Lili lay in her room, her family's physician treating her wounds with a sense of urgency. Everyone else waited in the living room, their expressions full of concern and worry. Cris, Thone, Avoi, and Mahara were constantly crying, unable to hide their distress. Marco sat in silence, his eyes fixed on the floor, disappointment etched onto his face as he berated himself for failing to protect Lili.Meanwhile, the Crown Prince sat in the corner, his mind racing with thoughts of concern for Lili. The realization that the Mask Princess and Lili were one and the same had suddenly become unimportant, overshadowed by his worry for his friend. Master Ken pondered how Lili had ended up in the woods, his concern extending to the Crown Prince."We should return to the palace, your highness," Master Ken spoke up, breaking the somber silence. "It's safer for you there while we investigate who the group that attacked you earlier is."The minister chimed in; his voice heavy with emotion. "General Alfon
Lili's eyes slowly fluttered open as she felt the emptiness inside her soul. She had feigned being unconscious for what seemed to be an eternity, enduring the agonizing sound of Cris' mother's constant sobs. Lili was grateful to have Cris look after her, but the charade was too much for her to bear. She let out a weary sigh and gingerly touched the wound that she had inflicted upon herself. She had been careful not to cause any serious injury, as the stab wound had been of her own doing. Lili purposely avoided vital organs as she ran the blade across her skin, a calculated move that she hoped would help her in the days to come. Marco's crows cawed in the distance, signifying that it was time for her to leave. It was a warning that she had come to rely on in order to stay hidden from those who chased her. She had fled from Master Ken's pursuit and sought refuge with Marco, who had given her clothes to change into. The swordsman had concealed her mask, sword, and previous attire in ord
Master Ken acknowledged the Mask Princess's fearless display with a nod of approval and a hint of admiration in his voice, "You are a brave one to venture into the palace." Nevertheless, his grip on his sword betrayed a sense of wariness that the Mask Princess savored as she observed him.She calmly replied to Master Ken's comment, "Risking the life of the crown prince is far more consequential than entering his abode."As they stood there in a tense stand-off, the Mask Princess scanned their surroundings carefully but quickly realized that her desired target was not present. As she felt the urgency to take swift action, she tensed her bow, aiming for the small lump in the room, and released an arrow, plunging the space into complete darkness. The Mask Princess darted away without a moment's hesitation, her escape aided by the Minister of War who came into her sights and earned her another well-aimed arrow, hitting him in the knee and causing him to stagger.With her heart pounding and
Her fist clenched tightly, her knuckles turning white, as she glared intently at the ornate wooden door that Master Ken and her friend, Mahara, had just exited. The news that Avoi had been promoted to be the Minister of War's right-hand man had hit her like a ton of bricks. It was like a slap in the face, an attempt by Master Ken to taunt her and cast suspicion her way. Did he think that she was the Mask Princess? Her heart raced with anxiety at the thought of being found out. From her accent, language, and even her height, there was a high chance that he would suspect her.She flopped back onto her bed, tossing and turning, trying to come up with a plan to clear her name. Suddenly, the door creaked open, and someone slipped into the room."Poor Lili, she still hasn't woken up," Avoi said, her voice hushed."Maybe she'll wake up next week," Cris added."Huhuhu don't die, Lili," Mahara sobbed, the sound grating on Lili's nerves. She couldn't take much more of their excessive crying and
The two stood facing each other the tension palpable in the air. The glint of his sword caught the light, reflecting off the polished metal. They are both confident in their skill and this battle. However, as they circled each other, it became clear that neither was willing to make the first move.He knew that he could not defeat her in combat. She was quick and agile, her movements as graceful as a dance. He had seen her fight before, and he knew that she was a formidable opponent. But he was determined to see her face, to know the woman behind the mask.As they continued to circle, he made his decision. He slowly lowered his sword, the metal clinking softly against the ground. She hesitated for a moment, unsure of his intentions. But then she too lowered her sword, and they stood facing each other, unarmed.She approached him slowly, her eyes never leaving his. She didn't want him to think that she was afraid to fight without a weapon. As she drew closer, he could see
Why was he so weak? She thought, anger rising within her at his apparent helplessness.She viewed the masked men with disdain as they backed away from her, their identities hidden behind the garish masks adorning their faces. "Your masks reveal your high positions in the Palace," she taunted, their cowardly behavior only adding to her disgust.But they quickly retaliated, pointing at the Mask Princess’s own mask. "You wear a mask, too," they snarled.The Mask Princess grinned, her determination remaining steadfast. "I’ll take it off," she replied, drawing herself up to her full height. "But only if you go first."The men laughed, their amusement quickly turning darker. "Before us, let’s get rid of your companion," they threatened, moving towards the prince with malicious intent.The Mask Princess’s mind raced, her thoughts creating a plan of action. She knew she had to outsmart these men and convince the Crown Prince to stand alongside her to prevent the destruct
