Crown Prince smile. โTomorrow, I will get rid of her.โ THE NEXT FOLLOWING MORNING Bella fell backward and landed on her back. Her wounds from last night opened up again and her clothes was soaked in blood. โYou wretched girl, you caused me nothing but trouble!โ shouted Crown Prince. โWhatโs going on?โ asked the Empress Dowager. She walked into the Crown Princeโs courtyard. โGrandmother,โ Crown Prince slightly bowed to her. Empress Dowager was looking at Bella as she was covered in bruises, whip marks, and blood. With not a pity in her look she glared at her. โYou have done nothing but caused trouble the moment you stepped into this palace. Should have left you on the street to let natureโs take itโs courses.โ Bella slowly getting up, bowed to the Empress Dowager. Not lifting her head, she also thought that it would have been better for her to stay on the street to fend for herself than being here. Here, life was nothing but torture. They abused her, neglected her, humiliated her
Bella braces herself for the cruelty of fate have befallen on her. โStop!โ shouted Prince Joseph.โPrince Joseph,โ said Empress Dowager. She stopped her whip midway, but the whip still lash at Bellaโs left arm and tiny blood splatter everywhere.Bella grabbed her arm in pain.Crown Prince who saw her in pain smiled at her.Bella looked up and saw his wicked smile.โBrother, what are you doing here?โ asked the Empress Dowager.โMother, please, sheโs merely a child.โโHumph. Youโre standing up for the enemy?โโSister, sheโs not the enemy.โโYou still think that the phoenix and dragon can co-exist together.โโSister, there is no more of them. So, we dragons are already superior to anyone else.โโHumph. You and your logic.โโMy dearest sister, just think carefully before you vent out your angry on such a small worthless being.โThe Empress Dowager stared at Bella.โIf you beat this little girl up anymore, she will die.โโSo, what if she dies.โโElder sister, if I can tame her, she could
After they got done washing the dishes, Bella followed Cynthia to the washroom. There was a tub of lukewarm water with rose petals in there. Bella took a bath while Cynthia gently washed and scrubbed the makeup off of her face.โThere we go, thatโs the beautiful little girl, I see,โ said Cynthia, smiling at her.After Bella was done with her chores, her master was waiting for her.โCome, itโs time to go.โBella followed him for a distance. Then they came to a stop at a sharp turn. There was a cave that was dark and mysterious. He lit a flame, and she followed him inside. Inside the cave was glittering with rubies, diamonds, and gold.โWow,โ she thought. โHe could have made a fortune with this kind of rare jewels.โโHere, you will stay every single day for about an hour. If youโre still alive, I will take you out. If youโre dead, I will bury you next to the marigold flower. From there, the marigold will be able to use your body for nutrients.โBella wrote on the ground, โDonโt forget yo
Crown Prince got injured during the winter hunt and needed to tend to his wounds. He came to see his uncle Prince Joseph for treatment. He have gotten taller and more handsome, but like always he have a cold face.Bella was thirteen and Crown Prince was seventeen. He pretended not to know Bella and ignored her the entire time he stayed at her Masterโs home. Every time she entered the room, he would purposely turn the other way or not look at her. Sometimes he even acted like she wasnโt there.However, Bella didnโt care. As long as she could stay away from him it was even better for her. She hid her beauty from him, so he doesnโt know what she really looks like. She avoided him in every turn she gets just so she doesnโt get his annoying stares.โYouโre still alive, trash,โ sneered Crown Prince, every now and then.Ignoring the Crown Prince, she would tend to her duties. When sheโs done, she would take off to the mountains to gather herbs for medicine. There were times when she would sta
