Fanaza lay deep in sleep, her body still, but her mind was trapped in a terrible nightmare.
In it, Rwaine stood before her, gripping a dagger tightly. His voice echoed, low and eerie.
"You want to know who I truly am?"
Fanaza whimpered, trembling as fear wrapped around her like a cold wind. She could not believe what she saw; it was terrifying.
Rwaine pulled off his cloak—and what lay beneath made her heart stop for a minute. His body was mutated, grotesquely twisted. Bones popped out from his flesh at strange angles, and his skin was patched with scales and thick, coarse hair.
One of his eyes was glowing red, the other milky white. His veins were black, pulsing like dark tendrils under translucent skin. His jaw unnaturally sharp, his teeth scattered and uneven like a beast's.
"Do you still love me after this? he screamed.
Fanaza gasped, frozen. She couldn't say a word or even whisper. It was like her whole body was stuck in a spot.
"DO YOU STILL LOVE ME?" He roared again, then without warning, he dragged the dagger across his own throat, slitting it wide open.
Black blood splashed across her face and gown. She screamed back to reality.
Fanaza woke up from the horrible nightmare with a loud cry, gasping and drenched in her own sweat. Sally, who had been sleeping beside her, jumped awake.
"My lady! Are you alright?" Sally cried out.
Fanaza clutched her chest; her breath was shallow. Her mind raced. Was it just a dream? Or had she seen Rwaine's true self? A shiver ran down her spine. She couldn't shake off the image—his eyes, his voice, his blood.
She had no idea what she just saw, but fear surrounded her like a shield.
Sally touched her arm gently. "My lady?" Fanaza didn't answer. A tear slid down her cheek.
Before Sally could ask more, they heard voices from outside the room. It was an argument.
"Your Highness, please! The lady is still weak and needs more time to recover!" one of the guards pleaded.
"Out of my way," Queen Lisa snapped furiously.
Sally's face turned pale. "It's the queen… What do we do?"
Outside, Queen Lisa stood with fury in her eyes. Prince Percival, who was beside her, unsheathed his sword and placed it coldly at the guard's throat.
"I can cut your head off right now. Move," he said, his voice echoed and boomed like thunder.
The guard backed away. Percival stepped aside as his mother stormed into Fanaza's room.
"Where is my son?" the queen shrieked out loud.
"I—I don't know, Your Highness," Fanaza stammered.
This was exactly why she never wanted to return to the palace. The queen was terrifying. A monster in royal robes. She scared her more than the nightmare she just woke up from.The way the queen had hit her and didn't stop until she passed out, made it even worse.
Queen Lisa grabbed her by the neck, her grip tightening. Fanaza coughed and choked.
"Where is my son, you witch?!"
Fananza was shivering at her touch; she knew this woman would kill her if someone didn't rescue her.
She was scary, and Fanaza compared Queen Lisa to one of the wendigos that attacked her.
A voice boomed from behind. "What's going on here?!"
The king had entered.
Thank goodness, luck was on her side. She wouldn't mind begging the king to save her from the evil queen.
The queen instantly let go. She composed herself.
"I was simply asking her about Sage," she said, as though nothing had happened.
The king's expression hardened. "Fanaza, I wish to speak with you personally."
"She knows where Sage is! My son is missing, and she is the cause of all this. How can you still treat her so nicely?" The queen screamed.
"She is my guest, Queen Lisa," the king interrupted sharply. "The future queen." He added, his voice firm.
Fanaza turned her head towards the king in shock.
Future Queen, so the marriage was still going to hold after the trouble she had caused.What the hell! she thought as she held her neck tightly still recovering from the Queen's rage.
" Percival, I want you to come with her." The king said and walked away quietly.
Those words from the King silenced Lisa. She collapsed to the floor, tears rolling down her eyes. It felt like she was the only one who cared about Sage, everyone kept on acting like nothing was wrong.
"Sage… Sage…" she whispered. Her sorrow filled the room like smoke. Sally could only watch with pity.
Fanaza followed Percival silently, like a scolded child. They walked through the halls in tense silence. Suddenly, he stopped and she bumped into him. She kept her gaze low. Her father always told her, Never look a royal in the eye.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly.
"Look at me," Percival ordered.
She hesitated, then raised her head. He gripped her jaw firmly and she flinched instantly at his sudden touch.
"Your innocent look is deceiving, considering the chaos you've caused in just a few days."
His cold and deep voice almost made her curl up in fear.
"I didn't mean to cause trouble," Fanaza whispered. "I'm just a victim of an arranged marriage I didn't ask for."
Percival narrowed his eyes. "Arranged marriage? DragonSeed Clan?"
He immediately knew she was the one the King had ask him to marry.
" Prince Percival." her voice above a whisper.
Fanaza flinched. He scoffed.
"So you're the one Father wants me to marry? His taste in women is truly awful."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, stunned.
"You're not my type," he said bluntly. "I don't like blonde girls, lean, innocent-looking girls. I prefer bold and nasty ones. Women who know how to work a man."
He just couldn't hide his promiscuity.
Fanaza was dumbfounded.
"Excuse me?"
What the hell was he even saying? Does he not have any shame?
He smirked. "You're just a stick."
Her face flushed with anger. "Well, you're not my type either!"
That was a lie. He was tall and muscular, with broad shoulders, defined arms, and a sharp jawline. His coat hugged his frame perfectly. He was the embodiment of royal allure… But she would never admit it. Not after all the things he said to her, and wait a minute. Did he just call her?
