As Fanaza slept peacefully on Percival's bed, she had no idea whether she was awake or asleep, but she could hear voices that clouded her thoughts every single second.
Her body shifted slightly under the weight of the soft sheets, and her face twitched as though reacting to sounds only she could hear.
She couldn't tell who it was, but judging by the conversation, she knew who it was coming from.
"You don't even like her; she's just an item that you can throw around!" Lyon screamed at his brother. His voice was loud and full of anger, rising like fire in the hallway.
Fanaza stirred uneasily, her brow furrowing.
"Or does she know about your last betrothed? You beheaded her?"
That last word from Lyon jolted Fanaza awake. Her eyes flew open in a second, and her breath was caught in her throat. She sat up abruptly, chest rising and falling in sharp gasps.
Her hands clutched at the bedsheets as if her life depended on the grip.
She was sure she was fully awake as she sucked in deep breaths, trying to calm herself. But the words still lingered, and it created an unshakeable sense of dread.
"Beheaded," she muttered, her voice shaky and barely audible.
From the hallway, muffled sounds of the confrontation continued.
"Lyon, I know you and common sense are two worlds apart and I don't care, but here's a warning: I'm going to ignore this because mother pleaded, but the next time I see you with her, I'll make sure you never have to run that useless mouth of yours," Percival snapped.
He held his neck tightly, and poor Lyon struggled to breathe, gasping for air as his hands reached up in panic. Percival didn't let go of him; he watched him struggle and plead for help.
The queen rushed into their midst and wanted to separate them, her footsteps quick and calculated, but Percival was too strong for her. She couldn't succeed at that moment.
"Let your brother go," she pleaded.
And finally, Percival released him, pushing him hard to the floor. Lyon crashed down with a grunt, coughing and rubbing his neck, his eyes full of venom.
He walked away, and Lyon spoke.
"Don't tell me you are already developing feelings for her," he hissed and walked away.
Inside the room, Percival entered and saw Fanaza sitting upright on the bed. Her arms were wrapped around her knees, and her eyes, which were wide and alert, met his.
The moment he stepped in, she felt uncomfortable and uneasy. Those words from Lyon were no joke to her.
He glanced at her once and looked the other way, his expression unreadable.
"Where is Sally?" she whispered, trying to cut off the weird and awkward silence.
"So your maid is the first thing you have to say?" Percival raised an eyebrow.
"What were you expecting, a thank you? I still haven't forgotten how selfish you can be," she said, adjusting her cloth and wanting to leave the room, but a strong pain made her sit back on the bed.
The pain from last night's whip. Her face twisted in agony, and she winced as she pressed a hand to her side.
"You need to rest," Percival's voice rang out.
"I can't. Sally will be hanged this morning." Fear consumed her immediately.
She tried to stand up, but she couldn't. The pain was intense. Her legs trembled as she held the edge of the bed for support.
"I know she's important, and since we'll be getting married soon, it's only right I keep my wife's favourite person around," he said.
Fanaza stared at him in shock, trying to understand deeply what he said.
"She is alive," she whispered in doubt.
"Why don't you find out yourself?" he said calmly.
"Why are you being nice all of a sudden?" she asked.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm not nice, Fanaza," he said while leaning closer to her, their breath brushing against each other's skin. Fanaza pushed him aside.
"Thank you," she said forcefully.
"I didn't see you after that night, the night we saved Sage," she started.
" I went on a mission." he replied softly.
"Ohhh." She scratched her cheek lightly.
"The cloaked man, who is he to you? Judging by what happened, you two seem pretty close to be random strangers," he said.
"It is nothing to worry about; we're just friends," she replied immediately, not giving any room for suspicions from Percival.
He suspected something was going on between them, and he raised his brows.
"If you have anything going on, it is advisable you stop. I don't share my woman," he said firmly. His gaze seemed like it had flames rushing out, and Fanaza swallowed her breath hard.
Was that a threat? she thought.
"And who gave you the right to call me that?"
"Wife is very stubborn; it would be easier to speak to a goat than speaking you," he said.
"Well, why don't you marry it then?" she said with a smile and stood up. She felt the sharp pain all over her body but promised herself she would hide it, slowly she walked out of the room.
Percival stared at her as she left. A huge smirk appeared on his lips.
As she left, his eyes moved close to the bed where she had lain. He saw a letter, picked it up, and opened it, and what he saw made his blood boil.
The letter had no receiver written on it, and Fanaza had forgotten it in her dress. When she had undressed last night, the letter must have dropped. Percival was confused as to who owns the letter or who she was writing to, but he suspected it was a man judging by the words in the letter.
He became furious.
Percival picked it up and tore it open. It was full of love confessions. He was disgusted at this point and stormed out of the room, walking towards Fanaza, who struggled to walk due to the pain.
