The Princess And Her Alpha Bodyguard

2~ THE BURNING FLAMES OF BETRAYAL

"It is done, Princess. Please look in the mirror and let me know if you need a touch-up at any place. But I think you won't need it. After all, you're the number one beauty in the entire kingdom."

Finally, I thought as I opened my eyes.

Before I could say anything, she continued, "but of course, with the help of my creation, you look even more stunning," she said.

"Did I ask for your opinion?" I glared at her. My eardrums were sore from listening to her talk since early morning. It surprised me why she never ran out of boring stories to tell. But her talkativeness paled in comparison to the giant, canary silk dress she had on. Its hem covered not only her feet but also the one-meter radius floor, making it look like she had air stuffed inside. I wondered if she stole this dress from someone twice her size. As for her face, she covered it with a piece of cloth of the same color, revealing only a pair of brown eyes in wide-set frames.

It was a tradition in the Zariya Kingdom for all women to cover their faces during the ceremony. Except for the star of the day. Given it was my coronation day, there was no need to explain why I was the only one in the room without the mask.

"Forgive me, your highness. I only speak the truth. All women in the world will be jealous of your beauty if they are to see you now."

I looked into the mirror and sighed. She painted my face too white, making my pale complexion resemble that of a ghost. If it were not for the red berry color on my heart-shaped lips and the green pupils that I took after my queen mother, I doubt if I could tell my face apart from the wall behind me. When my eyes trailed down further, I expected to see two different shades between my face and throat. But there was none. She already covered every inch of my skin with powder. And she did an excellent job with it because I could no longer see the red faded strangled mark around my neck.

"I doubt that," I murmured to myself. My fingers traced the silver beads on the Queen Anne's neckline before stopping at the hollow of my throat—the place where he physically inflicted the pain on me.

"Did you say something, princess?" the woman asked, leaning closer as if she wanted to hear better.

"Nothing."

"Since you made no comments, I assume you like my makeup. I'm so honored with the opportunity to doll you up on such special occasions. Oh, then what about the hair, your highness? Do you want it tighter?"

"No, it's good," I answered in a hurry. She had already pulled it into a high bun, so tight that my eyebrows looked more heightened than usual. If she tightened it more, my blonde hair would have to say goodbye to my skull before the end of the day.

"I'm sure you'd have heard this many times already, but you really are beautiful. Your ethereal beauty is unparallel not only in this entire kingdom but also the world."

I stayed silent, not knowing what to say. If she had said this sentence a week ago, I would have smiled at this flattery and replied, "Of course. I knew that".

But now, none of this mattered anymore.

"Help me up," I said, giving her my hand, to which she helped me to my feet. The turquoise dress's hem brushed against the floor as I stood, covering my ankles completely.

"Would you like to put on the heels now, your highness? What about the cloak?"

I glanced at the silver cloak hanging nearby and shook my head. It must have weighed like an elephant since its hem stood almost two meters away from the chest area. I wanted to avoid putting it on as long as I could. At least, not until the ceremony began. As for the heels, even though I had always loved them, I didn't feel like wearing them now.

"No." I shook my head and took a step forward as I retracted my hand to rest against the silver beads around the tummy area. I walked around the unfamiliar room, finding it hard to believe just how much it had changed in only seven days. The tapestries were all in gold instead of my favorite midnight blue. The table next to my bed was gone, and so were the portraits on the walls. There was no trace of my family anymore. He replaced them all with paintings of his own.

Iory! My hands balled into fists at the thought of this name. This was all his doing. He wanted to supersede my parents' reign with his own as if this was his kingdom. He kept me locked up in the dungeons for seven days and didn't allow me to attend my family's funeral. And now, he turned my room upside down, erasing all the precious memories I had with them.

How cruel could a man be? Not to mention he was the man I once fell in love with.

Not only did he take away my things, but he also changed the personnel. All the maids standing at every corner of this room were all new. I couldn't find one familiar face. Even they had their masks on, I could still tell they were not my people. I had always been selective about the maids who served me personally, so I remembered all their faces and names. But now, I recognized none of them. I had no idea Iory could be this meticulous. No wonder he brought many people with him this time. When I asked him, he made an excuse that he got them as my birthday gifts. It turned out that his real intention was to have these girls guard me.

"Where is Damara?" I asked the maid standing the closest to me.