โNothing. Nothing special at all.โ He gently bowed and walked away.โOh. Then what were you looking at?โโNothing. Nothing special at all.โ He gently bowed and walked away.When Bella came to his room, she put on her torn up dress and her makeup of bruises.Crown Prince sneered. โToo late. I already know your secret,โ he thought. โYouโre a beautiful woman, hiding behind some cheap makeup. Youโre gorgeous that no one even come close to your beauty. Youโre graceful that I have never seen before. Your body makes me yearn for you like I have never felt before. For that, I wouldnโt mind having you as my one and only woman.โ Bella was shocked at his smile.โCome. What are you doing outside my door?โBella nodded and entered his room.โClose the door.โBella frowned.โYouโre letting all the hot air out.โBella nodded again. She got inside and gently closed the door.โDo you think he found out her real identity?โ asked Cynthia.โNo. I donโt think so,โ answered Joseph. โWhy do you say that?โ a
Crown Prince chuckled. โJust because youโre my great-uncleโs wife I will let you get away with it. But remember that lying to the royal family is punishable by death.โโYes, Crown Prince.โโYou may leave.โMadam Cynthia gently bowed and closed the door.โBella. Bella,โ said Madam Cynthia looking around for her.Bella went running to her.โDid the Crown Prince see you?โ questioned Madam Cynthia.โI donโt think so. Last night was rather dark.โโAre you sure?โโYes. Why?โโBecause he is questioning about your look.โโMy look. Why?โโI donโt know. But whatever it is. You need to be careful.โBella was taken back. Now she kind of knows why he all of sudden is taking interest in her. Frowning, she nodded her head.The next few days she avoided him as much as possible.Crown Prince was irritated that she hadnโt come to his room to tend to him. His uncleโs excuse was for her to take care of other chores that needed more of her attention. Since she was his apprentice, she knows more about handl
When his uncle and aunt left for the palace, Crown Prince took the advantage to seek Bella out. He have much to say to her.Bella was turning fifteen soon. It was only two weeks away. Madam Cynthia asked her what she wanted for her birthday present. Bella wanted some new paints and paper. She wanted to draw some of the mountain views in the spring. Master Joseph was also going for some business within the palace, and Madam Cynthia thought it was a good idea to take the time to go out and get Bella her gift.The Master and Madam have always treated her nicely and they always gifted her well on her birthday. She smiled as she couldnโt wait to receive her gifts.Bella made her way to the water. The hot spring looked inviting, so Bella took off her dress and dipped her body into the water. She sighed as her body took in the warmth of the pool.Crown Prince who found her that morning, had been spying on her. He saw her taking off her dress and dipping into the hot spring. He was admiring ho
A FEW MONTHS WENT BY โBella, youโre a few days away from being sixteen,โ said Madam Cynthia. โYes. I know. Iโm getting old now huh?โ โWhat? Youโre still young.โ โThatโs what I said a few months back and you said I was supposed to be married off already.โ โI know how silly of me.โ Bella chuckled. โSo?โ โSo what?โ asked Bella. โWhat do you want for birthday this year?โ Bella smiled at her and said, โYou and Master Joseph have been so nice and kind to me. This year, I donโt think I want anything.โ โYou sure?โ Bella nodded. โBeing with you two is enough.โ โOh, Bella,โ said Madam Cynthia with tears in her eyes. โWhat are you two talking about?โ asked Master Joseph. โWeโre just talking about how beautiful sheโs grown,โ answered Madam Cynthia. Bella blushed at her words. โBella, you are indeed growing up to be so beautiful.โ โThanks, Master Joseph,โ said Bella. โIf only your father and mother could see you.โ โI miss them.โ Master Joseph sighed. โItโs been nearly five year
