Chapter 3.

Hyacinth's POV

I immediately rushed into the room that was prepared for me, clinging to my chest as I tried to breathe properly. The King Regent was terrifying, and I had spoken to him like I had a death wish. I'd not be shocked if he eventually decided to tear me apart. I shuddered at the thought of how reckless I was, knowing fully well that I'd probably do worse next time.

But I had made a decision in that carriage. I had made it somewhere between crying and planning, somewhere between thinking about Callum's red eyes and thinking about the faces of every wolf in that courtyard who had looked at me like I was something deposited on their doorstep.

I was not going to be afraid in front of them. Whatever it cost me.

"I hate it here so much." I declared, almost breaking down into tears again.

I was interrupted by a gentle knock on the door, followed by a soft voice.

"Hello Princess, I'm here to serve you." She mumbled, but I wasn't in the mood for anyone.

"Can you go away?" I asked, trying not to sound like I was on the verge of breaking down in tears.

"I can't. My duty is to stay here and serve you." She responded softly.

"What's it with everyone and duty?!" I hissed, shaking my head as I took another deep breath.

"Come in." I ordered gently, and she walked in calmly with a tray, bowing her head.

She was absolutely gorgeous. She was brown skinned like I was, but her eyes were of a different shade of blue. I wasn't much for colors, so I couldn't tell which exactly.

"What's your name?" I asked, grabbing her hand to help her sit. As I pulled her, the ceramic cup fell off the tray immediately, and it broke.

We both gasped. She bent low immediately, begging for me to spare her life even though I had pulled her.

“Please, don't kill me. I promise to do better.” She whimpered, tearing up immediately. She was packing the broken pieces, unbotherrd about cutting herself.

“Please, will you relax?” I asked , putting aside my thoughts for a moment. “This is my fault. I pulled you close.”

“Sit with me. What's your name?” I asked.

There was silence for a while as if she was processing the words she had just heard.

“Liora Merrivane, your highness." She said. "I can't sit. It'll cause trouble if anyone catches me like this."

"Well Liora, as your… whatever it is I am to you, I'm commanding you to sit." I said, sounding like I was begging. "I think I like you, but you have to drop this dutiful attitude. I need a friend!"

There was silence for a while as she still had her gaze fixed to the ground.

"Thank goodness!" She muttered, raising her head and her mood lightened immediately. I smiled and she did too. "I honestly thought you were going to be a bitch, and no one else wanted the duty of being your handmaiden because they think humans are shit." She said, almost passing out from not pausing.

"Wow, that's a lot to take in." I said, shaking my head.

"Don't worry, you shouldn't be bothered about omegas. Their hatred is nothing compared to the things you'd witness in the days to come." Liora said.

"So, thinking of me as shit, and not wanting to serve me doesn't even encapsulate the amount of hatred I'm yet to witness?" I scoffed. "Got it."

"Don't worry, you'll be fine. I'll protect you with my life." Liora said with a smile. "I'm so happy to finally have someone to serve."

"You know, back in the South, I dismissed my handmaiden because I didn't see the need for one, but I definitely need you here." I sighed.

"I love you already." Liora sighed, smiling again. She seemed like a free spirit that had suffered greatly from the opinions of others.

"Since we are now introduced, can you leave me so I'd cry in peace? I need it." I asked, and she chuckled.

"Aren't you hungry?"

"I am, but I'm pretty sure I can wait till dinner. I'll be served here, right?"

"Hmm…" She nodded, and I forced a smile.

"I'll get your food over to you when it's time for dinner, and I'll come back tomorrow morning to get you ready for the wedding." She said, and my eyes widened.

"Tomorrow?! Why so soon?" I gasped.

"I… I thought… how don't you know when your own wedding would take place?"

"The men in my life see me as a commodity to be sold without considering my opinions." I sighed, shaking my head. And the women in my life help them do it, I didn't add. Callum's voice came back to me… I had to help her sister run away… and I pressed my lips together and pushed it back down.

Not now. Later. I could fall apart about Callum later.

"It'd be your first appearance in court, so I need to make you look like the most gorgeous woman in the factions of the North." Liora said. "Wait, have I told you that you're down to earth gorgeous?!"

