The last guy grinded me for the last time after reaching his climax. I am all worn out and I can't feel my body.

“You need to understand this Sixieme. We did it for your own good.”

Mother said as she was closing the door. 

I feel sick, I want to puke. Did it for my own good? Who are they fooling? 

The guards started taking off the cuffs from my arms and feet and I fell to the ground. I really have no more energy to move.

They left me and I was slowly closing my eyes when I remembered Katz. She’s with me in the room.

Left with father.

I immediately stood up but wobbled then fell again.

I can’t stay like a jelly. I don’t know what happened to Katz. If they can do this to their own daughter, doing something worse to her is no surprise. 

I need to see her. I need to know that she’s safe.

I stood again and placed all my weight on the stool beside me. I saw a thick stick and used it as support and walked out the cellar.

I’m naked. I don’t care. If it gets to this, I don’t mind letting the world know what kind of trash my parents are.

I was struggling going up the stairs when I heard glasses shattering.

I looked at the source of the sound and saw a maid looking at me.

“What happened to you, your highness!? You’re terribly bleeding!” 

The maid rushed to my aid and supported me. 

She took off her own clothes and covered them with my body. 

I looked at the floor and saw a pool of blood. 

This is too much blood. That came from… me?

She took a blade from her sock and started cutting cloth from her under garments.

She tied my leg.

“That won’t stop nor reduce the bleeding but it will prevent the blood from pooling on the floor. You can also avoid slipping.”

“What happened, your highness? You’re burning too. Who did this to you?” 

She’s too concerned about me. I wish my mother would react this way too.

“Can you help me go to my room please?” I said.

“But your father instructed everyone not to let anyone go there. Not even you, your highness.”

Something is going on.

“Just, please.” 

I don’t care about what my father said. I never listened to them anyways. This wouldn’t be anything different.

She nodded and assisted me up the stairs. I’m starting to feel dizzy but I am more focused on seeing Katz rather than what is happening to me.

My mind is set. I’m leaving the palace. I’m leaving this country with Katz. Throw the throne for all I care. If this is the treatment they give to people who did nothing wrong, then this place is far from being civilized, welcoming, loving, and peaceful. 

I wouldn’t care less if this place gets torn into pieces.

I am in front of my room.

The handle is cold.

“How long have I been out?” I asked. 

“About an hour, your majesty.” 

“Has the girl that sneaked in with me left?”

“No. we’ve never seen her leave the ground, her highness.”

They haven’t left the room.

I’m itching so I opened the door and saw her tied to the bed and my father was choking her with his thing.

The maid behind me gasped.

Father looked at me and smiled.

A tear fell from Katz’s eyes.

“Good thing you’re here my daughter. The show is just getting started.”

He thrusted harder.

“Have you girls done it like this? You heard her choking like this? You felt her body twitching like crazy?” 

My hand curled to a fist and blood started dripping.

“Your highness, your hand.”

I looked at it and saw blood dripping.

I sat and swiftly took the blade from the maid’s sock and ran to my father.

I was attempting to aim his thing but struck his leg instead.

He knelt due to too much pain.

I wiped her tears and loosened the tied clothes on her body. She’s still crying.

“I’m sorry.” I whispered.

I can’t say it out loud. I’m too ashamed to do so.

I’m the one who brought her in. I’m the one who caused all this. I’m the reason she’s in pain.

I helped her to stand up.

I myself have been struggling to maintain my composure but I’m trying so hard not to show it. She shouldn’t know.

When she finally stood up, she walked past me and out the door. 

She’s upset.

Probably of me.

“What are you waiting for?! What kind of maid just stares at the king when he’s hurt!” My father yelled.

The maid bowed and looked at my father.

“I apologize your majesty-”

“If you’re sorry, then  move! I don't want to hear a word, I want to see action!”

“But I don't serve you. I serve the princess and neither you nor the queen. Therefore, you can’t order me around nor do I have any obligation to move when you’re hurt. That’s morality but it’s not my job.”

“Oh this little- Who hired you?! Who made you serve here! You’re fired!”

“You can’t fire me, your majesty. I am brought here by your father. He’s the only one with the authority to fire me.”

“He’s dead! He wouldn’t know!”

The maid bowed and cleared the way.

She looked at me.

“Follow her, your majesty.”

I looked at her.

I don’t know why she’s acting like that but I don’t have time to think about that. I walked out the room and ran towards Katz.

I saw her and held her hand.

She forcibly pulled it back.

“A-are you mad at me?” I asked.

She has every reason to be mad at me. But I want to know it from her. I don’t want to trust my own assumptions.

“No.” 

She whispered.

“Then why…?”

Why are you acting this way?

“No! I’m not mad at you! I’m mad at myself! How can you run to me when you look like you could faint any second? How can you worry about me when you look like you’re about to die if not assisted immediately?! Can you please stop following me around! Worry about yourself for once! It pains me you know? It pains me to look at you as all the blood from your body is being drained. I’m not the one who suffered a great loss but I’m the one getting the special treatment.”

