The next day Mabel woke up feeling a little bit sore all over her body.
She tried to get up but the pains in between her legs won't let her do so, she thought of the event of the previous night and began to sob silently.
After a while, she managed to get a grip on herself, and then forced herself to get up from the bed notwithstanding the pains she felt in between her legs.
Prince Derrick was still snoring heavily in bed.
Looking at the man who had taken her dignity away, Mabel felt nothing but hatred for him.
She stole a quick glance outside the nearest window next to her and noticed that it was still early in the morning.
"Almost dawn." she whispers to herself.
She began searching frantically for her clothes, trying as much as possible not to wake up the sleeping Prince Derrick.
After a few minutes of searching, she finally found them, discarded amongst the prince's garments.
They were a little bit torn, but still manageable to be worn.
She quickly put them on and picking up a quilt from the prince's wardrobe, made her way back to her quarters.
Luck was on her side, as the sentry guards on duty around the servants quarters were not there when she arrived making things a lot more easier for her.
She went inside her room she shared with three other roommates and walked into the washroom.
She then washed away the blood stains from her body and changed into a fresh set of clothing.
She was about to discarding the clothes from last night when she saw something shining attached to the cloak.
Upon looking closer she saw that it was Prince Derrick's signet ring.
She immediately felt at lost, confused, not knowing what to do.
She immediately thought of returning back the ring through any means possible, as long as she wouldn't be labeled as a thief, as that would spell doom for her.
But what would she explain to the Prince when being asked on how the ring got into her possession in the first place?
Besides Prince Derrick was known for being a ruthless and should she say unjust person?
Nevertheless, he was someone who could punish anyone who was said to be faulty without first investigating the real cause of the issue.
What then would he do to her when he finds out about her being in possession of his signet ring?
While she was still thinking about all these, a thought came into her mind to keep the ring in her possession, for no just reason at all.
She immediately kicked up against it, but upon revisiting her present predicament decided to follow her heart.
'Who knows what good this may bring' she thought in her mind.
She then made her way back into the room and tucked the quilt and signet ring safely in one of her boxes.
She didn't know that all her actions were being watched by her roommates who were pretending to be asleep, but were seriously worried about her whereabouts the night before.
After she was done changing her clothes she went to her bed and laid down.
Kristen one of her roommates and a maid attached to Prince Authur came to her side and began to talk to her, asking her about her whereabouts and ordeals last night.
"Mabel what's wrong, you didn't sleep in the room last night, did something happen to you?"
Upon hearing Kristen's questions, Mabel suddenly began to cry and this attracted the attention of her other roommates who consoled he while asking her what the problem was.
But Mabel said nothing, but instead more tears poured down her eyes.
Kirsten and the others immediately knew that something was wrong somewhere.
After a while, Kristen managed to calm Mabel down.
In tears Mabel narrated her ordeal with Prince Derrick to her friends.
Upon hearing what Mabel went through in the hands of that beast of a prince, Kirsten and her friends became angry and wanted to go meet the king but Mabel stopped them, advising them that it would be foolish to do so.
She said that if they did so, Prince Derrick would in one way or the other find a way to escape from the issue, thereby making her a laughing stock, stating that she could even be thrown out of the castle, as the king won't entertain the idea of false accusations, without any proper evidence against his son. She could even be charged with an accusation of sexual harassment against a royal blood, and that could spare more doom for her, which could either be exile or death.
Since they had no concrete evidence Kristen and her friends decided to leave the issue as it was like.
Mabel on the other hand didn't mention anything about Prince Derrick's signet ring which was in her possession to her friends, for fear of the unknown.
She continued to do her duties in the castle as she usually does, and tried her possible best to avoid Prince Derrick, and also forget everything that ever happened that day.
Like that, a whole two weeks passed away.
Soon it was another day of celebration in the royal castle.
It was Prince Arthur's birthday.
He was nineteen years this year.
All hands were on deck to make sure that his birthday celebration banquet was top notch.
It was also the talk of town, as King Alfred the great was known for throwing large lavish patties.
Invitations were sent to various dignitaries across the kingdom.
Ministers, nobles and various people from various talks of life, including the peasants were not left out.
Early that morning Prince Arthur, the birthday celebrant, woke up full of expectations for the day.
After a quick run up of his normal exercise routine, he had his breakfast which was specially prepared for him by his mother.
After which he took a bath, changed into comfortable clothing and left castle, accompanied by Greg Williams and William Tell to Riverview square, a bustling metropolis inside the capital city of Erudia, for meeting session he had with the royal tailor to collect the royal attire he was to wear later in the day during his birthday banquet.
He was passing through the blacksmiths place when he came across Princess Crystabel his elder sister.
She was accompanied by one of her friend which happens to be Claire Wilson.
The same Claire Wilson whom Prince Derrick wanted to make his lover.
Prince Arthur pulled over towards them.
"How do you do Crystal? You didn't tell me you were leaving the house this morning so we could go together?" he asked smiling warmly at his sister.
"Am fine as you can see. Also i didn't know you had any plans of moving around town today." Princess Crystabel replies.
"What brings you here by the way?" She asks.
"I came to collect my clothes from the royal fashion designer."
"That's nice. But come to think of it, you know today is your birthday why stress yourself that much, can't you send Greg or a servant over here to do this for you?"
"It's really not stressful as you think. By now you should know i like taking care of some personal things all by myself. Besides, i could use some fresh air." Prince Arthur replied.
