"Where have you been?" father snapped as I entered his throne room. "It has been days if not a week!"
I bowed down before him—onto my knees—to quietly give him my apologies.
I hoped that he wouldn't hurt me again; he must've been furious, even now that he knew I snuck out.
I kept my head down as Denver stood a bit away from me.
"It was the creature, sir," Denver said, making my head shoot up but he just game me a "trust me" look. "The creature took her."
I quickly looked at father who'd face had paled, and he gazed over at me.
"Alice, who is this creature?"
"I don't know," I lied, keeping my expression sad. "I'd been asleep until Sir Denver found me."
"This creature..." father said then, looking back at Denver. "Was that really his face?"
"Yes, sir," Denver lied. "It was scary, being face-to-face with him. I don't think I could've mustered enough strength to stand there for a minute longer."
Wow... he was a good liar.
Father looked down at me then, his expression clear of all worry...
About me.
I could tell by the look in his eyes he cared less about me and more about his legacy. I remembered him saying if the creature kept murdering, then the view of his town would be darkened.
"I sent fifty men to kill him last night," father remarked, making my brows draw together. "I dressed them as peasants... he slaughtered all of them."
My lips parted.
So they weren't innocent. They were supposed to seem innocent, but they weren't.
And I watched him kill all of them.
Oh, God... it was so hot.
"No matter," he shook his hand, dismissing the topic, "I'm glad we found you at this time, Alice. I have been meaning to talk to you about your marriage."
I closed my eyes tightly, trying to settle the flaming anger that was growing inside me.
"We have known the prince you will be marrying for quite a while. He's strong, willed, and very wealthy. He would be good for you."
I gazed up in annoyance. "I don't want a wealthy prince."
"Your kingdom needs a wealthy prince!" father snapped back. "Don't talk back to me, Alice."
I just glared at him. "Can't I get what I want? I don't want to marry a prince! What if I want to marry a peasant? An outcast?"
"That creature scrambled your brain," father growled. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"I don't want to marry a prince!" I yelled back. "I want to marry for love!"
"YOU ARE NOT MARRYING FOR LOVE, ALICE," father snapped. "YOU ARE MARRYING FOR THE KINGDOM."
I just screamed at him, "THIS ISN'T MY KINGDOM! IT'S YOURS!"
Father just stomped his foot, making me draw back. "You are marrying Prince Elias and that's final!"
"I don't want to—" I froze then. "What?"
"I said you are marrying a prince!" father demanded.
"No..." I said, brows drawing together, "what was his name?"
"He's Prince Elias!" father said. "From the East Kingdom!"
My lips parted then.
No, way. How did Elias manage that?
Was it the same Elias? It had to be... his name was uncommon around here.
He was a prince all this time? Why didn't he tell me?!
My brain scrambled for answers, and I struggled to think straight because I was so... confused.
East kingdom...? That was outside the other side of the forest. He was a prince which meant he had money for that cabin... but... how...?
When did he become a prince? How did he keep it a secret from me for so long? How did I never know?
"Ah, Prince Elias, there you are," father said then, making me still when the throne room doors closed behind him.
I turned to find a tall, lean man stepping over to me, but he was dressed in prince-ware now—those frilly sleeves and that bright, colored jacket.
It was Elias. My Elias.
His inky, black hair. Those dark, demonic eyes. That olive skin that glowed bright in the sunlight.
He stepped calmly over to me, that familiar, sinister smile plastered over his face.
"Prince Elias, meet Princess Alice," father said as Elias stopped next to me. "Princess of the West Kingdom."
Elias just kneeled down on one knee, looking me straight in the eye with that menacing smile.
He pulled my hand up and lightly kissed it, drawing back as my breath shook. "Princess."
He then stood, keeping a hold of my hand before he let it slip and it dropped beside me.
I gazed up at father then, trying not to look fazed.
Oh, my... I didn't know how Elias managed this, but...
I bowed before Elias then, making his smirk widen.
I gazed up at him with a dark smile. "My Prince."
My father's death was set now. It was only a matter of time.
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