Chapter One

SODAIR.

I walked around gazing at the palace grounds. The flowers around had bloomed beautifully and the air around the palace was sweet and lively. But that was not what I enjoyed. The more I stared around the more it felt lonely. This is one of the perks of being a princess.

I ran towards the other side where I was likely to meet my mom. She had her own office where she’d sit and write all day. I never questioned her and most of my time all she did was tell me to head to Wisteria my nanny.

“Mother?” I said as I headed towards her office. I knocked. When I heard nothing I decided to get inside. The room was full of shelves with books and there at the middle of the room was her one and only chair with scribbles on top of her table. I knew she wasn’t here so I decided to walk out. As I closed the door I accidentally pushed a vase that was by the side. I gazed at it broken into pieces on the floor.

I heard hurried footsteps coming my way. The door opened and in walked Wisteria. She gave me serious gaze as she glanced at the broken vase on the floor. She then sighed and then walked towards me

and gazed at me kindly.

“What are you doing in your mother’s office Your Highness?” She said to me. I sighed irritably. The royal etiquette issue.

“My name is Zeeklah.” I said stubbornly. She patted me on the back and gazed at me solemnly. “Your mom told you to be careful.”

“I am bored in this palace. It’s so huge. I have no friends to play with.” I said as I gazed at her with a challenging gaze.

“What is going on?” I heard my mom’s voice from the door. I walked towards her as I smiled.

“Mother! Where were you? I came to see you.” I said and gazed at the broken vase. “Sorry it was an accident.” I said pleading.

She gazed at Wisteria. She then smiled at me.

“Why don’t you go to your room now Zeeklah? I’ll come to see you in a while.” She said to me.

“Mother,” I said patiently. “The room is lonelier. I can’t stay there.”

“It’s okay. If you stay in your room today, I promise to bring you a friend today.”

“Really?” I replied excitedly. She nodded approvingly as she kissed me on the forehead. I smiled at her and headed towards my room.

I only agreed to that because arguing with her was something that I could possibly not be able to do. She is trying a lot. I rarely see my dad, I only get to see him during dinner. All he ever asks is if am okay and if my day went very fine. I smile and say nothing because nothing exciting happens around here.

I climbed the stairs to my room. I opened my room and gazed at it. I saw a book on the table. A book that my mom told me to read. She always says one becomes a leader if her mind knows a lot of things. But reading is quite boring.

I decided to walk around. Move from the bed to the window. Gaze outside at the maids working and children playing. Seeing a side of the city I’ve never set foot upon. Get out for the window post head to the table. Open the book. Close it.

I stomped my foot angrily and I felt something under my feet. My curiosity got the best of me. I walked around again, stomping my foot harder at every step I take. The sound was different from the place I stomped near the table. I walked back again and I heard the same sound.

I knelt down and knocked with my hand and put my ear to listen attentively. It was a booming sound, one mainly indicating something down the room surface. I moved the table a bit and I managed to move the carpet. My eyes filled with excitement I felt the wood that was on the room surface.

“A secret passage?” I said to myself. But why in my room? The wooden board was rectangular in shape so I decided to try and open it with my fingers. It moved and when I successfully opened it , I saw darkness inside. I gazed around and saw a fire torch by the window. I took it and lighted it with matches that I hid in my drawers. I held it firmly so that I could not burn things around this room.

I directed the fire torch inside and saw stairs leading to a tunnel.

“Where does this tunnel go?” I asked myself. I gazed around as my curious mind told me it won’t be so bad to find out. I opened it wider and started to go down the stairs slowly. When I reached the ground I found a fire torch at the corner with another fire torch.

I lighted it and switched of the one I had. I gazed at the wooden board that I closed and hoped my mom won’t find out. I took the fire torch and walked hurriedly to the end of the tunnel.

When I arrived at the near end I saw light and I knew I was already near towards the tunnel end. I walked towards it and my heart swelled with pride when I realized the tunnel led towards the city. I put the fire torch at another stand and decided to head to town.

I walked around the city as if I owned it. Some people glanced at me, and I took sometime to gaze at my attire. I was dressed like a person of nobility. I tried to walk with my head down so that one of the people around would not tell my dad that I was around town.

I managed to reach the fields that were filled with the flowers that were around the palace. I moved towards them and almost could not be seen since they were a bit my height. I plucked one and kept it on my hair as my eyes wandered around the field. Then I saw the fence. I ran towards it.

My eyes focused on what was at the other side of the field. Such wonderful purple flowers. I smiled as I tried to pluck one but couldn’t because my hand was too small to reach it.

“Why? Why is there a fence here?” I asked myself. Why would my dad put such a long fence next to this wonderful blooming purple plants. I breathed in their scent. Wonderful, beguiling. They made me feel at home, safe.

“I’ll come again if I get the chance to.” I said to them. I then had to run back home before my mom got into my room and missed me.

I got to my room as fast as I could and I thank the gods when I did not find my mom there. I closed the wooden board and returned the carpet as it was. I gazed at myself at the mirror and took out the flower on my hair.

“Zeeklah?” I heard my mom call me. I jumped to bed and pretended I was asleep.

“Zeeklah’.” She called again as she walked inside the room. I heard her sigh as she closed the door behind her. She came to sit next to me and I could feel her watching me. But I didn’t falter. I had to feign my eyes from abruptly opening. She smoothed my hair .

“Am sorry that you have to live like this. But we are all just protecting you. Am sorry that you feel lonely. But I promise, I’ll make you sure you don’t.” She said as she kissed me on the cheek. She smoothed my hair once again. She stood up and walked out of the room.

I turned around to be sure that’s she left. When I was sure, I sat and sighed heavily with relief.

Later on, during dinner I was able to see my father. He looked much more worn out than the last time I saw him. It must be the state affairs I thought to myself.

We sat at the huge dinning table each silently eating their food. I couldn’t possibly eat. My mind was replaying those beautiful purple plants that I saw out there.

“So how was your day, my beautiful princess?” My dad said to me as he smiled genuinely. I gave him a tight smile.

“Good dad. It was good.” I said as I twirled the spoon around the plate. My mom gazed at me her eyes worrisome.

“Why aren’t you eating, dear?” My mom asked me.

I gulped as I gazed at her my mind battling whether to ask her or not to.

“Is something wrong?” She asked me again. My dad gazed at me his attention full on me now.

“I just wanted to know...why is there a fence around the southern side of the city?” I asked curiously. My mom gasped as she gazed at King Gaber whose cold gaze never left mine.