"You're so nice my king. Thank you"
She said as she gave a bow.
"I can see you're both fine"
A deep voice echoed in the forest.
Looking in the direction of the voice, she found Zach, the red-eyed guard approaching them.
Seeing him alone made her adrenaline rush.
"Yes, we are fine."
Jacob replied.
"Hmm, I'll be staying with both of you for some time before I go to the other contestants."
Zach replied staring at nobody in particular.
"Um... We are fine. Am with the king. Am well secured under him"
Cecilia forced a reply out of her mouth.
She didn't know why but ever since the last time they both had a conversation, she couldn't help but harbor fear in her heart.
She needed him to leave as soon as possible because she was already shivering in fear.
"Really, what king? The one that can't even battle a cat. But it seems like you're right, I won't need to protect you too as he brought you to the part of the forest that contains zero animals. This part of the forest is used to train our guards making it extra safe.
I don't see why he'll be bringing you here for hunting."
He said with scorn.
Almost immediately, Cecilia turned to Jacob with a questioning look on her face.
'It can't be true right?'
She asked herself.
"With that being said, I shall take my leave"
Zach continued then he gave a bow to the king and took his leave.
'Did the king bring me here because he can't hunt? And to think of it, this place is too quiet and is void of trees'
She thought.
"He's right, I can't hunt. The princess lied.
It's just one of the activities she sketched. It's a must you contestants must do it, so she had to lie about me being a great hunter.
And I brought you to a part of the forest that is void of animals."
Jacob said, his head low due to embarrassment.
'Hmm, that means the guard was correct. He seems to know a lot about the royal household. I think he'll be able to answer my curious questions on this damn contest'
She thought.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
After the hunting, well Cecilia didn't hunt because the king couldn't hunt. Vivian came to lead her to her room.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''
It was exactly 5 pm when she woke up.
She had been sleeping since she came back from the forest.
Her mind recalled her sisters.
She didn't know how they were faring.
And she didn't know how she was going to communicate with them.
'If only I could.....'
She thought then immediately screamed.
"Yes, letter, I'll write a letter"
But soon her smile died.
'Am not even trusted, how would my letter be given to them.'
She started racking her brain until she thought of something.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
An hour later, Vivian knocked on her door.
Groggily, Cecilia went to the door.
"Your food"
Vivian said smiling at her.
"Thank you"
Cecilia replied collecting the food.
"Wait for me please"
She said to Vivian, then went to drop off the food.
"I want you to help me deliver this letter to my sisters. Thank you"
She said still smiling at Vivian.
"Alright milady, I'll do that"
Vivian said then started walking away.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
The night was cold but he warmed himself with his cigarette on his terrace.
Soon he could hear a terrifying beating heart approaching him.
"Y..your m..a..majesty. A letter from the village girl"
Vivian said shaking fear evident on her face.
"Drop it and leave"
He said without even looking at her.
Then like a cat she ran away.
The aura he gave sometime had people on their knees shivering.
"Let's see what you have here"
Lowering his gaze, he found the letter on the stool, then opened it.
Immediately he opened it, his face changed to one of anger before a broad smile broke on his lips reaching his red eyes
"You always seem to amuse me, little bunny"
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Cecilia couldn't sleep in her room. She didn't even eat.
'What if he doesn't understand the letter? But the king I know is nice, he'll forgive me '
Earlier, she wrote in the letter.
'Screw you.'
She doubted the letter was going to be given to her sisters straight.
It would be given to the king to check or it might not even get to him.
If it was the king, definitely he'll ask her the next time they meet and she'll explain her reason.
Unknowingly to her, the letter was given to someone she never expected.
Zach the true king.