Rosangela: The Runaway Princess (Book #2)

Prince Xavier opened the door to his bedroom and went in. I walked into the room after him and shut the door behind me.

After we’d stayed inside the prince’s room, I plucked up the courage to ask him, “Xavier, if you discovered Mariana’s attacker, what would do to them?”

“If I ever find out who did this to Mariana, I’ll string them up,” Xavier answered.

I gave an involuntary shudder at his statement.

“But,” he went on, “if my father who finds out who the culprit is first, he will make sure that they suffer a fate worse than death.”

Fear twisted my innards in knots. “Oh no! Xavier and his father will kill me if they finds out what I’ve done to Mariana. I must work out an escape plan as soon as possible. The quicker I get away from this kingdom, the better. I don’t want to be here when the shit hits the fan,” I thought.

“Oh I can’t wait for Mariana to come regain consciousness so that she will be able to identify her attacker,” Xavier spoke in a low mumble, as if to himself.

“I hope that his wish wouldn’t come true,” I prayed silently.

“By the way, why did you ask about it?” Prince Xavier queried.

“Oh nothing, just idle curiosity,” I replied with a grin.

A doubtful look crossed his face. However, before Xavier was able to voice his doubts, we were interrupted by a sharp rap on the door.

“Come in!” Prince Xavier commanded.

The door flew open and a guard stepped in.

“Your Highness, your presence is requested at the throne room by King Joaquin. His Majesty also asked you to bring your pet with you,” he told us.

I went white as a sheet after I heard the king’s order. “Why does King Joaquin summon us to the throne room? Don’t tell me the king has figured out that I’m the one who had harmed Mariana!” I thought frightfully.

“Okay, we’ll be there in less than no time,” Xavier said shortly.

The guard bowed and then left the room.

“Let’s go!” Xavier took my arm.

I tore myself from his grasp. “You’d better go without me, Xavier.”

“Didn’t you hear what the guard said? He told us that my father requested our presence in the throne room,” he scoffed.

“But I don’t want to go with you to the throne room,” I said.

“Why do you refuse to come with me to the throne room?” he inquired.

“Be—because I—” Before I could finish my sentence, Xavier cut me off.

“Wait! Don’t tell me what happened to Mariana has something to do with you?” He narrowed his eyes at me suspiciously.

I laughed to cover my nervousness. “Of course, not. That has nothing to do with me.”

“Then, there’s nothing you have to be afraid of,” he said.

I heaved a long sigh. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“Let’s go now, shall we?” He held out his hand to me.

Reluctantly, I took it. “Okay, let’s go!”

At last, Prince Xavier pulled me along with him to the throne room.

By the time we reached the throne room, I noticed that the guards and maids who were with us in the corridor a few moments ago had arrived there. Even the maid whom I helped when Mariana hit her was here too.

“OK, because all the people involved in the incident have been gathered here, I shall begin now,” stated King Joaquin who was sitting on his throne.

The vampire king stared at his son. “Tell me what really happened to Mariana, Xavier! I’m dying to know why she’s severely injured like that,” he demanded an immediate explanation.

“To be frank with you, I don’t know how this happened to Mariana, Dad. But one thing is for sure, it was my pet who first found her,” answered Prince Xavier.

For the first time, I couldn’t care less if Prince Xavier called me pet. I was more anxious to see how the vampire king was going to react.

“So you’re the one who found Mariana?” King Joaquin barked a question at me with a hint of menace in his voice.

“Ye—yes, Yo—your Majesty,” I sputtered.

“You’re the person who found Mariana or the one caused her harm?” all of a sudden, a guard, who was standing on the left side of Prince Maximilian, asked me accusingly.

The atmosphere in this throne room was getting more tense as everyone’s eyes were fixed on the guard and me now.

I willed myself not to panic. By the look on his face, the guard seemed still uncertain that I was the real culprit. So I was safe. For now.

