"Kaprina!" 

What..?

"Kaprina!!" 

What's that? Who's calling my name? 

"You have to wake up! See the truth!"

The voice got louder.

"See the truth!!" 

I'm in a forest.  And it's dark.

I looked down at my feet that were muddled in wet soil and my nightgown dirty with dust and cobwebs.

"The truth!!" The voice continued. 

I could hear it clearly now. It was a female voice, but I wasn't sure where it was coming from.

I looked around the forest but could barely see anything besides the evergreen trees.

My body started shaking when I realised bits of snow started to fall from the sky. 

"You must see!! Don't look any further! It's right here!" 

"What?! What's right here?! Who are you?!" I called out. 

The subtle winds in the forest quickly grew violent and the trees began to sway sideways, threatening to snap.

No!!

Trying to block the winds with my hands was futile and my feet were about to slip from the soil.

This can’t be happening! 

The voice kept screaming at me but eventually became one with the howls of the wind and it could no longer be heard.

My heart was beating fast. I'm scared. I was in the middle of nowhere, alone, in a snow storm about to be crushed by a falling tree or swept away by the wind. 

It was the latter. The wind carried my feet off the ground and my body flew in the air pulling me away from the scene. 

Nooo!!!

The world around me began to warp in on itself, sucking inward like water draining in a sink.

Everything turned black.

"..na…"

"na…!"

"Rina…!!" 

My eyes shot open to the ceiling of my bed chambers.

"Hey! Hey, calm down, I'm here ok? It's alright calm down."

Damond. It's Damond.

He was kneeling next to my bed and holding my right hand with both of his.

"Damond did you hear that? The woman?!" 

Unthinking, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and extended my body towards him as much as I could. My chest was rising up and down rapidly.

"No. There's no woman here Rina. Don't worry. You're safe." 

I could feel his warm breath on my neck as he spoke.

 His body is so hot…Wait!

"But Damond..! You didn't hear her?? The woman?!" 

I unwrapped myself from him and scrambled to get off my bed. 

Quickly, I walked to the middle of my room and looked around frantically. 

The woman…she was right here-! No. I don't even know what she looks like… Wait, what woman??

I looked to Damond again who was now sitting on my bed with an apprehensive, weary look.

"Are you back to your senses now?" He asked.

?

Ah…I've done it again.

Embarrassed by my own foolish gaffe, I held my head down and went to sit next to him, to embrace his warmth again. 

"I'm sorry…" I said quietly. 

No matter how many times it happens, I still get flushed by it all. Even if its Damond that comes to my rescue.

 I'd always been explosive to nightmares since I was five years old. Still, it happens sometimes.

"That's alright. I'm more used to it than you are now actually." 

I sighed and buried my face in my hands. 

“So what was it about this time? A random woman?” He was looking outside now, on the windows which were exposed by the drawn back curtains. It was still dark. I had fallen asleep last night.

"Yes, but…I didn't see her face. I only heard her voice and she sounded kind…"

Damond laughed a little before speaking again.

"Rina, you can't just say someone is kind because of their voice! You've always been like this."

His tone was humorous and he laughed freely, like he used to do before. Before…

"Damond…I-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." 

His laugh disappeared and the room became quiet. He didn't ask me what I was sorry for.

 He knew.

 I knew. 

Words were not needed between the both of us at times. This was one of them.

My head instinctively leaned on his shoulders as he spoke very, very quietly.

"They all know now Rina. They know." 

… 

"I figured as much. I just didn't want to be awake to see it happen. That's why I went to bed so early."

The announcement has been made. Everyone knows.

That's it...

I suppose before I thought I could escape from reality by turning in early, but alas. I still wake up in the same world.

Will people treat me differently now?

See me as weak? 

Will they believe I'm bad luck to the Prince, this Kingdom? 

Will the image I've so carefully started building crumble and shatter? Will my real, fragile self, finally be exposed?

"No…everything will be fine. They have no right to judge you."

It was as if Damond knew what I was thinking and responded caringly to my inner thoughts. 

Despite being royal, I felt still that I didn't belong here. The truth is that I don't. 

If I'm being honest, being invited to the ball by the Queen that day almost made me feel assured in myself in a way. Like I somehow deserved to be here and could blend in with everyone else while receiving the praise and admiration I thought I deserved. 

I'm a fool. 

A selfish one. 

I will be just as disliked here as I was in Dewsdale. 

Again, nothing has changed. 

Only my ego grew bigger and my pompousness flared. 

I still rely on Damond as I did before. 

I was still unsure of myself and my purpose. I claim to desire the best for others, when really I desire the talk of my gracefulness and reverence. 

A selfish, spoiled brat. As I always were, I still am.

And because of my position, showing contempt for my own being openly would make others look down on me all the more. My precarious nature would be visible to all. 

Now, I left Damond's side and went to sit on the window sill, to look out to the sky filled with beautiful stars that lit my chambers. 

Multiple guards roamed outside the castle, monitoring the area carefully.  The rest of the Kingdom was still asleep.

In the window, I saw the reflection of my own face in contrast with the stars. I looked gaunt. Tired and scared. But of what exactly? 

People around me say I'm beautiful, but how is it that I've become even more hideous than I was before?

More scared and afraid, more insecure? 

Damond’s reflection was behind me now as well. He mirrored my expression of sadness and uncertainty. 

He joined me to sit on the window sill. 

His expression was tender again as he spoke. 

“Princess, even if the whole world is against you, I'll still be there no matter what. But you know that already.” 

Yes it’s true. But I didn’t want it to be that way at all. 

“I know..Thank you Damond.” 

I looked deep into his brown eyes now. Like usual, they had their constant look of fierce protectiveness and loyalty, but something else seemed to be hiding underneath it. Something he didn't want me to see. 

He blinked once and turned towards the window, blocking my view of his emotions. 

Could it be that he also knew in his heart that I’m useless?

Together, we looked towards the stars and embraced its light. 

Two people looking out at the peaceful sky. 

One a loyal protector, and the other a desperate Princess.