Princess Elsa banged on the door aggressively and vehemently before the lights finally went out.
" Let me out! Let me out! You have to let me out!"
" You can't keep me here forever," she cried.
Silence greeted her order.
The guards didn't budge.
She slammed her fist on the table and yelped almost immediately.
Sweat surged out of her body and ran across her face in streams.
She trudged towards the window in silence and watched as the clear blue sky transformed into a sea of blackness.
Although tears couldn't let her have a vague sight, she knew the sun had gotten engulfed rapidly by the falling night and the sky became dominated by shimmering stars.
She had begged for the guards to release her but they paid no attention to her pleas.
Disobedience to the king's orders was a punishable offence.
No one ever dared to disobey even the slightest order from the king.
The people feared the king; this was what they were taught.
Iris and Irene had tried their best to console her and make sure she ate dinner, and now, they were exhausted and had retired to bed after her blatant refusal.
Princess Elsa felt aversion towards her father.
First, he had her marriage planned out with some prince of an unknown kingdom, and now, he had made sure she was locked up until the wedding that would happen in few days.
" Oh God," she whimpered.
*****
The reflection of the sun from the window found its way into princess Elsa's eyes.
She winced and rubbed her eyes softly.
She had slept off on the floor after weeping profusely, and now, her back ached.
The knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
Iris and Irene came in immediately and the guards outside slammed the door.
" Good morning, my princess."
" The king has sent us to get you dressed."
Princess Elsa stiffened.
She peered about wide-eyed and stared at them in a fascinated horror.
... get her dressed?
... for what occasion?
" What's the occasion?"
" Nothing at all, your highness."
Princess Elsa rubbed the nape of her neck and closed her eyes.
This was her own way of giving them a go ahead order.
Iris sorted out royal gowns and a sapphire jewelry for the princess.
Irene prepared a warm bath for the princess.
" You'll feel better within seconds, your highness," she disclosed and hinted that the water was ready.
The princess had her sparkling amber hair styled first before dipping her porcelain skinned body into the warm bath.
Satisfaction welled up in the princess's chest as she felt light and carefree ( like nothing had happened.)
After the bath, they had her dressed in a purple gown that had stylish sashes in form of bows.
They had her hair styled again in front of the dressing mirror, and it had beautiful curls with glittering stones.
" You look ravishing," they complimented almost immediately as they glanced at her from the mirror.
Iris and Irene gave a deep sigh of contentment at the sight of their hardwork.
Princess Elsa's eyes slowly lost its light as she blinked back tears.
She bit her lower lip to suppress the urge to cry more.
" Your highness, don't you like the jewelry?" Iris questioned.
" Do you think I'm adopted?" princess Elsa asked thoughtlessly.
" What? Why would you think such? You're the princess...."
" ... why is my father treating me like this? Father doesn't ever want my happiness. He only imposes rules and tosses people around like they are objects with no emotions," she sobbed uncontrollably.
They stared at her helplessly.
Words failed them as the words that had been on the tip of their tongues couldn't come out.
" Where's Leo?"
" He's away, my princess."
" When will he return?"
" I'm not certain but he rode with the horses and some knights at sun fall yesterday."
Princess Elsa muttered subconsciously under her breath.
How was she going to get out without her brother's help?
Princess Elsa and prince Leo grew up almost together.
Her elder brother - prince Leo had been her guide since she was little and he doted on her more than their own father.
She preferred to have long conversations with him than any other member of the royal family.
" Ohh, my princess! You have an injury," Iris said as soon as she saw her palm.
The cut was deep as the princess winced in pain.
" I'll hurriedly call for the royal physician," Irene pointed out and scurried away to the door.
She knocked gently.
" Please, open the door. There's an emergency. I need to call the physician."
" I'll send someone to call the physician," a hoarse voice replied.
Irene galloped towards the princess whose palm was bleeding profusely all over again.
A wave of panic seized Irene as she gazed at the princess who was losing so much blood already.
A knock on the door and the opening of the door attracted their attention.
The physician came earlier than expected.
" What happened to her?"
He hastened and scrutinized her palm closely.
He ransacked his bag and pulled out a substance in a bottle.
He flipped the bottle open and applied some on her palm.
" Hold still. It'll sting for some time," he pointed out.
Princess Elsa clenched her teeth and grimaced in pain.
It pricked her more than she expected and tear droplets trickled down her face.
Her forehead glistened with sweat.
She suddenly felt her throat dry and sour.
" Please, I need water," she coughed amidst her sentence completion.
Irene got a jug of water and cup from beside the bed.
This satisfied the princess's need at the moment.
" You should try to be more careful next time. This could get infected. Your wedding is in some days..." the royal physician rattled on.
Princess Elsa glared at him in fury.
She lowered her eyebrows.
Wrinkles formed at the side and bridge of her nose.
Her pupils shook violently when her mother plodded into the room and the guards slammed the door.
She only lifted her chin and looked away.
" I've come all the way here even against the king's orders to see my child but she's not even elated to see me," queen Bethany uttered and sighed.
Disappoinment was written all over her face.
The princess only sneered and didn't speak.
" Leave us, please," the queen ordered.
Iris, Irene and the physician bolted towards the door and left the room.
Queen Bethany trudged towards Elsa and stared at her from the mirror.
She patted her shoulders sympathetically.
" My hands are tied, Elsa. I know I have failed to play my role as a good mother. There's nothing I can do about this because your father has given his consent. He's the king and we cannot disobey his orders."