4 Broken Promises (2/2)

”I wish to rest.” She walked towards her bed on which her nightwear had been left neatly folded on top of each other.

He didn't react to her words but stood motionless.

She wasn't sure if she was brave or just trying to be, she had no idea. All she hoped was that it was not too late to bargain for her freedom. She released the knot at the back of her head, the sheer-cloth uncovering her face.

”Aaaah...” She screamed.

”Princess!” He panicked and rushed towards her.

Too easy.

”My hair, I accidentally pulled it when I was...” His eyes. He was deeply staring at her, like she was the most fragile thing in the world that was quite precious to him.

Hu-go.

He had become a true man, and ever so handsome he was. His muscles so taut and rigid. Before she knew it, her lips were locked with his. This had happened before, and back then, her heart had felt like it was growing wings. But this time her eyes stayed open. She held his chest, debating whether or not to push him away, but he groaned in appreciation. The sound of his lips ravaging hers sounded more obnoxious than enticing.

He was being too bold. His muscular hands ran down the torso of her small body and pressed hard on her waist. His touch was desperate and too possessive. The man who had just rejected her and the man who was now touching her felt like two different people. The next thing she knew, he was untying the sash that held her dress together.

It was all going too fast for what she had bargained for. She couldn't keep up.

”Br... brother Hu-go...” She tried to breathe. He didn't let up but pushed her to the bed instead. He skillfully threw her over robes to the floor but when he got to her dress, it was too complicated for him, and he ended up ripping it apart. Clearly, he hadn't been with a Nevorian woman before.

There was so much discomfort.

Instead of feeling like a woman for once in her life, she felt like a piece of meat being pounced upon. None of the married women she had once laughed and joked around with about the affairs of the heart had ever mentioned that it would feel this way—dirty and degrading. She already knew that his affections for her were next to nothing, but this was still too much. What was the difference between her and his other women now?

She tried to push him with all her strength, but he was stronger and didn't budge.

”Ai! Ai!” She screamed for her maid, and as if he had come out of a trance, he quickly loosened his grip.

”Princess, I'm sorry... I did not...” He fumbled for words.

What he wanted to say, she did not care. She scrambled for her robe, hurried for the door, and ran. She didn't know where she was going but she kept running. The night was so chilly with a little bit of wind, and her tousled hair unpinned, splaying all over her face. Her chest was heavy, eyes sore with unshed tears. She wanted to cry so badly but she wanted to be stronger than that. This could not break her.

”Mother, if you were here... if you didn't let me go... would things be different?” She muttered to the darkness, catching her breath. She pulled out the pendant that hung around her neck and squeezed it.

”Mother...” Tears streamed down her face, not because of what had just happened, but because once again, she was reminded of how lonely she was.

How truly alone she was.

S.V