CHAPTER THREE: THE MORNING AFTER

Elara's View

I was woken up by pain. The floor was cold and hard, with patches of old wine making it sticky . My head was simply killing me, and with every blink, it seemed the pain only increased.

Completely lost in thought. My head banged as I wondered why and how was I here? Only then would the view of the guy laying beside me remind me of my dumb decisions and the events that happened the previous day and nights, that fateful day when I decided to ditch the whole princess thing and become somebody else.

My lips swollen were swollen , my vagina was sore and it still felt like the man’s dick was inside me, aching thighs and my whole body hurt in places that I did not even know could hurt.

Looking down at my pale skin, I saw the man’s hand print, a mocking reminder of how I had given my self and my virginity to a stranger all in a bid to spite the King.

"Oh God," I said, cradling my head in my hands.

I have seriously single handedly my life.

I let myself get laid in a club. Whatever happens, I just have to make sure the king never finds out or even get a whiff of it, else he will not only yell but ensure my head and my body are separated from each other in the most gruesome and stomach churning way.

I grasped the fabric of my dress, shaking hands trying to put it on. Wrinkled and stained...

"I should have just stayed in," I mumbled, fastening buttons wildly. “ I should have just stayed in the throne room.”

I cast one last look in his direction. He looked so peaceful , as if he had not screwed my brains out last night. May he forget it all when he wakes.

I mumbled a fervent prayer to whoever was hearing.

The floor was cold as I tiptoed, walking barefoot across the floor of the club. It was still empty.

“Thank heavens.” I said as I pushed the door open.

The sun had not yet risen, but the streets had already woken up. I wished forward, trying not to feel the pain from the last night's crazy desire driven by lust between my legs.

By the time I reached the gates of the palace, my legs were literally shaking . It felt like my punishment for my sim.

"Elara, oh sweet child. There you are, where were you?"

My mother's worried voice made me stop in my tracks.

She was standing near the gate, clasping a robe , worry lines on her forehead. Her hair was scattered and for the first time, out of place, and I could see how swollen and red her eyes were, having cried all night. Behind her, the palace gates stood firmly shut, with guards standing like mere statues.

"Mother..." I croaked.

"Answer me, Elara," she spoke barely above a whisper. "Where were you all night?"

I looked down. "I just...needed some air. What's going on? Why are you out here? Why are you wearing those robes meant for the servants?"

Her stare was filled with fatigue and worry for a moment. Then she sighed and turned towards the gates. "This is the only thing I am allowed to wear. We can't go back inside."

"What do you mean?" I asked, feeling ill.

"Remember? The King kicked us out. We can't be in the palace anymore. We're nothing now." She replied.

The last words struck me like a slap.

"Nothing?" I repeated under my breath.

Before she could answer, the sound of chariot wheels was heard from behind us. They were decked in the colors of my mother's kingdom. My grandparents' crest was painted beside it.

The guards got off the chariot, their silver armor glinting, and bowed before my mother. One of them carried a huge bag of gold that jingled.

"Your Majesty," one of the guards addressed my mother. "Lord Marek and Lady Neryssa send their best to you. They wish us to escort you home."

Home.

That word stabbed me.

The guards walked past us, and my father's guards opened the gates again for them, probably to deliver the gold—payment. In return for having the audacity to marry off a woman who "failed" him; my grandparents were essentially paying him back as he demanded.

Mother slumped her shoulders and turned to me. "Let us go, Elara. There is nothing here for us."

I paused, looking back at the palace gates for the last time. I grew inside these gates. The training, the hiding, the harsh words , but still a home.

Now it was just stone and memory.

We got into the chariot. I remained silent as they trotted the horses further away from all I had ever known. My mother held my hand, shaking. She stifled the tears she desperately wanted to shed.

The road was long. And my mind wandered back to the night before. To the man who had helped me forget, but also assisted me in ruining my life.

I did not even know his name.

Maybe it was good that way.

Easier to forget or pretend to forget.

By the time we reached my grandparents' gate, I was sleepy and very hungry. The gate opened, and servants came running toward us. Lord Marek, my grandfather, looked tall, and Lady Neryssa held my mother tightly.

They both looked so sad at me, but no one asked any questions-yet. Baths, food, clothes. I could barely touch the meat that was served to us. I was exhausted , and soon fell asleep in one of the rooms.

I woke as the sky was beginning to darken with the sunset. I decided to walk around and look for my mother , my body still sore but a bit better than it was at the beginning of the day.

As I walked past the main hall, I noticed the throne room door ajar.

I might have walked past it, except I heard my grandfather's voice.

"...a new guy for you," he was saying.