WARNING! THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS VIOLENCE!
"So... I heard some interesting news," Yuden said as he wiped his gun with a white handkerchief, which quickly became stained with blood from Yuden's previous target. He fixed his intense gaze on the figure kneeling humbly before him.
Seated on a chair, Yuden smiled with his usual vacant eyes as he leaned closer to the bound man on the ground.
"I heard that you were plotting to revolt against the royal family?" he questioned the individual, raising his hand to gently lift the man's chin and locking eyes with him, creating an intense gaze.
The tied man quivered, his lips trembling before he could speak his mind, causing Yuden to grow impatient.
"Speak," Yuden coldly demanded, sending shivers down his opponent's spine.
"I-I was ordered to! I swear to God... they had offered me a large sum of money. And monsters have been attacking our villages and devouring whoever crosses their paths yet the royal family was preparing for the crown prince's engagement while my loved ones were dying—"
He was interrupted by Yuden, who pointed his gun directly at the man's forehead.
"Their names."
"I... I don't know," the trembling man replied, closing his eyes, for fear the crown prince might shoot him.
The man's words fell on deaf ears as Yuden stood up and raised the gun, his finger poised on the trigger.
"Then you're useless to me," he declared, his voice laced with finality. And with a single pull, the gunshot shattered the silence of the room.
The man fell to the ground, lifeless, his eyes forever sealed with fear.
Yuden threw his weapon on the floor beside the dead body and turned away, his expression unfaltering. He had no time for remorse; his world thrived on strength and power. That was the way royal politics worked.
"I cannot believe I'm trying everything in my power to save fools like you who let themselves get brainwashed easily," He said, staring at the corpse.
"Clean up," Yuden ordered, his voice echoing through the room.
The two men who had been standing silently behind him all along stepped forward, bowing their heads in obedience.
They were the loyal henchmen, ready to fulfill their master's commands without question.
As Yuden walked away from the dark room, he felt no remorse although that man was one of his own.
One among the people of Yurania whom he cherished. However, that didn't mean he would allow anyone to betray him. His merciless nature was one few knew.
Nevertheless, most of those who saw his dark side had already reached the world for the dead.
"My clothes have gotten dirty," he sighed. "Filthy blood," he muttered, making his way to his changing room a few feet away.
He entered the empty room that contained only closets filled with clothes. Only his clothes were inside, with some set aside for laundry while others were freshly cleaned and stored in his cupboard.
He selected a black shirt and put it on, muttering, "This will do," as he adorned his bright smile. After all, his smile was his signature.
Yuden retrieved his phone from his pocket and dialled a number.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
"Bring the car around. I'm leaving."
He ended the call and briskly walked out of the building.
"Where would you like to go, Your Highness?" The driver asked.
"Let's go to Throren's Palace. It's been quite some time since my last visit."
The driver nodded and steered the car towards the Throrens.
Yuden scrolled through his phone, reading the headlines to keep himself occupied.
An article caught his attention.
[THE ELDER PRINCESS OF AVERLYON FOUND AFTER 15 YEARS! WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO PRINCESS LAYLA AND CROWN PRINCE YUDEN'S ENGAGEMENT?]
Yuden scoffed.
"These journalists really lack news for their newspapers, don't they?"
Yuden continued although it was absurd to him.
[Princess Layla was supposed to get engaged ... However, Princess Zahra has come back ... Now ... Who will Crown Prince Yuden choose among the two princesses? ... ]
Gradually, Yuden's interest in the article waned.
"Seems like the people of Yurani lack some manners nowadays to be writing such things about the royal bloodline," Yuden said, turning off his phone.
"Sir, we have arrived," the driver announced as they entered the parking lot of the mansion.
"Alright. You can return to my mansion."
"How will you get back?" the driver asked hurriedly as Yuden walked away.
Yuden turned and glared at the driver.
"I think I know how I will get home, right?" Yuden smiled.
The driver's hand grew sweaty as he nodded, quickly pulling the car out.
The guards in front bowed to Yuden as they announced his arrival.
He entered the hallway and found a few members of the Throren family seated there.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," he bowed to King Zayn and Queen Sameera, turning towards Emera, the queen dowager, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Everyone nodded at him in exchange for his greetings, giving him a warm smile.
"Raise and come have a seat, Prince Yuden," Emera invited him to the seat next to hers.
