Gabriel’s POV:
With all the muddled emotions buckled up inside my head, I was feeling dizzy enough to realize what was going on around me. Those royal maids helped me take a bath and even dressed me up in a long, black gown. As I was seated in front of the giant mirror while they were braiding my hair, all I could do was gaze at myself with a void of emptiness in my eyes.
I was completely silent, even breathing in a faint manner. My heart was numb, and heavy with despair as I sensed a suffocating growing within me. As if I was sinking deep below an ocean, without any hope to rise up to the shore.
This feeling was consuming me badly from the inside.
Big swollen eye bags along with dark circles had formed beneath my eyes from sobbing too hard. I might have passed out earlier from the shock and when I regained my senses back, I found myself sleeping here. I noticed my face had turned paler and no minimal makeup could hide the pain of betrayal that had ripped me to shreds.
As I was gazing at my own eyes, the pain of humiliation throbbed in my heart. I realized I was too ashamed and benumbed to look at the complete mess I had become and lifted my eyes down. Obediently staying still and getting dressed in the room of the person who plunged a sword in my father’s chest, what possibly can be more pathetic than this?
Just why did my life twist miserably like this? What kind of cruel punishment I am being blessed with? Is this all real or just a terrible nightmare? Why am I going through all this hell?
“Milady, are you feeling sick?”
The timid voice of the maid who was braiding my hair startled me a little as I lifted my eyes up to take a glance at her. Judging from the look on her face she seemed concerned about me.
But a quick assumption bothered me inside, is there really anybody around me in this castle whom I can trust again?
Before I could give her an answer, she stared at my blank gaze and murmured, “Milady, you look really pale. Even your breathing seems a little hard. Are you suffering right now? Should I call a doctor for you?” Among the other maids, she was an old lady and while gazing at her wrinkled face, I could feel concerned in her tone.
She was right, I was indeed suffering a lot.
This vast room, every little thing here was filled with a familiar fragrance, none other than Zordan’s scent. The sweet strong smell which I could sense from afar, made me realize that I was fated pair. Until yesterday, the scent caused butterflies to flutter in my stomach, but now, all it could give me was cold, frightening chills along with painful disgust.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t forget the darkened look on his face when he brutally stabbed my father. Was I always so blind to observe his real diabolical self behind his kind, soft smile?
I clenched my fist tight and lifted a stern look at the old maid as I ordered her, “T-Take me to my room. I don’t want to stay here any longer.”
The old maid frowned her brows and exchanged a confused glance with the other maids. They all looked a little perplexed at my command but their brief silence took a toll on my impatience.
“Didn’t you hear me now? Just take me to my room! I don’t want to stay here for a minute anymore!!” This time, I scorned them raising my voice high enough. I knew it was wrong to erupt my frustration on those poor maids but my emotions were a complete mess.
Hearing me shriek, the other young maids cowered a little in fear but the old woman didn’t flinch and bowed her head respectfully before me. “We…We are very sorry, Milady.”
“Wh…Are you defying me—”
“Milady, we have been strictly ordered to keep you here in our mighty Crown Prince’s room. We are also forbidden to let you go elsewhere on your own. If we somehow fail to follow this order, then as the grave punishment of disregarding our royal prince, we all will be beheaded. That’s why, we can’t do as you ask, Milady.” She explained to me in a humble tone, averting her gaze down.
However, her honest confession left me awestruck to speak for a moment. But as expected, the immense bitterness grew strong inside me. A painful arc of a smile grew on my lips. Now, that sick bastard has opted to the extreme level to keep me confined here by threatening these poor maids with their lives!? Even forbidding me from going to my own room?
This is crazy!
Like this, soon enough I won’t be able to even breathe without his gaze over me! Just how far did he wish to ruin my sanity!?
But before I count vent out my frustration, the loud knocking noise on the door flinched me a bit. As I turned my gaze around, I saw those two familiar giant guards who had dragged me here into this hell at the doorstep of this room. They both retained solemn look on their faces and bowed their heads before me.
“Lady Gabriel, it’s almost time now. His Grace is waiting for you and he has asked us to bring you to the cremation hall.” One of them obediently conveyed Zordan’s message, sounding stiff from their tone.
Just having a glance at them, all my memories from the painful night flashed before my eyes again. It was clear now that I was completely trapped by that bastard as he had allotted several people to keep their stern gazes over me.
After breaking my heart in such a brutal way as possible, what is this prick afraid of now? Why does he want to keep his close watch over me so badly? Is he afraid that I would disclose his sinful side to the whole nation? Or, I have been always a naive puppet over whom he had wished to gain complete control?
Fuck…How is this sick confinement better than death?
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