Alexia lay on her bed, half asleep, still reeling from the nightmare that had just jolted her awake. Fearful of drifting off to sleep and succumbing to another terrifying dream, she kept her eyes closed, her mind filled with thoughts of how to escape.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a dark figure slipped into the room.
Alexia's brows furrowed slightly, but she remained still, her eyes shut tight.
The figure moved with deliberate slowness, its presence seeming to fill the space. With a soft thud, the door closed behind it, enveloping the room in an eerie silence.
She heard the footsteps echoing off the wooden floor, drawing closer with each passing moment. Suddenly she felt the space on the bed next to her sink . A hand slowly traced her skin, sending shivers down her spine. Her heart raced as her eyes snapped open, and she found herself face to face with an ugly man looming over her.
She recalled seeing him at the training grounds, he seemed to be called Orian.
He stared at her with a lecherous gaze and sinister grin. His hands continued to draw circles on her skin, his fingers tracing paths that made her skin crawl.
She shuddered with disgust, having heard rumors that some men preferred feminine-looking boys, but she never thought she'd experience it firsthand. Yet, here she was, face to face with the unpleasant reality. The uninvited visitor, Orian, even had the audacity to sneak into her room in the dead of night.
"What are you doing?" She instinctively recoiled, shifting away from him.
Orian's smile grew wider as he leaned in closer. "I think you know exactly what I'm doing. So, how about it? I promise to make you very satisfied."
"Are you crazy?" Alexia snapped. "I'm not into that, now scram!" But Orian didn't listen, continuing to crawl closer with an unsettling grin.
Alexia's frustration boiled over. She sprang from the bed and threw a fist at him, catching him off guard. He collapsed on the bed, out cold.
"Ugh, disgusting pig!" She wrinkled her nose in distaste.
She couldn't help feeling frustrated. 'I'm not safe as a girl, and I'm still not safe dressed as a boy...this is so frustrating!' But then, a thought struck her. "Wait, this might actually be a good thing."
With newfound determination, she began to tear at her clothes, ripping them forcefully. She scratched her skin, leaving visible marks on her body. Finally, she sat on the floor, her chest heaving, breathless.
She smashed a lamp on the floor and let out a loud yell, "Ahhhh...!"
The door burst open, and people rushed in, hastily lighting a lamp to reveal the chaotic scene before them.
A young boy sat on the floor, clothes torn and battered, with bruises and finger marks covering his skin. Meanwhile, a burly man lay unconscious on the bed.
As soon as she saw the people rush into the room, Alexia sprang to her feet and sprinted towards a middle-aged woman among them, throwing her arms around her and bursting into tears.
"It's okay, my child, it's okay. Tell me what happened here," the woman asked, patting her back calmly.
Alexia pulled back from the hug, her tears streaming down her face as she pointed at the burly man. "He...he sneaked into my room while I was asleep and crawled into my bed..." she stammered, struggling to continue.
The woman encouraged her, "It's okay, just continue."
She took a deep breath and nodded. "He started touching me all over my body, and I woke up. I asked him what he was doing in my room, and he said...he said he was here to satisfy me." Her voice cracked as she tried to hold back tears. "I didn't understand, and he didn't explain. He just started tearing my clothes..."
At this point, she burst into tears again, sobbing loudly. But she quickly composed herself, wiping her tears away with her sleeve.
The crowd couldn't help but stare at the burly man with disgust, shaking their heads bitterly.
"I told him to stop, but he didn't," Alexia continued, her voice trembling. "Out of instinct, I grabbed the nearby lamp and slammed it on his head."
She turned back to the middle-aged lady, embracing her tightly as the tears continued streaming down her face. "I didn't know what to do" she wailed.
"How can such disgusting men exist?" A middle-aged man growled loudly, slamming his hand on the wall in anger.
The servants gazed at the unconscious Orian, their eyes blazing with fury.
"We can't let such scum live," someone snarled. "They'll destroy the prince's reputation."
Suddenly, a dagger flew out of the crowd and struck Orian in the heart. Blood spurted from his mouth, and his head tilted to the side as he rolled to the floor, dead.
"Ah!"
The crowd gasped in unison, their eyes fixed on the spot where the dagger had flown from. They saw Lucien standing calmly, his gaze fixed coldly on the lifeless body of Orian. A faint frown creased his brow, betraying his dissatisfaction.
"Good evening, my lord," the servants chimed in unison, bowing their heads in respect.
Lucien acknowledged them with a nod before turning his attention to Alexia. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she met his emotionless dead eyes, it was as if he could see though her scheme, but she quickly composed herself.
With tears still streaming down her face, she rushed towards Lucien and knelt before him, her hands clasped together.
"Thank you, my lord," She sobbed, her eyes pleading. "Thank you for doing me justice, but I don't think I can stay here anymore. It's not safe for me. I want to go home." She gazed up at Lucien, hope flickering in her eyes.
But Lucien's expression remained unfazed, his eyes cold and detached. He stared down at her, kicking her gently away from his feet as if squatting a fly. "You will stay here until His Highness orders you to come out, understood?"
Alexia's face fell, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "Yes, my lord,"
Lucien gave her one final, disapproving stare before turning and walking away.
'This little boy was really good at causing drama.'
Alexia's expression was downcast, her eyes fixed on the floor. The surrounding crowd couldn't help but stare at her with pity, their faces etched with concern.
The middle-aged woman approached her, bending down to meet her height. She gently grasped Alexia's chin, raising it slightly to meet her gaze. "It's okay, dear," she said softly. "The prince isn't as bad as people think. Since he told you to stay here, he definitely has good plans for you."
Good plans? More like a death sentence. She knew the truth - she was a thief, and her presence here was a danger. If the woman knew her true identity, she would likely turn on her too.
But of course, Alexia didn't show her true thoughts on her face, instead letting out a small smile for the woman.
"That's my boy," She nodded in approval.
Then, she turned to some of the men nearby and pointed at the lifeless body of Orian. "Pick up the body and toss it into the forest. Such pigs don't deserve to buried."
The men nodded, "Yes, ma'am," and walked over to the body, dragging it out of the room. It seemed like the woman held some authority, commanding the men with ease.
She gave Alexia one last glance before walking out, shutting the door behind her.
Alexia lay on the floor, her hands wrapped around her knees, as she quietly anticipated about tomorrow.