Regan looked at the woman on his bed, a half smile tugging on his lips. She lay stiffly, far out on the edge of the bed. He was afraid she would fall off if she made any move. She didn't even move, she was scared. He had heard the sound of her pounding heart resonating in the room the moment he stepped in, and he knew she was definitely scared for the obvious reasons, those rumors that never left him alone. He didn't blame her after all, he was feared by everyone, even his own family. His parents hated him to the core, and his brothers didn't want to lay their eyes on him. They feared and hated him, treated him like he was a curse and had nothing to do with him unless they wanted to bully him or laugh at his face.
His brothers never played with him; they always picked on him because of his face. The hatred they had for him grew stronger when they started training. They realized that he was quicker, faster, and a better fighter than them. He was also a highly skilled gladiator; his teachers always praised him and gave him special classes suitable for someone with great abilities like him. But his brothers were jealous; they laughed at him, calling him a trickster and saying he should stop tricking people, as if deceiving others was something only evil people did.
And one day, he couldn't take it anymore. The beast inside him was enraged, and he couldn't control himself any longer. He had wished his brothers would fight and kill each other, and it happened. His brothers fought and fought, and all attempts to stop the fight were in vain. It wasn't until the crown prince stabbed the second brother that they snapped out of the spell. Every effort made to keep the second brother alive was wasted; he had lost too much blood and died.
He had always known he was different, but making a wish come true— he never thought of it. That day, he ran to his room, terrified. He cried, begging to be normal like every other person his age. But it never happened.
As he grew older, he realized that he could do more than just mere wishes. He could move an object just by twitching his hand and could also draw power from any source. Not only that, he could make himself invisible sometimes.
He has dark powers, an enraged beast inside of him that controls him, and he doesn't know what it was. He knew very well what the emperor does to people who have powers like him. He executed them by beheading. All this while he has been able to hide his powers, not to be known by anyone; not even his men. His soldiers were powerful men who never thought he was different or believed in those rumors about him. They respected him. But yet, they weren't his family, he could only talk about business with them.
He looked at the woman who was lying far from him, the woman who was his wife and family now. He could still sense her fear and hear her rapidly beating heart even when she was asleep.
She had amused him earlier with the way she whispered his name. He was used to the hateful way his brothers called his name, but when she whispered it, it didn't sound like a curse. He liked her so far.
But she still feared him, he saw the fear in her eyes when they had breakfast together. That was what he didn't like.
****
Morning came with its beauty. I opened my eyes with a yawn and scanned my surroundings. There was no sign of Regan. Lisa was already in the room, a huge smile on her beautiful white face, waiting for me to wake up.
"My lady, you're awake," she said excitedly. She always looked happy all the time despite being a maid. I now understand that happiness comes from within. You can be a princess and not be happy, just like me.
I got out of bed, and she helped me bathe and get dressed.
I was still surprised that I woke up untouched. He hadn't even tried or talked about it. Maybe he was tired and wanted to rest. But tonight there will be no escape. I couldn't pretend to fall asleep just like I did last night. There will be no excuses. Maybe I should try to talk to him, but I was scared. I wasn't ready for his reaction.
Lisa led me to the breakfast table, there I was expecting to see him. The thought of eating breakfast with him around scared the hell out of me. I don't want him to be there.
It was as if my prayers were answered because when I opened the door, he wasn't there.
"My lady, there is a fight going on, do you want to see it?" Lisa asked after I had my breakfast.
"Yes," I said and she led the way outside the castle.
There were a lot of people gathered under the bridge that led to the Keep. We moved forward, Lisa pushing past people to create a space for me.
"My lady, here." She found an open place where the view was better.
Soon, the people began to clap their hands as someone appeared, holding a sword. She stood in the middle of the dias, the cool breeze blowing her dark hair back and her green eyes shining in the sunlight. Even though she was wearing armor, she still looked incredibly beautiful. Everyone couldn't help but stare at her. She was a true beauty.
"Ellena is going to fight the fifth Prince. I can't wait to see who wins," Lisa said, and I felt tense.
Ellena? I looked up at her, my eyes widening. She looked almost unrecognizable. Her hair was not pinned up, and she had no makeup on, yet she was still beautiful. She was Ellena? How could I have forgotten that wicked smile and her eyes that always seemed mischievous? And she could even fight? A lady who fights? I had never heard of such a thing.
A moment later, the fifth prince arrived, also dressed in armor. Looking closely, he looked nothing like Regan, yet they were brothers.
"Are you ready to lose?" Ellena asked, smugly, as they circled each other, preparing to fight.
He smirked, irritated, raising his sword to chest level. "Are you ready to accept my proposal, Elle?"
Ellena shot him a hard glare, causing him to chuckle. "I would rather kill you than lose," she spat.
One of the soldiers beat a drum, and the fight began.