Chapter 3

It's been two days since the incident happened in Lady Karheel's house. After Lady Karheel bathed me real quick, we packed her things up and left. The prince sent some of his people to bring horses we can use to travel.

I don't know why he's doing all of these. Why was he protecting me when we barely even know each other? He also does not seem to be close with Lady Karheel. I'd understand if he would protect her but including me? Impossible. But nonetheless, I was thankful.

We are now travelling into the city of Kiram. We will be travelling for a week or two to be able to reach the city even though we have horses.

“Let's have some rest for a while,” Lady Karheel said and jumped down. She walked towards my direction and helped me to get down on my feet—since I am too scared of heights.

We tied the horses on the tree before she murmured some incoherent spells.

“W-What's that?” I asked.

“It's a spell of invisibility. I don't want to risk us being caught once again. It still confused me how those weak humans broke into my house before, they must've brought a witch with them.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Come here, child.” 

She motioned me to sit beside her on a log. In a snap of her fingers, a fire was created in front of us, warming us from the cold night.

She took out a piece of bread from her magic purse and gave it.

“Thank you, Lady Karheel.”

She smiled softly. “You're welcome, sweetheart.”

I happily took the bread from her and ate it. Lady Karheel always treats me like a child and she even calls me that. I didn't mind though. In fact, I love it.

“So, Sidrich... what was your life before we met?” she suddenly asked.

I stopped as my heart went cold.

I looked down and smiled sadly. “I... I'm a slave...”

“What?” she asked, shocked. I nodded my head. “But you're a werewolf, right? How is that possible you're a slave?”

“In... I-In my pack, I am labelled as omega. Omegas are the lowest rank, thus we were enslaved.”

“How could they do that? Were they the one who did those things to you?” she asked through gritted teeth.

I fall quiet.

I don't want to answer her.

I am scared someone in the pack might hear me and they'd come to punish me for telling things I am not supposed to be telling.

“How old were you when you were enslaved?” She could barely contain her anger. I saw the fire grow from the firewood.

I slightly panicked. 

Is she mad at me, too?

“I-I was f-five... Please, d-don't be mad at me, Lady Karheel,” I begged as tears filled the corner of my eyes. 

Her eyes flashed anger before it turned into confusion. She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. She pursed her lips as her eyes softened.

She caressed my cheek lovingly. “I am not mad, Sidrich—” she stopped.

She pulled her hands away from my skin as her eyes widened in shock. She stood up from the log and stared at me dumbfoundedly.

“Lady K-Karheel?”

“Oh, my deities...” she muttered as she covered her mouth through her palms. She stepped back, looking like a frightened deer. “Y-You!” she stuttered, pointing her fingers at me.

My heart suddenly beat fast in anxiety. I want to ask why her reaction was like that but before I could even open my mouth, she vanished into thin air, leaving me alone in the middle of the woods.

My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach as tears fell from my eyes.

**

I don't know when she will be back, nor did I know if she will ever come back. It's been a few hours since she left and I don't know where to find her. I refused to go and find her. I stayed in the place where she left me in case she'll back. But... it's already dawn and the sun was about to rise from the horizon. Yet, she's nowhere here up until now.

I stifled the tears from spilling out from my eyes. I'm used to being left alone. Why does it matter to me so much if Lady Karheel would leave me, too? 

I should've already anticipated for this to happen, but still, it hurts me.

Maybe because she has shown me good things I've never felt with anyone before, that is why she has become an important person in my life. Even in a small period of time we knew each other, I could already see her as a family member of mine. 

So to be left alone, my heart just broke. I've missed her already.

I stayed up all night, waiting for her to come back, but as time went by, I found myself drifting off to sleep...

And still, she hasn't come back.

**

I woke up around midday. I was now lying on a soft mattress and my surroundings were not the same as when I fell asleep. 

Panicked rises up within me and I immediately sit up, looking around the whole room to find any signs of Lady Karheel being somewhere here. In this world full of cruelty, I found myself trusting her in an instant.

“Good afternoon, my lady.”

A voice suddenly rang out of nowhere and I jolted in surprise. Looking at my side, I saw a woman wearing a blue robe. She was bowing her head whilst her hands were stiffly placed against her stomach.

“W-Who are you?” I asked.

But she didn't answer me. Instead, she continued speaking, “Your meal is already prepared. The second prince will come to join you with your late lunch.”

She bowed her head again before she turned around and left.

I blinked my eyes.

Soon, the door opened and a familiar face of a man entered the room with 6 servants following behind him.

When our eyes met, he smiled and asked, “Did you sleep well, Lady Sidrich?”

“P-Prince Alastair...” I muttered.

