Chapter 2

Lyca's eyes welled up with tears as she stroked her father's delicate hand. She didn't expect his condition to deteriorate so quickly.

"Father, what happened to you? Queen Annabelle said your condition isn't serious... but-" Lyca couldn't finish the sentence because her voice broke.

After slowly opening his eyes, King Wilbert let out a weak growl.

Lyca quickly wiped her tears away and forced a smile. "How are you, Father?" she inquired cheerfully.

Lyca doesn't want to worry about her father because they haven't seen each other in a long time.

"My princess... you shouldn't be here," King Wilbert said, raising his body to better see Lyca.

Lyca quickly attended to her father, allowing him to lean on the bed's headboard. "Today is my birthday, and I'd like to spend it with you on this special day..." she explained, holding her father's cheek.

[cough! cough! ]

Lyca's face was concerned as King Wilbert coughed one after the other, and when he was done, a lot of blood came out of his mouth.

"Please forgive me, my princess... I wanted to give you a grand celebration, but given my circumstances—"

"Sssh... more than the lavish celebration, the most important thing is being with my dearest father..." Lyca responded quickly while holding her father's hand.

Despite the difficulty, King Wilbert smiled before closing his eyes to sleep.

Lyca remained silent, content to hold her father's hand as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Lyca is perplexed by her father's behavior. King Wilbert, her father, is a Knight... He is a skilled fighter and swordsman in the Kingdom.

"I need to leave the castle to find a cure," Lyca said quietly.

"But how? The Queen forbade me from going out since my father got sick..." Because Lyca dislikes leaving the castle, she does not object to Queen Annabelle's order.

But she now has a reason. That's why Lyca made the decision to tell Queen Annabelle about her desire to leave the castle.

"Father, hang in there... I will find a cure for your illness," Lyca said quietly before rising to her feet. It won't be good if the queen discovers her presence in the room.

Lyca was about to open the door when someone shouted from outside the door, so she quickly looked for a place to hide.

[Lyca dashes into the thick curtain and hides.]

"It's all your fault! The girl you gave me the last time isn't pure! She's stained!"

The Queen has arrived! But what exactly are they discussing? Lyca cleaned the curtain partially out of curiosity in order to see who was with the Queen.

"Please forgive me, my Queen..."

What is his name? Lyca pondered this question. She hasn't seen the guy in the castle before, so she doesn't recognize him.

"I will forgive you this time, but I hope this mistake will never happen again!" Queen Annabelle turned around and faced King Wilbert's bed.

Queen Annabelle makes a calm remark, but the man is terrified.

"My Queen, to make amends for my error, I have a gift that you will undoubtedly enjoy," the man mumbled.

"Hmm, then show me your gift," Queen Annabelle said as she sat in front of the dresser.

Lyca noticed the man enter a room as Queen Annabelle looked in the mirror.

I'm going to go out and apologize to the Queen... Lyca said to herself.

(She deliberated in her mind for a few minutes before deciding to approach the queen and ask for forgiveness.)

"Ugh!"

(As a woman fell to the floor with her hands tied and a cloth covering her mouth, Lyca's hand that was about to open the curtain froze in the air.)

"She'll last until the next full moon," the man said.

"Hmm, she is not pure, but her youth is enough," Queen Annabelle said, staring intently at the woman who was crying on the floor.

(What are they talking about, and what will they do to the girl, Lyca wonders as she observes what is going on in the room.)

Queen Annabelle rose and approached the girl, her smile gradually widening. "Let me tell you a trivial fact about the next full moon..."

When Queen Anabelle firmly held her chin, the girl felt compelled to raise her face.

"On the next full moon, my long-held dream of having a beauty that does not fade even after hundreds of years will come true!" Queen Anabelle said, stroking her face.

Fear was reflected in the girl's eyes as she shivered as a result of Queen Annabelle's sudden change in appearance; her hand caressed the girl's face before landing on the neck.

"Hmm, I wish I had the time to tell you everything..."

The girl has no idea what is happening to her, and all she knows is that her energy is running low.

