The king's words were calming, but his eyes betrayed his concern. He gestured to the guards, who quickly scooped up the princess's limp form and carried her out of the grand hall. Lord Lugard watched her go, his face contorted in a mixture of frustration and despair.
"I swear, your Majesty, I meant no harm,"
He protested, his voice cracking with emotion.
"I don't know what's wrong with her. She just...faints every time I try to touch her."
The king's expression was stern, but his voice was measured.
"We will investigate this matter, Lord Lugard. But for now, let us focus on the princess's health. We will summon the royal physician to attend to her."
Lord Lugard nodded, his eyes welling up with tears.
"Thank you, your Majesty. I just want to make her mine, and make her happy."
But the king's eyes narrowed, his mind working with suspicions. He knew his daughter, and he knew she would never faint so easily. Something was amiss, and he was determined to uncover the truth.
The princess, still pretending to be unconscious, felt a chill run down her spine as she heard Lord Lugard's words. She knew she had to escape, and fast, or risk being trapped in a nightmare of a marriage.
As she opened her eyes, the princess was met with a sea of concerned faces. Her mother, the queen, was holding her hand, while her siblings, Prince Michael and Prince Michelle, stood by her side. The king, her father, loomed over her, his expression stern but worried. And then there was Lord Lugard, her betrothed, who was gazing at her with an unsettling intensity.
The princess's mind raced as she tried to recall what had happened. She remembered the ceremony, the kiss, and then...nothing. She must have fainted again.
"Welcome back, my dear,"
The queen said, smiling softly. "We were worried about you."
The princess tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over her. Lord Lugard quickly moved to support her, his hand on her back. She felt a shiver run down her spine at his touch.
"Let me help you, my love,"
He whispered, his breath hot on her ear.
The princess pulled away, her heart racing. She didn't want his help. She didn't want him.
"So, that gives you the right to touch me without my consent?"
The princess snapped, her eyes flashing with anger.
"I am not your property, Lord Lugard. I am a person, with my own thoughts and feelings. And I demand to be treated as such."
The king's face darkened, his brow furrowed in displeasure.
"Merrima, do not be disrespectful to your husband," he warned.
But the princess stood her ground, her voice firm.
"I will not be silenced, Father. I will not be treated like a mere object to be bought and sold. I am your daughter, and I deserve better than this."
Lord Lugard's face reddened with anger, but the princess continued, her words tumbling out in a passionate rush.
"I will not be held captive by your wealth and power, Lord Lugard. I will not be trapped in a marriage that suffocates me. I demand the right to choose my own path, my own destiny."
The hall fell silent, the only sound the princess's ragged breathing. The king's face was thunderous, Lord Lugard's eyes blazing with fury. But the princess stood tall, her heart pounding with defiance. She knew she had crossed a line, but she refused to back down.
"How dare you!"
The princess spat, her eyes blazing with anger.
"You think you can just sweep aside my concerns and fears with empty words of love? You think you can 'deal with' the monster inside you, as if it's a trivial matter?"
She took a step back, her voice rising.
"You're not listening to me, Lord Lugard. You're not hearing what I'm saying. I don't want to be with a monster. I don't want to be with someone who could harm me, or others. And I certainly don't want to be with someone who refuses to acknowledge the danger that lies within him."
The princess's chest heaved with emotion, her words pouring out in a torrent.
"You're not the man I thought you were, Lord Lugard. You're not the man I wanted to marry. And I refuse to go through with this farce of a wedding."
The hall erupted into chaos, the king's voice thundering as he tried to restore order. But the princess stood firm, her eyes locked on Lord Lugard's, her jaw set in defiance. She knew she was taking a stand, and she was ready to face the consequences.
"Enough, Merrima!"
The king thundered, his voice echoing through the hall.
"You will do as you're told and marry Lord Lugard, or face the consequences!"
The princess stood her ground, her eyes flashing with defiance.
"I won't do it, Father. I won't marry a monster, no matter what you say."
Lord Lugard's face darkened with anger, his eyes gleaming with a malevolent light.
"You will regret defying me, Princess," he growled. "I will make sure you regret it."
The queen stepped forward, her voice pleading.
"Merrima, please. Don't do this. Think of the kingdom, think of your future."
But the princess shook her head, her jaw set in determination.
"I won't be bullied or coerced into this marriage. I won't be trapped with a man who terrifies me."
The hall fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the princess and the tense silence of the onlookers. The fate of the kingdom hung in the balance, as the princess stood firm against the forces of tradition and power.
The king's words hung in the air, a cruel fate pronounced upon his own daughter. The princess's eyes widened in horror, her mind reeling with the implications.
"No, Father! Please! You can't mean it!"
She pleaded, but the king's face remained resolute.
With a heavy heart, the guards stepped forward, their hands reaching out to drag her away. The princess struggled and kicked, but they were too strong. They pinned her down, their grip like iron cuffs around her wrists and ankles. She prepared herself and ran as fast as she could.
With a fierce cry, the princess summoned all her strength and unleashed a blast of energy that shattered the gate into a thousand pieces. The sound of the destruction echoed through the land, a testament to her desperation and determination.
As the dust settled, the princess stood panting, her eyes fixed on the ruins before her. She knew that her powers, the very essence of her being, were now lost forever. But she didn't care. Freedom was all that mattered.
With a sense of liberation, she stepped through the broken gate, leaving behind the only life she had ever known. The unknown lay ahead, full of dangers and uncertainties, but she was ready to face it all.
