"Are you sure you saw Perseus and Yuki in the countryside?" Abraxas was asking once Ophelia stepped into the throne room. Many of the guards were standing around, helmets tucked in between their arms and sides.
Caspian stood behind Abraxas as someone responded to Abraxas. "Yes, My King." Ophelia heard Abraxas scoff. Ophelia tried to walk through the guards when one of them grabbed her bicep.
"Ow! What are you doing?! Let me go!" Ophelia called out, trying to pull her arm away. Everyone turned and looked at the commotion. Abraxas stood up straight and Caspian was beside her instantly, yanking the guard's hand away from Ophelia. He pulled her into his chest and glared at the man.
"Come forward, now." Abraxas growled out, which caused Ophelia to bury her head into Caspian's chest. He wrapped his arm around Ophelia and backed away from the crowd. Once at a good enough distance away, Caspian held her at arms' length. "Are you hurt?" He asked, concern laced through his voice.
Ophelia shrugged and looked down at her bicep. It was red from where the man gripped it harshly. "How can you not know who your princess is?" They heard Abraxas yell. Ophelia flinched away before turning and walking towards Abraxas and the guard.
"Dad," Ophelia said, gaining his attention. "Don't be so harsh on him. I was the one who didn't announce myself." The guard kneeled down to one knee, head bowed. "No, my princess, it was my fault. I shouldn't have laid a hand on you."
Ophelia wrung her hands in front of her before shaking her head. "No. I won't accept that." She knelt down and faced the man. "It wasn't your fault for me not announcing my presence. You were just doing your job."
Abraxas looked at the scene before telling both of them to stand. Ophelia looked up at her father before standing and backing away. Abraxas stood where Ophelia had just moved from. "I'll let this slide. Just this once. Do not ever touch her without her permission again."
The guard saluted and turned, leaving as quickly as he could. "We're done here." Abraxas said, walking and sitting on the large throne, and resting his head in his hand. "Eli, come here." Ophelia turned and faced her face and walked up to him. "Yes, dad?"
Abraxas' eyes were closed, and he was breathing deeply before saying, "You do not announce your presence to the people in your kingdom." Ophelia knit her eyebrows together. "I will because it's the right thing to do. I should have said that I was here when I entered," Ophelia pointed behind her shoulder. "That man was just doing his job."
Abraxas lifted his head up and looked Ophelia in the eye. "You are a princess. You answer to no one but your King." Ophelia knit her eyebrows and stood taller. "I am my mother's daughter. I might not remember her much, but I know that she wouldn't enjoy how you reacted to that man for doing his job."
Ophelia spun on the balls of her feet and marched out of the throne room, cape flying behind her, and leaving a gaping hole in Abraxas's heart. "She's so much like her mother, I just hoped she wouldn't get her high spirit."
Caspian slowly walked up and kneeled. "With all due respect, Abraxas, would you rather her be walked all over instead of being headstrong?"
Abraxas sighed and rubbed his forehead. "You're right. I guess I need to go apologize." He went to stand up when Caspian shook his head. "No, give her space."
---
Ophelia was pacing back and forth in the library, hoping no one would enter. Ugh! Maybe I overreacted a tad bit. Ophelia thought to herself before sitting down and rolling her head back.
"Aw, you have a fight with dear old dad?"
Ophelia jumped and looked behind her. Perseus leaned against the table, looking at his nails. "What're you doing here?" Ophelia asked, getting up from the chair and backing towards the bookshelf. "You... you need to go. I'll call for the guards."
"Look at you. You went from a timid girl sitting in the back of my class to the princess you were born to be." Perseus pushed himself off of the ledge of the table and took a step forward. "Stay away!" Ophelia said, holding out her hand. "Or what?" A new voice drew out. Ophelia looked around before her wrist turned ice cold. Shocked, she looked at her wrist, noting how it had turned bright red. A hand then materialized, gripping Ophelia's wrist tightly.
Ophelia looked up, and came face to face with an ethereal girl. Her umber skin shone in the natural light and her mahogany eyes seemed to pull Ophelia in. "Let me go." Ophelia said, but lacked the convection, which made the beautiful woman laugh haughtily.
"Yuki, let her go." Perseus demanded, which caused the hand to unwrap from her wrist. Ophelia shook herself out of the trance and looked at the newcomer, Yuki. She was wearing a very revealing black, sheer dress with a nude leotard underneath. Her hair fell in multiple braids around her shoulders. Yuki walked to stand behind Perseus, draping an arm on his shoulder.
The move was clear: He's mine.
"You both need to leave." Ophelia said after a few beats, causing Perseus to laugh. "And what if we don't?" Yuki sneered at her. Ophelia felt her breathing pick up. She felt trapped. She didn't like it.
It was as if Perseus and Yuki backed her into a corner and wouldn't let her leave. Ophelia closed her eyes tightly and wrapped her arms around her midsection. "You think that'll get you out of this?" Yuki pushed on, stepping closer.
That's when everything broke loose.
A scream ripped from Ophelia's throat, which alerted everyone in the immediate vicinity. Yuki surged forward to shut her up while Perseus covered his ears. Ophelia flung her hands up and Yuki flew backwards, crashing into the chair that Ophelia had been sitting in.
The library door flew open and Caspian had his swords drawn, ready to fight. Once he saw Yuki and Perseus, he flew into action, slashing at Perseus, but Yuki blocked his attack.
Abraxas rushed into the room and saw Ophelia curled up on the floor, clutching her hands together. The tips of her fingers had turned grey from the intensity of the magic.
"Are you okay?" Abraxas asked after he had run to Ophelia's side. Crying, Ophelia shook her head and Abraxas picked her up, cradling her against his chest as he left to take her to the infirmary while Caspian kept Perseus and Yuki distracted.