Samaira woke up the next day from the little rest she could afford. As usual, adapting easily to a new surrounding came quite difficult for her to manage.
She looked so weak both physically and mentally, considering the fact that she had not gotten anything to eat or drink all through yesterday.
She lay on the dirty prison floor unmoving not wondering about how life came to such a point but more on how everything became the way they are. Did she do anyone wrong to deserve this ill treatment?
It had been on her mind since yesterday after her papa and her came to such a conclusion, that her being held responsible for the King's death was all a plot to begin with.
The emotional turmoil she had been going through yesterday due to the fact that she had no idea what was going on had long vanished and it was now replaced with angst and hate.
She remembered how weak she felt when that mad princess came at her. At that time she could very well say that she was mentally confused but not anymore, right now she was feeling only bitterness within. And if anybody were to cross her paths right now they would surely suffer for it.
Her weak pale hand came to wipe the tear that had fallen from her eyes. She was still feeling hurt and though she did not plan on crying, the tears always came out on their own accord, overwhelming her and making her more emotional.
With all the remaining strength she had, she sat up weakly whilst letting her back rest on the wall for support.
Her hands wiped her tired face which was covered in dirt. She felt immense pain in her butt the moment she sat up but she ignored it letting the darkness of the cell stare back at her.
It was still dark in the cell and she could tell it was only the early hours of the morning. Her Trial was meant to take place by afternoon as it was believed that by then, all the important people who needed to be present would be there.
She stared at the iron bars of the cell with lazy tired eyes. Her blonde beautiful hair which used to shine looked so dull and dirty.
Not caring about it, she glared hatefully at the cell bars. Whoever caused this was going to pay... even if she dies trying, she would surely pray that they get what's coming for them.
She suddenly heard calm-soft footsteps approaching her and she did not know where she even found the strength but she hurriedly stood up, her heart anxious. Who could it be at this hour?
No matter how hateful the heart got, it will always naturally fear danger and yes the way the footsteps had sounded, she had felt scared. She was already drowning in her own darkness so who could be wanting to add to it.
Dino walked in only to see her standing and awake, he had thought he would find her asleep at this hour but a part of his mind had suggested that the incident could surely leave a person scarred so she must be awake and truly she was.
" Prince Dino!", Samaira called out surprised. What in the world was he doing here? Her tensed figure visibly calmed down and she immediately tried to recall the last time they met and it had been at that ball dance with his father, other than that... they had had nothing else to do with each other.
" Lady Roberts", Dino acknowledged in an elegant manner as he stared straight at her his eyes not leaving hers. For a split second, he saw a feeling of hurt flashed in them but she looked away from him quickly.
He wondered what was wrong until he heard her say. " You look like him, a little but you do", she spoke suddenly, in a vague manner but he was wise enough to understand sooner what she meant. She was not the first person to tell him about his resemblance to his father.
" What brings you here? Please do not tell me you intend on killing me because of what they claimed I did", she asked in a mocking tone.
She could very much say that if she saw that mad princess again, she would make sure to get on her bad side by shouting it to her face that she did not kill the King.
" I will never let any of you get the satisfaction of seeing me fall", she exclaimed suddenly and glared at him as if channeling all her hurt on him.
" Did you kill my Father?", Dino asked calmly, his face not holding any detectable emotion and his voice was unusually low as though he was trying to talk in hushed tones.
" I did not kill the King", replied Samaira in the same hushed tone but she was not trying to be nice, if anything she was trying to be rude and spiteful.
" I will never get tired of saying that and I will keep on saying it till my last breath... I did not KILL the KING", she said afterwards with a clear face, her mannerisms showed how tired she was slightly because she kept waving like a leaf that was going to fall but was still contemplating falling.
Dino did not mind the way she spoke to him, he did not believe she killed his Papa. Does this face and body look like that of someone who could commit murder?
He shook his head and watched her wave a little before going to sit on the floor as if tired and dizzy.
" Is that all? Then please stop staring at me and leave, am tired of you all! I am absolutely tired!", she yelled at him in angst at everything that had happened to her and he suddenly brought his finger to his lips.
" Shush!", he ordered her causing her to stare at him with furrowed brows. " It will be much more appreciated if you spoke in a softer tone Lady Roberts", he stated before she could even say a word and she quitened down wondering why he wanted her to speak softly.
