9 Warning

Every day that passed during the first week tore away a layer of Elswyth's patience and tenacity.

Although her body remained nearly lifeless and unmoving throughout the week, her anxiety began ripple persistently into her mind. She had no idea how the group of kidnappers would treat her youngest brother Devon. Devon was notorious for his rebellious behavior and tendency to abandon his studies. He often would run away from home into the forest, but only during the day.

Elsewyth still could recall the night when he was kidnapped:

"Stop talking to me as if you care! I can't stand your fakeness and you will not ever be my sister!" Devon snarled. He smacked her hand that was reaching out toward him and ran across the moonlit, abandoned hallway.

The single servant that attended the young prince watched the exchange between him and her sister, then trudged slowly after his master's distant shadow.

Why didn't the servant walk faster? Her past self had wondered. And so, Elswyth chose to chase her little brother down herself. She was definitely quicker at the job.

She often noticed Devon many times disappearing from banquets or standing next to the wall, looking indifferent. Ever since the first time she noticed this occurrence, Elswyth had always desired to approach and talk to him. However, different ladies or powerful individuals from noble families constantly kept her busy.

That day, she finally was able to have a break from the onslaught of marriage suggestions and had sought her youngest brother out, greeting him and asking how he was doing, only to be rejected fiercely.

Elswyth sighed with worry. Even though he was born from another mother, she still wanted him to know that they still were family.

Did he not feel like he was at home among people who loved him? Her past self had pondered.

But now, assessing his situation and behaviors, she deduced that there was certainly something wrong with how he was brought up.

"I need to find out." Elswyth mumbled under her breath.

"What did you say Your Highness?"

The princess opened her glassy blue eyes which reflected the clear sky above, and gazed into at the luscious, floral hedges of the royal garden before her. "Don't worry about it."

Lady Althea held Elswyth's right arm more firmly. "You have been standing here for quite a long time now. It has already been three days since last week since you've returned, but you need to rest, Princess."

Elswyth finally realized once more the condition of her body; her legs currently felt like the grass in the forest, shaking under the wind and about to bend further any moment. If her company was not gripping her right arm, it would feel as if it had not existed at all. She gritted her teeth and teetered toward a marbled, white bench. "Let me try walking on my own, Lady Althea."

"But--"

"Please--" Desperation mixed with resolve slipped through her voice. She was wasting time being weak.

"Yes, Your Highness." Her companion released her.

Each shaky step that her legs took almost made her collapse. Her huge breaths merged with the dancing wind. Three more... two more... one... more...

She let her weight fall onto the polished seat, the impact sending a wave of pain up her torso. Despite the pain, Elswyth's lips curved into a smile of relief. "Lady Althea, look, I made i--"

The moment she looked up, her small grin disappeared instantly. What she saw sent lighting into her mind.

A shadow of a figure had a dagger in his hand, with the blade plunged deep in her companion's side. Lady Althea, in turn, had a sharp object embedded in the attacker's arm.

Both started to exchange their attacks as if they were one with the alternating wind.

"Guards!" Elswyth shouted. Her throat responded to her by instantly sending her into a flurry of coughing.

It was but a number of seconds before a few guards came running, but the intruder had already disappeared. All they saw was Lady Althea kneeling on the ground, a hand on the blade burrowed into her side, with a dark, murderous look shining in her eyes. The princess had left her seat and was bent on the stone path, choking from her breath.

"Call the physician! Hurry--" Elswyth wheezed. But her small voice floated away like nothing along the whistling breeze, gathering no one's response. She stumbled toward Lady Althea. 𝘕𝘰.

"You two! Bring the physician!" She heard her eldest brother's authoritative voice echoing across the clearing.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"Lady Althea, are you alright?" She rasped. Elswyth raised an arm to attempt to support her friend, but it collapsed from stress and she fell completely down onto the rocky ground once again.

"Don't worry about me, Your Highness--"

Drops of red liquid spattered onto Elswyth's face. "Stop, don't speak anymore." She wheezed, quieter this time as guilt gnawed into her heart.

Elswyth stared at Lady Althea's wound seeping out blood, and heard her own shaking breaths that disappeared into the sound of clapping tree leaves flowing with the air. It was as if every sound and sight was mocking her. She was too weak to protect anyone.

She understood what the enemy was trying to tell her. It was a warning to not rebel. Or else, those who were close to her would risk their lives.

Her two hands closed into feeble fists as strong, sturdy hands lifted her up. She already understood the risk of involving others in her plan; even her eldest brother was not entirely safe.

And so, she had already predetermined to tell no one what she was really scheming, and carry out the actual plan by herself.

Elswyth gazed blankly toward Lady Althea's face scrunched in pain, which floated farther away as two guards carried her lady-in-waiting on a stretcher, hurrying after the shouting physician. But to think a close companion was harmed regardless--she felt incredibly helpless.

"Princess Elswyth." A chest subtly vibrated against her lifeless arm, and a familiar voice sounded above. Elswyth looked up, her heart shooting up to her throat. A pair of lime-flecked, emerald eyes stared down at her, a couple of inches away.

She cast her eyes down. She didn't want to meet him like this.

"Just what are you doing with my sister, Sir Valerius?" A low, threatening voice growled next to her.

Rough fingers tensed for a split second, before loosening their grip and releasing her to another set of sturdy hands. "My deepest apologies, your Highness."

The first prince sighed deeply. He transferred his gaze onto his little sister, worry swirling in his eyes. "Are you alright, Els?"

"Please let me go, I want to check on Lady Althea. I--she needs help." She whispered. Strange, her voice was becoming even more indecipherable against the wind. Her head felt as heavy as her heart. It went down lower and lower against her brother's arm.

"What did you say Els, your voice was too quiet to hear clearly." The concern in her brother's voice amplified a notch.

Elswyth shut her eyes as her sibling's inquiry instantly merged with her parent's voices: "What did you say Li An? Speak up, how can we help you" Her mother rasped, her haggard, wrinkled face gazing into her daughter's eyes wearily with a tint of concern. Her creases were layered with harsh shadows under the dim, yellow lamp. Her father squinted up at her with the same eyes before soon nodding off to sleep.

Li An had lowered her gaze and stared at the cracked tiles underneath. "Nothing important..."

She could still feel the crinkled letter within the hand that hid behind her back that day. It weighed a thousand pounds.

"To think that the princess was as weak in her heart and mind as her body." Valerius voice cut sharply through the moving air, bringing her back to the present.

"Sir Valerius Arlys Rainilda."

"I accept any punishment after this that you desire, Your Highness. I apologize once again for my lack of courtesy." Valerius did not sound the least bit regretful. Instead, Elswyth thought she detected an indescribable force in his voice that instigated her to turn her eyes toward him.

Her heart stopped.

Nothing was more clearer than his eyes at that moment--it was as if he was looking into her soul. It was as if, he had known her for a long time.