"Hey you scumbag!" She ran after gyenk who was riding a horse, followed my multiple scary guards with swords by their sides. Everyone gasped as she removed her heels and scurried through the horses and guards. The guards removed their swords as she got to him in preparation for attack. He stopped them with a raised finger as he stared at her.
She dropped her heels and rubbed her palms together. "What is all this? Are you here to trick them and run away like you did to me? You ran away with my money and I ended up in this trashy place all because of you!" She screamed frustratedly at him as the old market women and men kept staring at her, empathy written all over their faces. She smiled. "But now, I won't feel so sad. You're here and I'm not leaving here without collecting my money and ruining you into pieces!" She made and attempt to climb his horse and wring his neck but a guard quickly caught her before touching a strand on the prince's hair.
"What do you think you're doing lady! Now bow and apologize to the prince!" The guard barked behind her ear and instead of complying , she scrunched up her face in disgust.
"prince?" she turned to him. "So you've finally succeeded in manipulating them you wretched so called dumb prince!" She threw her legs up to meet any part of his body while her arms were still held tight behind her. While still struggling and cursing, a sword pulled up at her neck which made her freeze instantly with a leg still up in the air.
"if you still want your neck, bow down". She dared not look sideways. she loved her life so much and couldn't risk it. She went down slowly on her knees, whimpering and praying.
"What is your name". The prince asked.
"You dum...." She stopped as her eyes met the stone cold eyes of the man whose sword was on her neck. "Zora". she answered irritatedly.
"Zora..."He pronounced slowly as he nodded. "Stand up". He ordered and she was brought up to her feet immediately.
Instead of bowing her head slightly, she glared at the prince on the white horse who didn't seemed affected but was just smiling.
"Do you know what kind of sin you've committed?" He asked.
"I know. A sin that's bigger than fraud". She answered stressing the 'fraud'.
"Fraud would be better." He smiled and looked down at her dressing. She was strange. He noticed. "The kind of sin you've committed..." He paused. "You can only pay it with your life".
The whole crowd shook their heads in pity but Zora still counted his words as an empty threat.
"What about fraud? what is the punishment for fraud?" She asked, still glaring at him.
"why do you ask?" He replied, ignoring her manners.
Her face went to the sword on her neck and she swallowed her words. "Nothing".
The prince laughed shortly like he was going to die if he exceeded the seconds.
"Your Highness, shall we take her along and begin with her punishment?" The man whose sword was on her neck asked, not daring to look at his face.
"What punishment do you want young lady?" He asked, expecting a positive answer.
"Let me go".
"Is that a punishment?"
"And is this a punishment?" She retorted, glancing on the sword on her neck.
The man with the sword brought it closer to her neck and she jerked back. "Will you just put it down a little bit? What if you cut my throat with that? Are you a doctor? Can you fix it?" She eyed him as the man seemed to be losing his patience.
With a finger again, the prince commanded him and he lowered his sword.
"Young lady, we have laws and you've committed a really big sin that only your life can pay for it." He explained.
"What do you take my life for? Money?" She asked and once again, the sword came back to her neck. "What is wrong with you! Be careful with that". She warned.
"You're in front of the prince! Show some manners if you love your life".
"Why is everyone threatening me with my life?" She frowned as she glanced at both of them.
"Take her away". The prince commanded and started moving.
Two guards who weren't riding any horse came and held each sides of her arm and dragged her to the back.
"Your highness please!!!" A woman suddenly came into view and bowed down, her forehead touching the ground. She knelt in front of the prince horse, five feet away.
"What do you think you're doing? Blocking His Majesty's way?" The swordman who was on a brown horse at the right side of the prince asked.
"Please Your highness. Let her go. Forgive her". The woman begged.
Zora tried to peep on who was begging on her behalf but couldn't catch a glimpse of anything because of the horses in front of her.
"Who are you? To her?" The prince asked.
The woman didn't talk for a while, as if contemplating on what to say. "She is my niece Your highness."
Someone, a girl came into view and knelt down next to the woman. "She is my cousin Your Highness". She said.
The prince ordered them to bring Zora to the front to confirm.
Zora looked at them, puzzled but it quickly faded when she got what they were trying to do. They were trying to save her and in order to save them too, she had to comply.
"Yes it's true. She's my Aunt and she's also my cousin".
The prince glanced at them, knowing fully they were lying. He exchanged glances with his personal guard who also knew they were lying.
"If I let her go? What do I get in return?" He asked and they looked up. Their heads dropped to the ground immediately as the woman replied cunningly.
"Lowly commoners like us are not worthy of exchanging anything with you Your Majesty".
"Then I have no choice....." The prince made an attempt to go but they called again. "Look, I'm losing my patience here and if you have nothing to say you can go unless you want me to get you punished for your actions."
With these words from the prince, they began to tremble in fear, instantly regretting what they did. "We are sorry your highness". The young girl spoke up, knowing her mom would probably say something to ruin what they'd been cooking. "If you let her go...." She paused. "She'll...I mean.... we'll work as your palace maid".
The prince laughed. He laughed for real. He glanced at both of them. "Are indirectly saying....you want to be my Mistress?"
The girl was shocked and Zora was irritated.
"No your majesty! We dare not as....."
"Fine". He cut her off. " I accept your offer. You'll start working as palace maids....low palace maids by tomorrow". He stressed. "That's her punishment". He said, and with this he rode off with his horse hurriedly, calling up dust to their faces. They quickly stood up before the other horses did the same thing.
.
.