Sam thought about it a few moments and relatively calmed down. She was too tired to argue anyway, besides she should save her energy, her trial was to take place by noon.
She would be asked to explain her side of the story by noon, she should be ready to shout for her point to be heard... she would not die without letting the whole world know that she was innocent.
Dino stared at her tired figure sitting on the dirty floor. He truly felt bad for the things she had to go through all because of his father. He had let his father make another wrong decision that influenced someone's life terribly. Why did he only ever make permanent mistakes?
" Marry me!", he blurted out suddenly but that was not how he had planned on saying it. He watched her raise her head to stare up at him in shock.
" What?", Sam asked shocked also thinking she had obviously heard wrong. " I said marry me", she heard him repeat after deciding to go with the flow and she just stared at him dumbfounded.
" It's official... my whole existence is a joke", she uttered softly as she started chucking like a mad person then it turned to laughter and she laughed so hard she could feel her own tears on her cheek.
" Marry.... Marry you, is this some sort of joke?", she asked her voice coming out soft yet amused. " Am I a joke to you all Desmond?", she asked softly whilst calling him by the name she knew him first.
Dino shook his head subconsciously but she suddenly stood up and staggered before regaining her footing. She held onto the bars of the cell and stared intently at his grey eyes.
" I am not a bloody JOKE...so get lost", she stated bitterly making sure he heard every word.
Her entire expression held hatred for him and his entire family. She hated his father and she hated him as well, she hated the thought of living especially if it meant going through this painful days.
" I do not consider you a joke Samaira and if you would at least hear me out... you would realize I only hold your best interest at heart", he stated letting his blank expression be replaced with a gentle one. If he wanted her attention he needed to look a little sincere.
Sam chuckled and weakly went back to sit down... she felt so tired, both emotionally and physically too. She sat weakly on the ground as she felt her eyelids growing heavier but she refused to sleep nor close them for a minute.
She heard the gate open and she watched Dino step in her eyes widening in surprise.
" What are you doing?", she asked weakly as he entered into the cell completely, forcing her to stare up at his tall figure which was looming over hers.
He squatted down to her position. " Samaira, Unlike my father who brought with him promises of love and wealth... I bring with me no such promises, what I can guarantee you is only a life of freedom", he said softly as their eyes met each others and she scoffed.
" Liars, you are all liars, all you ever do is create messes for me, just look at the one I am in", she stated angrily and he shook his head, subconsciously disagreeing with her.
" I have never lied to you Lady Roberts, and that can be clearly seen from the few times we have met, trust me on this one, marrying me will be of no regret to you", he stated boldly and she calmed down recalling each time they had crossed paths.
Dino hoped deeply that she accepts his offer. He truly could see no other way except from her having to marry him.
No matter how far the trial went today, it was clearly obvious it was not going to end in her favor and he really did not want to see her as a mistake he could not correct. If he could not undo the mistakes he made on Maureen then he should be able to undo Samaira.
" Freedom?", asked Sam with a hint of disgust. That one word looked as bright as summer but hard to get just as success was hard to achieve.
" I have longed for it for a long time but I do not want it anymore... I am fine without it, I just want to be left alone", she replied softly before turning away from his invading eyes.
" I wish for you to want it Samaira...", he stated, each time uttering her name as though it was the most easiest word to say.
" Let them know what it feels like to be plotted on... I want you to want revenge Samaira, marry me Samaira", he said and she looked up at him, at those sincere grey eyes.
The morning sun was already peeking and she could vaguely see her disheveled, weak looking figure in his grey eyes.
A drop of tear escaped from her eyes and she immediately blinked it back but she could not stop the ones that flooded it threatening to fall.
She sniffed and he suddenly brought his hand to her face as if aiming to wipe her tears. His warm hand felt so nice on her skin. She suddenly felt this warmth around her.
" How.... do you intend on going about it?", she asked softly and he smiled inwardly, glad that he had managed to get through to her.
He then went down to stating to the details for her so she could understand how she was to act later when the time for her trial arrives. Turns out, the guard who had reported back to him had indeed spoken the truth, what she needed was someone's support, nothing more.
*****
Welcome to the new year guys🥳, hope you have thought of good new year resolutions and are enjoying the chapters.
comment down your thoughts at the comment section below alright and remember this is a new year, change is advised, even for me😜.