"I beg for your forgiveness, your highness, but I don't know who she is," she said as she knelt on the floor with her head down.

"Do you need something, princess?" asked the woman who took care of my makeup. I didn't know how she got here with that volumed dress, but when I turned to look at her, she was already standing behind me with two maids holding the hem of her dress up.

"Where is Damara?" I repeated the question to her.

"Damara? Who is that, your highness?" She tilted her head to the side, looking confused.

"Damara Cherro. My handmaid. Where is she?"

The woman turned back and asked the girls behind her, "Who among you is named Damara?" When the two maids shook their heads, she asked again in a louder voice. "Are any of you here named Damara Cheerio? If you are, present yourself at once. The princess needs to see you."

I sighed, wondering why I bothered asking her in the first place. Even before those girls shook their heads, I already knew the answer. She was not among them. Because if she were, I would have recognized her already.

"It's Cherro. Not Cheerio. And she is not here. That was why I asked you."

"My apology, your highness. I didn't know that. I thought she was in this room since she was your handmaid."

"Now you know. Get someone to bring her to me."

"Me?" she pointed to herself.

"Yes, you. Who else am I talking to here?" I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes because that was not what a princess should do.

"But I'm only here to make you presentable, your highness. I have no other authority here."

"What did you say?" I frowned and stepped closer to her.

"Prince Iory ordered me to take care of your appearance. That was my only task."

"His order?" I hissed. "Who is he to give an order in my kingdom?"

"He is your fiancé, your highness. Oh, forgive me. Actually, he is your soon-to-be husband since your wedding ceremony will take place tonight, right after your coronation."

"Are you doing this to anger me on purpose?" I glared at her. "I don't need you to remind me who Iory Frost is."

"But... but…"

"Now, open your ears and listen carefully. I am commanding you to bring Damara to me. Right now!" My voice came so loud that it echoed throughout the entire room.

The woman and all the maids knelt and hung their faces low, trying their best to avoid looking in my direction.

"I am sorry to disappoint you, Princess. But I rea-ll-y c-can't d-do that," said the woman with her voice shaking. "Prince Iory told us to serve you with only what he had ordered."

I could not believe my ears. This was Zariya. My kingdom. Yet, this woman dared to defy my order just because Iory told her to. How could I let this slide? There was a limit to everything, including my temper.

"How dare you!" I raised my hand, ready to paint her cheek with a red print.

But something caught my wrist, stopping me from landing my palm on her face.

"Who dares make the soon-to-be-queen so angry?" said a deep voice that belonged to none other than my so-called fiancé, Iory Frost.

Before I could turn to look at him, he whirled me around to face him. His free hand rested on my waist, bringing my body closer to his torso. To others, it might be a romantic posture. But to me, it was disgusting. The feeling of his touch on my skin only burned me with rage.

"Iory." I gritted my teeth as I said his name.

He was dressed in a crimson long-sleeve shirt that resembled the color of my parents' spilled blood on the throne room's floor the night he took their lives. His shirt had three golden lines embroidered around the chest area, representing his position as the third prince from Izles kingdom. His dark brown pants matched the color of his hair and the scabbard hanging on the left side of his waist.

"Yes, it's me, my dear. But what's with the rough tone? Where is your usual sweet voice?"

"A backstabber like you doesn't deserve it," I said, staring straight into the pair of protruding brown eyes.

"Come on. Don't be mad. Later, I'll give a harsh punishment to whoever dares to ruin your mood. So, stop taking your anger out on me, my beloved," he said with a smile—the one that used to melt my heart. But now, that smile had no effect on me anymore. Ever since the night of the fire, I felt only anger when I laid my eyes on him. The handsome physique of the rectangular face and full lips could no longer bewitch me.

"Punish whoever ruins my mood? Good. Kill yourself before my eyes. I will ease my anger then."

His smile vanished as he narrowed my eyes at me.

Too angry to carry the act? I thought as my lips curved up into a lopsided grin, gloating at my victory.

"Leave us." He turned to the woman who took care of my makeup. "Told everyone not to enter this room without my order."

"Yes, your majesty."

He stood in silence, waiting patiently until everyone left the room and closed the door. Only then did he reveal his truth devilish self.

"That is enough of your spoiled act, Laelia Adelaide," he said in an icy tone as he threw me to the floor like one tossed away an unwanted thing.

^

.

^

©️StellaKMary | The Princess And Her Alpha Bodyguard