How outrageous of her father to speak to her like that while she was gagged! Her hands balled into fists and her jaw clenched as she stared into the soul of her father, hoping to make it very clear that despite her inability to answer, this conversation was far from over and that no matter how much he tried he wouldn’t be able to escape from it. Sajedene wondered what her mother would think of Sadero’s actions. Would she approve of them? It was difficult to tell, but she wanted to believe that she would always be her side.<br/><br/>The irony of Gando’s words certainly didn’t escape Sajedene. Funny how he spoke of lies, when only moments ago he had been a trusted friend or hers and Daishoga. As much as she hoped that this was some sort of an act put on by him, she couldn’t bring herself to trust the wizard. If he was really on Daishoga’s side, he would have used his magnificent powers to put her father and his guards to sleep instead of turning his back on the Emperor. It made no sense to her, but she suspected there was some sort of a twisted motive behind his unacceptable actions. Although Sajedene was a woman with a kind heart, she was still equally fiery as she was caring to people around her. Had she been able to move her arms and her mouth, her temper would have surely been unleashed upon the court wizard and his disgusting hypocrisy.<br/><br/>However, these angry thoughts were replaced by ones concerning marriage when her father mentioned her future wedding and that her husband would be the highest judge of Reltica. And ironically, yet again, he would be the one to judge Daishoga for his crimes. Sajedene closed her eyes in misery and cursed her father inside her head. Why? Why had it come to this? Should he ever even think of the possibility that she was pure, she would gladly be the one to disappoint him and give him the passionate, raw details of how she had let a mere farmer’s boy undress her and make love to her. She’d gladly see the horror and disappointment on the face of the man who dared to call himself her father and had the audacity to say he knew what was best for her. He didn’t. He hardly knew his own daughter.<br/><br/>But there would be nothing more satisfying than telling him how she had shared a bed with the Emperor himself… and how she had enjoyed it.<br/><br/>Sajedene opened her eyes, a newly found spark of determination and defiance in them. She glanced at her father, the briefest of smiles touching the corner of her lips before melting away just as fast as it had appeared. By doing what he had just done, he had already taken away so much from her, that breaking his heart would be nothing compared to the pain she felt just by seeing Daishoga fall to his knees in agony. Oh yes, she could be such a kind, caring, loving and pure person… until she was angered.<br/><br/>She refused to watch as Daishoga was stuffed inside a cage, just like she herself had been a few days ago. Normally she would have felt like this was justice being served, but after finding out who the man behind the legend really was, she just couldn’t accept this. Still, she kept her composure and even complied as she was guided to a carriage by her father’s strong arm. She didn’t have much choice, true, but she knew what was waiting for him once they’d arrive and she wouldn’t hesitate to do everything to anger him. He could have his way now, but she’d never give him the pleasure of an ideal princess daughter he had always hoped for.<br/><br/>Once inside the carriage, Sadero looked over to her. “Are you done now? Can I speak to my daughter now and not to this woman who I hardly know, who seems to be a supporter for the Empire?” There was a moment of silence before he reached to undo the gag and once it was off, Sajedene remained quiet and hardly paid attention to her father. “Speak to me! Can you not see I have missed you and worried about you? And this outrageous attitude of yours is how you thank me?”<br/><br/>“It isn’t just my attitude that is outrageous about this, father.” She commented calmly and looked over to him, now that he demanded her attention. “I never knew I was related to someone so cold and void of emotion. My mother must have been a firecracker.”<br/><br/>“Enough! I wish to know everything you went through on the day of the Empire’s victory over our city. My housecarl told me he saw you climb down from your window and called for your name, but you would not answer! What were you thinking?!”<br/><br/>Sajedene sighed and looked away, already irritated and bored with her father. She recalled clearly escaping through her window that day because Maleiek had been waiting for her his arms wide open. The princess found herself biting her lip at the memory of his death and how he had protected her from Imperial arrows. His body had collapsed on her, his blood had tainted her clothes and her skin, in a last attempt to become one with her. A tear rolled down her pale cheek just as rain was beginning to fall. Next to her, Sadero sighed in despair, quietly asking where his beloved daughter had gone.<br/><br/>Where, indeed?