Crash!
"You can't get inside! The princess is in a meeting!" someone yelled from outside the door. Marina ignored the warning, her eyes scanning the living room frantically.
"Princess Elowen!" she screamed, the veins on her forehead bulging. Her teeth ground together as she stumbled deeper into the room.
"Why are you standing there like a moron? Get her out now before she reaches the princess!"
Marina took a sharp left turn and paused, her eyes widening slightly at the sight before her. Sitting at the far end of the room, Princess Elowen sipped her tea quietly, surrounded by women seated in a neat circle around the table.
"Princess Elo…"
Her words were cut off as someone grabbed her arm and yanked her back.
"No! Let go of me! Princess Elowen! Please save my daughter! I beg of you!"
Elowen's ears perked at the desperate cry, and she slowly lifted her gaze toward Marina. Marina struggled to break free from the guard's hold, but in her weakened state, she could not overpower him.
The women had heard the commotion and immediately stopped their conversation, turning their attention to the unfolding scene.
Elowen's lips twitched faintly. She shot a glare at the maid standing beside her. Without a word, the maid bowed and hurried toward Marina to escort her out.
"No." Marina's lips trembled violently, her head shaking in denial. "I won't leave until I see my daughter!"
She grabbed one of the guard's arms and sank her teeth into his flesh.
"Fuck!" he yelled, releasing her instantly.
She stomped hard on the second guard's foot, causing him to recoil in pain. Marina collapsed to the floor and began crawling desperately toward Elowen.
Her hands pressed together tightly as tears streamed down her pale cheeks. She rubbed them together in frantic desperation.
"Please, have mercy and save my daughter. Please, I beg of you."
"Let her live. It has been days, and I do not know what state she is in or whether she is safe." She clutched her chest and struck it heavily. "I will take her place. I will accept whatever punishment her crime deserves. Please, just let her live."
She pounded her chest repeatedly, each strike heavier than the last. The guests exchanged uneasy glances, discomfort evident on their faces.
Leaving would have been the easiest option, yet doing so might place them on the princess's bad side. Each of them was striving carefully, hoping that one day one of their sons would marry her.
Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Elowen slowly closed her eyes and took another calm sip of tea. After a moment, she opened them and set the teacup down gently on the table.
A forced smile curved her lips as she turned her gaze toward Marina.
"Who is this child you speak about?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.
Marina's eyes widened with fragile hope.
"Seren Ashwood. She was assigned a few days ago to serve the heirs, but she has not returned since then. I remained patient, thinking they required her service until new maids were assigned to their wings. However…"
Her eyes lifted to meet Elowen's, fear clearly reflected in them.
"No one has seen her on duty."
'Yes, because she is locked upstairs by my insufferable brothers,' Elowen thought with quiet irritation.
"She is safe. You do not need to worry about her," Elowen said evenly.
Marina's brows lifted slightly.
"That is what I have heard, but I have not seen her. I want to see her myself so that I can be reassured she is sa-"
Before she could finish, Elowen's eyes narrowed, coldness seeping into them.
"Do not take my words lightly," Elowen said, her tone sharp with warning. "I will send someone to bring her to you."
Marina lowered her head, her lips trembling as her hands clenched tightly. Her eyes shut briefly, and she finally mouthed a broken thank you.
Elowen leaned forward to pick up the teacup again, lifting it toward her lips. Her eyes lingered on the contents before she slowly set it back down.
"Change the teacup."
.
.
.
"Aeron!"
She pushed the door open and strode into his chamber. Her eyes swept over the messy floor, and her nose wrinkled at the heavy scent lingering in the air.
'What happened here?' she wondered, pressing her index finger beneath her nostrils.
"Jane," she called. The maid from earlier hurried forward and stopped beside her. "Go inside and summon my brother. Tell him I have urgent matters to discuss."
Jane clasped her hands tightly, her gaze darting nervously around the room. Now the princess was ordering her to call out one of the heirs.
What would happen to her if he decided to behead her for interrupting him?
"Move," Elowen commanded coldly. Jane flinched.
"Y-yes, Your Highness," she stammered, turning toward the door at the far end of the chamber.
Her feet dragged heavily as she approached it. She raised her right hand and knocked softly.
Silence answered her.
Her left hand gripped her dress tightly as she glanced back at Elowen, whose icy gaze remained fixed on her. Jane turned away immediately, biting her lip so hard she tasted blood.
Swallowing nervously, she knocked again. Still no response.
'Damn it,' she cursed inwardly, knocking harder this time.
A loud bang exploded through her ears, nearly deafening her. Her eyes squeezed shut as a powerful gust of air burst outward, brushing harshly against her face.
She sensed a towering presence before her and slowly opened her eyes.
"P-Prince Cassien," she stuttered, stumbling backward.
Before she could retreat to her mistress's side, rough fingers clamped around her neck. Her eyes bulged in terror.
"P-please…" she choked, her fingers clawing at his hand in a futile attempt to pry it off. Her feet slowly lifted from the ground as the pressure tightened around her throat.
"Ughk… ughk!" she coughed desperately, her pleading gaze shifting toward Elowen. But the princess did not move.
Crack!
Her body went limp instantly before being tossed aside like a rag.
Aeron wiped his hand against his shirt and lifted his gaze toward his sister.
"You had better have a good reason for being here."