I was perplexed. He really trusted me? All of the sudden? This seemed suspicious. 

‘I have nothing to lose in taking you with me. If you really tell the truth then you would be a great addition.’ he said. 

‘You have a lot of knowledge about the royal family which could help us. But if you turn out to be a liar or a spy, I will just kill you.’ he said with a smiling face. His handsome face suddenly scared me. I didn’t expect him to respond to me like that as he has been pretty cold the whole time. 

But I was fine with this sort of ‘Deal’ as long as he took me with him.

‘Follow me. I will take us to our hideout where you can stay for some time. You will meet the other members and don’t worry, they’re nice.’ he said. I walked behind him as we made our way through the narrow alleys. 

It was a gruesome view as there were people laying on the ground left and right. They looked very ill and half of them probably were already dead. I never knew how the people outside of the castle lived because I never had to think about it. I was always in a comfortable place where everything got taken care of. 

Seeing the reality was harsh. All those poor people lived in this hell just so my family could have a life in wealth and comfort. How could I have been so ignorant? By now I understood why The Rose gained such a big following. They represented the common people and fought for fair rights. 

I was scared ever since I stepped into this city, but being with that boy made me feel safe. He radiated an aura, the people seemed to have respect for him. I still didn’t even know his name but I was too shy to ask at this moment. 

‘It’s not too far anymore.’ he said. 

‘How does the hideout look?’ I asked while looking around at a possible destination.

‘Don’t even try. you won’t see it.’.

As we left the alley, a big horse stood before us. A royal guard sat on it and just before he could see us, the boy took me and quickly jumped into an open window of a house to the right of us. I couldn’t even blink and suddenly we were in a stranger’s house. Luckily no one was home.

‘This is a public announcement!’ the guard said with a loud and raspy voice. His golden armor shone in the bare sunlight which made everyone look at him.

‘The royal family regrets to announce that the King is ill. His unhealthy condition makes it impossible for him to retain his status as the King.‘.

Instant chatter broke out as he finished his statement. My heart dropped as I heard it. I knew my father had several illnesses and was always under treatment from the best doctors of the Kingdom. I saw the boy looking at me as the news broke out. He seemed to judge my reaction to see if I really was the princess. 

At that moment, I found it hard to feel any sympathy with my father. After all he did to me, his only true daughter, he was just another stranger who happened to be the King. He never believed in my innocence for one second and never talked to my like a father should. He can rot in hell. 

‘Unfortunately the eldest son is not available due to his duties as a diplomat across the lands.‘.

My big brother - I haven‘t seen him in years. I wish he would have been here. 

‘Because the next heir in line, Princess Evera, is no longer a member of the royal family, it is decided that for the time being the crown will go to Princess Levla.‘.

Huh?!

‘This can‘t be true!‘ I thought. My heart was racing.

The person who destroyed my life was now ruling as the Queen.