“Then why did you leave…”

“Because I’m sick of this place! I don’t want to see the castle or your father or your mother or even you! I want you out of my sight so please, just go seek help.”

She walked and I tried to follow.

“Don’t follow me! Another step and the next place you’ll see me is in a graveyard!”

I stopped. I watched her go.

I heard my mother screaming from my room and my father yelling at the head maid.

I sat on the floor. No, it's not comfortable. It stings down there. I’m well aware something ripped and that this could be fatal but can’t give any attention to it. 

Tears fell from my eyes.

Nobody told us it will last.

Nobody told us that everything will be okay.

We are well aware of the worst.

And yet we still did it and ended up experiencing the worst.

The next thing I knew, I fell hard on the floor and a maid started screaming.

=

I’m worried sick. I want to call a priest or a physician to help Six but I know that they will help her in the palace. She’ll get more help there. She’s the princess after all.

I didn’t like the fact that I hurt her. 

She came to me even if she can’t walk straight.

She came to me even if she’s struggling.

And worried even if she’s about to die in her state.

While all I did was make that worse.

I sat down beside the riverbank. I needed to do that. But that just isn’t the right timing. What kind of girl does that? If I really didn't want to hurt her, what did I just do? 

And I just told her that I don’t want to hurt her when it’s clearer than a mirror that I just did. When all she did was accept me and love me.

She doesn't deserve me. No, she doesn't.

~ 9 years later

“Her highness! His highness needs your attention right away!” 

I stood the moment the maid spoke.

I rushed to the room and saw Michael laying down the bed naked.

“For heaven’s sake, Michael! Put some clothes on, will you?”

“But we’re married. You don’t need to feel ashamed of it.”

I walked inside and closed the door.

“Oh really?”

I smirked and went close to him.

I unbuttoned my blouse and took it off.

I threw it to the floor.

He went close to me in an attempt to kiss me but stopped midway.

“Are they gone?” He whispered.

“Yeah. You can go away.” I said.

He sighed and pecked my lips.

“Hey!”

“What?” He laughed.

I walked towards the window and looked at the greenery.

“It’s been nine years. Are you still waiting for the same person?”

I opened my eyes and saw my mother.

“Have you learned your lesson young lady?”

Your daughter almost died because of you and that’s what you say? At times I wonder if I’m adopted or what.

“What do you want me to do?”

I said in a weak tone.

“Marry the prince of the third Nile.”

But that guy likes men!

“I…”

I paused.

I like girls.

He likes boys.

It’s a win-win.

“Okay.”

“Then I’ll prepare the arrangements for your wedding. The physician told us that you can get up after a week. Get back to your lessons by then.”

She stood up.

“Take care, my daughter.”

Oh yes I will, for I need to leave this trap hole one day.

“It will benefit you too. So just shut up.”

He snickered and jumped to bed after putting on his clothes.

“My own prince is waiting for me. When will your princess even come? Or will she even come?”

He’s busy nagging me when I noticed the bushes move and saw a blonde hair pass by.

“It’s her.”

“You saw her? You really saw her?! Thank God! I’m out of this place! I never want to deal with such people again. I’ll literally drop my position.”

“Sure. I’ll do the same.”

I rushed down and went to the bushes. I ran until I reached a river. I saw a woman peacefully looking at the rushing waters.

“Katherine…?”

No response.

“Katz?”

Still no response.

Maybe it’s the wrong person. Then I’ll just have to wait again. No matter how long. I turned and was about to walk back when the woman spoke.

“How are you, Six?”

I looked back and saw her looking at me while crying.

It’s her. It’s Katz.

Tears fell down my eyes.

I slowly walked towards her and hugged her so tight I’m not sure if she can breathe.

“What took you so long?” I said while crying.

“Are you waiting for me?”

“Of course! I’ve been waiting this whole time!”

“And yet you married someone.”

“That prince has a husband!”

She let go of my arms and looked at me.

“What?”

“It’s all fake. A made up marriage. A made up love. He has a husband and I’m still waiting for my future wife. That is… if you’re okay?”

=

I hesitated before. Why would I hesitate again?

“Yes. Of course. Your long awaited wife is home.”

I don’t know what we’ll do next or if she has anything in mind but I don’t care. I won’t let go of this woman who pestered me for nine years.

Never again.

=

I consumed her lips. 

My position doesn’t matter to me. What matters is that she’s here.

And I’ve never felt freer. I’ve never felt so much joy my whole life. 

I don’t need wealth, I’m richer than all the richest persons on this earth for I’ve got someone who loves me and has been with me as we both took risks people would be afraid to take.

I’m with someone who truly loves me and I know would continue to love me.

And no force can take that away. No, not even my parents, not even the royals.

“‘Till death do us part.” 

*Prince Charming

-END-