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Confusion swept over her features as she watched the knight backstep toward the door, his sword grasped tightly in his hand as he kept a wary look on her. His eyes widened in fear, and she could see his skin grow pale from the sight of her. Furrowing her brows, she studied him more; she hadn't seen him around her kingdom before as his face was fresh—the way he pointed his sword at her with a slight quiver made it seem as though he wasn't sure whether he should fight or flee. It sent her thoughts into a spinning curiosity; wondering if she she-devil painted a curse over this knight's eyes and made him see things that clearly wasn't there. It would be something that the sorceress could do, especially when he poisoned the mind of her father. Subjecting her to marry a prince that was unfit to stand by her side as well as rule the future kingdom of their people. She would never respect a man who treated their queen like a piece of vile trash. She knew if she had married Prince Albert, her future as Queen would never see the light of day. His mind was troubled—far beyond any help the doctors could provide. Perhaps even black magic couldn't even save his soul.<br/>
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Octavia digressed as her mind reeled back to the situation at hand. The knight slowly approached her, carefully talking to her as though there were more troubling matters at foot. It was apparent; there was something he knew that he wasn't telling her. Still, she needed to play the game. She didn't know if this knight would be her ally or was a pawn that the she-devil was entertaining herself with. Little by little, the answers she sought brought more questions to mind. The expression on the knight's face didn't change when he spoke the news of Prince Albert's fate. <b>"What do you mean… Prince Albert is<i> dead</i>? <i>For three years?</i>"</b> She tried to piece together the puzzle, but it didn't make sense. Why would her father tell her days ago that she would marry the prince, if he were to already be dead? Surely if this was true, her father did not know of this. <b>"I don't understand. How can he be dead when my father told me days ago I was to marry him?"</b> Slowly, her mind tried to piece together the clouded memories that floated inside her mind. Unable to move from the bed, she grasped at the blanket tightly, and turned to casually study the material. It was only a few moments more when she scowled at him, <b>"What—<i>how</i> can you say that!? He is <i>my father</i> before he is king. He will see me—,"</b> she stopped speaking as a memory echoed, loudly clashing as her eyes closed; wincing from the pain it brought.<br/>
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<i>Glimpses of her father sitting on his throne with his guards, court, and the sorceress in his presence. The way she argued with him in front of them and the way he carried out his anger toward her, echoed against the castle walls. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(163, 143, 132)"><i>"How dare you speak to me in such manner! I am your king before I am your father!"</i></span></i><br/>
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</div>Massaging her temples with one hand, she groaned as the throbbing pain pulsed through. Trying to shake it off, she opened her eyes slowly to meet with the man in front of her. Searching his eyes for answers to see if he had an ulterior motive, she saw none. His expression softened and he seemed genuinely concerned about what was happening with her. Clearing her throat, she looked away; embarrassed to keep looking at him any longer as she peered out the window, still clutching the bedsheets on her lap. <b>"A few days ago, my father called me to tell me new of marrying Prince Albert. We argued in front of his guards, court—while his sorceress was standing by his side. I mentioned his reputation with women and how he wasn't fit to be with me. My father," </b>she paused, as she glanced back at the knight to see if he was listening, <b>"He wouldn't hear any of it. He demanded I marry him on the fourth day of his arrival under the light of the full moon. And yet, when I still fought against his wishes, he kept me cooped up in this tower for several days. His <i>she-devil</i> was the one who escorted me here and before I knew it, my eyes became groggy, and I slept."</b> The notions of when the sorceress told her vile things about men and their temptation was kept in the dark. She did not want to tell all her secrets or details of the conversations to him for fear that it might be used against her.<br/>
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<b>"Thus why, I still don't understand how or why Prince Albert has been dead for three years. <i>Unless</i> he was only found today and that someone had murdered him three years prior."</b> The news of his death did relieve a part of her. Her future would no longer be tied to his demise as he had already undergone it on his own. But the question remained: who killed Prince Albert? Shaking her head, she gazed straight into the knight's eyes, <b>"The king would know of this—I'm sure someone has told him of the news. Perhaps that's why he kept me locked up in this tower for so long… The one who killed Price Albert might be a threat to me."</b> Possible scenarios filled her mind as she was trying to figure out how much time has passed since she slept. In her mind, she was only in deep sleep for a few days, maybe a week at most, but certainly not any longer. It would be impossible, wouldn't it? With her eyes still on the man before her, she leaned forward slightly, straightening her composure as she sat elegantly on the bed, <b>"Tell me what you know. I must find a way out of this tower and figure out how I can see the king. If only we can get passed that vile creature… I'm certain! She <i>must</i> be behind all of this somehow."</b> Amid the chaos, she had forgotten to ask for his name or where he had come from. Could he really be trusted?<br/>
<hr class="bbc-hr"/><i>for <a class="username" data-user-id="8638" data-username="promethean" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/8638/">promethean</a> </i></div>