But it's not the same for Lyca... She could see the woman's body drying, and what surprised her was the queen's grimace.

"Albert, how do I look?" Queen Anabelle inquired after absorbing the energy of the girl.

"As always...unique— your beauty is unparalleled, my queen..." Albert responded, admiring and loving Annabelle.

When Queen Annabelle looked in the mirror, she noticed that her skin glowed, as Balmond had said.

"Then I'll leave everything to you... I still have to go back to the party to entertain the royalties..." Queen Annabelle said as she sat in her dressing room, adjusting her gown.

"My queen, regarding the princess..."

Albert did not pursue his opinions after seeing Annabelle's glum expression.

Meanwhile, Lyca's knees trembled as she covered her mouth with both hands in her hiding place.

What becomes of the girl? And the Queen...how could she do something like that? I mean, what— Lyca paused in the middle of her sentence because she couldn't put what she saw into words.

She returns her gaze to the man who is now carrying the woman's lifeless body out of the room.

"It appears that the answer to everything is in the castle..." Lyca observed.

Lyca's point of view

After that night, when I discovered the queen's true identity, I tried to avoid her, but I made sure she didn't find out. However, this has become a difficult task.

For now, I'm sitting in the garden with my afternoon tea, admiring the view.

"... There you are, my lovely princess."

I didn't have to look back to see who the owner was when a lively voice broke the silence. The queen's voice and face became my nightly nightmare after that night in my father's room.

Queen Annabelle sat across from me, smiled, and said. "... I noticed you're always out here and rarely come into your studio... do you have a problem? Or is something bothering you?"

Despite my rage at the queen, I smiled and replied politely. "... The scenery here is beautiful, and it will help me with my painting."

Queen Annabelle nodded, her gaze fixed on the sprawling garden. "You are correct... the flower brings peace to my heart, while the cool breeze relieves my tension..."

If I hadn't seen the queen's true colors, I would have believed in her goodness. But, knowing her evilness, I know she can't appreciate nature's true beauty.

Hypocrite! I know that evil despises beautiful things! You did intend to destroy this place! I exclaimed to myself, but something else came out of my mouth.

"I'm glad this place makes you feel better... Though I'm sure it won't be enough to alleviate your sadness over my father's condition..."

Queen Annabelle's smile faded over time. "... You're right; it's difficult to see the dear king in pain, which is why I'm glad you don't have to... Your father wanted you to remember him as a strong and loving father, not the one lying on the bed."

I couldn't stop clenching my fists after hearing the queen's remark. So, to conceal my rage, I stand up and turn my back on the queen.

"... Thank you, my queen; I know everything you do is for me, and I hope my father's health improves so that we can meet again."

Queen Annabelle's lips curled into a devious smile as she looked behind me. "... With God's mercy, everything will be fine; as long as we keep praying, your father will be fine, and everything will hopefully be settled by the full moon."

Huh! Do you believe I'll let you succeed? My father and I were far away from here before the full moon appeared! I think to myself.

The queen eventually entered the castle, while I went to my chamber to plan my escape.

"I can't trust anyone from the castle, so I have to be careful," I muttered to myself.

I can escape because I know the secret tunnels in the castle that will lead me to the outside. My issue is my father; how can I get him out of the queen's chamber without being discovered?

"That's right! Prince Matthew promised to pay me a visit!" I exclaimed, recalling my last conversation with the prince.

I jumped to my desk and looked at the calendar. "... If I send a letter now, it will almost certainly reach prince Matthew, and he will arrive here before the full moon!" I grumble as I check the calendar.

I wasted no time and immediately wrote a letter for Prince Matthew; as soon as I finished the letter, I went to the castle guard to deliver it.

"... All I have to do now is wait."

—————-

Prince Matthew arrived at the castle with his two knights the day before the full moon. I greeted him enthusiastically.

"It's good to see you again, Prince Matthew."

I did not explain the problem in the letter, but because I sent it, Prince Matthew was already aware of the situation.

"... Didn't I promise to pay you a visit?"

