My Guardian Angel

"You... You can't do this. I'm Prince Erwin's favorite concubine. If you touch me, the prince will be very angry with you. I'll ask him to cut off your head." I said. I was trying to defend myself. I didn't intend to threaten him.

The soldier glanced at Lady Tiana.

"Do as I say."

The soldier started beating me. He tore off my clothes, leaving me completely naked in front of everyone. He slapped my left and right cheek. Then, he kicked and punched me in the face. He banged my head repeatedly on the solid marble floor. I screamed out in pain. I cried and apologized for my harsh words towards Lady Tiana so he would stop beating me. It was so painful. The pain fills my whole body.

After I was beaten, They threw my wounded body into the dungeon.

"Don't give her food and water for days. This moody lady must be disciplined." The lady said.

I don't know how long I was held in this dungeon. Maybe five or six days? With so many wounds that went completely untreated, as well as extreme hunger and thirst, I couldn't move an inch. I lay on the rough dungeon ground, accompanied by giant rats that bit my legs several times. I was hungry, thirsty, and in pain. It was all so excruciating.

Why did they have to sell me to this palace? Dying in the cold ocean water was better than dying slowly in pain like this.

Just when I thought I was dead, I saw an "angel".

"Heaven... I've arrived in heaven." I said hoarsely.

"Miss! Miss! I'll take you out of here."

The "angel" shake my body. I soon realized that he wasn't an angel but Prince Erwin. Erwin then gave me some water. I gulped down all the water. When you're dying of thirst, plain water tastes like honey. And I will never forget the person who gave me a drink when I was dying of thirst.

*****

Erwin carried me to his room. He gave me some food. I ate all the food he gave me like crazy. It was disgusting to eat like that, but who cares? I am starving.

"Look what they did to you while I wasn't here." He said.

"Thank you for the food," I said.

He called the physician and Madam Margaret to his room. The physician treated me while Madam explained everything that had happened to Erwin.

"Lady Anna was rude to Lady Tiana, my prince. I think she deserves to be punished."

"That's not an answer I expected. She was given a punishment that was far more severe than her fault. Didn't you give her food and water for six days? What if she dies? I had entrusted Miss Anna's safety to you, Madam! And you swear an oath to protect my lover. If Anna gets hurt again, I will hold you accountable."

Erwin then sent the Madam out. I was glad to see her being scolded like that.

 "How is she?" Erwin asked the physician.

 "It's a miracle that she's still alive, my prince. She was rescued just in time. Her lip is torn, and his nose is fractured. Restoring her face to its former beauty will take a long time."

 Erwin looked at me with a pitiful expression on his face.

"I'm really sorry, my lady."

"Do you still like me? Look at my face. I'm not as pretty as I used to be."

"Says who? You were always the most beautiful girl I've ever seen," he said as he kissed the wound on my face.

Having someone who protects and loves you is delightful, right? It's him. Erwin Harlow. He is the angel in this palace hell. My guardian angel the one who stands up to protect me when everyone hurts me.

*****

For four days during my treatment, I stayed with Erwin in his room. He helped bandage my wounds and fed me medicine.

Is it strange? No matter how much I wanted to die, I was always spared from death, as if a miraculous force pushed me to stay alive.

When I could stand up, I approached Erwin, who was looking out at sea from the balcony of his room. Then, I stroked his blond hair.

"You are lovely, my guardian angel," I said.

"Kiss me, my lady. I want to taste love from your lips. I have vowed not to steal a kiss from you. But, this time, I really want it."

"You really want a kiss from me?"

"More than anything."

I brought my face closer to his handsome face, but before our lips touched, I changed my mind. I didn't want to kiss him.

"I am not ready," I said.

"Why?"

"If I kiss you, I'm afraid I'll fall in love with you."

"Why, my lady, just why... why don't you want to fall in love with me? It's time to walk away from your bloody past. Don't be the victim of that tragic event that you won't be able to change again. Let go of it, my dearest love, for the sake of your own heart. You don't wanna feel the emotional torture again, don't you? You had suffered a lot already. It's time... It's time to move on from the past. You and I can be happy lovers.  

I took a deep breath, wiped the tears from my cheeks, and said :

"Love is joy, but mostly it's a fuel, willpower. I'm driven by love more than power, money, popularity, and triumph... Erwin, no matter how bad my day is, no matter how hard the obstacles are, no matter how sick and exhausted I am, the day is always counted as a 'beautiful day' as long as you are here with me. When I am with him, the hunger, pain, tiredness, boredom, embarrassment, failure, and shame mean nothing, those feelings vanish into thin air, and the idiotic-happy smile appears on my face. Love is very beautiful. You the lotus that grows from my muddy life. My handsome prince. My guardian angel. But you are right. It's time to let go. Adieu, my blood, who are already in heaven. Adieu, past."

"Then, my kiss?"

"Not so fast.

 He laughed at my words.

 "How do I know that you really love me, Erwin? There are so many girls in the Harem, and they are all beautiful. I'm afraid you'll be attracted to one of them and leave me. There's no way you're truly in love with me. Love doesn't grow that fast."

Erwin cupped my face with both hands, and he squeezed my cheeks.

"Let me tell you something, miss. I wanted to have friends so badly, but there was no one I could trust. I believed that someday my loneliness would disappear and I would have a friend. Not just an ordinary friend, but a true friend, a lover, a life companion, a confidant, and the one I take for a queen if I ascend the throne. The moment I saw you, I knew it was you."

 "So you don't have any friends all this time?"

Erwin looked away and nodded sadly.

 "Oh, my poor prince. Although your brain is giving you illusions. I mean, you're on the verge of madness because of that loneliness. So, your brain is trying to save you by giving you the illusion that I am your true love so that you finally have a friend. But that's okay. Our relationship can work.

I smiled sadly and stroked his face.

"But I really love you, my lady. I'll prove it...."

We both smiled at each other. Erwin looked at my lips. Then, he brought his face closer to mine. Reflexively, I closed my eyes. Erwin landed his lips on my neck. He gave a small peck and then released his lips.

"Final permission. May I kiss you miss?"

I nodded.

Erwin smiled and kissed me right on the lips. Our first kiss was so passionate, like fire coming from both lips. It's so hard to break away from each other. But the kiss ended when the physician arrived.

****

I went back to my room in the Harem. Meanwhile, Erwin was on a mission away from the palace for a few days. They said he was only gone for three days, but five days had passed, and he hadn't returned. I began to worry. Bad news then came: Erwin was injured, and he was dying. The news caused chaos in the palace; if Erwin died, he left no heir.

On the seventh day, I could breathe a sigh of relief. Erwin returned safe and sound. I was so grateful. I missed him so much. I wanted to hear his stories and hug him, expressing fear in case he died. On the same night he returned, I came to his chamber. Little did I know that Hagya, the silly girl, and the madams were waiting in front of Erwin's door.

"What are you doing here?" I asked Hagya.

"I should be the one asking. What are you doing here, Anna? It's my turn tonight."

"Don't be outlandish. The prince didn't ask you to come to his chamber." I said jealously.

"No, but that's the rule of the Harem. Each concubine gets their turn."

I became very jealous. The thought of Erwin will make love with Hagya tonight already made me want to burn that girl's face.

"Why are you jealous of me? I remind you, Anna. There can be no jealousy in the Harem." Hagya said.

Erwin opened the door.

"Anna... come, darling. I got something for you," He said while smiling at me,

I smiled slyly at Hagya.

"But, prince! Tonight it's my turn. I am supposed to sleep with you tonight, not that bitch."