The Cursed Prince's Strange Bride

Harold, Alvin, and Harvey were all used to being out, so this was nothing special to them. However, that wasn't the case for Lance.

One, he didn't leave his residence at night. Two, people were just carelessly bumping into him!

Nobody was bowing, running away, or creating a path for him.

However, they did receive strange looks from passersby, and that was because of the expensive fabric they wore.

Lance wasn't sure how to feel about the way he was being treated now. He was very annoyed. But on the other hand, it felt somehow good that he could move about freely and blend in. He didn't like it, but it just felt somehow good. They were not the same thing. He could feel good about something and not like it, right?

Luciana, on the other hand, felt like shedding tears as she watched kids run about, adults dancing in the open, laughing, singing, clapping, and even eating out in the open! She could see a young man offering a flower to a blushing young maiden, who accepted it shyly before handing one to him in return.

Paulina, however, could not stop her tears as she used a hand to cover her mouth while trying to keep up with the others.

She had never seen anything like this in her entire life. It was so beautiful. So colorful. She could paint this scene a million times.

**********

Tyra stood by the window in her chamber, staring out into the night as she thought about what Benedicta had said and the fact that everyone she considered her friend in the palace had left without her.

She turned to the door when it opened, and her mother walked in without knocking. Her mother had not bothered to visit her since she regained consciousness days ago, so she was surprised to see her now. What was her mother doing in her chamber? She mused as she walked away from the window to sit on the edge of her bed.

"I'm surprised you are here. Why didn't you go with the others?" The queen asked as she walked over to the table in Tyra's bedroom, where some snacks and two pitchers of water were arranged.

Tyra forced a smile, "They asked me to come with them, but I didn't want to leave the palace. I couldn't stand to face Princess Amber yet," she lied, not wanting to give her mother the pleasure of knowing how affected she was by the actions of all those she trusted.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, mother. How is father's health?" Tyra asked as she watched her mother, who shamelessly poured herself some water and drank from it to quench her thirst before stuffing her mouth with the snacks.

Why hadn't she thought of coming to Tyra's chamber to find food before now? The Queen mused as she ate, not minding the fact that Tyra was watching her.

She drank some more water, and Tyra looked at her with a disapproving frown as she waited for a response.

"Send the maids to draw you water for a bath. I will have my bath here," the Queen ordered without responding to Tyra's question.

"Didn't Prince Harold instruct..."

"Are you still taking his side even when he has made it clear that he doesn't care about you? How could he take the side of his wife even after hearing that she hurt you?" The Queen asked, and Tyra shook her head.

"She is his wife, and even though I don't know what happened to Princess Amber that night, I'm sure she didn't mean to hurt..."

"Keep shut, and do as you have been told! Get the maids!" The queen snapped at her, and Tyra shuddered as she stood up immediately and left the chamber in search of the maids, while the Queen gobbled down as much as she could eat.

By the time Tyra returned to her chamber, the Queen had eaten up all the snacks and finished the water in the pitcher too, and was standing by the window.

Was this the reason she had visited her? Did she come here to find food and water? Why was she not surprised that she had finished everything without leaving any for her or finding out if she had even eaten?

"They will be here with water soon," Tyra said as she went to sit on the bed.

The queen turned to face her, "Do you truly remember what happened that night? Were you telling the truth about Princess Amber hurting you?" The queen asked, and Tyra's brows pulled together and her lips trembled as she looked at her.

"You don't believe me too?" Tyra asked in a low voice, and the Queen raised an eyebrow.

"Who else doesn't believe you? Harold?" She asked, and tears clouded Tyra's eyes as she gave her mother a nod.

"I swear to you, mother, I'm telling the truth. I have no reason to lie against Princess Amber," Tyra said, but the Queen continued to look at her skeptically.

"How do you expect anyone to believe that Princess Amber, who is human, could have killed a strong Beta like Beth?" The Queen asked, and Tyra shook her head as tears dropped from her eyes.

"I have no idea. It was so terrifying to watch her," Tyra said with tears in her eyes, as she looked at her mother, hoping that she would at least believe her.

"Are you sure you are telling the truth? Did someone ask you to say this?" The Queen asked with a frown, but before Tyra could respond, a knock sounded on the door, followed by the voice of a maid announcing their presence.

Neither Tyra nor the Queen said a word as the maids walked in with buckets of water to fill the bathtub, and when they were done, they stood by Tyra's bed waiting to serve her, but the Queen waved her hand dismissively, and the maids left.

"Pull yourself together. Let's continue after I'm done bathing," the queen said before walking into the bathroom and leaving Tyra alone.