"That woman was a hired assassin. She and the Valorian royal family conspired against His Majesty and his wife, setting them ablaze that dreadful night!" Those words hit Isadora like a thunderbolt out of the midday blue sky. Not that she trusted Jade in the first place. And how dare she? She kills her parents and place the blame on her uncle? What was her plan all along? What if she wanted to kill Griffin and then take the throne from her? No! She couldn’t let that happen under her watch!

"Are you alright Your Highness?" Laura asked noticing how hard Isadora clutched the sheets. And as experienced as Isadora was in the art of drama, she sent a staged smile at the maid,

"I’m fine Laura. Thanks for the information... and food." She added that surprising the older woman.

"Don’t mention it My Lady. It’s just but my duty," she said with shrugged shoulders. "I’ll leave you alone then My Lady. Good night." Isadora smiled at the exiting figure of her maid before she puffed her cheeks once Laura was out of sight. She threw a disinterested look at the food on the table, the sweet aroma invoking her senses, but she was just not in the mood, despite convincing herself she was hungry. So much was in her thoughts currently and it was driving her crazy. Be it Griffin, Alexander, the one thingy and Roselyn. Hell it was simply everything.

Drawing the sheets closer to herself since she could not afford to bring herself to eat, she closed her eyes tightly trying to push the bad thoughts at the back of her mind and focus on the good ones, but unfortunately, the good ones always brought more pain rather than making her feel better. She just couldn’t help her self to stop thinking about the good times they had with Alexander. Giving up on the idea, she shot her eyes open and stared blankly at the ceiling. Only a few candles were lit giving the room an odd vibe. For a moment, Isadora just lay there listening to her heartbeat and the commotion going on outside, maybe caused by the knights on guard. She stayed like this for a while before her eyelids felt heavy and before she knew it, she was sucked into the darkness, succumbing completely to her fantasy world.

Isadora shot her eyes open but the blinding light struck her eyes prompting her to shut them tightly for a moment to adjust to the sudden light. And this funny feeling! Wait! Where was she? 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Her gaze scanned her surroundings but what she saw was not what she had expected. She was in the middle of Valorians who were dancing around her as they made their way to what looked like a church.

"I can’t wait to see the Crown Prince’s bride. After days of choosing, he finally found one. Told you it was only a matter of time," two men walked past Isadora conversing. But this made her raise a brow. A crown prince... choosing? Who might that be? The bell at the top of the church’s tower rang diverting her attention and before she could tell what was happening people flocked on her way, all heading to the church’s direction. She had no choice but to follow them since there was no space, to even breath alone.

The church was filled to the brim with people from all walks of the continent. For some odd reason, Isadora’s heart hammered in her chest as she walked closer to the front to take a look at the groom. This feeling! She made her way through the sea of people but before she could even reach at the front, the double doors of the church swung open before the herald announced,

"And behold here comes the bride. Let us all stand in her honor as the future Queen." Everyone stood up even blocking short Isadora’s access to the front. She could only see countless heads.

The bride walked down the aisle all clad in a white bridal gown that covered the most part of her face. She was clutching flowers nervously in her hands as she made her way to the front, each step bringing her closer to a brighter future. Background music accompanied her making her feel less nervous until she reached the altar.

"You may now take your seats," the herald announced. Isadora sat closer to a man who seemed to be of higher status but she did not notice. Her gaze was fixated on the front as she tried to make out the face of the groom, but given the position she was in, she could only see his back. But that hair! She was certain it was him, Alexander!

It then dawned on her that Alexander had decided to marry her, Roselyn. It must be her even though she had not seen her face already. Slouching on her seat, she cupped her face with her hands lost deep in thought. Why... how did she even come here in the first place, just to get a heartbreak? Everything else turned to background noise to her ears. But who was she to blame? Alexander? She left him, and he was a prince with not just the right but responsibility to marry. Yet here she was, jealousy stabbing her like a knife!

"Isadora? What are you doing here?" Came that familiar voice. Isadora lifted her gaze to find Lord Richard staring back at her.

"Lord Richard! I.. I.."

"You what?" Lord! Was she not supposed to be here. Hell yes! She had deceived Lord Richard and expected a friendly smile from him?

"Actually, I don’t know how I came here," she said. This was awkward. How could she say that and expect him to believe her?

"You don’t know how happy I am to see you here!" Richard said surprising Isa. He was happy... to see her? For what reason?

"Alexander has been waiting for you for God knows how long. Go now and claim him before he does something stupid and regrettable!"