"Now you have." I blushed, almost bursting into tears from sadness. "Thanks darling."

"Well then, you look like you need the private time, so I'll be out of here." Liora said, and I chuckled with teary eyes.

I immediately let it all out. At the end of the day, I'd have a terrible headache, and go to sleep.

***

"What's court like?" I asked Liora as she helped me into the red dress that had been prepared for me. The moment she'd offered to dress me alone, I'd wasted no time shooing every other maid out of the room.

"I've never been in there, but from what I hear, toxic doesn't even begin to cover it." Liora said, working her way up the back of the dress. I sucked in a breath as she pulled the laces tighter. The tattoo on my back disappeared beneath the fabric, which was exactly what I needed. The last thing I wanted was anyone here asking questions about my body.

"The factions are always arguing with each other, and they're always at each other's throats." Liora said.

"Just so I'm right, the North is divided into five factions, the Green faction, the Reds, the White faction, the Blue faction, and the Radicals." I said, taking a pause as she changed to style my hair. "The Green faction are the peaceful ones mostly always agreeing with the White faction."

"That's accurate." Liora said, focusing on what she was doing.

"The White faction is also called the golden faction, and they're royals. The Blues are the most innovative, and the most connected with the people. The Reds have the affinity to rebel, while the Radicals are outrightly seeking war with whoever they can fight."

"Damn, you know more about the North than I do." Liora said, styling my hair into three huge braids.

"Well, you guys document everything, and I wanted to make a mockery of my sister when it was made known that she'd be marrying the Prince, only for her to run away." I hissed. I didn't say the rest of it. I didn't say *and she had help running.* I didn't say *and the help had a name and red eyes and I said goodbye to him in a corridor while guards held my arms.*

Not yet.

"Marrying Prince Kael should be enough compensation, right?" She giggled. "He's so hot."

I was taken aback, and I immediately gagged.

"Please, he's not all that." I rolled my eyes, and she shrugged.

"If you know how many nobles are dying to have him." Liora scoffed. "There was even a rumour that he has erectile dysfunction and that's why he doesn't want ladies."

"I really hope he doesn't. I want to be out of this mess as soon as possible." I said, and my eyes widened in realization.

I'd have to sleep with him to have his child! Could it get any worse?!

"That's why I need to make sure you exude more beauty than you would on a normal day," Liora said, like I was one bit bothered about anyone else, "so none of these noble ladies would have any words to say."

I was overwhelmed with several thoughts of what'd happen at the wedding, the things that'd happen after, and most especially whatever would probably happen at night with him. I was not mentally prepared for any of it.

A few minutes later, Kael's guards came to get me. And it was only when I got into the carriage I realized how big of a wedding it was.

Of course it's a big wedding, the regent, a Prince and heir to the throne at that is having a wedding, of course it'd be big.

There were eyes all over me as I alighted the carriage at the hall. Liora was behind me with several maids as I walked gently into the hall.

The doors opened, and Kael was standing at the end of the door in a red attire, with white stripes and the emblem of the North, a wolf, all over the cloth. My cloth was sewn out of that same material. He didn't look at me for more than a second, and although it stung more than I thought it would, I paid him the favour, taking my thoughts and eyes elsewhere.

I was betraying Callum, I thought. And then I remembered the corridor. The maid's arms around him. *I had to help her run.*

I wasn't betraying anyone. That was the thing. There was no one left to betray.

That thought hurt in a different way than I expected it to.

I caught several eyes staring at me, and I could see what Liora had said about the noble ladies.

"Fuck this wedding." I muttered under my breath, standing before the priest and Kael.

Kael grabbed me gently by my arm, and lowered his head to my ears that it almost made me scared. Just as I was about to yank off his hand, I lost my head for a second, and I was in something that felt like a vision.

Everything was dark, and I could hear a man's voice. His voice was very deep and calm, but he sounded like he was in agony.

"Hyacinth… Hyacinth…." He called repeatedly, and then I was drawn back to reality by Kael's hand strengthening around my arm. I immediately shook whatever the vision was off my mind.

"I never got your name. The priest would need it."

Could I be more disrespected?!