BUT SHE HURT YOU.

VESPERA.

I turned to see both Kieran and Kalisto walking towards us, their strides swift and measured, Their expressions blank. 

I tried not to ogle at how charming they looked this late afternoon, with their royal robes on.

"I believe I asked a question" Kalisto growled, and I trembled, almost jumping out of my skin. But I could never prepare myself for what I witnessed next.

The scowl and fury that gazed through her blue orbs earlier immediately disappeared. 

Her eyebrows relaxed, her gaze dropping to the floor, her hands intertwined with one another, and her head bent downwards.

Kalisto immediately dashed towards her and held her in his arms, his eyes questioning, holding a gaze filled with care.

"Lily, are you alright?" My orbs widened as I sighted her lips trembling and her body shaking, tears squeezing out of her eyes.

'What was going on?' I pondered, confused, and wondered if she was perhaps sick. 

I was about to move closer when Kalisto instantly, raised his head and snapped at me, his jaw clenching.

"Get away, would you, what did you do to her, you slave?" He roared, his words cutting through me like a whip and making me flinch, my heart breaking at the words he called me.

I was speechless, words refusing to form a reply as I looked at them. 

She was wrapped protectively in his arms, and when he turned to look at her, his eyes were tender and gentle, but when he looked at me, it was filled with fury.

"Don't be too harsh on her. Kalisto, she probably didn't mean to". Lily pleaded, like she was protecting me but it seemed to me she was only fueling the situation.

The air around me immediately turned cold and I had to wrap my arms around myself, my legs shaking as I heard the heavy sound of footsteps moving closer to me.

I knew who it was and bowed my head as the owner of the footsteps got to my front and questioned.

"Mean what?" 

"I am sure she didn't mean to push me, Kieran," Lady Lily replied to him instead, and I shuddered unconsciously. 

Their glare was just like a cold breeze on my skin.

"She did what?" Kalisto suddenly growled as he released Lady Lily, whose lips curled sneakily as he charged over to me and grabbed me by my arm harshly. 

His long nails pierced into my skin perhaps drawing blood. I winced in pain, squeezing my face, but he didn't care but rather gripped me tightly.

"Your Highness, no, miss Vespera didn't do anything," Jessica, the maid, cried out, speaking on my behalf, and I froze, momentarily forgetting the pain I was feeling.

I couldn't believe someone stood up for me. This was the first time. I turned to see her getting up from the floor and dashing towards us, her eyes locked onto Kieran as she looked at him, her piercing, green orbs, soft and filled with pleas.

"Are you trying to imply Lily is lying?" Kieran asked, his brows furrowing in confusion while Lady Lily immediately dashed towards us and held Kalisto, who was still glaring at me, by the arm.

I saw Lady Lilly's eyes narrow briskly as panic flashed through her orbs. She nudged, trying to stabilize her shaky hands on Kalisto.

"Please never mind it. It was not intentional. Let's go" she said, more like pleading as she tried to release Kalisto's hold from me. 

I just stood there, witnessing all the drama, speechless.

"But we are still......." Kieran tried speaking when Lady Lily, cut him off.

"Please". 

"Not until this fool apologizes, Lily" Kalisto disagreed, looking like he just wanted to wriggle my neck. 

I could have said something, anything, to show I was innocent, but I was just lost.

By the way, did he just call me a fool, Why? I felt a stinging sensation in my heart. His words were just like slashes.

"Don't worry, Kalisto. She will be punished. No one offends royal blood and gets away with it," Kieran assured, and I blinked back, the tears pricking at the corner of my eyes.

'But I didn't do anything ' I tried speaking but could only hear my voice in my mind. 

Lady Lily's face twisted into a satisfied smirk before it disappeared like a flash of lightning.

It was just like I imagined it, for all I could see now was a wide-eyed gaze of innocence, her blue eyes sparkling under the sun, making her look irresistible and tempting.

I felt Jealousy crawling at my heart, wishing I was this beautiful and lovely to look at.

"Oh please," Dawn grunted in my head, and I let out a smile unconsciously. Before I knew it, I was hurled to the ground, and Jessica let out a high squeak.

"Shut it, will you?" Kalisto snapped at her, gritting his teeth and Jessica went shut, shaking as tears proceeded to drop from her eyes and roll down her cheeks.

As I fell to the ground, my back hit a rock and I felt pain shot through me. I was sure I would have sustained some bruises.

'Why does he have to be this cruel to me?'

"Oh no! Kalisto, you need not have gone this far. I told you, she didn't mean to" Lady Lily scolded, trying to pacify him.

"But she hurt you" He yelled at her, veins bulging out of his forehead as he turned to glare at me, shooting daggers with his sliver orbs.

Words couldn't describe my pain. It was just like a knife was being twisted into my guts as I realized how much they cared for her. 

No one has ever cared for me in such a manner. I looked away, unable to bear such love.

I didn't hurt her. She was the one who slapped me, so why was I being punished?

Jessica rushed to help me get up and I screamed as I tried to stand up on my leg only to realize it was broken. My ankle. He must have used quite a force.

"My l-lady, are you alright?" Jessica panicked, trying to hold me by the waist, when suddenly I felt myself being lifted into strong arms, my back hitting a rock, hard, build.

I gasped, my eyes widening in horror as I turned swiftly to look at who it was, only to see....