's

ink I was going to

is eyes narrowed and zoning in on

s how this wedding n

mercilessness in him. Almost as if he is readying himself to be

wanted to willi

nbelievably small. However, his hand in my hair tightens, not allowing me to

His other hand comes forward and lightly caresses my cheek. The

. He rubs his fingers together, and a small smile makes way o

s smile

isgust me. However, next time you try to kiss me, ther

kiss. By humiliating me like this and forcing himself into my personal space, he is getting back to

The movement is too sharp, and I am not expecting it. My head twists to

painfully odd angle. However, moments before it is about to happe

y head, easily breaking the fall, even as he pushes me down on the bed. The

to his actions. He hurt me so brutally with his words, but the way he holds my neck right now is almost gentle. As if my

ssion tight and unreadable. For a moment,

, underneath all that cruelty, this is some ... tenderness? Maybe,

tightens. It is a primal gesture. Not meant to hurt but to subdue. Then, once

ake me

ruptly getting up and s

ding dress feels too heavy and suffocating on my body. I just stare at the c

isgus

ake m

g in the ocean, and wave over wave of freezing water

interacted with in this mansion come through the door. She is the same maid who always brings my

ill in my wedding dress, and a condes

with such force that the soup sloshes over the bowl and into the tray.

litely, wondering if this attempt to engage with her would go

gs to do than babysit t

them that for a moment, I have nothing to say. Slowly, I realize what is ha

s fought to be able to get the opportunity to serve the new Queen. It was supposed to be an honor! But now I realize, it is nothing but a disgrace.

bury my hands in the duvet below me and squeeze so tight that my finge

uel people how much they

. The moment the door shuts behind her, my shoulders slump. Numbly, I pick myself

ring there. It feels like blood, but it couldn't have been, because I am not bleeding from anywhere. The onl

is be hi

ight sky, casting an eerie glow that m

go back into my room, shutting off all thoughts. Like a robot, I pic

h all of this, I need

feel strong. Instead, I feel impossibly fragile.

Alexander's painful wor

st feels

the few belongings that I still have with me. It is a small tape re

was something I had seen in one of the mos

soon as I saw it through the glass enclosure, and then quickly tryin

fifteenth birthday, she had brought it t

ows how many hours she worked, how she saved every penny, only so I

and her angelic vo

ppy birthday to you. Happ

n my birthday - the last one I'd spent with her. After that, I never heard her sing. All I saw were

ve, but nev

e anything for her to b

d once again her soft voic

deep, no moun

ve in yourself a

down my cheeks. It was one of the songs my mother create

y mother's arms instead. I mouth the words she sings

______

is wrong even b

dly cold

on instinct, my hand j

find i

it upright. Alarmed, I hurriedly pick

s n

side tables, even the corners of the room.

oat feels itchy. The sense of loss I feel

the doorway. I turn around to find the maid

ts as my eyes

it when I came to give you your breakfast and thought; t

- slightly burnt eggs and cold toast

a whisper. "You can have everyt

s clearly enjoying the power it gives her, and I'd be happy to

sion twists, and

t is nearly as valuable. So, I think I will be k

me as I realize there

e let go. But not this. No

for it. The maid is not expecting that, and she loses her grip on the re

throat, as it comes to a sto

deep, no moun

ve in yourself a

ls the room that has

ntil they lock with the icy c

him slowly lower his eyes until they

ops me as I see

at is he g