in my face, "Safer? In here? In my room? Really? Got a death wish, Princess Shine?" He threatened, making me feel the chills on my spine.
"N-No! I-I didn't mean it that way, my prince! What I am saying is… I just feel at ease to stay hidden for a bit longer… It doesn't have to be here." I then explained, taking a step back, not wanting to tick him off further.
I then heard him groan as he flopped back to his bed. "Well, at least you are scared for dear life." He commented gruffly before patting the empty space on his bed. "Come here, you aren't planning to stay standing there all night, are you?" He asked, his tone bordering sarcasm and genuine care.
Surprised, I pointed at myself. "M-me? But I couldn't possibly do that, my prince. W-we are not wedded, we aren't even close, not even considered as friends, especially now..." I murmured, explaining my point of view to him, only to be cut off by a sudden tug on my arms.
With his brute strength, he pulled down on his bed and into his arms. "I don't give a damn on any of that, Princess Shine. I just want to sleep, so will you just shut up?" He murmured gruffly.
And I, who was still in shock, laid there with him, frozen in his arms, trying to wrap my head around the recent happenings in my life.
How I just lost my family and our kingdom, how I ended up in this room, and above all, how I ended up right here, on his bed, and in his arms, but it was just to no avail, as I couldn't make any sense of it all.
Probably exhausted and confused, I just found myself dozing off, and before I knew it, I was already asleep in Prince Reden's arms
The next thing I knew, it was already morning, and I was awakened by a loud scream of a lady. "Ahhh! There's a woman in the crown prince bed!" It said, immediately making me shift on his arms, only to be held closer.
"If you still love your life, stay still and follow my lead, okay?" It whispered intensely, its tone threatening.
Swallowing hard, I nodded and just buried my face on his chest. Silently muttering a prayer to be able to live more, and for Reden not to say or do anything rash, given its fiery temper, but before I could even finish my prayer, he yelled.
"Get the hell out of here, Calla! Just where the hell is your manners, coming into this room unannounced!" He scolded.
"Manners? Really now, Prince Reden? It is my manners you are questioning when it is you sleeping with a lowlife…" The lady replied with a proud and mocking tone, until it yanked my hair to see my face. "Oh god, my apologies! I didn't know it was you, Princess Shine!" It immediately changed tone, before letting go of my hair, kneeling.
"Cut the crap, Calla! I want you out, now!" Prince Reden growled at the lady, making it stand up.
"No! I have all the right to be here, Crown Prince! I am almost your betrothed wife!" The lady yelled back at him.
Prince Reden then scoffed hard, eyeing her from head to toe "You? Almost? Who said so? Because based on the King's preference, you're clearly nowhere to compete with my princess." He said, before cupping my chin up to make me look at him, holding my gaze.
Flustered but still scared for my dear life, I didn't dare to look away, making Calla, the lady, grumble in jealousy.
"No! No! That can't be! She can't be your betrothed wife! Your brother will go against it; he has always hated the Re'ale's!" It said, making me look at her.
Finally I had a reason to get off Prince Reden's arms, and to my surprise, it actually let go, making me glance at him before I stood up to face the lady.
"You know something, don't you?" I asked, obviously probing, but with uttered class and diplomacy.
Calla then flinched and stepped back at my question. "N-no, princess. I just know that Prince Ren does. I-it really wasn't a secret." She said, looking at Reden, as if asking for a back-up.
Following her gaze, my eyes met Reden's, and like we got some understanding, he shrugs at me.
Now facing Calla once more, my face turned stone cold. "I don't know what you know, but hear this. I just lost my whole family and our kingdom was nothing but ruins now, all because of that hatred you are saying.
I don't even know if I am still considered a princess of what it did. But there's one thing I know, I'll be sure to get justice for all of the things I lost, and I'll make sure that everyone involved will be punished." I told her as I looked straight in her eye.