I was invited to see the empress again. I was extremely terrified; she was probably angry because of what happened yesterday. I didn't know what their plan was, but thanks to that prince, I escaped.
"Greetings, your majesty," I said, curtseying in front of the empress.
"Ah, yes, Lady Alden," she said, gesturing to the chair in front of her. I took my seat and waited patiently for whatever she would throw at me. "I heard of what happened yesterday," she said. Here it comes. "Thank you for alerting the guards," she said, to my surprise.
"It was nothing, your majesty." Even though I could have taken care of it myself, I didn't want to help him.
"You can stay in the palace for as long as you want; the royal family is in your debt," she said.
"Thank you, your majesty, but I would like to leave and return to my research," I said politely.
"You can go, but not today. There is a little issue in the stables. Why don't you leave tomorrow?" she asked. Will I die this night or something?
"That's not a problem, your majesty," I replied, dreading the minutes that followed.
"Well, I don't want to keep you. Why don't you look around the palace while you're here?" she suggested, but I knew I didn't have a choice. "Who's there?"
"Yes, your majesty," a maid walked in with her head bent low.
"Take Lady Alden on a small tour around the palace," she instructed, and the maid nodded.
"Thank you for your hospitality, your majesty," I said, standing up. I curtsied and was out the door the next minute.
We walked around different parts of the large palace, and the maid explained some things to me, all of which went over my head. I just nodded and followed her with my mind stuck on the many possibilities for the day.
Will they kill me? Torture me? Use me as a bargaining chip? I don't know, and I'm not curious.
We walked around, and when I finally went back, it was evening. The palace was very large. We didn't go everywhere, but it took hours. It was a total waste of my day because I couldn't remember anything she said, mainly because I wasn't paying attention.
I cleaned up and walked to the dining room. I stopped at the door and sighed before walking in.
"Good evening, your highness," I said, curtseying. The first prince turned and smiled brightly. He didn't know how terrified I was.
"Lady Alden, please," he gestured to a seat. "I came here to apologize for yesterday. I am really embarrassed," he said, and I nodded.
Dinner was served, and I just played around with the food because I was too uncomfortable to eat anything. I took a few bites, drank water, and that was it.
"I had a long day today and would like to go to bed early. Please excuse me, your highness," I said, standing.
"Sure, I don't want to keep you here," he said, and I nodded.
I walked out and made my way to my room but suddenly felt drowsy. I stumbled a bit but caught myself and held onto the wall. What's going on?
"You have strong resistance to sedatives, but not for long," I heard from behind me.
"W…" I tried speaking, but everything around me felt like it was spinning.
"Mother has a good story: Alden's adopted daughter seduces the first prince and requests to marry into the royal family," he said, grabbing my hand. I pushed him away and stepped back but was too weak to move any further. "Stop resisting. If everything works as planned, I'll suppress that idiot Teon for good. He might have everyone's support, but if I marry Alden's daughter, that would be a plus for me," he said, grabbing my hand again.
I knew something like this would happen; it wasn't something I could control. In the end, I didn't help anyone and just caused more problems for them.
"Just stop resisting already," I heard as a large hand connected with my face. My body shouldn't get any weaker.
I turned to look at him, snapping back to reality. I dragged my hand away and tried to run, but he grabbed my hair and pushed me down.
"Look, you won't ruin things for me, understand?" he shouted. I have experienced worse things than this and will experience more if I don't get away. But where will I run to?
I stopped resisting and stood up quietly. What's the point in fighting? I'd just tell Mother to disown me, and that problem would be solved.
"Good, do you understand your…" he was still saying when someone pulled me back and stood in front of me. What's going on?
"H… how… how dare you?" Augus shouted.
'I feel dizzy.'
"You dare…"
"I'll hit you again if you don't leave now." Teon?
I looked up and saw Teon's white hair. I looked down and grabbed my dress tightly. I was just a nuisance to them. If he hadn't come, who knows what would have happened?
"T…" I was about to speak when I felt a sharp pain in my chest. 'Not now.' I felt everything spin and fell on the floor, blacking out.
…
I opened my eyes and saw the roof of a carriage. I blinked twice and tried to sit up, but someone held me back.
"You shouldn't get up," I heard Teon's voice and turned my head. My eyes met his, and that's when I realized my head was on his lap.
"T… thank you," I said, looking away. My face felt like it was burning.
"I only heard you were in the palace yesterday; if I had known, I would have gone there earlier," he said. I sat up and looked at him.
"Still… thank you. You saved me," I said.
"It's fine," he said, and I nodded, looking down as I clenched my fists. "Are you okay? You passed out," he said.
"I think they put something in my food. I'm sure it's nothing," I replied. It wasn't a complete lie, but telling the truth was out of the question for now.
"I'm sorry you had to experience that," Teon said, surprising me. Why is he apologizing? I stared at him, feeling shocked.
I didn't realize it because I was lost in thoughts, but my body just moved on its own, and I held his face. To comfort him? I wasn't sure, but he looked really sad.
When I realized what I had done, I stiffened. What's wrong with me? I drew my hand back quickly and moved away.
Why did I do that?