Chapter 2: The Tears

Dahlia blinked her eyes when she saw the headline of the newspaper:

"KINGDOM OF SUNNYLAND: THE FAMILY HAS AGREED IN TERMS FOR THEIR BELOVED PRINCESS TO BE MARRIED AT AGE 18 TO A PRINCE FROM KINGDOM OF LIGHT."

"IS PRINCESS ANGELICA SECRETLY DATING A PRINCE TO BOND FOR THEIR MARRIAGE?"

The maid looked at Dahlia, "and I'm a princess of darkness aka the night… I don't know which is worse anymore…" she looked down; "do you know who that prince is?"

The maid hesitated to answer, "n-no," she sweated.

"Be honest," Dahlia tilted her head, "do you know?"

"I know the news but don't know what his name is or how he looks!" the maid burst. The princess scoffed, "liar… this prince," she pointed to the newspaper, "is that ugly old man who is wooing my mom and this one is my step-brother! The worst boy I've ever met. He's so much like his father, I know you're bad a lying and need to work on it."

the maid looked down, "I'm sorry, princess… it's just… I just wanted to make you feel better… but you're right…"

"Great!" Dahlia stood up from the bed and placed the letter and papers down to take off her boots and went to the window to look through; the rain is pouring as she could hear it weeping and the wind blew to make the disaster noise then she noticed the tree afar around 40 steps ahead to palm tree cracked then the tree fell; the ground boomed.

"Ouch…" she flinched and looked up at the clouds where the moon shines but is hard to see because the clouds and once the clouds are covered, the thunder booms and strikes.

The maid stood in the corner, "anything you want me to do?"

"No… just choose a nice comfy nightgown for me to wear tonight…" she said while playing with her wavy shoulder-length hair. She's too young to have many things in her mind like an adult but she no longer acts the same since she witnessed the first murder and she decided to go to the bathroom to prepare her hygiene and look fresh before going to sleep while her maid was busy preparing too.

Dahlia looks at the mirror, her mind replaying Angelica's voice;

'don't leave me! I love you, Lia, I do!'

She felt this is all wrong… she brushed her teeth and spit then rinse her mouth.

"Your highness, your nightgown is ready, and do you want me to do your hair?"

"No… Thank you, I'm exhausted."

The maid finally left. She changed her clothes and lay on the bed, "screw you Angelica… why didn't you tell me about this so I could have not… like you?" She mumbled and her eyes were too heavy to stay open. Before her eyes shut; the thunder booms a few times that flashes through the window; her eyes glow red and she gets off again out of the bed to close the curtain.

The cute almond shaped red eyes could be seen in the dark like a monster, she went to sleep for a few hours until 3 AM, the clock rang under her pillow, she woke up and hurriedly packed a few important things such as a few clothes, plants, books, and some personal things and the gifts in two backpack bags that she got from service building and another bag that she stole. She got dressed and put the mask on before sneaking out from the window to close quietly and jumping into the thick vines to climb down like a prince from a Rapunzel movie.

She doesn't know where to go but sadly she didn't get to say goodbye to her best friend or her mom, she shed a few tears, and went another way so guards won't see her or catch her.

'Never… look back… and I hope you're happy with my step-brother who isn't me… bye Angel… and mom, you won't hear me now but I love you too and I know you'll be safe without me around… I'll be dead to everyone for you both and my dad.' She spoke in her head crying while running under the light rains until she either got lost or stumbled into a different city or location.

In the morning, Angelica was wearing light blue with a white ribbon dress and her blue eyes were shining to see Dahlia today at 10 AM after breakfast as always. She ran outside to the same place where they always meet up every day, she waits… waits… waited…

The sky is so cloudy…

Sitting under Dahlia's favorite tree… Angelica's face with a smile turned into worried and sad, "Lia…"

The guard appeared with a sad look, "she disappeared… I'm sorry… it's noon now and you've been waiting for her for two hours… it's best if you go back home…"

"W-what?" The princess gasped in disbelief, "my best friend l-left?"

The guard nodded, "the rumor said she ran away… they all are looking for her but she's nowhere to be found. I'm sorry…"

Angelica started to cry, "no! No! No! She can't be gone! Is that because of me?" Her beautiful eyes were puffy and red from all the tears she cried unstoppably. Angelica also noticed the flower Dahlia planted for Angelica dried into black too. Her parents appeared, "hey! It's okay… we will find her!" Her father said.

Angelica cried while hugging her mother, "it's my fault… it's my fault!"

"No sweet Angel… it's not your fault…" mother whispered to comfort her, the king and queen exchanged stares knowing that Dahlia might escape because of her hate for the new father and his son to be her king in the future. Angelica wasted all the tears for Lia since she is already gone. She continued crying till she fell asleep in her mother's arms. The king looked down, "we need to get Dahlia back… she's her happiness, is it?"

The queen nodded, "yes… also she loves Dahlia… I don't think it's other answers to why everything is now broken… look at the weather, it's not sunny since yesterday while Dahlia left… and she was happier till she noticed her disappearing while we all paid attention to our daughter…"

The family took her to her room to rest so the maid could stay with her to make sure nothing else could happen to Angelica the happy sunshine princess. The maid noticed Angelica's fresh tears in her sleep which means she was seeing Dahlia in her dreams…

The maid sighed while folding and organizing her clothes, Angelica then woke up with a sulky look, "Dahlia… you promised me you won't leave me… why?" She clenched the pink blanket and sniffed as her rose cheek faded due to sadness.

"U-um… Iris, do you think Lia would come back?"

The maid sighed, "maybe… I don't know… I wish I knew… but hey! Maybe someday your princess would come to scoop you into her arms someday once she's back to normal. I'm sure she left because of her father's death…"

"D-Death?" Angelica didn't know that and looked down, "I-I'll find her!" Her hot fat tears came out again with hope and anxiety.