Cecilia clenched her teeth as she struggled weakly and her gaze was cold to the head-maid. The memories of the original host body floods in as she remember the mother was held the same way for poisoning.
'These maids are genuinely evil! The killed the original host mother in cold blood, the empress.'
Cecilia needed time to think as the bowl of "broth" came closer to her mouth. She kicked and screamed knocking the broth away quickly.
"I'm not hungry! Leave-" instead of a command leaving her mouth a hand comes and clench her small face.
"What a waste! Our new empress wants this bastard dead!" the head-maid as she shoved Cecilia down to the ground next to the spilled liquid.
'I have to get away!' Cecilia made a crawl for the door. All she wanted was the flee the room but everything seems against her. She got up quickly but was pulled by her hair.
"Stupid brat! Might as well make you lick the rug to get that poison working or suffocation either or." The maids pushed Cecilia face the floor. Screams of the young princess sound like bloody murder.
"Let me go! Let me go! Father will not forgive you!" The youthful princess cried as she squirmed under the maids grip.
"Your Father won't notice the children in his sucession missing. Besides you are not the heir at all so your not the legal princess anymore!" the headmaids mocking words hurt Cecilia but didn't bug her much as she just wanted to leave the palace buy firs she need to escape this abuse.
"Help!" Cecilia forced out the help but it was enough to force some poison in. Cecilia groaned as the maids backed off watching the girl lay there in pain. The blood creeped up her throat as she spat it out.
"Finally..." grumbled one of the maids as they walked away and closing the door leaving Cecilia in the dark motionless. As the night draws near and the arrival the emperor was close newly soon to be crowned Empress Tila was humming as she brushed her daughter's Clair, hair.
A maid nervously came in as she kneeled in front of Tila. The mauve eyes that meet the maid's was cold and her lips twisted into a smirk.
"Is it done?" A voice softly replied to the maid actions as the young Clair looked back curiously.
"Yes, your grace." the maid happily replied as she smiled at the woman in front of her.
"Good, here's yours and the other maids reward." Tila threw a sack of gold coins. Tila walked back over to Clair who was waiting patiently for her mother. "Now leave me and my daughter alone."
The maid backed out happily clenching the bag of coins. As Tila slowly brushed Clair's hair she slowly put a veil on.
"My daughter you will be declared heir soon, how do you feel about that? Excited?" Tila twisted a lock of Clair's hair as she looked down at the small girl. Clair was no older then Cecilia and was beautiful but she knows what her mother did for her is for her own good.
So she has a rotten attitude like her mother.
Clair smiled and giggled hugging her mother. "Of course mother, why would I not be excited! I heard Cecilia's betrothed is handsome! I can't wait to marry him in the future, he'll be my future husband!"
"Good girl!" Tila smiled at Clair as she guided her to Cecilia's room as she walked over to the door. Slowly opening the door as it opens to a convulsing Cecilia.
"Nothing can be taken away from you, my sweet girl."
Cecilia winced in pain sprawling out on the floor as Clair and Tila watched the poor girl gasp for air as form with blood leaked from her mouth.
'I can't die, I can't die. Help.' As Cecilia try to reach out for Clair she was meet with a harsh slap on the hand and a stomp on the hand.
"Dirty trash, like you, should have never been born! You and your mother are the vain of my existence. Once I remove your name from the royal family tree no one will remember the abandon princess Cecilia. No one."
Tila's voice turns cold and sinister she sounded like the rumored Empress to be. Cecilia whimpered in audible speech as Clair sinister smile appeared.
"Sister, you should be happy that mother spared you an horrible death!"
'I can't take this anymore I have to fake being dead. Maybe I can escape when she leaves.'
Cecilia couldn't believe a child could be this horrid and especially to her own sister. Cecilia laid in defeat on the floor blank eyes and drool leaving her mouth. Her breathing slowed down. Briefly, she laid motionlessly.
"Let's go Clair. Cecilia Aetos has died and crown princess Clair Aetos is alive, thriving."
Tila shut the door, walking faraway and thinking she left a corpse to be disposed of soon. Cecilia slowly got up if it wasn't for her resilience she would have died again. The poison was spreading quickly she had to act fast and get help.
'What kind of family is this?! Poisoning and blaming each other for power. I was the crown princess and heir yet, you dealt your cards right enough, to try to get rid of me.'
As she limped and clutched her stomach. She slowly reached the balcony only greeted by a slightly tall cloaked figure her golden eyes meet the figures eyes briefly a hint of green can be seen.
"....."
"If you're hear to kill me then I won't go down without a fight!"
The figure dropped a box and kicked it to Cecilia, baffling her in the process. As Cecilia bent down to pick it up, she started wobbling from standing too quick. She fell forward and clutched the box to her chest. The figure caught her, the same familiar scent and warmth from the night before. As she heard the figure's voice it sounded familiar.
"You are weak. Let me help you." the figure picked her up and placed her on the bed. Opening the box he poured a light green liquid into her mouth. Cecilia's lips stained from blood and medicine slowly eased up from her strain.
The figure pulled down his cloak briefly when Cecilia's eyes flutter. His hair was of a black color and green eyes as green as jades. She couldn't see clearly, all blurry and like she was burning from a fever with fatigue. The boy quickly noticed and as he pulled his hood back up he turned quickly.
"I'll get some food for you." after what seems like forever the boy hopped back on the balcony with a small container of soup. He stayed to see her eat slowly and left shortly. Cecilia looked at the figure exiting the door.
"Wait. What's your name?" She called as he looked at her. The boy's lip parted and he smirked as he approached her from afar.
"Rainier."
He slipped away quickly as the adonis took off his cloak as he hit the ground revealing an outfit made for a prince.
"Prince Rainier!"
Rainier quickly picked up the lantern he had earlier as he pretend to look aimlessly for something. The guards draw closer as he heard footsteps. Rainier looked up as the light is flashed on him.
"Prince Rainier, what are you doing here by yourself?" the guard questioned.
"I was strolling and I thought I heard a noise so I draw out my weaponed and followed it here." Rainier rubbed the back of his neck as he sheepishly pick up the sword.
"Well, your highness. The Emperor is looking for you and he needs to plain tomorrow's event. Him and the empress with Princess Clair are dinning in the hall." the guard advised.
"Ok." Rainier chimed as he followed them looking back briefly at Cecilia's room.
'Princess Cecilia, I want to know. Are you weak or strong. Either way, you are my responsibility and will be protected regardless of strength. We have 5 years to make it or break it.'