He pulled her back forcefully, and Fanaza winced in pain.
She stared into his eyes, and they were pretty serious and mean.
"Who were you writing to?" Percival asked, showing her the letter.
Fanaza's feet shook, and she steadied herself by the wall.
"Who owns this?" Percival spoke out, not calm or gentle but with a low growl.
Fanaza knew the letter was for Rwaine, and she was planning on learning how to send a bird to deliver letters. She kept on missing him, but Rwaine always scolded her like a little child anytime she sneaked out of the palace to see him.
So she felt writing a letter would be the best option for reaching out—but she got caught. Not just by anyone, but by her future husband.
Well played, Fanaza.
"I wrote it to Sally," she lied; her throat tightened after those words escaped her mouth.
"I'm not stupid. This is a confession letter: 'You have been on my mind all day, and I can't stop thinking about you. Your presence makes me joyful and whole,'" he read out and smirked.
"So this is for your useless maid?"
"She is not useless; please mind your language."
"Whatever this is, I want you to stop. If you truly care about your loved ones, I don't share my woman," he replied, dead serious and staring right into her eyes, closing the gap between them.
Percival tore the letter into pieces and threw it at her.
She stood still, looking scared and worried.
How did he find the letter? She hissed and murmured.
As Fanaza struggled to balance herself, she saw the eyes of the maids on her whispering. She could hear their voices.
"Is she having an affair with both the princes?" she heard them speak.
"I heard she slept with Prince Lyon."
Fanaza stood midway, and they all stopped whispering.
"Why is this palace so annoying!" she screamed out loud and hurried away.
As time went by, she also realised one thing, a reality that was very hard to believe: even though she was to marry the crown prince, she didn't have any power, and she was just a normal person, anyone could speak to her mannerlessly, even the maids.
Her title as the daughter of the most successful and famous clan leader was nothing in this palace; imagine those maids gossiping right in front of her.
She swallowed her breath hard, and her steps were fast as she ran back to her room; she saw Sally from afar.
"Sally!" she screamed.
"My lady!" Sally screamed back and ran towards her. They hugged, and she groaned in pain.
"I am so sorry I caused this." Sally said with tears welling up her eyes.
"Did he beat you?" Fanaza asked when she saw the bruises on her body.
"It is nothing to worry about. I'll go prepare a warm bath for you," she said.
"No, you don't have to—"
Before she completed her words, Sally had already run away.
******
Sally ran to the kitchen to boil the water.
She carried the water in a kettle, and as she tried to take it to the other side, she ran into Prince Kael who dressed causally and made it hard for anyone to believe he was a prince.
They both ran into each other, and she fell right into his arms. He caught her in time and this felt like a dream for Sally as they stared right into each other's eyes.
She pushed him away a bit.
"I am so sorry, but you shouldn't be here. You should leave. It's for maids, and men are not allowed into the kitchen. Someone please get him out," she said calmly.
She had no idea who Kael was, and had no physical or important encounter with him in the past. But she noticed her words made the other maids shiver and murmur.
"He is the second prince," a maid whispered .
Sally froze in shock and immediately knelt down.
"Forgive me, my prince. I had no idea it was you in the uniform," she begged for mercy.
Kael was quiet for a while before saying.
"I'm in charge here, so you have to follow my rules. I already heard about you from other maids. And if we want to work together, you have to submit," his gentle and calm voice rang out loudly like the village bell.
Such a gentle man.
"Yes, my prince," Sally said.
Kael stared right into her eyes; she felt uncomfortable at some point before he finally left to oversee the dishing and plating of the food. She breathed out heavily.
********
Nightfall came; Sally and Fanaza sat quietly outside their chambers, receiving fresh air as the gentle breeze lifted strands of their hair.
The moonlight bathed Fanaza's skin in silver. Sally sat behind her, carefully braiding her hair with quiet focus.
"I want to send a message through a carrier pigeon," Fanaza said suddenly.
Sally blinked, pausing mid-braid.
"What?" she blurted out.
"Are you still going to try writing to Father?" she asked, curiosity laced with concern.
"Not him. I just want to do it" Fanaza said, her voice low, almost wistful.
"Okay… You didn't tell me about Crown Prince Percival."
Fanaza sighed, then rolled her eyes.
"Trust me, there is nothing special about him."
"But he is so tall and handsome," Sally teased with a slight giggle.
"Those are just physical features. His insides are rotten—as well as Lyon's."
Sally and Fanaza laughed loudly. Their voices echoed across the stone walls under the quiet stars.
"Sally, can I ask you something?" Fanaza asked, suddenly turning serious.
"Yes, my lady," Sally replied, setting the braid down gently and leaning closer.