A stick
He stepped closer, his breath brushing against her skin. It didn't stir or move her—not the way Rwaine's did.
She remembered how Rwaine's breath brushed against her warm skin when they were in the woods; her body moved, and she loved it. That moment kept on replaying in her head.
But for Percival, she felt irritated.
"I'm everyone's type," he whispered, but the cold voice still boomed underneath.
"Don't be deceived; there are a lot of options, my prince," she snapped, brushing past him after bowing in respect.
They entered the throne room where the other princes were already gathered. She bowed to the king.
"Your Majesty"
Little Prince Felix ran to her.
"Hey, sweetie," she said, kneeling, and she ran her hands through his hair. He smiled and clutched her hand.
The king cleared his throat. "I heard you sneaked out with Sage. What happened?"
All eyes turned to her. It felt like a trial, and she wasn't so uncomfortable with the gazes. They bore into her soul.
"We went to the market square… and we were attacked by Wendigos. They were wild creatures. We ran. I got injured, but Sage saved me, and we got separated. As I wandered deeper into the woods there,a man saved me and took me to a cave."
"A cave?" the king asked.
"Yes. He cared for me. And his father. But he wore a cloak. I never saw his face; all I knew was he was skilled—a swordsman."
"And since then… you've heard nothing from Sage?"
She nodded. "Please, Your Majesty, please call for another search. Sage is still out there, injured and alone."
"We already sent a party. They found something eerie," the king said.
"Please," she begged. "Give me another chance. I believe he's still in those woods."
The king studied her.
"Very well. Percival will lead the party. You will accompany them." He said.
Lyon scoffed.
"Father, are you just going to let her leave after what she did?" Lyon questioned in annoyance.
"What did she do?" The king responded back with a question.
"She probably tricked Sage into leaving the palace, and now she's led him to those beasts. She is here pretending like she cared. What if Sage is dead?
"Shut that useless hole you call a mouth," Percival commanded, and there was a huge silence.
"If my son is dead, I won't let you go freely, Fanaza. I am only being nice because of your father and his level of importance to the kingdom." The King said.
" He is not dead. I am sure of it" fanaza stood her ground.
Sage wasn't dead he was lost and how could Lyon say such a horrible thing .Thank God Percival shut him up she thought.
" I am sure of it, we need to hurry, we have to leave before sundown," she insisted.
"Are you strong enough?" King Loban glanced at her ankle.
"I won't slow them down." She said firmly.
Later, in her chamber, Fanaza packed a small bag while Sally sat on the side of the bed. Worried and sad.
"Why can't I come with you?" Sally pouted.
"It's dangerous, Sally."
"But—"
"I'll be back before you know it.You can't come with me. I can't risk it " Fanaza said.
" I am not going to let you go out there alone not with your ankle." Sally argued.
" I am fine and I promise I'll be back" Fanaza held her hands.
" Promise" she stretched forth her hand.
"Promise" Fanaza replied calmly.
They pinky promised.
"Oh! By the way—I saw the Crown Prince!"Fananza continued and blushed.
" Tell me about it. Was he ugly? " Sally asked adjusting herself on the bed.
"He's handsome… but cold as ice. His voice kept on booming, it was really deep.We got into a little argument and he called me a stick." Fanaza pouted.
Sally bursted out laughing.
Fanaza glared. "It's not funny!"
"I am not a stick, just because I am lean doesn't make me one," she said, annoyed.
The duo was interrupted when a guard made his presence known.
"The horses are ready, my lady."
Fananza nodded.
She stepped outside, the guard escorting her to the courtyard. She stood by the horses, waiting for Percival with the other knights who were part of the search party.
"Where is the Crown Prince?" she asked the guard.
"He's on his way, my lady." The guard responded with a bow.
She waited and waited, but Percival didn't show up. She was furious; it was getting close to sundown, and he knew how urgent this search was, so why was he being nonchalant and annoying?
Finally, Percival appeared, calm and cold as ice.That was his signature.
"You're late," she snapped.
He ignored her.
Angry, she rushed forward and stood between him and his horse.
"What now?" he muttered.
"You owe everyone here an explanation."
Gasps echoed among the knights. No one ever spoke to the prince like that.
He raised an eyebrow. "Move."
She didn't.
"Move," he said again.
When she still didn't move, he pushed her aside. She fell to the ground with a yelp.
There was a little gasp from the knights; they watched the scene and dared not say a thing.
They feared Percival, and no one has ever confronted him about that. Even his brothers could never do such a thing, but a noble woman had such boldness. That was rare.
Fanaza stood up, dusted her dress, and marched right back to him, grabbing his tunic.
"Apologize!" she growled.
They struggled. She pushed. He resisted.
In the chaos, she shoved him off balance—and he fell right on top of her. She had no idea how that happened, but she knew she was under the prince.
Their faces were inches apart.
Her heart raced as his lips hovered over hers.
"My prince!" a knight shouted.
She pushed Percival off her with force. If she had a supernatural power, he would be sent flying to the walls. She was sure of that considering the intense force she applied.
He brushed the dust off his clothes.
"You disgust me," he muttered.
"You irritate me," she snapped.
With the help of a guard, Fanaza climbed her horse. Percival mounted his own and the knights lined up behind them.
They rode off toward the woods.
This time, Fanaza vowed she wouldn't return without Sage, and she also promised to visit Rwaine and thank him for his help.
He was a darling, she smiled foolishly.