Chapter 2 PISSED OFF

RAFAELLA

My father's words put some bitterness inside me. I know I would eventually end up like this! Being a princess was really a form of curse. You would never experience the will of freedom! I would have known that he was this eager to sell me to relieve himself of carrying such a burden like me.

"I refused this arrangement father!" I declared firmly. My eyes slowly blurred with tears as I stared at him stubbornly.

The servants sent by their prince gasped in shock as they heard my firm refusal.

My mother snapped her head and stalked towards me slowly bearing the elegance and tenderness as the Queen. She took my trembling hand and squeezed it gently. "Honey, this is for your own good. You must listen to your father." 

Ugh! There is this invisible slap that stung on my face! I thought my mother was there to support me but here she was urging me to submit into my father's will. "I don't want to get married to a complete stranger. I can't." I whispered. My voice quivered as I tried to blink hard my tears and refused to let them fall.

"Enough with this nonsense argument. You will marry him no matter what! End of this irrelevant discussion." My father growled at me furiously. He took my mother's hand and headed straight to my door. "Get her ready in a few minutes." He snapped to the servants before he slammed my door shut with a loud and thunderous bang.

"My lady…" Ada stalked towards me slowly and engulfed me in between her arms. "Don't be sad, everything will be just fine…" she tried to comfort me and I'm done being rude to her so I just simply nodded my head trying to suppress the pain in my heart.

Ada had been there for me since I was eight years old. She was always there to comfort me and lull me to sleep. Being a queen is not easy, my mother had lost time for me while accompanying my father in his every journey thus I only have Ada as my company. She was like my second mother. She would tell me stories about other princesses and princes from other kingdoms getting married and living happily ever after. How about me? Will I be able to live happily ever after too? I doubt it! I really do!

"Miss, can we start now..?" One of the maids came forward and asked me softly.

I nodded in agreement and right there and then, she guided me together with Ada to my little chamber where I could have a simple bath. They bathed me for nearly ten minutes and wrapped me in a blanket afterward. The smell of the fragrance they used eventually relaxed my nerves. It's so calming and refreshing. I like it!

The other servants beamed when they spotted me coming out from the chamber after being dubbed inside for a few minutes. They began scrambling on their boxes. They took out dangling stones which I assume to be jewels, shoes and many more but I didn't find any clothes. What the? Do they prefer me wearing nothing but a blanket to receive their prince? Just when I thought I could be more foolish, Ada gestured her hand towards the newly installed wardrobe in front of me. 

"My lady, the dress is inside the new wardrobe. You may now choose the best that suits your liking." She smiled genuinely at me while I widened my eyes in shock. My curiosity spikes the hell out of me as I make my way towards the weird wardrobe and begin opening it widely.

"Huh!?" I couldn't help but gasp in surprise. I turned my head to Ada. "Was this given by him too?" I couldn't help admiring the dresses inside the huge storage. They looked fancy and beautiful.

"Yes." Came her curt reply.

So this unknown Prince Erick had a good taste in women's dress, huh? Well… that reason alone wouldn't still change the fact that he is asking for my hand without my consent. I'm still pissed off at him! And I'm not gonna make him happy!

"My lady, which one do you like?" The maid with braided silver hair inquired politely.

I want to degrade myself this much to prevent myself from getting married that fast. Huh! If possible, I would definitely make myself uglier to make him dislike me. A snicker graced into my lips as I pointed my finger to one of the most indecent clothes inside the wardrobe. "I want that blue one." I demanded with a cunning and calculating smile.

The maid beamed and nodded eagerly. "This would surely fit on you, my lady." She mumbled, making me feel rather uneasy. Did I choose the wrong one? Well, let's see about that!

Twenty long minutes later…

"You look so beautiful, Rafa…" Ada praised me with a really dazzling smile as well as the other servants, making me choke. What the? I shouldn't be looking good in blue right? No! No! No! This can't be! I shook my head.

"Mirror! I need a mirror!" I whined miserably. My hair wasn't even fixed yet and I'm still barefooted. No gems attached to me aside from the annoying dress that perfectly suits me according to them.

