The bird chirping on a distant tree was the first sound Adric registered. His eyes, which were closed, moved until he slowly opened them. As he had expected, the girl had already left the room. He sat up on the bed, noticing the brown torn-out parchment placed close to his leg. The Crown Prince reached for it and read the small note,
’We are even. I have paid back for all the favors. Please let’s not cross paths again.’
Adric raised his brow; he noticed that his hand was a little redder than usual. He moved aside the bed cover and noticed the small red spot on the silk sheet. He sighed, scratching his brows slightly.
Far from the inn, with the sun descending and turning the sky orange, Oriana sat inside the carriage that was now heading back to their town. For some reason, her mind was muddled up, and she didn’t know what to think at the moment. Everything that happened earlier in the morning had happened so fast. She didn’t really know how to feel, but at the end of everything, the conclusion was that she was no longer a pure maiden but a touched one.
She didn’t know how to feel about it. First, she and Adric didn’t see eye to eye ever. Also, the whole room was very dark but somehow the crown prince knew exactly what to do, and he handled everything with great skill. The thought caused Oriana’s cheek to flush, feeling her core throb with the soreness she experienced.
"Princess Oriana, why did we leave in such a hurry? Are you sure we didn’t need to thank the Crown Prince properly?" Louis asked, leaning on his side, as he hadn’t noticed until during treatment that he had received a cut on one side of his stomach. "Princess Oriana?" He called again, seeing that the princess had a distant look in her eyes.
"Yes? Does it hurt anywhere? I can find a physician before we get to the turn." Oriana cleared her throat, she hadn’t really been paying attention. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮
Louis blinked, "No, I’m fine. I was only asking you about the Crown Prince..."
Hearing the name caused goosebumps to rise on Oriana’s skin. She could almost remember how his hand moved all over her body without mercy.
"....we should have thanked him properly," the man completed.
Oriana shook her head, "That’s not necessary; the Cr-ehm Prince Adric doesn’t mind," she replied. She really wished she would stop talking or hearing about anything that concerned Adric. She couldn’t deny that it was really bothering her at the moment.
Freya, who had been watching the princess, reached out to hold her hand. "Did something happen? Are you okay?"
The princess smiled, she turned her hand, patting Freya’s hand gently. "I’m fine," she muttered under her breath. "Or so I think.."
The carriage continued to move steadily on the cobblestones. Oriana looked down at her hands, which wouldn’t stop trembling since she ran out of the room. This wasn’t the plan she had made for her life. While growing up, she imagined, like every young girl, to have her first kiss with her crush and then get married as a virgin, living with her prince charming happily ever after. Never in her life did she dream of having her first time with an enemy. What even came over her to act that bold? She was feeling lots of emotions at that moment, and it wasn’t Adric’s fault. That was the only reason she needed to avoid him forever. Even if it meant living on the road, Oriana squeezed her hands tightly. With Oriana’s mind moving back and forth to what she had done earlier, she remembered something very important.
"Can we stop the carriage in front? I need to buy something." She said to the coachman through the small window. The princess remembered that she had just been touched by a man, and the possibility of her getting pregnant was very high, which would be an even stickier situation if Adric should father her child. The thought horrified Oriana; she would never have anything to do with Adric.
When the carriage stopped, Oriana tried to jump down like she always did, but she felt the soreness between her legs worsen, and she moaned.
"Are you okay?" Freya asked, with a worried look.
Oriana nodded, "Yes, I am, I hit my leg on the stool," she pointed, and the girl believed her.
"Can you go alone, or should I go with you?" Freya suggested, noticing that the princess wasn’t really looking like herself.
"No, stay with your father. I’ll be quick," she waved at the girl before turning her back, walking towards the market.
Entering the market, Oriana didn’t know where she was going or what she wanted to buy exactly. She was scared, but she knew she needed something at the moment to avoid any more complications.
"Sweet rolled cakes for sale!"
"Original pearls and jades here!"
The princess looked around the market; people marketed their wares, and she wasn’t sure who to ask exactly and how to explain what she needed. It was a little embarrassing. People would judge her if they heard that a young unmarried maiden like her was no longer pure, and she didn’t want this news to get to her family. Noticing an elderly woman on the side who was selling beetroot powder, Oriana walked to where the woman was sitting.
"Welcome, dear one, what are you buying?" The woman asked, happy to see a customer.
Oriana cleared her throat; she wasn’t sure what to ask the woman. "Um- do you sell.." the young Princess paused, she couldn’t get herself to ask the woman, so she turned to leave the store when she bumped into someone.
"Sorry," Oriana apologized with a slight bow. When she raised her head, she saw the owner of the House of Demi-monde.
"Princess Oriana?" Madame Rosalie bowed with respect for royal blood. The woman was surprised to see the princess alone without her guards.
"Madame Rosalie," Oriana smiled, she was relieved to see a familiar face.
The woman looked around, "It’s a surprise to see you in a place like this. I noticed a lady looking around like she lost her way; I didn’t know it was you,"
Oriana pressed her lips; it appeared that people from her kingdom were yet to know about her banishment. "Oh, I was looking for something, and I’m not quite familiar with this place,"
Madame Rosalie nodded understandingly, "That’s fine, I came to get more goods for my inn. Please be wary of these men here; most of them are con men. I hope you find what you’re looking for." The woman bowed, before going her way.
Oriana acknowledged the bow with a slight bow. She really didn’t know what she wanted to buy, and it was really getting dark. Louis and Freya would be worried about her; there was only one option. It was to ask someone, and it had to be someone she could talk to. Madame Rosalie ran an inn where girls offered services to men. Obviously, the woman would be more experienced.
"Madame Rosalie," Oriana called after the woman, who had not gone far. "Can I speak to you for a brief moment?"
The woman nodded, still maintaining her elegance. "Definitely," she walked closer to Oriana.
Looking around to be sure nobody was eavesdropping, Oriana asked, "Um, asking for a friend.. how can a girl who... how do you avoid carrying a child for a man you don’t love?"
Madame Rosalie stared at the princess for a moment, trying to understand what she meant. Then she shaped her mouth in an O at the realization, "You- well.. I have a way I take care of my girls. If the friend just met with the man, then I’ll recommend ivyspur. It will help keep her safe."
"Where can I get that?" Oriana asked, holding her dress tightly.
The woman searched her purse, "Your friend is lucky I have one with me here; take." She handed a small bottle to Oriana.
"How can I pay you back?" Oriana asked, but the woman held her hand, slipping the vial into Oriana’s hand.
"You don’t have to; it’s an honor to help a princess." Madame Rosalie smiled, the corner of her eyes crinkling.
Oriana pressed her lips, looking at the small liquid, "Please don’t tell anyone about this," she begged the woman who nodded with a smile. After they were done greeting, Oriana held the vial close, making her way back to the carriage where Freya now stood outside waiting.
"Big sister! I was almost going to search for you," Freya hugged her.
Oriana rubbed the girl’s hair gently, "I told I’ll be right back, let’s leave before it gets late." They entered the carriage, which arrived at the town and the inn where they were staying.
Stepping down from the carriage, Oriana noticed the flag of Orion standing tall. It’s been long since she saw the flag that she almost didn’t recognize it, looking at it brought tears to her eyes.
Oriana started walking towards the carriage, her steps slow but steady.
"Princess Oriana," the guard in charge bowed on seeing the princess. "You have been summoned back to the palace."
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Author’s note: Dear readers, I’m releasing one Chapter today. As this work is participating in the mass release event, so there will be a mass release of five Chapters tomorrow. Your support and comments is always appreciated. <3
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