[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: ICARUS ~ PHILDEL]
Back at the palace, Oriana felt goosebumps rise on her skin up to her neck. She wondered how a Crown Prince would be so shameless as to openly declare doing it with her.
"He is definitely bad news," she shook her head, "I’m glad I’m finally free," the girl muttered to herself. Though she was glad to be free from Adric’s taunt, that didn’t mean she wasn’t unnerved by his presence. Oriana was enjoying her peaceful life when she saw Bessie running towards her like a ghost was after her. Thinking the maid was happy to see her, Oriana held open her hands to hug the girl with a bright smile on her face,
"Silly girl, did she miss me much?" Oriana said to herself, happy to see that one person still cared for her in the palace, but her smile faltered when she saw that Bessie was crying.
"Bessie what is wrong?" Oriana asked, now with a serious look.
Bessie held her chest, trying to calm her erratic heart, "Princ.. Princess Oriana," the girl said breathlessly. "You need to run now, leave the palace." The girl said with shock written all over her face.
"Why? Are you really planning on eloping with me..when did you fall for me?" Oriana asked playfully.
"The letter....Avon found out that it was fake, now His Majesty is looking for you," Bessie’s words registered immediately to Oriana’s mind as a sound of danger. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
She pressed her lips, but how? The Crown Prince promised not to tell anyone. Did he? "That conniving..." She said under her breath.
"Now is not the time, Princess Oriana, don’t put blames on anyone. Leave now; The Royal family of Avon is very furious, and with the look of things, whipping you won’t calm them down." Bessie’s voice had a heightened sense of alarm in it.
Oriana looked around the palace; there were no soldiers yet, which only meant they were looking for her inside. She pulled off her shoes and socks, carefully tying up her gown. She got ready to make a run for it but noticed that Bessie was not joining her.
"What are you doing, quick Bessie we need to escape together." Unsure where she would be running to, but still, she needed to leave the palace until the storm was calmed.
Bessie shook her head, "I can’t, someone needs to be here. Don’t worry I’ll be fine Princess Oriana. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work for you," the maid waved with a smile on her face before running back inside the palace.
"Bess...wait," Oriana called after the maid, but she was already running back to the palace. Looking around the place, Oriana quickly ran to the shortcut to escape, but her mind was heavy. Leaving Bessie behind was like offering the girl as a sacrifice to quench the anger of everyone. Someone was needed for everyone to vent, if it was Bessie they wouldn’t hesitate to kill her, but maybe since she’s a princess, the punishment might reduce. All these Oriana thought to herself, finally she stepped away from the short fence and started walking back to the palace.
Back inside the palace, Bessie had already been caught by the guards. They forced her to kneel inside the courtroom.
"Where is Oriana?" Queen Saline’s angry voice thundered.
The lowly servant, who had her head bowed, trembled with fear, "She..I don’t know,"
Queen Saline waved to the guard, who took it as a signal to hit the girl forcefully with the edge of his sword.
"Ah..." Bessie whimpered as the edge of the sword connected to her back. She tried to keep her voice down as it would attract even more hitting. But they didn’t stop; the guard continued to hit her until she coughed out blood and was too weak to stand properly.
"Ready to talk now?" Queen Saline asked, her anger already boiling because of the embarrassing situation her daughter had put her in front of another Queen, who now regarded their kingdom as a joke.
Bessie raised her face, wiping her bloody mouth with the back of her hand she replied, "Your Majesty, I do not know where the princess is; she leaves on her own most of the time."
"Liar!" Sophie, who was also fuming, finally got on her feet. She stomped towards Bessie and when she got there, she slapped the maid twice and gave her a pointed look. "This maid is always seen with Oriana; there is no way she would leave with her,"
The angry Crown Princess fumed; she couldn’t accept the fact that Oriana had made a fool out of her by arranging a fake marriage. It hurt her pride so much that she wanted to really deal with Oriana, but since she wasn’t here, the maid would be taking all the heat.
"Hit her until she spills the truth," Sophie ordered, and the guards resumed hitting the girl. But Bessie bit her lips tightly, drawing blood; she couldn’t afford to give away Oriana’s location with how angry everyone was. The maid closed her eyes, taking all the beating.
"Stop!" Oriana’s voice was heard from the entrance; she couldn’t believe the sight she just saw. Despite Bessie being small, these people didn’t stop hitting her. They were monsters in human form.
Sophie scoffed, "Look who is here,"
The ministers that were present murmured amongst themselves on seeing how Oriana’s gown was tied above her knee, and her shoes discarded from her feet. With no socks, her bare legs were exposed.
"See how she’s dressed; this one must be a curse to the royal family," one of the ministers muttered.
"Of course," another agreed, "Did you not hear that she was laughing during the funeral of the late mother Queen? The girl is not normal,"
Bessie raised her bloodied face when she heard Oriana’s voice, "Princess..." The girl muttered, wondering why she had returned.
Oriana didn’t listen to the hateful comments of the people in the courtroom; she quickly ran to the maid, kneeling beside her. "Why did you let yourself get beaten this way," she raised the girl’s face, which now looked almost unrecognizable.
"What are you do-" Bessie tried to speak up but then she coughed out another mouthful of blood.
Oriana held the girl’s body close to her chest, "Sh..shh don’t waste your strength..." She consoled.
Sophie moved back when she saw this, scrunching her face up in disgust, "Ew....with a lowly servant. Mother, look," the girl pointed.
Queen Gwen scowled, "I’m glad this whole marriage pact was a fake; marrying into a family where princesses behave like barbarians." The woman spat.
Her words angered the other Queen so much, who now turned her anger to her daughter. "Oriana, you showed up here knowing your crimes."
Oriana finally let go of Bessie, standing on her feet she nodded. "Yes, I couldn’t afford to leave behind someone who is important to me; I believe that’s how families should act," she remarked.
"Oriana!" King Curtis barked at his daughter; he was already furious about the shame the girl had brought upon them. "Did you really write a fake letter to Avon? With the seal from Orion,"
Oriana nodded; there was no need to deny anymore. Infact, there was no need acting formal because the punishment would still come; she dropped every sense of formality.
"I did," was her short reply.
"Look at how she even speaks to her father," Queen Gwen shook her head, adding more fire to the situation.
"Why?" The King asked.
Oriana inhaled deeply before saying," Why? Why do you ask? Here is why; I wanted to get back at the Crown Prince of Avon for taking something precious to me,"
"And where did you meet Crown Prince Adric?" King Curtis continued to question the girl.
"At the house of Demi-monde," when Oriana said this, the ministers who knew about the place murmured. Among them was Minister Cavendish, who now saw it as an opportunity to get back at the girl.
"The princess works as an attendant in the inn; she gives her body to men," the man raised the rumor.
"You mean she is no longer pure? She has done it before her marriage?" Another minister asked to confirm.
Minister Cavendish nodded, "That was why I refused to accept the marriage chest; a touched princess." The man spat.
Oriana turned when she heard this from the Minister; she raised her brows, "Being bold now? Minister Cavendish." She started walking towards the man, who cowered in fear, but Oriana didn’t go far when Sophie dragged her by the hair.
"What the!" Oriana cursed; at this rate, she was going to get bald. Before she could retort, a harsh slap fell on her face.
Sophie didn’t let go, "Your reputation is already ruined, and you want to bring me down with you?" Saying this, another slap was delivered to Oriana’s face; this time she lost balance and fell on the marble floor.
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