As we approached Queen Annabelle, who was standing at the bottom of the stairs, I gave him a thoughtful look.

"What a lovely surprise... But I would appreciate it even more if you told me before you came so that we could greet properly," Queen Annabelle smiled.

Matthew and I exchanged glances before exchanging smiles.

"Please forgive me, my queen, but I wanted to surprise my princess," Matthew replied, laughing.

"Oh, no need to apologize; you're always welcome in the castle," Queen Annabelle said, motioning for Matthew's luggage to be brought into his room.

Queen Annabelle did not abandon Prince Matthew and me. She came over for a snack and also joined in on our conversation.

What's the matter with her? Was she aware of my plan? Is that why she's keeping an eye on us? I murmur to myself.

I don't have time to waste because the full moon is tomorrow. I must flee tonight with my father, or else I will be sacrificed tomorrow night!

A soft knock on the door indicated that the Lord had heard my prayer. Albert, Queen Annabelle's right-hand man, entered.

"... It appears that I will have to leave you guys," Queen Annabelle says. She stood up and walked away without waiting for our response. Albert followed her.

I approached Matthew quickly because Queen Annabelle had left. "I require your assistance because my father's unknown illness is the work of the queen, and she also intends to use me as an offering tomorrow night!"

Because there wasn't enough time, my explanation was brief, but I made certain that Matthew understood the situation.

"... Of course I'll help you! I wouldn't let anything bad happen to you or your father," Matthew says as he takes my hand in his.

The warmth from Matthew's hand gave me hope, which is why I couldn't stop crying. "I know the favor I'm asking is excessive, and I also know it's dangerous-"

"... Shh, it's my duty as my future Queen to protect you," Prince Matthew cut off my sentence and hugged me.

————

That night, Prince Matthew and I sat around waiting for everyone to sleep. Even though fear began to consume me, I remained strong because that was our only chance. My father's and everyone else's lives are dependent on our success.

"I believe everyone in the castle is fast asleep," Prince Matthew said, looking at the grand clock on the side of my room.

I inhaled deeply and nodded. "Remember, if you think you're in danger, run," I reminded Matthew as I exited the room.

Chapter 4

Lyca POV.

As Prince Matthew and I quietly walked down the hall, we could hear a pin drop in the castle. Even though there was no one around, we did not relax our guard.

"There," I say to Matthew as I point to the right side of the castle, "is the secret door to the tunnel."

"You'll see a statue of a lion in the corner. To get to the hidden passage, you have to turn the head." Even though I need Matthew's help, the most important thing to me is still his safety.

"Use that passage if there's a problem. You are what the Queen wants, not me. So, nothing bad will ever happen to me because of this." Matthew was sure of everything he said, so I just nodded, but I still had doubts in my heart.

Matthew is right. Our country gets along well with their country. Because of this, the Queen will never think about killing him, but this doesn't mean he is safe. As we walked, I kept mumbling to myself.

We make it to the part of the castle where my father, King Wilbert, is.

Matthew said, "... Wait here for me," as he walked up to the door and listened for movement inside. A few seconds later, he opened the door and walked in.

I nodded and stood still. When Matthew said it was all right, I went in.

"Father," I ran over to where my dad was sleeping and said. "It's me, Lyca Celestine. I'm sorry, I had no idea you were going through this. Don't worry, though, because I'm with prince Matthew. We'll help you get out of this place." Even though my dad closed his eyes, I knew he could still hear me.

Matthew looked at me, and when I gave him the go-ahead, he set himself up to lift my dad.

When the king got on his back, he said, "Let's go." Matthew wanted to make me feel better, but he didn't because he knew it wasn't the right time.

I wiped the tears from my eyes as I led the way, but before we could open the door, the side door of the room opened, and the Queen's right-hand man walked in.

"Who do you think you are, Prince Matthew? If you tell the Queen about this sin, she will be very angry "As Albert closes the door behind him, he says something.

The Queen did not think that this was why the prince came to see her so quickly. Although the queen had suspicions, that's why Albert didn't lower his guard down since Matthew arrived.

