Chapter 9; A Punishment to Remember

                                    

                                          

	Aiden didn't know what to think after seeing the Princess of Panchali in battle. With archery skills and stealthiness that no one had expected, she had definitely turned the tide of the battle. He sighed, rubbing his eyes, which were wide open for a couple minutes straight just watching Aru. That is until she was captured by a random enemy soldier, but then rescued by the queen, who promptly gave her to Brynne who carried her back inside like she was a sack of potatoes. At that, Aiden had to stifle a laugh.
All 35 selected men (the first elimination was not carried out yet) were behind bulletproof glass on the third floor, on a ledge-like platform, which was attached to the throne-room. It was quite ironic that they had more protection than the victim, the princess, who was also currently witnessing the assault with a jittery look in her deep brown eyes. The sleeper's army, although heavily outnumbered, left after certain that they wouldn't win today. Aiden watched as some soldiers ran after the retreating enemy, but to no avail, as they basically disappeared into thin air.
While also relieved, Aiden couldn't help but feel sorry for the princess as the queen marched inside the castle, her gentle demeanor having vanished.
Keefe, who was right next to him, nudged him and smirked. "This," He said, "will be fun." (A/N MY HEART)
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Aiden wasn't the one facing the brunt of the Queen's anger, yet he still winced when she calmly spoke from her throne, in front of which the princess was standing, long hair disheveled, yet a smirk on her face.
"You are the princess." The queen spoke, her voice eerily calm. No duh, Aiden thought in his mind."It is not your job to fight. You almost got killed today."
The princess noticeably shrunk back at her mother's words but continued glaring back defiantly. 
"Then what am I supposed to do?" She challenged her mother. "Wait for my 'Prince Charming' to come save me?" She imitated quotation marks with her fingers. "I guess I am looking for him now," Aru muttered, turning away and suddenly making eye contact..with Aiden? She then, just as quickly, turned back and cleared her throat. "I thought you would want me to fight for myself and not hide like a coward."
The selected looked back and forth between the mother and daughter who acted as if in a tennis match, in a locked gaze, not noticing the crowd around them.
The queen stood up, nostrils flaring. "You will not speak like that in my home!"
The princess crossed her arms. "This is my home too. In case you forgot."
"Not anymore." The queen's voice echoed across the throne-room and everyone seemed flabbergasted. What does she mean?, Aiden thought.
The queen answered, "From now on, Princess Arundhati Shah will be confined to the safehouse and cannot leave without security." She turned her blazing gaze on the selected. "Dates with the selected will be monitored and no outside contact will be allowed without permission from me." Aru's mouth opened and closed as she failed to think of a response, her mind scrambling to understand what was just declared.
Before the shocked girl in front of her could say or do anything, Krithika Shah snapped her fingers and guards took the struggling princess away. The queen glared at everyone else, who were blatantly staring at her.
"What are you all looking at?" She growled. "Go back to your rooms."
Aiden sneaked a look at the girls the princess was talking to, and they looked devastated and helpless. Even Brynne, who always seemed fierce, looked vulnerable. She clearly seemed to care for the Princess deeply, not as an employee for Aru, but as her sister. 
As Sandor led Aiden away to his room, he couldn't help but look back over his shoulder, and instantly wished he hadn't as he saw the queen's face twist with grief over watching her daughter being taken away.
(A/N hi it's me n! from this point onwards the chapters are completely written by r, she is so dedicated to this and such a good writer! I came to post today, hopefully I can write more after the school year ends :))
(also start of aruden ;))