Chapter 38

[ 1,005 words ]

Arabella Toussaint:

I jolted awake on the hospital bed. My heart pounded wildly as my eyes darted around the room.

Zara! Where was she?

“Looking for my granddaughter, slave?”

The frosty voice turned my blood to ice. I turned my head and found the queen beside my bed, an ugly smile stretching across her face.

What was she doing here?

“Scared of me, slave?” She took a slow step closer, “Do you really think I don’t see what you’re trying to do?”

My lips trembled.

“My … Q…Queen…”

“You’re trying to turn my son against me, right?” She said with a smirk, “Playing the helpless victim here? Huh?” Her smile grew colder, “Girls like you have been using such tricks for centuries.”

“N…no, my queen,” I started shaking my head, “I would never do…”

“Quiet!” she hissed, making me flinch. Before I could explain myself, her fingers wrapped around my wrist, causing pain to shoot through my arm. She squeezed harder until I whimpered.

“Last time I was here… you wanted to hit yourself so badly?” she whispered, “Remember?”

She dragged my hand towards my face, “Go on! Do it.”

I tried to break free from her grip, but it only tightened, “No… I … I don’t…”

She suddenly twisted my wrist, “Hit your face, slave.”

Slap!

She forced my own palm to strike my cheek. My cheek stung.

“Ma’am… please…”

Another slap landed across my cheek. And then another. Followed by many more.”

Tears spilled down my cheeks as I fought against her grip, “P… please…” I tried to push her, but she was far stronger than me.

Someone, please help me. Where is the king?

“What?” Her smile turned even more sinister, “Missing my son already? He can’t protect you forever, slave.”

Through the ringing in my ears, I heard a familiar voice calling my name, “Arabella.” The voice was soft.

“Wake up,” Someone shook me gently. The queen froze as uncertainty crossed her face.

“Wake up, Arabella. It’s just a dream. Okay?”

The queen rolled her eyes up as though she could hear him, too. A chilling smile spread across her lips, “Oh. He’s here,” she leaned closer to me, letting me feel her cold breath against my skin, “But don’t worry, slave… I’ll be back.”

She suddenly yanked my wrist again, trying to force my hand toward my face. But this time, she couldn’t move it. I felt someone else’s fingers wrapping gently around my wrist.

The queen’s smile faltered as my wrist freed from her grasp and my eyes flew open. Was it a dream?

It felt so… real.

The first thing I saw was King Lucien’s face. He was leaning over me, one hand wrapped securely around both of mine.

“Wake up,” he murmured, his face only inches from mine, “It’s alright, no one is going to hurt you.”

I stared at him blankly, my heart was still trapped inside my nightmare. His thumb brushed across my cheek; only then did I realize my face was wet. I had been crying.

I jerked upright in panic, trying to pull away, but he didn’t let me go. As if afraid that I might hurt myself again.

“Arabella. Look at me.”

I couldn’t. My body wouldn’t stop trembling.

“I …” I gulped hard and looked at the door, expecting the queen to walk inside any moment, “I …”

Without a word, he reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, “Your hair is not naturally black,” he remarked casually.

Like, come on. Your mother just scared me to shit in my dream, and all you care about is my natural hair color?

“You’re safe.” He said quietly, “It was only a dream. I’m here now. No one will lay a hand on you.”

Goddess. The queen, the king, the sisters. The whole royal family was crazy.

I looked at my lap and gathered the courage to let out the words, “I … I need to go to the bathroom.”

He nodded and even helped me get off the bed. He held my shoulders, walking me to the attached bathroom, but I stopped him, “I’ll manage, my king.” I said, bending my head in submission.

He nodded awkwardly before stepping back, “Sure… I’ll wait for you here.”

Wait for me? Why?

I closed the bathroom door and leaned against it. My legs felt so weak that I wasn’t sure if I would manage to stand here for too long.

After turning on the tap, I splashed cold water over my face.

“It was just a dream,” I whispered to my reflection and took a deep breath before opening the door.

He was exactly where I had left him. He hadn’t moved. The moment our eyes met, he straightened, “Feeling better?”

I gave him a small nod. He studied my face for a moment before asking quietly, “Do you need anything?”

Yeah, My King. My freedom .

Of course, I shook my head and lowered my gaze, “No, Your Highness.”

“Are you hungry?” His question made me realize how empty my stomach felt. Before I could stop myself, I gave him a hesitant nod.

“What would you like to eat?” he gently held my arm and guided me back to the bed. I thought hard and then said without looking at him, “The day I came here…” his body seemed to tense at the mention of the first day, “I had a bun… it was filled with strawberry jam… with thick mango shake,” I nervously twisted my fingers together, “C… can I have that?”

Instead of responding to my request, he simply stared at me, “You want to eat… that ?” There was disbelief in his voice.

Why? Am I not allowed to eat buns?

When I nodded at him, the corner of his mouth twitched, “Sure. If you want… buns with strawberry jam… you’ll get them, Arabella.”

The golden orbs seemed to soften for just a heartbeat. I had never liked my name before, but somehow it sounded different when he said it.

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