Isadora’s expression darkened with each passing second. All these years, Griffin had fed her with lies and fake facts that the Valorian royal family was the one that killed her parents while he was the real mastermind behind all these.

"Give me that knife. I will kill him," she said. The look on her face that minute, deadly would be an understatement. Hatred and betrayal were written all over her face.

"Easy princess. I bet you don’t want to kill him more than I do," Jade said, her face turning more shades darker than Isadora’s. The scene of these two angry women was not a sight Griffin would look forward to. "But first, I want to make him go through the pain, the agony that my sister went through under the flames..." A tear fell when she reminisced on the Gothic scene. She could remember how her sister screamed and called for help in vain and as Griffin laughed watching them succumbing in flames. "He’ll regret ever existing," she added with gritted teeth.

Isadora could see the pain in Jade’s eyes as she said those words. She had thought the fight was hers alone but now that Jade was in, she had to go with the flow. Her desire for revenge was even greater than hers. Still, a part of her didn’t want to kill her uncle. He had raised her like his own daughter despite disregarding him as a princess. He always gave her everything she asked for, well...except for her birthright, the kingdom.

"I respect your decision aunt. Griffin should suffer for all his sins. He should pay for every drop of blood he caused. And...but how will you do that aunt..err Jade?" She had already forgotten her real name.

"I prefer to be called Jade," she smiled at Isadora. "About how I’ll punish Griffin, leave that to me," she said flashing the most sinister smile that Isadora had ever seen.

"I’m certain he’ll beg for someone to take his life ...soon," she said flashing that motherly smile that made Isadora believe everything she said.

"Leave everything to me princess. I’ll extend my stay here and I’m certain Griffin will be more than glad to have me in his abode."

"I trust your plan aunty," Isadora had decided to leave everything to her apart from one thing. "But promise me you’ll not hurt him. If there’s anyone to kill him, then it’ll be me. He’s my uncle after all."

"As you wish princess. In fact my way of making him suffer is way better than hurting him physically. Just wait and see." Jade was confident this would work, and it had already did. Women were every man’s weakness, and this was what she would use to punish Griffin.

The door to the room suddenly flew open startling both Isadora and Jade. And there on the entrance stood a shocked Gareth. He was staring at Lady Jade cautiously ascertaining that Isadora was safe at the same time. When he was certain she was not trying to attack Isadora or doing something stupid, he walked closer to where the duo stood, his hand still on the hilt of his sword. Not that he feared women but there was just this odd vibe coming from this woman specifically.

"Who is she?" He asked, his eyes never leaving Jade’s.

"There’s nothing to worry about Gareth. She’s just a friend." And turning to Jade, " Jade, meet my...brother, Gareth. Gareth, meet Jade, my friend. She’s from Tasia."

"Your Highness," Jade took the initiative to greet Gareth, curtsying at him. Little did she know she had just scared a scarecrow. Your Highness? Ridiculous, Gareth thought. In fact, this was the first time someone ever called him that. Not even the knights regarded him as royalty despite the fact that he was Isadora’s step brother, though he didn’t like to be referred to as one. It kind of sounded weird to him.

"It was a pleasure meeting with you, my Lady," he greeted in the same manner though Jade could see the shocked expression on his face. She didn’t understand what was so special about referring to him as his highness. Or didn’t he recognize himself as one? Whatever his reasons were, it made her curious. She had also seen the same reaction from Isadora when she addressed her as royalty. Did Griffin ban people from reffering to her as royalty? That would be ridiculous. But either way, she had to ask.

"Why do you guys act weird when I refer to you as Your Highnesses? Is it kind of...banned here, for you two?" She asked earning a frown from Gareth. He had just met this woman seconds ago and yet she was so nosy? Friends! He scoffed in his mind. Since when did Isadora start making friends...female friends?

"We are just not used to it. We like to be addressed by our real names," Isadora answered making Gareth’s face turn all shades darker. Why would she answer a stranger, truthfully? Did he miss on something?

"What are you doing? She might be a spy Isa," Gareth breathed the words close to her ear.

"Are you guys okay?" Jade asked noticing the discomfort in Gareth. Clearly, he didn’t like her around his...sister. Still, she couldn’t understand how...when Isadora got a sister.

"We’re fine Jade..." Isadora answered trying to lift the tension building in the air. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"No we are not? Who is she in the first place? You can’t go around making friends randomly Isa. You’re the crown princess, remember. Maybe she wants to take advantage of you," Gareth said raising his voice a bit now that Jade could hear what he said. She didn’t blame him though. He was just trying to protect her, but he was simply over protective.

"What do you take me for Gareth? Being a woman and your sister doesn’t mean I don’t have the right and freedom to make new friends, does it?" She asked with a long face, her nose flaring in anger.

"I didn’t mean that Isa..."

"What did you mean then? Huh?" She asked confronting Gareth fearlessly. Not that she feared him in the first place.

"I’m sorry... I was just trying to protect you..."

"Protect me? Who said I need your protection?" Gareth now felt like running away from the confronting tigress. Lord! What had he done? He had already collided with the solid wall behind him and the tigress didn’t seem to stop her torture anytime soon unless...

"It’s okay Your Highness. He was just cautious. I would be if I were him as well. Please understand his reasons," Gareth nodded in agreement even though he heard half of the sentence.

But would the tigress listen?

"From today onwards, respect the decisions I make if you really are my friend," she said taking a few steps back. Gareth released a sigh he didn’t know he was holding all this time.

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