For the first time in her life, the princess felt truly alive, her spirit unshackled from the chains of her royal destiny. She walked into the sunset, her heart full of hope and her soul at peace, ready to forge a new path, one that was hers alone.
The princess, though weakened, showed remarkable resilience as she mounted her white pony and blended in with the bustling market crowd. Her determination to revive her powers and forge a new path was palpable.
As she rode through the crowded streets, the pony's mane fluttering in the wind, she felt the vibrant energy of the market pulsing around her. Merchants and traders called out their wares, and the aroma of exotic spices and fresh bread wafted through the air.
With each passing moment, the princess felt her strength slowly returning, her connection to the natural world and its rhythms rekindling. She breathed in deeply, drawing in the essence of the earth and its creatures.
As Alex galloped after Merrima, the old lady watched with a knowing gaze.
"May the winds be at your back, young one," she whispered, her eyes shining with a deep understanding.
Meanwhile, Merrima, unaware of Alex's pursuit, rode her pony with a fierce determination, her hair streaming behind her like a golden banner. The king's armies closed in, their armor glinting in the sunlight.
With a sudden burst of speed, Merrima's pony surged forward, leaving the palace guards in a cloud of dust. Alex, hot on her heels, urged his own horse onward, his heart pounding with excitement and concern.
As they raced through the winding streets, the market crowd scattered, shouting and pointing at the spectacle. Merrima's name was on their lips, whispered in awe and reverence.
The chase continued, a thrilling spectacle of horse and rider, with Alex determined to catch up to Merrima and the king's armies relentless in their pursuit. The outcome hung in the balance, as the fate of the princess and the kingdom hung precariously in the wind.
As Merrima rode her pony into the dense woods, the sounds of the market and the king's armies faded into the distance. She leaned forward, her hair streaming behind her, and her pony's mane flowing in the wind.
The trees grew taller and closer together, casting deep shadows that swallowed her whole. The pony's hooves quietened on the soft earth, and Merrima's heart raced with every snap of a twig or rustle of leaves.
Suddenly, she reined in her pony and slid off its back, her eyes scanning the surroundings. The trees seemed to close in around her, their branches tangling above her head like a canopy.
With a swift motion, she led her pony towards a nearby stream, its crystal waters glistening in the dappled light. Without hesitation, she mounted the pony again and urged it into the water.
The pony waded deeper, its legs disappearing into the waves. Merrima leaned forward, her face set against the wind, and her hair flowing like seaweed. The forest, the armies, and the kingdom receded into the distance as she rode her pony into the sea, the waves closing over her head like a veil of freedom.
Alex, hot on her heels, arrived at the wood, his eyes scanning the trees for a glimpse of Merrima. But she was nowhere to be found. He dismounted his horse and searched the underbrush, calling out her name. Only the wind replied, rustling the leaves and whispers secrets in his ear.
He spotted her pony, its reins tangled in a bush, but Merrima was gone. Alex's heart raced as he realized she had vanished into the sea, leaving behind only the faint trace of her presence, like a sea sprite disappearing into the depths.
Alex held his breath and hid behind a thick tree trunk, watching as the king's armies combed through the woods, searching for any sign of Merrima. Their armor glinted in the sunlight, and their weapons clashed against the peaceful forest sounds.
As they drew closer, Alex's heart raced with fear. He knew he had to get out of there, and fast. He waited until the soldiers had passed by his hiding spot, then silently made his way back to his horse, which was tethered a short distance away.
Mounting his horse, Alex swiftly rode away from the woods, keeping a low profile and avoiding any detection by the king's armies. He didn't stop until he was back in the safety of his own home, his heart still racing with excitement and fear.
Only when he was sure he was alone did he allow himself to breathe a sigh of relief. He had narrowly escaped detection, but he knew the king's armies would not give up easily. They would continue to search for Merrima, and for him, until they were found.
Alex's mind raced with thoughts of Merrima, wondering where she was, and if she was safe. He knew he had to find her, to help her in any way he could. But for now, he had to lay low, and wait for the right moment to strike. The game of cat and mouse had only just begun.
Alex smiled, feeling a mix of relief and exhaustion.
"Hey, Marin. I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to worry you. I just had to... take care of something."
Marin's eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded and stepped aside, allowing Alex to enter.
"I made your favorite dish, chicken parmesan. It's ready whenever you are."
Alex's stomach growled at the mention of food, and he gratefully accepted a plate from Marin. As they sat down to eat, Alex couldn't help but think of Merrima, wondering if she was safe and what the future held for both of them.
Marin noticed his distant expression and reached out, placing a hand on his arm.
"Hey, everything okay? You seem a little... distracted."
Alex forced a smile, not wanting to burden Marin with his concerns.
"Yeah, everything's fine. Just a long day, that's all."
Marin nodded, but her eyes lingered on his, as if sensing there was more to the story.
The kingdom was in a state of turmoil as the king's declaration echoed through the land. Posters with Merrima's likeness were plastered on every available surface, and town criers shouted out the news in every market square.
"Her Royal Highness, Princess Merrima, has gone missing! The king offers a generous reward to anyone who can bring her back alive!"
Rumors spread like wildfire, with some claiming to have spotted Merrima in distant lands, while others believed she had been kidnapped by a rival kingdom. The king's armies scoured the countryside, searching for any trace of the missing princess.
As the days turned into weeks, hope began to dwindle. Had Merrima truly vanished into the sea, or was she hiding in plain sight? The kingdom held its breath, waiting for any news of their beloved princess.
*To be continued*