"Would it be wrong if I fell for someone else?"
"You mean falling in love with someone else?" Sally asked.
"Yes, Sally."
Sally looked down, folding her hands in her lap. Her voice softened.
"My lady, I care about your happiness, I also care about your well-being. As long as you are in this palace, you are restricted. And trust me—once a wedding date is fixed, there is no turning back anymore. Whoever you have those feelings for, or who you sneak out to see, you should put a stop to it," she said.
Fanaza turned her head slowly, eyes gleaming with the truth she had held back for so long.
"Sally, I can't. He completes me. And I just feel things I've never felt from anyone else."
"Rwaine," Sally said, as if it had always been obvious.
"How do you even know about him?" Fanaza asked, eyes widening.
"You scream out his name in most of your dreams," Sally whispered with a teasing smile.
"I love him, Sally. And I am sure of it, just like how sure I am of you."
"Does he treat you well? And is he handsome? That's also an important criterion." Sally continued braiding her hair.
"Yes, he does," Fanaza answered with a soft smile.
"Whatever you want to do, my lady, I will be here supporting you," Sally said, kissing her cheek affectionately.
"Stop that is disgusting!" Fanaza cringed playfully.
"This," Sally said and kissed her cheek again.
They both burst into laughter under the moonlight, their bond warm and unshakeable.
"I really wish I could cancel the marriage," Fanaza said, her voice low and aching.
"I also wish you were allowed to marry the man of your choice and dreams," Sally said, holding her hands gently.
A guard walked into their midst and bowed respectfully.
"Lady Fanaza," he said formally.
She lifted her head, brows narrowing.
"My prince wants to see your maid. Please grant her the privilege."
Fanaza looked stunned and suspicious.
"If it is Lyon, she is not going," she said firmly, her protective instincts kicking in.
"No, my lady," the guard responded quickly.
"I made the request myself; I hope you don't mind?" Kael's voice rang out, startling them all as they looked over to see the handsome prince.
"My prince," Sally bowed, and so did Fanaza. Kael nodded in return.
Fanaza wasn't pleased with it. Her stomach twisted with unease. She feared it might mean something bad for Sally. But she remembered the words of the maids—how kind, gentle, and easygoing Kael was. Still, she hesitated.
Eventually, she gave in. She couldn't reject his words.
"Okay… You will have her back before ten," Kael said with quiet firmness.
"Shall we?" Kael said to Sally, and she nodded politely.
They both walked away, their footsteps light but echoing. Fanaza couldn't stop staring at them until they were out of sight.
Kael and Sally walked into a garden. The air was thick with the scent of blooming flowers, and fireflies danced in the corners of the hedges.
"This is too beautiful for someone like me to have a presence here," Sally said softly, awed by the quiet glow.
"It is just a garden, nothing special," he said.
"Why did you call for me, my liege?" she bowed, unsure of what to expect.
"When we are together, you can just call me Kael. I'll appreciate that more. I'm not really a fan of this royal respect. Everyone's equal," he said.
Sally walked forward slowly and saw a small dinner setting laid out. Her eyes widened.
"I am sorry—I can't be here," she said, her voice quick and nervous. She turned to leave, but Kael gently pulled her back.
"Forgive me for touching you, but please accept this little dinner," he said softly and walked toward the table.
Sally followed quietly, her eyes scanning the setup. Kael drew a chair out for her to sit. She obeyed silently, still unsure what to make of it all.
He settled and served her a few dishes. She kept on staring at him in shock.
"You seem surprised?" he asked.
"I really don't understand what is going on," she admitted.
"This is cheers to us working together in the royal kitchen."
"Are you a good cook?" she asked, still watching him cautiously.
"I love cooking; you should try my spit-roasted venison." Kael said proudly.
"Why did you call me here, my prince?" she asked again, more direct this time.
"My mother's birthday is coming up, and I am to supervise the whole cooking. I heard from the maids you are the best cook around here, so I feel we'll make a great team," he said.
Sally didn't say a word. She just stared at him. He was handsome, she thought, and for a moment, she forgot he was a prince.
Reality dawned on her; he only wanted them to make a good team and work hard for his mother's birthday, not seeking a close bond."
She forced a smile and closed her teeth.
*******
Back in her room, Fanaza sat at her table, candlelight flickering as she picked up a quill pen. Her hand trembled and she couldn't resist it anymore. She began writing the message.
She called the bird, gently tying the scroll to its leg, and whispered something soft.
The bird took flight into the night.
Far away in the cave, Rwaine stood outside, watching the trees sway. A small rustle caught his attention.
He looked up—and there it was.
A bird landed beside him. Curious, he reached for the letter. His lips parted slowly but it wasn't a smile.
She had sent him a message