"You don't walk away when I'm talking to you, Nora," he growled in frustration.
"If you can do whatever you want, why can't I do the same?" I retorted, despite the pain throbbing in my shoulders.
He released my shoulders and gripped my cheeks, his index finger tracing along my jawline. "Because you don't have what it takes," he said, his voice sending a shiver through me. But I quickly masked my fear with defiance.
"What will you do to me then? Attack me? Kill me? Lock me away? What's your plan?" I taunted, trying to sound insulting.
He leaned in, his face just inches from mine. "How about I feed your remains to the dogs in the woods after doing all those things to you?" he whispered near my ear, and the heat of my defiance vanished, replaced by sheer terror. A cold shiver ran down my spine. The way he spoke and the heartless expression on his face made it clear he wasn't joking.
"Why are you surprised? If you think I'm capable of attacking you, killing you, and locking you up, then you should also believe I can feed you to the dogs."
My heart raced so fast, I could hardly find my voice. His cold gaze shifted away from me towards the door, and with a sigh, he left without saying another word.
I stumbled forward and sat on the edge of the bed, my body trembling uncontrollably. He wouldn't actually do those things to me, right? No, he couldn't. I shook my head, trying to deny the terrifying possibility.
A maid came to announce lunchtime. Lunch and dinner passed, but he never came for either meal. Was he so angry with me that he no longer wanted to eat together? I wondered as I prepared for bed, still holding onto the hope that he might come tonight.
After waiting for a while and realizing he wasn't coming, I decided to ask one of the guards about his whereabouts. But what if he chose to spend the night with his mistress and didn't come back? The thought crossed my mind, but I brushed it aside and proceeded.
"His highness went to the border, and we don't know when he'll return, my lady," the guard explained.
He went to the border without even telling me? Even though he was angry at me, he should have informed me. And once again, I slept alone for the night. I felt uneasy. I felt lonely.
The next morning, as I woke up, my first thought was of Regan. Traveling to the border might take several days, but I hoped he would return soon. I wasn't sure how much longer I could bear this loneliness.
"Has his highness returned?" I inquired of one of the night guards, hoping for some news after enduring another sleepless night.
"No, my lady," he replied, and I returned to bed, feeling utterly devastated.
****
Four nights have passed, and Regan still hadn't returned. Now, I was really scared. What if something bad happened to him, and that's why he's taking so long? Nobody seemed concerned about his absence. Neither his brothers nor his father, the emperor. Everything remained unchanged, and it terrified me. Did they plan this too? Did they send him to the border with ill intentions? I heard he was even going alone, and it all started to make sense.
Oh God, please... Keep him safe, I prayed, closing my eyes and hoping to fall asleep. But it never worked anymore. Every time I tried to sleep, I had to go through a self-reflective moment just to find some rest. And tonight was no different.
So I decided not to dwell on my thoughts and took a walk around the castle. I threw off the covers and left the room, wandering through the long hallway that led to various parts of the castle.
I paused when I heard voices coming from a particular room. I hid behind the closed door and started to listen.
"I love him, mother. I really do!" a voice I recognized echoed in the room, followed by an angry response.
"You must be crazy, Elle! Have you heard those terrible things about him? Can't you see how evil he is?" Ellena's mother snarled in a furious tone.
"I don't care about any of that, mother. I just want to be with him... Please, mother... I'm begging you," Elle cried, her desperation evident. Her mother let out a sigh.
"Ellena, I can't allow you to marry him. Not while I'm alive," her mother said. Ellena walked up to her and kneeled down in front of her.
"Please... Mother, please."
"Oh, Ellena, he's already married now. I can't let you become a second wife. There are plenty of men out there who are captivated by your beauty," her mother said, adapting a softer tone as she gently patted her hair.
"Pull yourself together. Tomorrow, you'll be meeting some suitors. They will treat you much better than Prince Regan ever could," she continued, and before I knew it, a gasp escaped my lips. My hand flew to covered my mouth as surprise stole the air from my lungs.
The voices fell silent, and a heavy stillness filled the room. Soon, I heard footsteps approaching the door. I quickly darted behind a nearby wall, hiding myself from view. Ellena opened the door and glanced in both directions. When she didn't see anyone, she closed the door.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly made my way back to my room, no longer wanting to hear any more of their conversation.
So, Ellena was interested in my husband. Could that be the reason for Regan's sudden change in attitude towards me?
Speaking of beauty, she was undeniably pretty. However, I believed that I was even prettier than her. But she seemed to have it all. Everything a man could desire and be willing to fight for. She wasn't weak like me. I wondered if Regan would be able to resist her charms.
Now, I would have to share him with a woman like Ellena.