โOuch,โ grunted Wallace. โWhat?โ asked Bella. โThat hurt.โ He sucked on his thumb as the blood came forth from his skin. Bella chuckled softly. โWell thatโs good, I guess.โ Wallace looked at her in confusion. โWhat do you mean?โ โIt means youโre feeling pain. Which is a good sign.โ โOf?โ โOf you becoming human again.โ Wallaceโs eyes lit up. โReally?โ Bella nodded her head. โYes. I did promise you, didnโt I?โ He tilted his head at her. โI said I will make you normal again.โ โHow? By poking me every day?โ โItโs called acupuncture. Itโs to test your blood flow.โ He frowned at her words. She lifted his hand to her and said, โSee, your veins are looking normal again. Instead of being black and blue, itโs becoming a normal color.โ He pulled his hand to his face as he looked at the veins. He didnโt even notice that his blood vessels were becoming normal again. Bella pulled his hand into her breasts and said, โFeel me.โ He frowned at her, but he didnโt hesitate as he wanted
Bella and Wallace carried their six month son up the stairs of the mountain passage towards Josephโs house.โGreat-uncle Joseph,โ said Wallace.โMaster Joseph,โ called out Bella.โOdd, where did he go?โ asked Wallace.Bella shook her head, โI donโt know.โโAre you sure heโs home?โ asked Wallace.โWell, Iโm sure he is. Maybe he went somewhere. Hopefully he will be back soon.โKevin started to cry.โOh, maybe heโs hungry. Why donโt you feed him while I go look for my great-uncle.โBella nodded.โIโm over here,โ said Josephโs voice.They both gasped as they heard his voice, echoing around them. They walked around the house to the end of the patio. There they saw him floating with a glow around him.โMaster Joseph,โ gasped Bella.โGreat-uncle, have you cross over?โ asked Wallace.Joseph nodded at them. โYes. I am finally at peace and is able to go rest now.โโWhen? When did you ascended?โโShortly after I brought you back from the dead.โWallace gasped. โSo, thatโs why there was the thund
THREE DAYS PASSโWhat should I do when I see her?โ asked Wallace.โWhatever your heart desires,โ answered his great-uncle, Joseph.โDesire?โโYes.โWallace moved a tree branch as he saw Bella walking out of the small house. He gasped it was indeed her. She didnโt leave with her parents. She didnโt go back to her phoenix clan.Joseph looked at Wallace and said, โTell her the truth. The whole truth. Let there be no more misunderstanding between the both of you two.โโAlright,โ nodded Wallace.โAndโฆโโAnd what?โโTell her or show her, either way your love for her.โโYes. That for sure I will do.โโGood.โโAll I ever wanted was her. Thatโs the reason why I went through all of this. Is to be with her.โโThen you should spend your time wisely with her.โโYes, time is valuable.โโIt is indeed.โโRemember that you two are meant to be. There was a reason why both of you have become what you are now.โWallace nodded.His great-uncle walked away and left him to approach his wife.Wallace stood i
POOF went a small white smoke. His great-uncle was coughing. โAre you okay?โ asked Crown Prince, his spirit floated towards his great-uncle. Joseph coughed and cleared his throat. โYes. Iโm fine, but how are you?โ โPardon?โ โHow do you feel now?โ โI feel warmth in my soul, and something funny in my feet and legs.โ โOh.โ โHis great-uncle sprinkled some yellow dust on his hands.โ โIs that whatโs causing my hands to be all tingly.โ His great-uncle nodded. โSo, are we close?โ โAre we almost there.โ โYes, a bit more and you will be back. However, know this, you will be back but in a dead body.โ Crown Prince gasped. โIโm sorry, this is how the resurrection works.โ โSo, I will be dead, but alive?โ His great-uncle looked at him and asked, โYes. Are you okay with that?โ Crown Prince nodded. โYes. Yes, I am.โ โGood. At least you accept that concept.โ โAnd it must be my own body, correct?โ โCorrect. It must be your own body for it the resurrection to work.โ โAlright. I prefe
On the third night, everything was quiet. The dead of night soon left everyone tired. Soon everyone went to bed and took a good rest. Crown Prince great-uncle Joseph sneaked in and swapped out Crown Princeโs body with another dummy that looked like him. โCrown Prince, I know how much you love her, so one last attempt I will try to recreate what my master did,โ whispered his uncle Joseph. โResurrection of the dead.โ Crown Princeโs spirit was watching with horror as his great-uncle carried his body away from his casket. His great-uncle was committing a crime by taking his body away. His great-uncle Joseph jumped the wall and hopped through the sleepy guards. โGreat-uncle what are you doing? Why are you not letting me be buried?โ he thought. His spirit being with his body, floated along side him. Soon they were getting close to his great-uncleโs home.โOh, why is my great-uncle taking my body here,โ thought Crown Prince. His spirit drifted above his great-uncle, observing where he w
