C9 Nine

The trembling Princess Emma doesn’t seems to bother Claire but the cold brutal body of her maid is what is causing her heart to pound right now, other maids gathered around weeping over the corpse while some shook their head profusely, confused and shocked seeing the blooded dead body. The way she was killed seems really brutal and cruel it was obvious she has died a painful dead.

When Claire bend down to examine her body everybody move back surprise to see her touch the body, she’s a princess and such thing should have frightened her or even more irritated and scared her

“Looks like the princess must have loved her maid so much” they concluded with teary eyes imagining the pain and bitterness their princess must be feeling right now.

“what exactly happened?’ she finally asked her head still bent looking carefully at the body

“My princess” Fallon came forward and fall on her kneels, she look tearier than the rest

“Speak up!” she yelled a little not having time for the little drama she is about to start

“This what was happened” she begin and swallow a saliva “after the incident inside I noticed your crown was tilted and decided to quickly go bring another one for you but while I was on my way I saw Sarah walking sneakily to a direction, I wanted to call her to know where she was headed to but then I saw her hit a fellow with a huge rod” she stretch her hands in demonstration as she recollect the story to her

“then I got scared and make a loud sound and attracted her to me, I watch her move closer to me with the blood stain rod and quickly ran for my life luckily for me a guard saw her attempt to murder me and rush to help…”

“Where is this guard? Did he hit her like this?” she asked in a rush not really interested in the story but the facts

“Although he put on a good fight with her” she answered and sniff a tear “who could have known that Sarah was so dangerous the guard died while fighting with her” she finished and broke into tears

“So you are saying the dead guard beat her this bad and still lost his life?” she asked with a tone of disbelief

A maid came forward and kneel down in a bow to her, she look closely at her and couldn’t remember seeing her before

“My name is Vivian, a maid to my Princess, Princess Emma”

“So?”

“I happened to meet the scene and without much thinking I strike in fright and hit her with the rod many times until she became lifeless, am sorry my Princess fear got the best of me and made me lose my mind” she said with a straight face that Claire couldn’t accept she’s really sorry.

Everyone stayed silent for a long moment while they waited for the Princess to make her judgment regarding what was said they were all aware of how much the Princess trusted her maid and hearing that she might have been a traitor is something that is hard to believe

“I want more investigation to be done on this regarding the two corpses and the two maids who were witnesses, inform Boston to make sure this incident is investigated carefully and bring me evidences and truth” she finally let out and stood up to leave the place but in a remembrance of something she stops.

“Take the body carefully and give her a better burial” she ordered and left

Not long after she took her leave everyone starts to disperse one after the other to continue their businesses. Fallon scowl became invisible as she glare at the guards who are picking up the body, though she has managed to get rid of her but she’s lucky to have a befitting burial and still has the Princess’s heart and trust

“No need to look angry, very soon her position will be given to you and you will have your revenge completely” she consoled seeing her unpleasant face expression.

“By then I will not relent at all to satisfy myself” she replied, the words calming her down a bit

“Thankfully we thought of a fall up plan if not there is no way to make the Princess accept our words”

“What did you do again?” an annoyed Princess Emma said approaching her after getting over her tremor.

“Relax sister and don’t make any trouble, if you make the same mistake you made today, I won’t forgive you” she warned placing a hand on her shoulder, Emma aggressively push her hand off and turn angrily at her

“How many more people are you going to sacrifice? Just to frame a lowly maid, you killed two innocent people, it’s atrocious” she cried out

“You can’t yell at my Queen like that!” Vivian snapped at her moving daring towards her but she stop her movement

“I can talk to her however I want, she’s your Queen not mine” she resorted hating the rudeness of the maid

“Don’t ever talk rudely to my sister” she warned and she nodded immediately apologizing to Princess Emma

She watch the scene with disgust, she felt like getting back at the insolent maid for daring to even stare at her straight in the eye but she doesn’t have such power now sooner or later she will make sure to eliminate all the other princesses and make them pay for always trampling on her for being the youngest.

After hesitating in her action and finally keeping her hatred at bay again she walk away from the place with her maid hurrying after her, the others glare at her disappearing figure with mixed feelings

“I don’t trust her” Fallon spoke out still glaring at her already disappeared figure

“Once this is over, she should be over too” she answered with a deadly grin.