“How could you possibly think that I had anything to do with what happened to Mariana!” I hissed.

“You shouldn’t worry if you really didn’t do it,” the guard said with a wicked grin.

“Of course I didn’t do it! What do you take me for?” I yelled.

“Why do you insist that my son’s pet is the culprit? Did you see what happened to Mariana?” Queen Estrella, who took a seat beside her husband, inquired the guard.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t witness the incident, Your Majesty. But I’m sure that she’s the one behind the attack on Mariana,” the guard answered confidently.

“Can you prove that my son’s pet who did it?” King Joaquin enquired of the guard.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, I can’t provide you any proof now.” The guard hung his head in shame.

“You shouldn’t have made an accusation until you have some proof,” Queen Estrella chided.

“I know, You’re Majesty. But I promise I’m going to find the proof as soon as possible,” the guard stated with confidence.

“I don’t get it. Why do you accuse my pet of attacking Mariana? I believe that my pet wouldn’t do a thing like that. Angela would not hurt a fly, so how could she harm Mariana?” Xavier remarked angrily.

I secretly heaved a sigh of relief for Prince Xavier wanted to stand up for me.

“I agree with Prince Xavier, Your Majesty,” the maid whom I helped suddenly spoke up, “I’m certain that Angela would never intentionally hurt anyone. We can’t just put the blame on Angela for anyone can do it to Mariana. I mean, Mariana always criticizes everyone and the trouble is, she doesn’t know when to stop. So it is perfectly understandable if so many people have a grudge against her and wish her harm.”

I was grateful that the maid didn’t tell the king that I was the last person who was with Mariana. Instead, she defended me. If King Joaquin found out about what I had done to the head maid, I was dead meat.

“With respect, Your Highness, I cannot agree with you and that maid,” the annoying guard commented again, “If I were you, I would not put my trust in her, Your Highness. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she’s lying.”

My hands were balled into fists. “How dare he try to turn Xavier against me?” I grumbled in my mind.

“No matter what you say, I will always believe my pet—for surely she will not lie to me,” Xavier said with certitude.

A feeling of guilt began to stir in me. Prince Xavier had placed so much trust in me, but I deceived him instead.

“That’s enough, Xavier! You shouldn’t argue with the guard,” King Joaquin reprimanded his son.

“But Dad, how can I stand by and see Angela accused of something she didn’t do?” said Xavier.

“Yes, please stop accusing me! For goodness’ sake, just use your common sense! How can a feeble human like me hurt an elder vampire like Mariana?” I tried to reason with all of them.

“You’re not a feeble human, but a half-blood vampire with supernatural power, remember?” my conscience unnecessarily reminded me.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at what my inner self said.

“She’s right,” King Joaquin fortunately agreed with me, “Whoever did that to Mariana must have a very great power. They’re definitely not ordinary people.”

Everyone in this room, except for the annoying guard, nodded in silent agreement.

“Xavier, call in a team of experts to investigate this incident! The attacker is the one we must catch and the sooner the better,” King Joaquin rapped out an order to his son.

Xavier’s head nodded in understanding. “Yes, Dad.”

“All right, you’re all dismissed now,” said the king.

Prince Xavier began to walk out of the throne room with the guards and maids followed suit.

I intended to start after the prince, but suddenly the annoying guard caught hold of my arm, holding me back.

Leaning over, he whispered something in my ear, “I’m not stupid, you know. I know you did it—I just don’t understand how you could do it.”

“Prove it!” I challenged him.

“OK, with pleasure!” He smirked wickedly.

I twisted myself out of his grip and pushed past him before running after Prince Xavier.

Seeing the mischievous look on the annoying guard’s face, I suddenly regretted what I said to him.

“Oh me and my big mouth. I shouldn’t have challenged the guard like that. My challenge seemed only to fuel his suspicion even more. And he definitely wouldn’t stop before he could uncover my disguise. I must find a way to get out of this place and the sooner the better,” I thought.