He then turned his attention to Claire Wilson.
"Forgive my manners my lady please could my this damsel be polite enough to tell me her name?"
"Your highness, my name is Claire Wilson." Claire answers giving a formal bow to the prince.
"What a wonderful name for a beautiful damsel like you."
"Am indeed honoured to be flattered by the royal prince of Naviel."
"Oh come on, can you both stop all this lovey dovey and get going. My ears itch from all your talks" Princess Crystabel teased, as she pushes Prince Arthur towards his horse, Destrier.
Arthur mounted his horse while still talking to Claire.
"Beautiful lady I would be most honored to have you grace my banquet this evening if you don't mind."
"Certainly, Your highness." Claire replied.
"Greg!" Prince Arthur turns his attention to Greg who was next to him, mounted on his horse.
Greg immediately understood and did as told, before racing after Prince Arthur and William Tell who were now a little bit ahead of him.
"Greg be careful" princess Crystabel said to him. Greg smiled at her in return before moving ahead to join his team.
"Your brother is kind and handsome." Claire commented, her eyes still glued in the direction Prince Arthur and his crew took.
"Don't tell me you have fallen for him." Princess Crystabel teased.
"No!" Claire said, trying as much as she could to hide her affection for Prince Arthur.
Though her mind was saying a different thing entirely.
"I guess am seeing you later at the banquet, right?" Princess Crystabel asked, walking towards the approaching royal carriage coming towards their direction.
"Yes." replied Claire.
Off course she was definitely attending.
She would do anything to make the man of her dreams very happy.
....
Later in that evening, Prince Arthur's birthday banquet officially began.
The King of Naviel, resplendent in his royal attire, stood tall and imposing.
He wore deep crimson robes, intricately embroidered with golden threads that shimmered like fire in the morning light.
The velvet fabric was smooth to the touch, adorned with delicate patterns of the Naviel crest – a proud dragon soaring with outstretched wings.
His black leather shoes, polished to a high shine, bore the golden buckles of his office.
The Royal Crown of Naviel, set with glittering rubies and a central sapphire, rested upon his brow, its weight a reminder of the burden he bore.
In his right hand, he was the Scepter of the kingdom.
As he made his way from his chambers towards the banquet hall, where Prince Arthur's birthday banquet was to take place, he coincidentally came in contact with Queen Cordelia and her children.
They were also dressed to the nines, bringing out their graceful figures.
"Your Majesty." They all saluted simultaneously.
King Alfred nods his head in acknowledgement to their greetings, and then linked his arm with that of Queen Cordelia.
Queen Cordelia blushed as the King's arm came in contact with hers.
"Be careful, the children are watching." she whispers.
"Then let them watch." the king teased, earning him another blush from Queen Cordelia.
"Urhmm...father your royal presence is urgently needed at the hall." Princess Helena suddenly breaks the little lovey dovey of her parents.
'You brat!' King Alfred yells in his mind, not pleased with his daughter spoiling his little fun time with his wife.
This even made Queen Cordelia blush the more.
"It's alright, it's time to get to the hall, every other thing can definitely be done later." Queen Cordelia says as she urges the king to go to the hall.
"Okay." The king replied, and they all made their way to the hall.
The grand hall of the castle was a sight to behold, a tapestry of color and sound that seemed to transport guests to another realm entirely.
Long tables, laden with golden plates and crystal glasses, stretched out like a golden sea, reflecting the flickering light of hundreds of candles that danced in the crystal chandeliers.
The air was thick with the scent of roasting meats, freshly baked bread, and the sweet fragrance of exotic spices.
The guests, a diverse assembly of Naviel's finest, mingled and laughed, their attire a testament to the kingdom's rich cultural heritage.
Nobles and ladies, resplendent in velvet, satin, and silk, their garments a riot of color and intricate embroidery, chatted and joked with wealthy merchants and artisans, who wore their finest attire, a bit more subdued but no less elegant.
Even a few poor but proud individuals, dressed in their best – clean and mended but worn – stood at the edges of the room, trying to make themselves seen but not heard, their eyes wide with wonder at the splendor before them.
Musicians, perched on a raised dais, played lively tunes on lutes, harps, and flutes, their melodies weaving in and out of the din of conversation like a silver thread.
The fire crackled and spat in the great hearth, casting a warm glow over the proceedings.
Suddenly, a trumpet fanfare pierced the air, and the room fell silent. The Herald of Naviel, resplendent in the kingdom's livery, stepped forward, his voice booming through the hall:
"Hear Ye, Hear Ye!
All hail His Royal Majesty,
King Alfred the Great,
King of Naviel!
All hail Her Royal Majesty,
Queen Cordelia of Naviel!
And the Royal Princesses of Naviel!"
The guests erupted into applause as the doors of the hall suddenly swung open, and the royal family, resplendent in their finery, made their way to the high table, smiling and nodding into the assembly.
The King, his crown glinting in the candlelight, offered his arm to the Queen, who wore a gowndiadema of diamonds and sapphires, and together they took their places, the Princesses following behind, their own crowns sparkling like stars.
The whole ball room was filled with shouts of "long live the king!!"
King Alfred and his wife sat on the main banquet table with their daughters sitting on both sides of them leaving a place by Queen Cordelia side for Prince Arthur who was to make his entrance later.
King Alfred raised his hand, signalling for the music to continue playing.