The Masked Princess Bound To The King She Hates

't bring any re

hts. The burden of the day was heavy upon her breast--the marriage, the feast, the never-ending

y. Initially, it was merely the stillness. Then she heard the regular rhythm o

sleep, there was nothing casual about him. His face was determined, his pose stiff, so th

it eluded her. Whenever she shut her eyes, the memories came back to her-flames, screams, the

nd that was what she was doing still. However, this night was different. It

uched her, and slipped away again. She awoke her eyes. The room appeared the same, but the

er how close he was. Too near. Her eyes went back to him, to his back, to the scar which she could just make

aid. But she had known.At least. she thoug

ghts back. No. She could not spare the suspicion. Skeptic

and disjointed. Whenever she fell asleep, she woke up. Whenever she awoke, she loo

ght made

adn't moved. His breathing was regular. But t

t started

fting slightly beneath her, but

e quiet and restrained. The chill of the surface on which she

ight and calculated, and she listened to see whethe

sky was black and silent, and the dim silhouette of the palace grounds was

don't

she instantly stood still. Sh

y, she

g down, but sat up, and looke

lse qui

p, she said

at f

r was calm

ong, s

use.

g eno

Queen Ella clenched together. And so he had been

to sleep? s

hout haste, as though he h

thou wouldost

ran along

at have y

astily, not menacingl

he said, and took another step. That you wake frequentl

front of her, c

voice a little lower, you a

with her heart thuddin

ul, you are wat

re wary, h

between them that was

he stret

g her face, it touched her wrist, only once,--enough to m

d. Of cour

aid, he said

hdrew her hand.

f m

Ye

o easy. King Augusti

" he

ce was def

st no fe

Queen Ella came

at is it

er, longer pause

ruth.

Queen Ella was aware of it--painful and rough

ndow, soft and pale, inevitable. The night was o

ead around, and looked at

n't sleep

her di

change in his fac

, unlike y

wled a little.

ponse wa

ed to s

time it was not fear. It was not t

upted by a sharp

ou, Your Majesty. Th

n't look away from

aid, tell t

Your Ma

away, and sile

ot for

ar enough that she could feel the warmth of his presenc

t on her mask and then

hee, I will as

of Queen

remove

re, slow and deliberat

at will

ut she didn't move. She couldn't move. Something had

od and look

find thy que

len

pression--not faith, not un

he droppe

, it was not a dist

ight, I said

shiver. They were not a cul

till a-throbbing, her mind confused. He was coming nearer--nearer than she had intended,

ned and close

first one she had breathed si

heavy and inevitable--m

le to conceal herself before t