Chapter 2

The kingdom was blooming in happiness, every other street was filled with chatters of excited people. Some were happy to know that their king was finally having his queen and some were happy to know that their princess was finally marrying King Jasper of the Logon kingdom.

The castle was bustling with maids and servants running here and there, whispering the romance of the new couple in each other's ears while giggling and blushing. The romance that took place in their imaginations. The arrangements were in full swing for the upcoming grand wedding that was to take place in a week. The guests already started to bless the kingdom with their presence.

The bride, Sasha who was currently standing in the middle of the hall, donning a dark green velvety dress that fitted perfectly on her upper body and was floral from down was greeting the guest with a warm smile on her face. She knew most of them and fortunately, none of them was passing her sympathetic look, they looked delighted.

A few guests she didn't know were introduced to her by the butler of the castle who was standing right beside her. The butler wasn't a woman or an old man, it 'maybe not so surprisingly' was a young man with long black hair.

"We are pleased to have you here," Sasha said genuinely and the guest passed her a warm smile, eyed her from head to toe, complimented her, and was taken away by the guards to show them around.

Sasha took a deep and heavy breath.

Some of them looked like pretenders.

The way they eyed her and then complimented her, it was as if they were mocking Jasper for marrying someone as average-looking as her. They have been treating her low ever since she lost her kingdom.

Pivoting on her heels, she began to walk away once she was done greeting all the guests.

The servants and maids bowed at her while passing by her, she paid no heed to them or their silly talks until something unconsciously fell on her ears which she didn't pay attention to either.

The maids were talking about a guest.

They were squealing in happiness.

"You saw how tall he was? Oh my Lord, that body was of a Greek god." Maid one.

"Yeah, Yeah, I almost slipped after seeing him." Maid two.

Both of them giggled and wandered away.

Sasha took a turn to take a different path and instantly halted on her steps when she saw her granny instructing the maids on what to do.

Her heart almost leaped to her mouth.

Before she could get caught by her, she slowly turned around and scooted away from there, taking another path. With a low huff, she shook her head and looked back to see if she was caught and if the granny was tailing her but fortunately, she wasn't.

With a little grin plastered on her soft features, she turned around and before she could even take a step further, she bumped into something so hard, almost broke her nose and went blank for a second. The colliding impact was so hard that she was about to fall back but something on her back prevented her from falling back. It was not a thing, it was a hand, a very big one at that. Her eyes snapped open and when she looked before her, there was nothing.

Not even a wall.

Her eyes widened and her hand lunged at her back where the hand was holding her, she could still feel that sensation on her back but there was no one before her or even behind her.

The corridor was empty.

A zap of horror ran down her spine and she instantly became pale. She bumped into someone and that someone was holding her waist so that she wouldn't fall back. Before Sasha could grab her dress and run away from there, a voice startled her shitless.

Snapping her head to the right, she saw her granny walking up to her.

"I was loo---what happened to you?" The old granny asked, her voice getting higher by the end of the sentence. Concern was plastered on her face as she stared at the pale face of Sasha.

"D-did you see someone?" Sasha asked, almost breathless.

Granny looked around with concern but soon a frown covered her features. She looked back at Sasha while slowly shaking her head. "No. Did you?" The old granny asked and Sasha shook her head while looking around. "B-But someone was here. I bu-bumped into someone and his hand was on my back but w-when I open my e-eyes, he wasn't t-three." Sasha stammered. Her horrified eyes stared at the path in horror.

"Sasha, my child, please have your medicine." The old lady said and Sasha snapped her eyes down at her. "Do you think I'm crazy? I'm not. I felt it, I b-bumped in-." Her panicked tone that was echoing in the silent corridor was interrupted by the old granny.

"Yes, Yes, I get it." She said and grabbed Sasha's arm, forcing her to walk. Sasha blinked to clear her blurry vision as she silently followed her granny. Another shiver ran down her spine when she felt a strong gaze on her. Looking around, she found no one.

This wasn't the first time she felt like she was being watched. It has happened to her many times before and each time it terrifies her. She could never get used to that sensation, never in a million years.

What was that?

Who was it?

Could it be...

She has been in this castle for two years, alone in her room or walking alone in the corridor. Nothing like this happened to her before here. Then why now?

Wiping the sweat off of her forehead with a handkerchief, the granny pressed the cold metal tip of the spoon on Sasha's lips. It had that syrup that the physician gave her.

Sasha looked up at the granny while sitting on the sofa. "I-I think...it's happening a-again." She stuttered but the granny shook her head and made her drink the syrup.

"Once you become a king's wife, it won't occur." The granny said while putting away the syrup, hiding it somewhere the maids wouldn't find it.

"Is that another reason why you are so frantic for my marriage with Jasper?" Sasha asked, her tone held disbelief.

"Yes." The granny said and Sasha immediately shook her head, her eyes becoming watery.

"No one can stop him. He will get what he wants. Have you forgotten what he is like?" She cried out.

"I-I don't wanna face him again. Even his name brings nightmares for me. Do you think you are the o-only one desperate to get m-me away from him?" She asked. Her tears were almost on the verge of streaming down.

"I can't even k-kill myself i-in order to get a-away from him." Sasha sniffed and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. The old granny looked at her with empathy. She settled herself beside the young lady and patted her back.

"Jasper is not as weak as you think." The granny said softly and put her hair strand behind her ear.

"Sasha, God is not so cruel, my child. He only gives the pain one can handle." She continued.

"You are strong."