Lili's mouth was agape with amazement at the sight of the long table adorned with distinct delicacies that made her heart race with joy. She gazed at her mother with crystal-clear, tear-filled eyes that represented pure happiness, accompanied by her sister Cris, who has now softened her usual angry glares. Her father was grinning with delight as he watched the joyous faces of his wife and daughter."I thought it would take you two weeks or more to wake up. I was so worried about you, Lili," her mother's voice quavered as tears streamed down her face.Lili returned the embrace with a tender smile etched on her face. Her mother hastened to fill her plate with a generous number of vegetables."Eat a lot of vegetables so you can get stronger," she tenderly advised.Lili flickered a grin, nodding her head in agreement. She joyfully savored everything on the table and bestowed a beam on her family. She reciprocated the servers' kind smiles too.As soon as they finished
In his quiet chamber, the King sat hunched over a canvas. Slowly, he painted the details on the face of a woman with a radiant, joyful smile. When he was finished, he carefully added a caption beside her."My beloved," he wrote.Putting down his brush, the King chose a fresh sheet of paper. He began to draw a figure of a woman, formulating perfect lines and curves. But as he reached the part where he should mark her face, he faltered. There was a nagging feeling that he didn't know her face at all, and his hand stopped.Almost abruptly, he put down the pencil and simply wrote on the paper instead."Unah," he wrote, the name of his child.After finishing, he looked at the sketch for a long moment, clutching it tightly. A wave of regret and sorrow washed over him as he realized how little he really knew about his child. He had never been there for her, and he didn't even know her face.Suddenly, a knock on the door shook him out of his thoughts. General Ybarra strode in, and the King's
Three years had passed since Unah had officially become Queen, and Leon had taken over the throne of her father. Though she had lost her father to heart illness, her mother had made an admirable recovery, and was currently holding Unah's one-year-old child in her arms."The little prince is truly a naughty one," Unah’s mother complained with a smile, as she gazed down at the child's soft, rosy cheeks.Unah couldn't help but smile at the sight, as she reached over to touch her child's cheek. "My little prince looks very handsome, he takes after me," she said."If he’s handsome then he takes after me," someone suddenly interrupted.Unah's mother exclaimed in surprise, "Your Majesty!"Unah turned to see her husband, Leon, grinning from ear to ear. "Mother, can I spend time with my Queen?" he asked.She nudged Leon playfully, "What are you saying? Mother is already tired. Let's take care of our child," she said.But her mother just smiled, "What are you talking about? I'm happy when I tak
The passing of time had only deepened the profound grief that had shrouded the Roque couple. Every day seemed to be a struggle, with each moment an agonizing reminder of the life that they had lost. For Lili, it was like watching a slow-motion tragedy unfold before her eyes. She could barely bear to see her friends in such a state of despair.As she stood by the graveside of their beloved Cris, her heart ached with a sorrow that she could not fully comprehend. The world around her had lost its luster, and the once-vibrant hues of life had been replaced by a somber, gray pallor.But despite the overwhelming sadness that threatened to crush her, Lili knew that she had to keep going. She could not allow her grief to consume her, not when her step-parents needed her now more than ever.With a sense of grim determination, Lili set about fulfilling her obligations. She cooked their favorite meals, did their chores, and tried to keep the house in order, all while struggling to come to terms
Minister Luna, the man who had always been like a father to the Crown Prince, stood before him with a sword pressed against the neck of the woman he loved. Mask Princess trembled, her heart heavy with emotion as she watched her world unravel before her. She had never expected to find herself in such a precarious situation, and the fear that gripped her was almost too much to bear. "I never thought that the person he loved was you, Mask Princess," Minister Luna said, his mouth agape in amazement as he looked at her. His voice was filled with a mix of emotions, ranging from disbelief to anger. Mask Princess could see the pain in his eyes as he struggled to come to terms with the reality of the situation. She could sense the turmoil within him, the conflict between his loyalty to the Crown Prince and his love for her. It was a battle that she knew all too well, one that had consumed her own heart not so long ago. Her beloved Leon, who had always been a source of strength for her, now
