I was alone. Everywhere was quiet, yet the images kept flashing in my mind.
Soon, Mia walked in with a man holding a kit and wearing glasses. He approached me, and when he tried to examine my head, I grabbed his hand and pushed it away forcefully. He looked surprised.
"You have to let me treat you," he said. "It's a miracle you haven't lost consciousness."
I said nothing.
I remained silent and still on my bed as he carefully treated my wound.
After the doctor was done, he wrapped my head and left some ointment with Mia before leaving. As he stepped outside, I heard him speaking to my supposed mother.
"She might forget certain things and experience some aches," he said. "I'll come regularly to apply the ointment and change the bandage. The wound was quite deep, and for a princess, she handled the pain well."
I didn't hear my supposed mother respond—the music suddenly grew louder, drowning everything else out.
A while later, my supposed mother walked in, looking calmer than usual.
"You destructive thing," she said. "You humiliated Duke Bellingham's son, Conour. You stepped on the Chief of Laws' son, insulted the Head of Information by commenting on his hair, and now you climbed the railings and hurt yourself."
She moved closer.
"Let me make something clear to you. You are my daughter. You play by my rules. You are not meant to disgrace or disregard me like some insolent, dense brat."
"It would have been lovely for you to tell me something I didn't already know," I replied. "You rule, you control—that's all you're about. Say something different, ma. Or is that just how your old, weak, and foolish ways are programmed?"
The sound echoed through the room.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
With each sound, my face burned.
I was injured but she did not seem to care.
I stood there, my face tilted from the slaps I had just received.
"You dare speak up once again, dear daughter, and you will find yourself where you are not meant to be," she threatened.
I knew it was not an empty threat.
She turned and began to walk away.
"Hypocritical, self-absorbed people," I murmured.
She stopped and turned back.
I think she heard me.
She stopped.
Then she slowly turned back.
And walked toward me.
Oh… now I think I left the title of woman of few words back at Orindale. I should not have spoken at all.
"You don't quite understand something, dear," she said.
Then she suddenly walked out.
I stood there in awe. I had thought she would hit me again—or throw me out of the castle—even though I had only lived here for a few weeks.
After a few seconds, everywhere grew quiet, and I heard my supposed mother's voice echo through the halls.
"The ceremony is over. Thank you all for coming. We will be pleased to see you during the next ceremonies."
After she said that, I heard the footsteps slowly fading away. The hall grew quiet again.
I sat on my bed and began to think about everything once more.
About how I was suddenly able to talk back at my supposed mother, even though I usually found it hard to interact with people.
About why everything always seemed to go against me.
And why my supposed mother treated me like a threat… even after traveling two whole days just to bring me from Orindale.
None of it made sense.
I miss Aunt Viv and Raya. They would have explained what was going on if they were here.
Why I could suddenly go against someone without blinking or pausing.
Raya would have given me one of her wise words like, "Milady, I think you just learned how to stand up for what's right. You should become an activist now."
I almost smiled at the thought.
I miss them.
They probably would have made a huge fuss over my head injury… hovering around me, panicking, scolding me softly.
But here, I even got slapped.
I stood up from the bed, sat on the chair in front of the table, and began to write to Aunt Viv.
Dear Aunt Viv,
I really want to see you again. It feels like it's been forever. A lot is going on in my mind, and there's no one here to talk to. No Raya, and no you. I really miss you and Raya. I wish you could visit sometimes…
I kept writing, placing more emphasis on how much I missed them, hoping they would somehow understand that something was wrong.
When I was done, I signed my name, folded the letter, wrote the address and Aunt Viv's name on it, then walked silently to the room where the messages were kept to be posted.
I dropped it there and quietly returned to my room.
I noticed someone following me, and I knew it was Mia.
So I turned around and walked back to where I had dropped my letter, but it wasn't there.
I felt a rush of anger run through me.
"Mia," I called out, trying hard not to snap because of my injured head.
"Yes, milady," she answered almost immediately.
"I placed a letter here, and it seems to have grown legs and walked away. Oh, how could that be possible?" I asked, staring at her.
"I do not—" she began, but I interrupted her.
"Wasn't the title I addressed you with last time enough to put you in your place? Since when were letters prohibited? Are you that scheming and daft that you follow me and steal my letters?"
She stayed silent.
"I don't even care who it was," I continued calmly, "but I promise you, the next time I find out you took my letter, I will make use of my newly discovered talent on you. And you won't do anything about it. Royalty holds the upper hand."
After that, I walked away.
But as I continued down the hall, I noticed guards surrounding me.
Before I could react, two of them grabbed my arms.
Before they could drag me any further, footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Calm. Slow. Unhurried.
The guards paused as soon as they recognized him.
"Is this how you treat my future wife?" he asked.
His voice was calm.
My eyes widened.
Future… wife?