Chapter 5

"What suddenly got into you? You asked for the marriage to happen earlier than before and you look like you've been sick for years when tomorrow is your wedding." The old granny started to rant once she stepped inside the room.

Sasha who was sitting on the couch, nicely dressed like always by the maids, had a dull look on her face. The makeup couldn't hide the dull and void look in her eyes. The helplessness and fear she felt was beyond her control.

She hated him.

She always would.

"Gosh, look at you." The old granny said in a stressful tone and settled down beside Sasha on the sofa.

Sasha, who had her hands on the sofa on either side of her thighs with her head hanging low, took a deep heavy breath before raising her head and turning to look at the old granny right in the eyes.

The old lady stared at her face stunned. 

Her lips were bruised and swollen. 

Before she could ask something, Sasha raised both of her bruised wrists in front of her. 

Her eyes widened even more as she grabbed both of Sasha's wrists and stared at them in shock.

"He did it."

"Luan..."

"H-He's here granny b-but he's wa-waiting to destroy." Sasha stuttered and pulled both of her wrists out of her hold. She stood up on her weak legs and began to pace around the room. She told the old lady everything that happened except the part where he harassed her.

The old granny was left speechless.

Fear could be seen on her face as well.

She couldn't even deny it anymore because the marks on Sasha's body screamed his presence around.

"What should I do?" Sasha asked.

"Should I let Jasper know?" Just as this question left Sasha's lips, the granny abruptly stood up while shaking her head. "Have you lost your mind? He will not marry you and what if he throws us and our people out? What would you do?" The granny asked and Sasha took a deep breath.

"We will go back to our land," Sasha said and the old lady slowly shook her head. "Our land has been taken over by those blood-sucking monsters." The old lady said and Sasha felt a hard and painful thug on her chest.

"Does Jasper know that? Nobody knows the real cause of our kingdom's fall. Shouldn't we let others know? Shouldn't we let Jasper know so they can be cautious?" Sasha asked desperately and the old granny shook her head with a stern look on her face.

"If they come to know, they will kick us out or even worse, execute us. Can't you be a little selfish for your people?" The granny asked and Sasha frowned.

"If that monster attacks this kingdom, our people will die too," Sasha said before adding. "What's gotten into you?" She asked, not liking the behavior of her old granny.

"Jasper won't let that happen." The old granny said.

"My father wasn't weak either." Sasha retorted.

"I never said that." The granny let out.

"They destroyed us for something bad your father did to them that we don't know. Why would he do the same with Jasper? You're thinking too much." The old lady said.

"That monster was lying. My father never wronged someone." Sasha said and turned her back towards the old lady. "I don't know why he's behind Jasper's kingdom. Maybe, he's not behind his kingdom, this time he's behind me and he is onto something in order to get me." Sasha said, slowly relaxing herself after having a little heated conversation with the old granny.

"Whatever it is, you're getting married to Jasper tomorrow. It's too late to back off now. Walton kingdom might have fallen but it still upholds its great respect." The old granny said, her tone was soft but Stern at the same time. Just as she said this, she left the room leaving an even more perplexed Sasha behind.

Not being able to breathe, Sasha left the room and trekked towards the garden of the castle for some fresh air. She had so much on her mind so she decided to filter it out for a while to relax otherwise she'd turn into a dead body in no time.

She sat down on the soft grass and took a deep breath, upon inhaling the fresh scent of flowers her tensed shoulders instantly relaxed. 

She stared up at the sky.

Since she wasn't thinking about the present and the future, her mind took her to the past and she remembered how happy and fortunate she was.

In those memories, she had a family, she had her people, they all had a glorious kingdom, and they had their culture which they used to follow with no hindrance or nothing holding them back.

But now nothing was left.

Sometimes she blames herself for that.

A soft giggle of a woman coming from nearby brought her back to the present. Her ears perked up and her eyes began to search for the source of that laughter until she heard it again. 

Her head snapped to the left and what she saw next had her pupils slightly dilating.

Jasper and Fiona were standing on the top terrace of the castle. They looked so busy talking and laughing that they weren't even aware of their surroundings.

Look at them.

They look like they are getting married tomorrow instead of the real couple.

She knew Jasper didn't love her but she also didn't expect him to flip this early. He knew she'd never demand anything from him, he knew what kind of a woman she was and that's why he chose her. 

Marry her.

Make her the queen.

And then keep her aside forever.

Well, this was much better than being in the arms of a monster.

She found something really weird about this situation. Sasha knew Jasper but why was Fiona talking to him like that? No princess talks to a king like that who is about to get married tomorrow.

Same goes for him but Sasha knew he didn't love her.

But then also Fiona knows nothing.

While she was pondering on this, she felt an intense gaze on her. Her shoulders instantly tensed and her eyes slightly widened. It was the same feeling as before, the feeling of being watched. She looked around but found no one, just guards walking here and there. This area of the castle was the most peaceful one in these wedding days.

Her breath quickened as she looked back at the castle. Those two were busy with their conversation. Just as she was about to get up, her eyes went slightly down towards the right and it was as if the world stilled around her. 

King Ragnar, standing near the window of his guest room, was staring right at her.

His eyes, she could feel them on her.

Why was he staring at her?

Why did his gaze bring a familiar yet terrifying sensation to her?

His gaze made her go still for a good while.

She would have thought of him as a ghost if she wasn't aware of his true identity.

Goosebumps started to rise on her skin.

She couldn't look away.

She was terrified.

Her thoughts that she was blocking came flooding in with more assumptions.

First thing first...she needed to stay away from him.

None of them moved.

Her heartbeat was a mess, the more she sat there staring at him the more terrified she felt.

With much difficulty, she lashed her gaze away from him, grabbed her dress, stood up on her trembling legs, and started to walk away from him. She could still feel his gaze on her back.

Why would a king stare at her like that?

Both of these siblings were radiating a weird energy and Sasha knew she needed to stay away from them.

Watching her back like a hawk, Ragnar stayed rooted to his spot. His gaze eyeing her solely. His room was indulged in darkness and the morning light that was coming through the window was blocked by his huge figure.

His one hand was on the wall and the other one behind his back. He poked his cheek from inside with his tongue as he watched her completely disappear from his sight.

"I see, you have begun denying me."

"Seems like, I gotta move even faster."

Last night memories flashed in his mind and an evil smirk soon appeared on his face with two dimples that added fuel to that devilish smirk.

"My little Sasha," He whispered under his breath and closed his eyes upon remembering her beneath him last night.

"I can't wait to put my claim on you forever."