The servants slowly pushed my dresser towards me and there stood before me a different Rafaella Lavel. I looked even more elegant and matured while wrapped in the blue dress. By the gods! My firm breast was gathered in one place showing its firm and creamy cleavage. What the? They were about to pop out but thanks to my corset that was safe for now. I roamed my eyes downward, there was a long cut from my thighs trailing down to my ankle. My straps connected to my lingerie would resurface if I walked in large strides. Damn! Do I make myself even more ravishing in his liking? Goodness! This won't do! I shook my head in refusal.

"I don't want this! I want to change it!" I whined. There's no way I would let him see my curves. I think I should just wear my usual clothes. My warrior outfit! Yeah! That would do! I was about to order Ada to get it for me but my door was knocked off again. What the hell is wrong with these people? Why couldn't they knock first and ask for my damned consent before entering my chamber?

Bang!

The loud bang from my door startled me. I couldn't help but freeze in my spot. The servants also rooted in their spots just like me. Eyes widening like saucers at the culprit's audicity.

"The Prince of Euratus has arrived!" That was my father's head of the guards, Alton, announcing such irrelevant words. Why in the hell was he barging into my room just to pronounce it to me? Am I that easy to offend with, in his fucking eyes? I would soon put him into place if I would have enough time! I couldn't help gritting my teeth as anger surged through me and there, I finally lost the last ounce of my patience! I had enough of this barging thing!

I sauntered towards him in a flash and spin my body around him as my hand sneakily took out his long sword which was settled adoringly in his waist. I pointed it directly to his nose while staring at him sharply. "You dared to break into my chamber for one stupid announcement?" I growled at him coldly. 

The stupid general froze in his spot as I dipped the sharp tip of his sword on his high-bridge nose drawing a small amount of blood. He wasn't able to move as he glared at me. But my glare was enough to taunt him when I trailed that sharp tip down to the lower part of his body, making him shiver on the spot. Yeah! This loyal trustee of my father was still young but a few years older than me. He wasn't aware that I was trained as a warrior by my father. It was actually hidden from the kingdom but I wonder what would they do about it? It was actually for my self-defense purposes and for some reason I find it extraordinary that I could use it at times like this. We stood there in stalemate as silence enveloped us. No one dared to utter any word as they could see how pissed I was!

Then there was a ruckus in the corridor. Probably my parents checking on me again!

Everyone tilted their heads towards that certain direction and bowed for respect but except me. I wouldn't be faltered with whoever was that until I get to teach this stupid general of my father a very good lesson on how to treat his princess with respect. He was so disrespectful thinking that I'm just a mere princess with a stupid and spoiled nature! He fucking underestimated me! I'm a well trained warrior by my father and mother and I doubt it if he could even defeat me! I would surely challenge him some other time!

"What happened here?" That was my father's annoying voice causing his trustee's head to tilt sideways. 

"Your Highness…" He greeted politely and was about to bend his body but the tip of his sword was pressed against his massive part of the pants making him turn his face deathly pale in shame.

"Rafaella, what's going on?" My mother inquired and that's my cue to tilt my head towards their direction.  My gaze turned frosty as I spotted a masked stranger standing beside my father. I looked at him shortly and he looked at me. Our eyes met and for the first time in my life I felt an odd sensation inside me.

He was dressed lavishly but I had no time to appreciate such a view as my focus was right on my father.

"Do you permit this general to barge into my chamber without bothering to ask my permission?" I questioned dryly. I stared at my father's contorting face and waited for his words but my hand remained holding the sword pointing to the same part, unmoving.

My father darted his face towards his trustee and sent a silent signal of apology towards me which wasn't new to me. I also learned it under his adamant insistence behind everyone's back.

"My apologies, princess…" The guard lowered his head down and pretentiously submitted to me. How hypocritical he was! Earlier, he was glaring at me like he wanted to jab my head out from my neck but now...

I sneered. "The next time you barge into my chamber I would surely cut the hell out of your precious little thing down there! Do you hear me?" I warned him viciously.

"I… I apologize for my rudeness."

"Nice to finally meet you, Princess Rafaella Lavel."