His smile widened. “I am glad you have not forgotten my name. How are you?”

He sat on the bed, looking intently into my eyes. My heart began pounding real fast.

“I-I... I'm confused. Why am I here? Where is Lady Karheel? Is she okay?”

“She left you in my care,” he said. “She'll be back to get you.”

I sighed in relief.

“W-Where... she goes?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “No idea.”

The worry and fear in my chest increased. Before Lady Karheel left, she looked mad at that time. Maybe that's why she left me because she was mad at me...

He cleared his throat. “Anyway, I'm sure you're hungry. I brought some food for you to eat.” He flicked his fingers and the servants put down the meals on the table near the bed.

Prince Alastair stood up and extended his arm. I looked from his hand and to his face, confused. 

“Come on,” he said. I blinked my eyes twice and instinctively held his extended hand. He guided me towards the table and pulled a chair for me. I sat down reluctantly and he did the same across the table.

“Try these famous cuisines. They are delicious,” he said gentlemanly and put some food on my plate. My cheeks burned.

“T-Thank you, prince Alastair.”

He just smiled.

We ate in silence all the while prince Alastair put a bunch of food on my plate from time to time. I was a bit shy but I eventually relaxed. I admit his presence is a bit intimidating but it also brought comfort in my system for some reason.

“You must eat a lot, Lady Sidrich.” He poured a fresh orange juice in my cup. “You're beautiful but you lack some nutrients in your body,” he said.

I could only lower my eyes on the ground in embarrassment. 

“I didn't mean to offend you,” he quickly reasoned out. “I just... want you to be healthy.”

I nodded my head warily.

“Uhm...” he awkwardly cleared his throat as he caressed his nape. “The maids will be here to help you to shower and dress up. My mother said she wants to meet you tonight during dinner.”

My head snapped up to him. His mother? Does he mean the Queen?

I want to ask but I found my words sealed in my mouth. I nodded again. 

We finished all the food surprisingly. Prince Alastair stood up and after he bid his goodbye to me, he went out of the room I occupied.

After a while, the maids got in the room and instructed me to strip down. My face flushed but I couldn't do anything but obliged. They motioned me to submerged myself in the tub and they started bathing me. 

There are at least 8 people. Someone was massaging my head and my hair with some essence they put in it. Two people were removing the dirt on my skin through loofah, four people were cleaning my nails on my hands and feet at the same time, and the last person was doing the job on my face. She put some cucumber on my eyes and added some essence on my skin before massaging it gently.

When they were done, I suddenly felt... clean.

My dark skin has become light. My tangled hair has become smooth. I realized that my hair colour was actually dark brown and it was actually straight. My eyes were big and round whilst being surrounded with my long, thick, and curly lashes. My nose is small but sharp. My lips were plumpy red like a bow. I also saw some tiny freckles around my rosy cheeks.

“M-Me... this?” I pointed the mirror in front of me. The maids who assisted me giggled and nodded their heads.

“Yes, that is you, my lady. You are beautiful,” one of the maids said whilst looking at me with admiration dancing in her eyes.

I smiled sheepishly. “Thank you...” I said softly to them. 

They giggled again and showered me with compliments.

“The princes will surely fall from your unworldly beauty, my lady,” someone murmured that everyone didn't notice her voice, but I did. I'm a werewolf, after all.

They picked a light blue off-shoulder dress for me that reached just above my knees. The lacy sleeve makes the dress even more beautiful. They also made me wear white flat shoes. Then, they put a ribbon behind my hair.

“Fabulous!” they complimented, making me feel over the moon.

I couldn't help but to admire myself. I've never seen such beauty until this day. They worked so well to make me beautiful. I wonder if they used some magic to make me look this pretty.

A knock from the door made all the maids quiet down.

I turned my head to the door of this chamber as it cracked open. I unconsciously held my breath as the person slowly revealed himself.

Prince Alastair's dark green eyes darted on me. He's ravishingly handsome wearing a linen shirt with open cuffed sleeves tucked in on his breeches, and a pair of boots to finalise the look. His hair was dishevelled and his face was bright as the morning sun as he looked at me.

I tucked some few strands of my hair behind my ear as his eyes scanned me from head to toe. My cheeks were burning.

“You're... beautiful,” he whispered as he approached me.

I smiled shyly. “Thank you, p-prince Alastair.”

He licked his bottom lip and gulped , his Adam's apple was bobbing. He took my hand gentlemanly and kissed the back of it.

“May I have the honour to escort this beautiful girl to the dining hall, my lady?” he asked, making everyone gasp and my cheeks to burn in embarrassment. My heart seems to burst in my chest at any moment due to his escapades.

Why?

Why... does he have to be flirtatious?