Everyday felt like hell, and every meal felt like a punishment to me. I was there again at the dinning, sitting across the table from my so-called family. The king, his second wife and my half-brothers.
My gaze was buried into the food and I could hardly breathe. The air at the table was hard…I could feel my step mother's gaze on me.
Even though I wasn't looking into her eyes, I could swear that she was staring at me with hatred in her eyes. She hated my mother and I and that witch wasn't hiding it.
But who would blame her?
I blame my father for all of this. I blame his greed.
Shouldn't I have been enough for him? What's wrong with having a female child?
I guess I appear to be nothing better than an asset meant to be sold out one day to my father that he had to take in another wife only a few days after I was born.
Everytime I ate at that table, I felt hated. I felt choked and most times, I felt threatened by their presence.
But I wouldn't even dare to leave the table. I would only receive an ear full from my father, saying I'm rude and disrespectful towards his wife.
Sigh.
I thought life as a princess was meant to be much better. I sincerely thought being born as a princess meant being loved and pampered. I had always dreamed and longed to be adored like other princesses from other villages. I thought princesses would have their father, the king by their side but the case was different for me.
The only thing that I had was my mother, the woman who has suffered so much to raise me even though we live in the palace. Instead of all the luxury and wealth, what my mother and I got was nothing but reproach and constant mockery because I'm a girl. We had to feed from their left overs. Wear the clothes my stepmother rejected and use the jewelry she no longer likes.
I looked down at myself and then up at her. The difference was there. She wore a purple elegant dress, revealing her cleavages and curves. It was tight all the way down to her knees and only free downwards. She always reminded my mother that she was thin and ugly compared to her.
But why wouldn't she?
My mother hardly eats. She spends most of her time crying and referring back to when my father used to love her. The thinking was gradually killing her. I knew I was my mother's only hope but one day, my father would sell me off for marriage and she would be left alone.
But all of this didn't hurt as much as it did that my father never speaks to me. I only get to hear his voice whenever he's talking to my brothers or better still, scolding me.
But that day, for the first time in a while, I heard my name roll off his tongue and for a second, my heart raced. "Aurora," he called flatly.
I slowly raised my head. "Yes, your highness," I answered, offering a slight bow.
My throat was dry and my voice was slightly inaudible. It felt as if I forced those words out of my throat….even my body wasn't used to talking to him.
I know his voice wasn't filled with much love at that point, but at least he wasn't raising his voice at me. I looked into my father's eyes for a second before I lowered my gaze, wondering why he had called my name.
"Your mother and I had a discussion and we have finally come to a conclusion," Father said and my eyes widened with excitement.
For a second, it felt like all my pain had faded away.
"You spoke with my mother?" I asked, with my voice and eyes rushing with a mix of excitement and surprise.
The joy in my heart immediately flushed away when Queen Venessa, my father's wife hissed at me. "And who has the time to waste talking to her? He was referring to me. Not that waste," She answered and I felt like strangling her to death.
But deep down, I know I wouldn't dare.
Trying to hide my anger I forced a smile through my lips. I didn't want to get on dad's bad side.
"And what did you both talk about, your highness?" I asked with my heart racing.
I know whatever Queen Venessa was involved in wouldn't be anything good. I sucked in my lips, prepared for the worse to happen.
"We have decided that you and Raya (my mother) should move out of the palace, probably to somewhere far away, but you can still be within the village," Father said. The moment he said those words, I could feel the last drop of love that I had for him fade away.
My whole body shook with anger and frustration.
So now it has gotten to this.
"What did we do? Did anyone say we did anything? Did we offend Queen Venessa? Did Anthony and Alfred report us?" I asked and I immediately fell on my knees.
I had tears rolling out my eyes. In no time, I was overwhelmed with fear. Not because of myself, but my mother. It is more than enough pain that she has to deal with being abandoned but now we're being kicked out?
I doubt that she would be able to handle the pain. I crawled from where I was towards my father. "Father, please, I beg you. The palace is all that my mother has. If it's anything that we have done, we are willing to pay the price. Punish us if you want to," I cried, hoping things would change.
But like I didn't exist, they all continued eating their meals. I looked at father his eyes were just as cold as they always were. He sat comfortably in his black luxurious rob, acting like I wasn't there.
I looked into Queen Venessa's eyes maybe she would at least show mercy this time and act less of a witch, but instead, she ordered Alfred and Anthony to kick me out.
They walked towards me with that same resentment in their eyes. They were a year younger, but way taller than I was. They had smooth skin and silk hair. Their blue eyes were just perfect, like their mothers. I could hardly tell them apart. They looked so much alike, but no matter how good looking they are, it doesn't change the fact that they are evil.
Pure evil.
They grabbed me by my arms.
"Father, please! Forgive us!"
I cried….I begged my father but he didn't spare me a glance. I snatched myself from their grip and ran out of the dinning hall. I heard their loud laughter the moment I left.
They were happy that we were getting kicked out.
I held my green dress and ran through the corridor with my eyes streaming with tears. I needed to see my mother.
All the maids stared at me like I was an abomination…they treated me far from the way a princess should be treated.
But at that point, I didn't have the time to correct anyone. I needed to see my mother and tell her what Queen Venessa had done.
I barged into the last room on the left. The smallest room in the palace where my mother and I had to share.
The moment I walked into the room, I felt my whole life flash before my very own eyes. My whole body stiffened and my legs refused to move. My brain felt numb and I felt a sting in my heart.
I found my mother rolling on the ground. Her whole body looked pale and she had blood running down her nose. She coughed out blood and stretched her hand, trying to reach out to me.
She was in pain.
Pure pain.