ALMARIO WARThe Mask Princess, known for her beauty, courage, and intelligence, stood tall and resolute before the Head General, her eyes flashing with conviction and concern etched on her face. She was a vision of strength and poise, with her long black hair cascading down her back, held in place by a golden tiara. "Ring the bell," she said sternly, emphasizing her words with a steely gaze. Her voice was strong and unwavering, commanding respect and attention from those around her. The Head General of War was taken aback by her unexpected request. "What? Are we declaring war within the Palace itself?" he asked incredulously, readying himself for the worst. But the Mask Princess was firm in her resolve. "There will be no revolution," she replied, her voice ringing out clear and strong. The Head General took a deep breath and mounted his horse, clearly shaken by the Mask Princess's solemn words. As she surveyed the area, she noticed someone familiar in the crowd. It was Cris, her tru
The day of reckoning had arrived, and the winds of change were sweeping fiercely through the land. A sense of liberation, of something momentous and cataclysmic, shrouded the town like a heavy mist, with everyone holding their breath and bracing for what lay ahead.As the first rays of sunshine began to creep across the horizon, a hush fell across the land. The hum of horses' hooves could be heard in the distance as the soldiers of Minister Luna made their way towards the Palace. Their glistening armor and sharpened swords glinted and flashed menacingly in the golden light, a stark reminder of the power and ferocity they wielded.All across the town, people gathered in crowds, stretching for miles in every direction. They were fervently discussing the upcoming revolution, with some spreading rumors of further plots to overthrow the new King before he even sat upon his throne. The streets were alive with voices, filled with fear and anticipation. anticipation.As noon approached, the t
Mask Princess felt a twinge of unease as she sat down among the group of men with concealed faces. She knew that her reputation preceded her; she was known for being a fierce and elusive vigilante, dedicated to bringing justice to the people of her city. However, despite her impressive track record, it seemed that these men were still wary of her.As she waited for Minister Roque to arrive, Mask Princess couldn't help but notice the way the men watched her every move. Their eyes bore into her, suspicious and calculating. It was clear they were assessing her, trying to determine whether she could be trusted.Mask Princess tried not to let their scrutiny get to her. She knew that earning their trust was essential to completing the mission at hand. She needed to convince them that she was on their side, that she was committed to their cause.But as the minutes ticked by and Minister Roque failed to show up, Mask Princess began to feel a sense of frustration. She had gone to great lengths
Mask Princess emerged from the dark and cramped warehouse with a stick in her hand. She trembled with exhaustion and her face was caked with undisguisable blood. Her hair was now a mess barely held together by a single hair tie that had seen her mother's last embrace.The lady struggled to keep her balance as she knew every move was crucial. Once she stepped into the light, the people who captured her would not hesitate to take her back and torture her again. She looked around with rolling eyes, making sure that no one was around before taking a step out of the warehouse's door.What filled her sense of smell next was not the familiar odor of blood from inside the warehouse, but instead a sweet aroma of vanilla coming from her mother's house she visited thousands of times as a child. She inhaled a deep breath of calming fresh air and unknowingly tumbled towards her escape to the outside world.The lady reached for her mother's house, a single dwelling bestowed upon by Minister Luna. I
Cris Roque had been assigned a task by her mother, Risa Roque, to clean their lavish house since she had nothing else to do that day. Thus, she began sweeping, dusting, and tidying up every corner of the house with a spring in her step.As she was cleaning her sister Lili's room, she suddenly got injured under the bed, and a sharp pang shot through her finger, leaving it bloodied. Still in shock, she slowly peered under the bed, and her eyes widened as she saw a sharp sword gleaming back at her.She picked up the sword. It was heavy yet smooth, and its long silver blade scintillated in the sunlight streaming from the window. She wondered who owned it and how it ended up under her sister's bed. At first, she thought it belonged to her father, who was an avid collector of antique swords. But when she saw other things under the bed, she shuddered. Her delicate fingers trembled as she observed the black garment, still stained with blood, and its silver mask, the emblematic attire of the
Lili stood before him, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. She had never expected their meeting to be like this. What was he trying to say? Why did he look so sad?As he walked towards her, Lili felt a sense of trepidation wash over her. She had always thought she was ready for anything, but this was different."I know who you are now, Lili. And I also know where I belong," he said, his voice filled with emotion.Lili felt a sense of confusion wash over her. What did he mean, where he belonged? And how did he know who she was?He seemed to read her thoughts and continued, "In the forest, I was furious with you because you deceived me. But I couldn't control my feelings and I even kissed you."Lili looked away, feeling a sense of shame. Everything had happened so quickly, and she had never intended for things to go the way they did."I also found out that I'm not the true son of the King. But I don't know who my real father is or why the Queen did what she did,"