His Caged Princess

8. Layana’s Defiance 

Declan’s cold glare turned to the beauty before him, one thing was clear unlike her sister she was not begging for his attention, rather she was frowning at him, her plump lips set in a determined pout. 

“Layana,” Evaan said his voice dangerously low. Declan did not look away from. those mesmerising eyes, 

“No. let her speak, let’s see what the sheltered princess has to say,” he said mockingly, his words were like a knife to Layana. For she knew the truth in them. 

Evaan heaved a deep sigh glaring at his daughter to back down. But both the temperamental princess and the cold heir of House Storm were staring the other down. Dark grey eyes boring into those iridescent red and gold. 

“Yes, we may be ‘sheltered‘ in your eyes, but it does not mean we are ignorant to the world around us. Perhaps we have not seen as much as you have. You might look at us resentfully for the blissful ignorance that we have. But I assure you it’s no fairy tale. Before judging us, remember we are human beings forced to live in a certain way for the expectations of the people. We-” 

“Layana enough,” Evaan said warningly gripping his cutlery tightly 

“Let me finish father, it seems Lord Declan of House Storm holds more ignorance than he is aware,” Layana said as Declan simply watched her a mix of emotions swarming inside him as her words echoed in his mind. Trying not to focus on the way his name sounded on her lips, “We are women with emotions, with wishes, with hopes, each one that we put behind us for the betterment of the kingdom,” 

“Do enlighten me, what exactly can the precious jewels of the kingdom do for its people,” He asked enjoying seeing the stunning princess getting riled up and he wanted to hear her reasoning. 

“Jewels? You compare us to items devoid of emotions. Yes, we may be ‘jewels‘ of the kingdom, and like jewels, we will be given away to the highest bidder, the one who will have the most to offer to the kingdom. So, Lord Declan before assuming princesses are simply there to play dress up and have tea parties, remember our lives are not simply all fun and games,” Layana finished, not daring to look at her father who was glaring daggers at her. 

Declan looked at her a small smirk on the corner of his lips. It truly was enlightening to rile the woman up… he remained silent, much to Layana’s annoyance simply drinking some more wine. 

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‘Asshole‘ Layana thought picking up her glass of juice, not realising her heart had been hammering in her chest. 

Queen Myra looked at Layana and then at the king knowing the princess was in trouble again. 

“Layana… make it a thousand pages, by tomorrow evening,” The king said his voice so cold it felt as if the room dropped several notches in temperature. Layana’s eyes widened in shock. By tomorrow… how was she going to finish it? She had barely done three hundred pages, even then she had made her writing large and spread out, this was ridiculous. 

“Yes father,” she said quietly glancing at her fingers in her lap, the welts and blisters from holding her pen for so long covered the soft skin of her fingers. She stood up, “I wish to be excused, there is plenty I must do,” 

“You’re excused,” Evaan said icily, Layana bowed her head before looking back. at Declan, 

“One more thing, when we speak up, we are silenced. We are not sheltered, we are caged,” she said a smile on her face, but her eyes held a pain that hit Declan with a sliver of guilt. His eyes never left the princess as she curtsied to the table, her head held high exiting the room. 2 

When the door shut behind her, everyone but Declan continued to eat in silence. The kings‘ anger was palpable and everyone could feel it. 

And one princess felt a new emotion enter her, resentment. Cordelia frowned deeply. Once again Layana had taken the limelight away from her… 7 

“I told her to speak, she shouldn’t be punished for my request,” Declan said. suddenly surprising even himself for speaking his thoughts. 

Evaan looked at him, surprised that the cold man even cared. The time the king. had spent with him, one thing was clear. Declan of House Storm cared for no one 

or his actions. 

“I will retract the punishment,” Evaan said curtly. Declan said nothing as Aren looked at his friend. It was the first time in his life he had seen Declan act that way towards a woman. Surely the fiery princess hadn’t caught his cold–hearted friends attention, had she 

Layana walked through the splendid halls of the palace. With night having fallen outside, the marble walls glittered even brighter under the glowing lights that came from the chandeliers lining the ceilings. The warm light hitting the 

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tapestries that hung along the walls, making the rich velvet fabric and golden threads glimmer richly. 