A whole lot of people were passing through the broad passage as they all return to their various homes while some are walking to the other side trying to get things cleaned and cleared for the departure of the Princess to her in-laws to be kingdom, the guards seems to have a lot to do but Derek could not help but sneak to the enclose route and quickly grab the hands of the woman sneaking around like a midnight thief, frightened at the sudden interruption Ashley jerked of the strong arms which she was no matched for

“What are you doing here Princess?” he asked in a whisper looking carefully at the wide road to make sure no one else sees them

“Let go of my hands you fool” she yelled and finally freed herself from his grip, she make an attempt to leave away from there but he stopped her and thrust her to the closed wall, not giving her a second to recover he pinned her hands up to the walls and move closer letting his whole body cover her up

“What are you doing?” she wanted to yell but her voice could only end up in a whisper as she finds their standing position uncomfortable

“If you are caught here, we will both be in trouble” he whispered his breath on her skin

Reluctantly she stood still and waited for him to deem it fit for her to leave, more than a minute passed and she was starting to get impatient but at the last of her patience he pull her away to a safe place from the people.

Getting to the safe spot she yank his hands off again and hit him across the face in fury, Derek held to his hurt face and swallowed hard

“How dare you get physical with me?” she said rubbing off her wrist wanting to clear off his touch from her skin

“I don’t think I deserve a slap for saving your honor” he said and Ashley look straight at him with a raised brow

“My honor? You are the reason why I lost it in the first instance so what honor are you talking about?” she asked inflamed, she toss the veil she around her neck to a side to stop it from discomforting her

“You are nothing but sorrow to me from the very day I met you” she yelled out in pain.

Derek look on and let her pour out her sorrow, ever since their marriage this has been the daily words he receive from his supposed wife, yes of course he’s aware she’s too high of status to be married and subjected to him but then he sometimes hope things were a little different between them

“Am sorry” he apologize taking a long breath

“What?” she questioned “you don’t like how I behave to you? Then divorce me right now”

“Stop saying those words” he yell in a sudden and she flinch at his intimidating voice

“You are the one who seduced me and lure me into the bed with you claiming you love me and now that we are together you blame me?” he asked also letting out his anger

“I just tried to save you from being seen and hurled out of the palace, is that a crime?” he asked in a raised voice at her

Although she was intimidated at first but hearing his words her pride took over the fear and she move forward to hit him in the face again, Derek grab her wrist in the air stopping it from coming down to his face without a thought he push her backward carelessly. But in that same flash he realize what his prudent action and race to hold her from falling but before he could save her from falling her bottoms landed on the hot floor

“Am sorry Princess” he reach out to help her up but she shove him off and tried getting up herself

“Ashley?” a voice called out and they both divert their gaze to the speaker, seeing who it just called her Ashley’s gaze turn back to the ground in humiliation

“Did you do this to her?” Princess Roseline asked rushing to help her up, not wanting to embarrass herself further she took her help and stood up although she felt a pang in her body

“Let’s go to my residence, its safe there” she said and help her there.

After changing her dress to a better and clean one, she was offered some rich food to eat which she although unwilling at first ate in a quick pace and wash it down with a good wine

“You’ve changed in just less than a week sister” Roseline said taking a sit beside her after letting her finish her meal

“What do you mean?” she asked adjusting herself to look like a proper Princess that she should be

“You look thinner and out of flesh, I dint know marriage could be this stressful and look at your neck” she stated and touch her neck slightly

“Oh that” she said and gave a fake smile, she’s just putting on a necklace unlike before when she had a lot of it to wear, but just days into her misery of a marriage she had sold few to meet up the expenses of the house since she can’t bear to live in a lesser place

“I feel really sorry for you Ashley” she stood up from the bed and walk straight to her jewelry box, bringing the whole box to her

“Here pick anyone of these, I will gladly give it to help” she offered and drop them gently in front of her

“What is this supposed to mean? Are you trying to mock me?” she asked aggressively standing up from her seat

“No sister, don’t get my kind gestures wrong” she said and hold her hand with look of care

“I’m just being concerned as a fellow woman, it’s not like anyone would love to marry a mere guard as husband” she said and pause a bit watching her expression tactfully

“If not for sister Claire who forced you into this marriage and now she’s getting married to a handsome prince” she emphasizes and watch her words hit Ashley hard

“It’s that bitch fault” Ashley resorted with a new feeling of despise

“I can here when I heard of the misfortune things that happened to her on her own engagement, I thought I would be satisfy by only that but thinking now that’s is not enough I need to see to her end” she said with a tenacity.

“I understand your hatred dear sister and I promise to help you in the best way I can” she promised and they both smiled at each other supportively.