Bella came right in time as they carried Crown Princeโs dead body down the street. Everyone was crying and mourning the great loss of a good prince.Bella couldnโt believe with her own eyes that he was really dead. She gasped and started crying. Kick. Kick. Kick.Bellaโs hand went to rub her belly. โOh, my goodness. Heaven is playing a cruel trick on me. I left him to give him peace with the woman his parents choose. But he refuses. He chose to leave, leaving me behind. Leaving me and his child behind.โ she thought. โHow she would never be able to share the news that she was still carrying his child.โ The thought of never seeing him again ached painfully in her sore heart. Tears were dripping uncontrollably down her face. โHow could you be so cruel to me,โ she cried. โHow could you make me so miserable even after you die,โ she thought.Bella watched as his casket passed her. She gasped as she saw him. She could clearly still see his handsome face. How she ached to touch him. To hol
โBella!โ shouted Master Joseph. โYes?โ asked Bella. She put down her pail of water. โCrown Prince-Crown Princeโฆโ โWhat? Whatโs wrong with him?โ Master Joseph didnโt even know where to start. He wasnโt sure how to tell Bella. The news will be devasting to her as she stayed behind in the mortal realm for him, but now that heโs gone the only other person, she will be living for is her child. Bella frowned. โMaster Joseph?โ โBella, Iโm sorry,โ said Master Joseph, clenching his fists together. โWhat-What is it?โ โThe Crown Prince is dead.โ Bella gasped in shock. She nearly fainted at his words. โBella!โ shouted Master Joseph. He caught her before she hit the ground. โOh, my goodness. Iโm sorry. I didnโt think that it would cause you to nearly pass out.โ Bella was breathing hard as she was trying to comprehend what was going on. โI-I just thought that you would want to know. That you want to hear about his death. I wouldnโt want you to be caught by surprise.โ Bella looked at
Crown Prince slowly opened up his eyes. He was trying to focus his visions as he stared up into the ceiling. Everything looked familiar. It was as if he was back in his room. He looked around and saw that he was indeed inside his room. Then a tear fell from the side of his eyes. โIโm back in the palace. Inside my room. Inside our bedchamber. On the bed where we first made love. But where are you? Youโre nowhere to be found. Whatโs the whole point of being back if youโre not here,โ he thought. โCrown prince?โ asked the eunuch, as he saw the crown princeโs eyes opened. Crown Prince kept staring at the ceiling. The eunuch saw the tear that rolled down the side of his face. He gasped as the crown prince was indeed awake. He dropped the medicine in his hands and ran out the door. He was excited that the crown prince was alive and well. โYour majesty!โ shouted the eunuch. The maids and servants once again looked at the emperorโs eunuch running through the palace halls again. Screaming
Bella was sitting by the waterfall listening to the sound of the water. For some reason that day her heart was feeling heavy. It was as if something was wrong. But what? She couldnโt figure out what was bothering her. FLASHBACK On the day that she was supposed to ascend to the heavenly realm, she hesitated as she couldnโt forget about her husband, the crown prince. Her love that she had for him was undying. The memories of him couldnโt be wiped away. For she still loves him. Her aching affection for him couldnโt be undone with any magic. No spells will be able to keep her sorrow at bay. Kick. Kick. Kick. Bella could feel her baby moving inside of her. She was nearly seven months. How could she bear to kill her own child that was growing inside of her. Her child that kept her company out of the days of her loneliness. โBella, in order to step into the heavenly world, you must first get rid of that child in your belly,โ said her father. Kick. Kick. Bella rubbed her belly as she t