Her footsteps echoed every time her feet touched the marble floor. It was quiet in the royal’s private wing of the palace at this time, a peaceful ambience of perfection and magnificence. 

It was the complete opposite to the annoyance, frustration and sadness that consumed Layana. She was annoyed at Declan, of course, everyone probably thought that, but he was the first one to say it to their face. He was wrong, completely wrong. Life as a princess wasn’t perfect and they were not so materialistic as he made out. 

Cove be alone. 

The moment she saw no guards, she broke into a run, just wanting to Entering her bedroom she shut the door and locked it, 

to the stained–glass double doors that led to her balcony. She pushed them open and rushed out into the night, looking up at the night sky glittering with thousands of stars, her lips trembling as she tried to fight the tears threatening to spill, taking a deep breath she closed her eyes. 

In a placé so big, she felt chained and suffocated. She dropped to her knees, bowing her head, 

“I hate this,” she whispered hugging herself, a single tear spilt from her eyes, falling down her cheek, a wave of pain and sadness hit her but she wouldn’t cry, if she cried now, it would consume her. She bit her lip, trying to reign in her emotions. 

She didn’t want to be a princess, she wasn’t fit to be a princess, unlike her sisters who fit the part, Layana did not. She could barely keep her mouth shut. 

Usually, at dinner, she would try to focus on eating and not talking unless spoken to. Everyone thought of her as the undeserving princess, the one who shouldn’t be given the status of a princess. She knew her father disapproved of her behaviour and Myra always made her dislike of Layana clear. After all, she was born out of wedlock. She grew to ignore the whispers and nasty remarks as time. went by. Hiding them from her sisters and father too. But it still hurt, she did not ask to be a princess. The way some treated her was as if she was unworthy of the riches she received. Perhaps Layana was being ungrateful, but this was a role she did not belong to. 

Even speaking up called for punishment, she had started that essay but had run out of things to write, and was repeating the same. She had spent hours the day before and now she would have to spend the entire night writing. Taking a deep shuddering breath, she closed her eyes allowing the scents in the air to fill her 

senses. 

‘You’re are so much more than a princess Layana,‘ the same whispery voice she heard early came. 

Her head jerked up, her heart hammering in her chest, she looked around she could not have imagined that… what was that? 

“W–who’s there?!” she called out, her voice sharp as she got to her feet, 

stumbling on the hem of her dress, as she backed away fowards the open door, gripping the door frame, “Who’s there!” 

But there was no reply, the pounding of her heart was loud in her own ears, she looked around scanning the open area, what was that voice? She wasn’t imagining things. It was the second time she had heard it. 

Stepping into the safety of her bedroom, she shut the door locking it. 

Taking a deep breath she calmed herself turning her focus onto other things. She walked to her bed, the large stack of papers sat on one of her bedside tables, sighing she picked up her pen and continued with her punishment…. 

It was two hours later and Rina had long gone after running Layana a bath. Layana had bathed and was now dressed in black fitted pants and a black long- sleeved top. She had wrapped her hair in a tight bun. Now all she needed was to wait for Cordelia. 

She paced her room until she heard the light knock. Opening the door she ushered her inside. Cordelia looked at her sister, even without makeup and simple clothing, she looked stunning as always, making Cordelia feel a sting of jealousy. 

“Did you get everything we need?” Layana asked unaware of her sisters feelings. 

“Yes,” Cordelia said in a clipped tone placing the bundle down, 

Layana nodded opening the parcel she took out the maid dress and began slipping it on over her clothes. 

“Perfect, I do hope I find this book,” she said. 

“I hope so too, or this would all be in vain,” Cordelia replied. 

“I know, but we have to remember it’s not just a restricted book it’s a forbidden. book, so don’t get your hopes up too much,” Layana said gently, Cordelia nodded. 

