As Clara helped prepare me for the ball, I couldn't stop thinking about my incident, and how I have treated people in the past. It broke my heart when I realized I was truly a monster, but I had to be strong. I had to fix the problems I have caused before. Clara was doing my hair, when she realized something was off about me. "My Lady, What is bothering you so much? You seem distracted.", Clara asked. I couldn't answer because I didn't know the answer. So, instead of responding to her question, I just smiled. She placed my tiara on my head, and I stood up. "Oh My Lady! You look so radiant!",Clara said. "Thank you Clara!",I smiled. I was wearing a beautiful ball gown. It was bright orange with a golden floral design on my chest. My dress was off the shoulders and my sleeves were loose flowing down my arms. My hair had two braids on the top of my head and put into a bun. The rest of my hair was down. My tiara was placed perfectly on my head. I had beautiful jewels on me. Clara was right, I truly am radiant. Clara dismissed herself, so I was completely alone in my chambers. I started to walk towards my door, when I forgot to grab my fan. I turned around to grab it off of my bed, when I glanced at the mirror and saw the monster from the woods behind me. "Ahhh!",I screamed. The guards came rushing into my chambers to see if everything was okay. I turned around, and the monster wasn't there. I leaned up against my bed, and the guards checked my room. One of the guards came up to me and asked what was wrong. I recognized the guard. He was the guard that found me in the woods. "I... I don't know. I just saw something through the mirror. Something was behind me, but then it vanished.",I said with fear in my voice. "Everything is going to be okay, My Lady.",He assured. I dismissed the guards by using my hand. I grabbed my fan and headed out the door, but first, I looked in the mirror once more and there was nothing. I walked outside my chambers and headed down the staircase. The usher announced my presence, and everyone stopped to look at me. I walked down the steps with grace and a smile. Men were already lining up to greet me as usual. Prince Abu, was the first prince that wanted to marry me, but I simply declined him twice. "Hello Princess Astrid! May I have this dance?", Prince Abu asked. "Prince Abu, I'm so sorry, but I'm going to have to decline.", I said. Prince Abu frowned and walked away. I didn't want to dance with anyone, nor speak. I wanted to see the guard from the woods, and I wanted to get permission from my father to free Clara's son. I just want answers, and I want to help people who have always done everything for me. One of the kitchen maids fell, spilling the drinks onto some guests. They started yelling at her, they called her a disgrace. I felt bad, so I decided to do something about it. I walked over to the incident. "Excuse me gentlemen, but I believe you are bullying my kitchen servant. Which is a very big problem because then they will get distracted from your bullying and they won't do their jobs right. So, I suggest you treat my servants like you treat other royals. You are now dismissed gentlemen.", I declared. They looked at each other, bowed and left. I crouched down to help her clean up the mess. "My... My Lady, this is my mess to clean up. Everyone is staring!",she cried. "Then my friend, let them stare.",I said. She smiled, and I helped her pick up the glasses as we stood up. I handed her the broken glasses and she walked away. My hand felt wet and I looked at it. There was blood on my hand, and it was burning. I covered up my hand and walked off, not wanting anyone to see. I was turning around the corner when I bumped into the guard from the woods. "Sorry My Lady! I didn't mean to... ugh! Your bleeding!",he cried. "Don't worry about me! That's an order!",I demanded. "My Lady, no disrespect, but I need to take care of this.",he said. He grabbed my hand to take a look at it. "This cut is deep, My Lady. What happened?",he asked. "I dropped my glass and then I cleaned it up.",I lied. I couldn't get the servant in trouble because I insisted in helping her. I pulled my hand away and walked away from him, but he just followed me. I didn't want him to worry about me, so I had to loose him. I started running turning every corner. Trying to confuse him. I stopped to take a breath, when he grabbed me. I turned around and it wasn't him who grabbed me. He was never following me. It was Prince Abu, who was following me. I tried to scream for help, but he covered my mouth. I heard people screaming from the ballroom, was the castle under attack! Prince Abu pushes me into a room and pinned me against the wall. "What are you doing!?!",I screamed. He pulled a knife out and jabbed me in the gut. "Ahh!",I cried. "You did this to yourself, you denied me three times, so I decided to kill you and take your kingdom myself.",he laughed. I fell to the ground, bleeding to death. "You deserve to die slowly Princess.",he said. Prince Abu crouched down to my level and stabbed me again. "You deserve so much pain.",Prince Abu laughed. I have to get away from him somehow, but I feel so weak. My dress is no longer orange, my blood is covering it's lovely color. I'm going to die! Clara I'm so sorry that I couldn't save your son. I started crying, I couldn't help it. "Creek!" Someone's here. "Who goes there? Come out!", demanded Prince Abu. He turned around to face the person, that's my chance! I tried to get up, but I needed to lean against the wall to balance myself. I stepped out of the room quietly.