The Abandoned Princess

Aldrea's POV I can feel the wind blowing my hair. It’s getting colder by the moment. My lips are trembling and all I could do is bite my lower lip to create a sensation that could distract me from this cold. I hugged myself tightly to feel a little warmth. If only there are no people inside the palace now at that party thrown by my stepmother, I will go back inside. However, it is almost impossible to enter in without getting noticed. For sure, I would become the object of laughter and ridicule if I will appear right now. That has been the norm ever since and I already got used to it. Since I re-entered this palace as an illegitimate daughter, I have been branded as the laughingstock of the Ekron kingdom.   “Hahahaha!”   I can hear the laughter of the people inside. They are obviously happy. Since this is the birthday of my sister, Princess Elizabeth, they must be celebrating it to the max, eating all the delicious food that this kingdom can provide and drinking all the delicious wines that my father has prepared for such a special occasion.   I turned my head and looked at the palace. I can see my father raising his goblet for a toast. I can see Princess Elizabeth smiling happily from ear to ear and Queen Mira on her side shining with all the jewelry adorning her body.   They are a picture of a perfect family. My heart ached. We were once like that, too. When my mom was still alive and wasn’t driven out of this palace, dad, mom, and I were a picture of a perfect royal family. How sad that it’s just a memory now.   Sadness filled my heart as I felt the loneliness set in again. I feel desperate but at the same time tired of all the pain that these negative emotions are causing me. If my own decisions are to be followed, I would rather leave this place than stay here with all these people, my father included. However, I have no ability as of yet to live on my own. I have no power to go against royalty. For sure, my father will search for me and make me pay for leaving and staining the perfect image that he has set as a king. He would hate me more than now if that happens.   I let out a heavy sigh as I felt the coldness seeping deep inside my chest all the way to my heart. I guess the coldness seeped down to the deepest recesses. I bit my lower lip harder this time. There is no way I can complain about this life. Why did mom decide to die early anyway and leave her sixteen-year-old daughter all alone in this cruel kingdom? She should have lived longer and protected me from all these cruelties. I felt bitter. I closed my eyes and hugged myself tighter. However, hugging myself is not doing anything better. I cannot feel warmth at all.   “What are you doing here in the dark?”   That baritone voice cut my deep thinking. I turned my head and looked at the source. Because of the dark, I cannot see his face clearly, but his figure stood out. Even with this dim lighting, I am so sure that he possesses a body to die for. His clothes failed to hide his muscular torso and legs. He looks manly. What a pity I cannot see his face.  "Just breathing fresh air..." I answered. "I feel suffocated inside." I was surprised by my answer. How come I am honest before this man? I am not supposed to say anything like this to a stranger. Who knows if he is a close ally of my dad. After all, the invited visitors tonight are close friends of the royal family and high officers of the court.  'You're so careless, Aldrea.' I scolded myself as I close my eyes and shook my head. When will I ever learn to deal with all these things?  "Excuse me?" the man asked. "Were you saying something in addition to what you already said?" the man asked. I shook my head vehemently, surprised at his question. Did I just enunciate what is supposed to be said in my head? Ah, what a fool I am. I really want to hit myself this time.  "N-no..." I said in a soft voice.  Silence.  I felt the man walk closer and stand beside me. From the corner of my eye, I can see that he looked in the direction where I am looking as if he can see anything there. However, both of us know that there is really nothing to see. The darkness has hidden everything from our sight.  "I cannot agree more..." he answered softly. "This place is suffocating..." My eyes widened. Did he just agree with me? I turned my head to look at him. He's unbelievable. He is saying such strong words against this palace without fear. He's not aware of who I am. What if he realized that I am a part of the royal family? Would he say the same words about this place? "Ever since I set my foot in this place, I never felt warmth. I know that the perfectness that the royal family shows to everyone is just an empty shell. There is no truth to it in the real life. It's just for the sake of the image of the king and queen." Those statements even made my jaw drop. He's on point! "Haha!" I chuckled. "You're one discerning fellow." He didn't answer anymore. However, I saw him take his coat off and place it over my shoulder and back.  "If you are not a party animal like me, make sure to wear a coat when you attend one. You shouldn't risk your health by staying in a cold place like this with that thin dress. You will catch a cold." I was shocked by the sudden kindness I received from a stranger like him. For the first time in years since mom died, I can feel being treated like a human again. A tear escaped my eye as I followed his disappearing back. He left after putting his coat on my back.