"You and your Queen! Do you think I don't know that it was you who caused my father's pain?" I answer angrily. I tried to stay calm, but I couldn't because of the hate.

As Albert got closer, he smiled. "Princess Lyca Celestine, you should stop doing that. You've been accusing the Queen since then, and you're hurting her feeling."

"That's wrong! I learned to be a good child! I never disobeyed his word!" After I got over being shocked by Albert's obvious lie, I said.

"Don't listen to him, Celestine. Let's go!" Prince Matthew says something when he sees how mad I am.

[All of a sudden, there was a strong wind, and then Queen Annabelle came out of nowhere.]

"What's going on here?" Queen Annabelle asked. She already knows what's going on, though.

In the meantime, Matthew and I moved back until we were trapped by the door.

This is a bad thing. Even if we leave this room, they can catch us easily. I say to myself as I look over our situation. "Prince Matthew,"

"- Do you remember what I said?" Matthew said as he took a step forward.

"Do you want to be a brave prince who saves the princess when she's in trouble?" Queen Annabelle says something as she laughs at Matthew.

Matthew knows that the Queen's comment is meant to make us angry, so he smiles when she says it. "I'm a real prince, so I'm not playing a strong prince who will save a princess in trouble. As the next king, I can protect my princess. You understand what it means..."

Matthew's words made Queen Annabelle's smile go away in the end. "You're right, I can't kill you because your kingdom is behind you, but that doesn't mean I can't kill people who are important to her!"

After the Queen said something, the king's body flew away and split in two in an instant. "...King Wilbert has been dead for a long time, so my kingdom needs a new King!"

"No, Daddy!" I scream out of fear. I was shaking all over, and tears were coming out of my eyes. All I want to do is save my dad, but I didn't think it would kill him.

The next thing Prince Matthew did was quick. When he saw me move toward my father's body, he grabbed my hand and said. "... We have to leave this place!"

"No! I can't leave my dad."

Matthew didn't stop pulling me out of the room, even though I said I didn't want to.

"I know you're sad, but we can't stay here any longer. You saw how powerful Queen Annabelle was! She would kill anyone without a second thought." Matthew said this as he let me rest for a moment against the wall.

In the room from which we escaped. As Queen Annabelle breaks the mirror, she no longer tries to hide her anger.

"I've been waiting decades for this moment, so I can't let it go so quickly! Because of this, you can't mess up! Bring me Lyca Celestine, or you will feel my anger."

Of course, when Queen Annabelle said this, Albert was scared to death. He has known her since they were kids, so he knows how cruel the queen is. "You can depend on my coming back. I'll be with the princess, "Before he left the room, he said he would find me. Albert told the soldiers right away to look for Prince Matthew and me all over the kingdom and the area around it. So, the calm night turns into a mess.

After looking for a few hours, the soldiers came back to report what they had found. "...We looked everywhere in the palace for the princess and prince, but we couldn't find them."

"That can't happen! Those two can't just disappear like that, so I'm sure they're close by. Make sure there are guards in all the tunnels that lead out of the castle. Find the hidden tunnel as well!" Albert order.

He is correct. We are still in the castle with Matthew. He decided to rest so I could be with my family after my father died.

"Father, why did this terrible thing happen to us?" I mumbled while I still cried. I forget about the time because I think about the times when I was happy with my parents.

"When I go back to my kingdom, I'll call my soldiers together, and we'll take back yours!" When Matthew saw that I had stopped crying, he said.

—————

After a few hours, we kept walking until we reached the end of the secret tunnel.

"Do you know where you are?" As he opened the iron door, Matthew asked.

"My father told me that the tunnel outside is a forest," I said. "But I don't know where it goes." Even though my heart was still beating fast, I decided to put it aside for now.

"We're far away from the palace, at least. Here, the queen can't get to you." Matthew replied as he helped me out of the room.

"Finally! Princess, I've been waiting for you!"

"Albert! How did you come across us?" I yelled out in fear.