63 Picnic Panic

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

I walked close to the lake. To my surprise, the view was breathtaking. The water was vodka clear and sparkled like diamonds from the reflection of the bright sun. Colorful fish were leaping out of the water from afar. Different colored lily pads gently floated above the water like magic.

The lake itself was surrounded by flower beds and large, tall trees.

I turned around to face daddy, only to see him staring at me.

"Daddy, is there a boat we can use? The lake is so pretty and big!" I said with excitement.

As he remained seated, he combed his hair back with his hand and shook his head in response.

"Riding a boat is far too dangerous for someone your age. Also, it is not the right time, Amara. I have something to…"

"Aww, I really wanted to enjoy our picnic. Can I at least put my feet in? It is not too deep, right?" I quickly interrupted him.

He sighed and nodded.

"Very well, but be careful. Do not go in too deep, and do not wet your dress. The last thing I need is for you to get sick." He said as he got up to dust off his black slacks.

I nodded and proceeded to remove my shoes.

I heard an unfamiliar sound coming from behind. As I turned around, it was the general of the imperial emerald knights. This is not a good sign.

"Your Majesty, I apologize for the interruption. However, I received word from the grand commander about Sulunder."

The trashman placed his thumb on his bottom lip and his other hand on his hip as he listened to the knight. He glanced at me and patted the knight on the shoulder.

The knight looked at me while the trashman began to approach me.

"Listen, I will be back shortly. I have to discuss certain matters with Ezra. I will also be taking your personal knight with me for a while. I will have a knight, and one of the maids watch over you while I am gone. Do not go far into the lake and be careful." He instructed as he patted my head.

I nodded as I looked into his eyes. His eyes displayed concern—something I have never seen before.

"Take care of her while I am gone. Make sure she does not go far into the lake." He commanded the knight and the imperial maid as he began walking with the general.

"It is always war talk with men. Always war. Get a new hobby." I mumbled as I struggled to lift up my dress.

"Please be careful, Princess!" the maid yelled from afar.

I raised an eyebrow and shrugged her off.

If you were really that worried about me, what are you doing all the way over there? Babysitter of the year goes to you, lady. Whatever. You should mind your business, and I will mind mine.

After a short while, I could hear the trashman's voice coming from far away. I quickly turned around, trying to follow his voice as a gust of wind brushed my sun hat into the water.

"Oh no!" I yelled as I tried to get my hat out of the water. A stronger gust of wind followed, pushing my hat deeper into the middle of the lake.

"Princess! No! Please stop!" I could hear the knight yelling from behind.

Annoyed and frustrated, I turned around to face him. I took a step back, causing my foot to quickly sink into a bottomless pit as if I was falling from a cliff. I lost my balance, and my whole body fell deep into the lake.

"Amara!?! AMARA!" I heard a familiar, deep voice from far away.

Is that the trashman's voice?!

I struggled to rise to the top with my tiny body. However, my dress was far too heavy. It felt like I was being pulled deeper into the bottom of the lake. No matter how hard I tried to swim towards the top, it felt like hundreds of hands was holding me down by my ankles. A burning, painful sensation came to me as water filled my lungs.

My vision became blurry, and my tiny, child-like body quickly stopped moving.

I could hear my heartbeat slow down by the second. Water began to enter my lungs. I am so cold. This pain is unbearable. I closed my eyes as my body drifted deeper into the lake.

This is it. I'm going to die for a second time.