"It seems you’re done now. I’ve interfered as much as I can, the rest is up to you," said Caius with Bell holding his hand. Aragon gave him a small nod. Gwen was in no state to speak to anyone right now as her mind was already filled up, but something metallic and silver in color dancing in the wind snatched her attention. With lazy eyes, she glanced to see that they were strands of Metallic grey hair. She would have stared further to see who owned such alluring hair, but Aragon had already headed back for the palace. It would take a while for her to feel better and fully grasp the fact that she’s been loving the wrong man all this while. . . . Raziah was exhausted from everything. She had returned from the Amethyst Forest about three days ago, and there hasn’t been a moment of peace for her since then. From the shocking news Bell had told her and Fabia about Caius, and then Malcolm giving her a long talk on why she shouldn’t leave her room as a Princess. Her mind had been stolen by so many thoughts. Now they all knew why Caius was being Targeted, and for that reason, Raziah had confirmed the mastermind behind everything knew who she truly is. The day she had returned, she found out King Octavius and Eleazar could no longer keep so many kingdoms at bay from trying to court her, and the only way to shake them off was if she rejected them herself, which was only logical. And from that day on, she was surrounded by at least three men in a day. They would show up at different times, trying to court her while they take a walk around the palace compound. Maria had helped Raziah with thick clothing that helped cover up her swollen belly, and a bit of make-up to hide her pale face. "Princess Raziah..." A voice interrupted her thoughts and she looked up to see herself sitting in a garden. Next to her was some Prince of whom she had forgotten his name or where he came from. "Are you alright?" He asked softly. At this point, Raziah was too tired to even answer with her regular one-word reply and so she could only nod her head. Recently, she has been feeling a bit of movement inside her stomach. As much as Fabia had reassured her over and over again that nothing was wrong and it was all just the stress, it kept on bugging Raziah that something was off. But then, Why would even Fabia keep it away from her? Also, She had been struck to see that even some Vampires were coming to ask for her hand. Infact, they were even more plenty than humans and it was getting on her nerves. She wished they would all just leave her alone. She wanted it all to stop. Malcolm and Maria stood not too far, watching her closely. The whole courting stuff was infuriating her beyond belief, and sometimes she felt like kicking the princes that wouldn’t stop talking like it was the only thing they could ever do. A few of them had tried to touch her, especially the Vampires that couldn’t keep their hands to themselves. She could feel their eyes on her neck most of the time, but she would just have to force herself to ignore it. One of them had the audacity to touch her leg, and she didn’t know when she had smacked it away. The feeling had been awful. How dare he touch her?! That unusual sense of being gazed at suddenly hit her, and she spelled out quickly, "Did you feel that?" Almost jumping to her feet. "Feel what?" The man beside her asked enthusiastically. It was the first time she was speaking without being asked to, but just as the excitement started to build that she would finally say something, Raziah’s eyes grew dull again as she settled back into her seat and shook her head slightly. Recently, she’s been having this strong feeling as of there was something watching her. It was a heavy gaze, but the person kept keeping their distance as if they wanted to make sure she won’t be able to tell who it was even though she starts to suspect there is someone there. It has started from the second day she had been courted around the palace. At first, she ignored it thinking it was just the maids and guards lurking around watching her but as time passed, the gaze grew more dangerous...more fearful. She had later informed Malcolm about it, and that was why he now followed her close behind wherever she went. She could have been able to take care of it by herself, but not in her current condition. Another dreadful day passed, and Raziah patiently waited in a corner of the palace when everyone was mostly asleep and the place was quiet. Acacia was not too far from the Princess, unable to believe what she had just heard. "It’s bad for your health!" Acacia complained bitterly, Hoping to knock some sense into Raziah’s head but the stubborn woman had become so much more stubborn due to the pregnancy and hardly listened to even Malcolm these days. "Your Highness!" Acacia made to go closer to her when Raziah glared back at her but the sorceress wouldn’t have it. She strode up to Raziah, and snatched the glass cup that was with her, "Not on my watch! You’re not feeling too well. It’s clear you’re not yourself!" "I am perfectly fine!" And Raziah snatched it back, "If you do not want to watch me, how about you excuse yourself!" She fired back. "Better still, I should get Malcolm to come and see this. He’s the one that manages to scold you," Just then, Maria rounded up a corner walking to the women. She kept staring around suspiciously hoping no one would see her and what she was carrying. "Why would you even listen to her?" Acacia scolded Maria who was still coming toward them, "She’s not having that, definitely not!" "It is a command! I am having this wine," Raziah furiously said and collected the bottle before Acacia could get to it, "And there is nothing you can do about it!" Raziah glared daggers at the woman. "It’s an alcoholic drink!" Acacia tried to reason with her, "You’re a Princess. You shouldn’t be doing this at all," "Oh really? Then tell me why does the palace have these kinds of drinks in the first place?" She questioned, waving the glass cup in front of the sorceress’s face, "Hm?" "For an event of course! Not for the Princess! Not for an ill Princess!" Acacia threw her hands up in the air. At this point, she was ready to cast a spell and make the Princess fall asleep. The only reason she’s been holding back was because she didn’t know how it was gonna affect the baby. "For your information, Fabia told me everything is alright. You see, I’m allowed to drink!" Acacia turned to Maria who had been flinching back from their hard tones this whole time, "Has she ever drank before?" Maria shook her head, "Not any that I know of," She lied. There was this time in the past when Raziah had drank, and before she could take the fourth cup the Princess was already seeing double. Those were the old times. "See? You shouldn’t...!" "Oh gosh, I’ve heard enough! I’m drinking this whether anyone likes it or not. No one wants you here. I do not know why you followed me here! Your presence makes me uncomfortable and you’re getting in the way of something that could make me happy so back off!!" Raziah yelled at Acacia with all her might, and everyone paused. Rolling her eyes, the sorceress turned and walked away, "Don’t say I didn’t warn you," As soon as Acacia was out of sight, Maria walked over to the Princess, "You know, she’s right my Princess. You shouldn’t be..." "You too?" Raziah hugged the wine shaking her head vigorously, "Not you, nor Malcolm, nor the King nor anyone is taking this away from me!" She declared strongly and sat back down. Thirty minutes later, there was an opened bottle of wine on the table with a tipsy Princess barely able to sit. She was drunk and still had a frown on her face staring hard at the wall. Maria hadn’t said a word to her again, but the Princess didn’t care at the moment. She was too drunk to care. When she heard someone sit on the table, Her frown grew and she lazily whipped her head to see who it was. The happiness that suddenly filled her heart and had her jumping from the sit couldn’t be described. She couldn’t quite see the face well since her vision was kind of blurry, but his presence had uplifted her. Everything suddenly felt warm around her. There was now bliss in her cold world. She had missed that feeling. "Well, well, well, if it isn’t his Majesty..." She slurred drunkenly with a stupid smile on her face.
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