ARIESSA

I think I might have actually turned to stone for a minute. It felt like it. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t recognized him at the market yesterday. The most prominent face in the entire kingdom. I couldn’t believe it had only been yesterday that I’d ‘killed’ him. It felt like an eternity had passed since that time.

I reeled, shock, fear and panic mingling, coursing through my veins, guiding my next actions.

I ran. My footsteps echoed as I ran towards the door at the other end of the corridor, hoping it would lead somewhere else…

Some part of me knew it was a lost cause, but… I could at least try. Trying to kill a Royal was still considered treason and punishable by death, even though they were unkillable, rising back up from the dead. Except for those that died naturally, they all came back. It was unnatural, but that’s just how it was.

My mind raced. He knew my face. He knew the general vicinity I lived in. He knew the name I gave to the townspeople whenever I went into town. It wouldn’t take long to figure out I lived at the Duke’s estate. It was only a matter of time…

Surprisingly, I don’t hear any signs of pursuit. I was too terrified to turn around to check, but as soon as I exited the corridor and turned a corner, I glanced to my left, checking for anyone. In doing so, I bumped into someone’s hard chest, falling to the ground.

I picked myself up quickly, not allowing even a moment to pass. Quickly scanning my surroundings, I see two paths: one going straight and one to the right. I spare the stranger a glance, finding him already looking at me. Designer clothes. Haughty attitude. Courtier. Shit. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time to apologize.

I refocused on my current predicament. On a whim, I walked past the stranger and started going right. “Other way,” a pause, “This way will lead you straight to the throne room.” he murmured, breezing past me, down the corridor I’d started.

I frowned, not completely trusting the stranger; for one, why would he even decide to help me, a peasant girl who appeared to be running away from something? Or that was exactly why he was helping…

Caution, curiosity and adrenaline warred. Adrenaline won.

I decided to follow his advice, praying to the gods I wasn’t running headfirst into a trap. Myrena save me. Quietly killing someone and then exiting through the nearest window only worked if I was in a room with windows.

I walked briskly, trying to blend in and hoping to not run into anyone else. I’d rather not lose even more precious time.

**********

Thankfully, I made it safely to the back exit. From there, I had to run to the carriage that awaited me in the townsquare a few minutes from the palace. I sat tensely, waiting for the carriage to be stopped, for the King’s knights to take me back.

Nothing of the sort happened. Made me feel unnecessarily paranoid. All the same, I sent up another prayer to the deities of Azalea... or those that were listening, anyway.

Still. It was more than likely I’d be summoned to the palace soon. I’d better get to packing, but I had to tell my father first…

I quickly found a stray servant and told her to tell the Duke “it was done” and quickly walked back to my room, rushing to pack.

I sprinted around the room, cramming some sheathed knives, a change of clothes and some bandages into my satchel. Only packing what I could carry. I’d go to the kitchen in a bit to get some apples and loaves of bread for my journey to…

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

Wait, wait, wait. I stop what I’m doing. I didn’t think this through too thoroughly. Where would I go? How? Did I want to leave my life behind here?

I scoffed, it is inevitable, I must. I don’t want to die. As for where, the closest nation was Saron, across the Glassy Sea to the west. I had enough money to my name to buy a ticket for a boat, so unless I’d rather hang from the gallows…

Sighing, I closed the flap of my satchel and went to open my door.

Only to see my father standing there, a somber expression on his face and a scroll in his hands.

**********

It was never a good thing if my father came to me.

His eyes immediately go to the satchel I’ve slung across my shoulder, eyes squinting in suspicion.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, trying to divert his attention.

“Where are you going?” he countered, wariness lining his words.

I stuttered, unable to come up with a response. Shit. What if he tries to stop-

He sighed, rubbing his temples, seemingly annoyed by my antics. Rage ignites in me for a moment. At least, until he delivers his news. “Anyway, there’s a message for you.” A palpable pause, “From the palace.” He added the last part apprehensively, as if… worried.

I must have imagined it. The Duke of Arkona never showed emotion, much less for me, his illegitimate, bastard-born daughter.

On the other hand, a scroll from the palace? I’m screwed. Frost must’ve told someone something. Son of a bitch. Those Royals, not knowing when to shut the fu-

“Well?” he asked, interrupting my train of thoughts. He held the scroll out to me.

I stared at him blankly for a moment. Hesitently, I took the piece of parchement from him, not wanting to look at its contents.

Maybe it was a summons to the palace for my hanging. Or maybe they’d be generous and grant me a trial. Or maybe-

Stop. I had to stop myself from thinking more gruesome thoughts before I got sick.

Deep breath in.

Hold.

Exhale.

I wouldn’t know why I had gotten a message from the palace unless I opened it.

I took a step back into my room and shut the door in my father’s face. I didn’t care what he thought, I didn’t have to read it in front of him. Plus, I’d rather not freak out in front of him, if it is indeed a date for my death.

Biting my lip in apprehension, I open the scroll.

Lady Ariessa Winters,

I cringed. I was no ‘Lady’ and nor did I claim my father’s last name, Winters, anymore. I was a bastard-born nobody who didn’t ‘deserve’ to use it, or so my father said. Shrugging off the pang of betrayal, I continued reading.

By request of the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Kyle Arick Frost, you have been invited to the Royal Court of Etheara, temporarily.

We await your arrival tomorrow evening, if you do intend to take us up on our offer.

It was stamped with the Royal seal of Etheara’s royal family. A circle with an arrow pointing upwards.

I stared. Stared and stared and stared. It took me a minute to process seeing the paper flutter to the ground.

I shakily picked the piece of paper back up, looking at the loopy scrawl of the words. I couldn’t process it. An… an invitation to the palace? I suppose, for other girls, an invitation to the palace by request of the Crown Prince would have been cause for a great celebration. But why me…?

My mind raced in a dozen different directions. Why? Is it to embarrass me and my father and socially destroy his status before killing me? Is it just an execution in the form of an invitation? Am I falling into a trap?

I groaned, walked to my bed and flopped backwards onto it, the day’s stress getting to me. Less than 5 minutes ago, I’d been packing to run away. Now? I don’t have a clue what I’ll do. I was so confused, but I had no one to talk to. Except…