Chapter 1: The Princess Has Fled

Lya’s P.O.V

That day, like the previous one, I wake up screaming. My heart rate is completely erratic, and I am covered in sweat. In my head, the cries of my parents, brothers and sisters still echo. I hope they will not haunt me until the end of my day.

There is a knock on my door and a young maid enters. She helps me get ready while refraining from commenting on my appearance. But I can see that she feels sorry or pity for me. My long white hair has become dull, and my blue eyes have lost their sparkle.

Once ready, I follow her through the castle corridors, my mind elsewhere. After crying for my family for an entire week, my eyes are now dry. My mind is as clear as possible and I have a plan in mind. I glance outside through the immense windows. The sun shines intensely as if trying to warm me up. I can see the animals and servants bustling outside. They live their lives as if nothing has changed, far from my concerns.

Even though I have lost my entire family, life goes on. And I must fight for mine now.

My stomach tightens painfully when I see the swing, as well as the garden table with its wrought iron chairs. I can still hear the laughter of my brothers and sisters when we played in this garden that mom lovingly cared for.

Entering the immense throne room, I see him standing up, his eyes full of hope, love, and madness. I struggle to hide the disgust he now inspires in me. He has seen me grow up. I had never done anything to attract his attention. At what point did my life take this tragic turn?

« Lya! You are more beautiful than ever, » he says with a smile.

He requests a small dose of poison to be injected into me every day. I have a pale complexion and dark circles under my eyes, still swollen from tears. I shake y head with a smile full of irony.

« Get to the point, Liguen, » I say sharply. « Let’s have this sterile conversation again. »

« Why do you refuse to see reason, Lya? »

« Oh, let me think… Maybe, I don’t know… Maybe because you had my parents and siblings executed, » I hiss, looking him straight in the eyes.

He dismisses my argument with a wave of his hand as if it were of no importance. I want to kill him, here and now. I want to see the life leave his eyes. I want to hear his last breath leave his body. I can’t hide it. He sees it in my eyes, and it seems to amuse him.

« Do you want to kill me, Lya? » he asks with a twisted smile. « Do you want me to lie to you and tell you that I regret it? »

« Why are you asking me these questions? You already know the answers. You poison me because you are afraid of me, » I say to provoke him.

« Afraid of you? »

He approaches me and I want to step back, but I try to control myself. I must not give in to my fear. If I want to get out of here, I must remain calm. I have fought against the poison for this moment.

« Why would I be afraid of the woman I love? » He murmurs.

He takes a strand of my hair in his hand and brings it to his lips without breaking eye contact. I shudder. His touch disgusts me. My self-control is slipping away.

« The world as you knew it no longer exists, Lya, » he announces as if I were unaware. « Why refuse to accept my world? You will be the center of it. You will be my sun and my moon. You will be everything to me. »

« I just want to see you dead. »

I push him away with a shoulder thrust and it makes him laugh. He believes he has me under his control. But he is wrong, and I will prove it to him. I summon a dagger in my hand. Its blade is a deep black, just like my sadness. Liguen’s laughter dies in his throat. He looks at me with surprise.

« Is this really what you want? » he asks me. « You know I don’t want to kill you. But that won’t stop me from seriously injuring you if you provoke me, Lya. »

« I don’t care about the consequences. I will never marry you, Liguen. I hate you, and nothing will change that! »

I lunge at him to stab him, but he is faster than me. He grabs my wrist and tries to make me go. I turn around as quickly as possible to elbow him in the face. He staggers with a grunt and his grip loosens slightly. I pull my arm down to escape, deeply cutting his hand in the movement. I try to stab him again, but he moves just enough so I can’t reach his vital parts. I throw him to the ground, the dagger planted in his body.

« I would like to kill you, Liguen. I really would like to kill you. But I know I can’t do it, and I’m not ready to die yet. I hope you enjoy your new world without me!

I turn around and run towards the exit of the room. I hear Liguen screaming behind me. He’s asking for someone to stop me. But he hasn’t truly taken power yet. No one wanted his revolution. No one wants him in place of my late father. So, no one stops me.

I only catch my breath once I’m out of the castle. It takes me a moment to orient myself. I need to take my way to the Forest of Oblivion. It’s my only chance. I resume my run.

As I approach the edge of the forest, I hear screams. Liguen has managed to gather a few men to chase after me it seems. But I have neither the desire nor the time to look back. My strength is already failing me, my rebellion time is running out. My body is in pain, my breath is short. Only my will allows me to continue as I must weave through the trees.

This forest is treacherous. It’s dark, even in broad daylight. Uninhabited, it’s as silent as the deepest night. Several times I almost stumble because of roots or knock myself out because of branches I only see at the last minute.

But I finally reach it. The Clearing. In its center stands a portal. Thanks to it, I will leave my kingdom for another. I can’t choose my destination, but I’m sure I will be better than here.

I’m sure of it… So why can’t I move forward anymore? I see the portal. I hear the screams behind me. But my feet seem to be rooted in the ground. I belong here. I grew up here. I laughed and cried here. Why do I have to leave?

« Because you must live my dear. »

« Because you must be happy. »

« Wherever you go, we will always be with you. »

I hear the voices of my parents, as well as those of my brothers and sisters. They seem to come from everywhere at once. As if they were part of the forest. I smile. They are right. Wherever I go, they will be with me.

The screams are getting closer.

« Lya! »

Liguen’s roar snaps me out of my stupor. I rush towards the portal and activate it with my magic. I take a few seconds to modify the spell that controls it. That way, no one can follow me.

« Lya! »

I turn around. And there he is. Blood stains his richly embroidered clothes. His face is a mix of fury and worry. I can’t help but smile triumphantly.

« No! »

His despair-filled cry is the last thing I hear before I throw myself into the vortex of the portal.