“So… what did you think of the men at dinner,” she asked watching her sister intently. Layana raised a brow 

“Me getting punished and leaving dinner must surely answer that question,” she said sighing, “But I do not know them enough to judge them, they are simply annoying men,” 

“You found both annoying?” Cordelia asked wanting to know what she thought of Declan, Layana looked at her as she tied the mauve purple sash, the colour of Cordelia’s personal staff. 

“Aren was just annoying for taking my seat and talking too much and the other was too arrogant,” Layana said as she looked at the small glass jar that had laid in the bundle Cordelia had bought in. “Will this work?” 

“Of course it will, and besides, your hair is only a few shades lighter than Melissa, sit down I’ll apply it,” Cordelia said as she sprinkled the powder over her sisters already made bun to darken her hair, rubbing the powder into her hair darkening her sister’s blond hair by a few shades. Satisfied with how it looked she put the rest of the jar down. Wiping her hands on her handkerchief. 

“Well here goes nothing,” Layana said standing up and going over to the large bundle of clothing and sheets she had left to the side. “Take care of things here,” 

“I will,” Cordelia said noticing Layana had already placed some cushions to look. like someone was sleeping under the covers, 

Layana nodded and lifted the bundle walking to the door, Cordelia opened the bedroom door for her. Hoping her sister did not get caught 

“All the best,” she whispered, Layana simply nodded. 

Both girls knew neither would be able to relax until Layana returned safely back to her quarters. 

“Lock the door,” Layana whispered before she walked swiftly, keeping her head hidden behind the large pile of sheets and dresses. 

She made her way towards the servants‘ exit, knowing the only guards there, were the ones at the entrance. Hopefully, they wouldn’t be too suspicious of someone having their face covered whilst exiting. 

She hadn’t thought about how she would re–enter but that was a problem for later. Taking a deep breath she walked towards the narrow passage that led to the servant’s entrance. She heard the sounds of some of the staff talking. It was clear the palace was busy long after the princesses turned in for the night. The soft laughter and someone asking if the girls wanted some tea made Layana smile. She’d rather be a servant, at least she would have some freedom when she was not working. 

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“That’s a large pile there, need help sweety?” one of the guards asked, Layana couldn’t see him and prayed he didn’t push it 

“This is nothing, I can manage!” she said trying to disguise her voice, the man. chuckled and opened the door, 

“As you wish deary,” he said allowing her to pass, Layana let out a breath. 

“Is that more washing!” A deeper woman’s voice thundered and Layana winced 

“No no, just some alterations I need to do,” she said quickly, 

“Good, but don’t bring it here, now go!” the woman shouted back 

“Yes, mam!” Layana said hurrying past the woman she couldn’t even properly see looking from the side of her pile just enough to see the floor. 

She hurried through the tight halls that were made of the same marble as the rest of the palace, As she looked around. Brackets on the walls were the only sources. of light spread out equally along the walls. Arched doorways set with grey ash wooden doors were mainly closed but Layana could hear the hustle and bustle from behind them. 

Being here bought an old nostalgic feeling back to her, remembering her childhood when she used to sneak away through these very halls only to be found, scolded and returned to the princesses quarters. She smiled at the memory from long ago, how innocent she had been back then… 

Finding a convenient spot, she hid the clothes in an alcove hoping no one found them until she came back. Looking around she hurried down the steps to the lower floor, this door led out to the washroom and into the main servant’s area of the rest of the palace. 

Opening the door slowly she saw the room was empty. Breathing a sigh of relief she stepped inside and closed the door behind her, hurrying out into the main halls of the palace. A satisfied smile on her lips. 

She had under twenty minutes before the bell signalled another hour gone and the library would close for the day. Two guards would then be stationed outside the library for the night. She nodded in determination as she peeked around a corner. Seeing no one she hurried down the hall. 

“Now to get to the library without being seen…” she said to herself. Hearing footsteps, she hid behind a pillar as two guards walked by. This was going to be a long night she thought. 

Little did she know it would be a lot more eventful than she could have predicted, 

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because at that very moment, in the shadows at the back of the library a young man stood in the shadows, waiting for the library to empty for the night… 

Moonlight Muse Author