"Why the sudden visit?" Queen Sameera questioned. Yuden never visited them unannounced, leaving her wondering if everything was alright.
"I apologize for my sudden visit. I do know that is against royal ethics, however, I was wondering how... Princess Zahra has been doing?"
The smile on everyone's face soon faded away.
"You needn't apologize, Your Highness. After all, you let us stay in your country for years so that we could find Princess Zahra," Emera smiled softly. "However, Princess Zahra-"
"That girl." Zayn sighed, interrupting Emera.
"Your majesty, she is your daughter. At least refer to her as Princess Zahra," Sameera corrected.
"That girl is not my daughter. She is the filth Aziel raised. My daughter—"
"Please keep quiet, Your Majesty," Emera glared at the king. However, she quickly eased her gaze. Although she was his mother, he was still the king and she needed to show him respect nonetheless.
Zayn sighed.
"May I pay her a visit?" Yuden asked. "Perhaps, she might listen to me, after all. I mean, we did meet a few times before."
"However, she doesn't seem to appreciate being around us. I'm just afraid she will cause you some harm, Your Highness."
"It's okay." Yuden forced a smile, remembering the bite mark she left on his skin. He still held bitterness for it. However, it was not a bitterness worth arguing over.
If he let anyone know of it, they might try to find more ways to break his prior engagement with her that was already not properly established nor figured out because of her acting savagely.
"Ria, you might lead the way," Emera gave a sign to her personal attendant, standing a few feet away behind her.
Ria nodded as she greeted the crown prince, leading him towards Zahra's bedchambers.
"Your Highness!" A woman called Yuden out, halting him on the way.
Yuden recognized that voice easily. He heard that voice since she had learned to speak, after all.
"Princess Layla." Yuden smiled, taking a few steps to reach towards her.
"Where have you been?" She questioned.
"I don't think I need to answer that."
"Pardon? What do you mean? We are engaged!"
"No, no, it seems you have misunderstood something because I don't remember getting engaged to you. However, I remember your elder sister coming back home after years of absence."
Layla's eyebrows furrowed in disbelief.
"Until now a week ago, you were eager to be engaged—" She stopped for a second before continuing. "Oh! I apologize. I just remembered that crown prince Yuden loves nothing more than the throne." Layla scoffed.
"I'm glad you know me well." Yuden smiled, turning his feet to rejoin Ria who was waiting for him to continue their way to Princess Zahra's bedroom.
"We've arrived, your highness. Please do feel free to let me know or any other maids or servants if you need anything." Ria bowed, going back to rejoin the queen dowager.
"Should I knock?" Yuden wondered. "Will she even open the door if she knows it's me?" He chucked. "She will drive me out anyways."
"Princess?" He opened the door, entering slowly.
To his surprise, the room was unexpectedly dark with a dim light at the corner. It was already past sunset, but no maids came to turn on the lights in her bed chambers it seemed.
"How rude," he muttered. "No matter how she is, she is still a princess. Overall, the soon-to-be queen of Yurania. Ah, but they don't know anything about all this. Wait, why is she so silent?" he mumbled while looking for the switch of the lights.
"Here!" He turned on the lights.
"Princess?" Yuden enquired again, unable to believe his eyes at the sight of the young woman in front of him.
"I'm not a fucking princess! Get this in your fucking head, dumb bastard! And tell this to the rest of these crazy family members! Lemme get outta here!" She yelled while twisting around her wrist, trying to get off the ropes that were holding her back from throwing a punch at these people who kept visiting her one by one.
Her so-called family.
"But YOU ARE a princess." Yuden amplified the fact that she was indeed Princess Zahra.
The young man smiled softly at her although the smile didn't reach his eyes. His eyes were just cold yet they had some sort of fire in them that might as well burn the person in front just by his gaze.
"Should I untie you? You seem in pain," he walked closer to her.
"Ha! Do you even know what pain is? Pain is you, your whole bullshit, this house, these people!"
"I didn't allow you to be so rude, Princess Zahra," Yuden's eyebrows furrowed, his smile fading. However, he quickly regained his smile again.
"I'm saying, if you act nice and listen to the queen dowager, she might let you have some freedom, right? After all, she owns the whole palace."
Zahra stared at him for a while silently, leaving Yuden wondering what was going on in her mind.