Six hours later. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

After her duties for the day were all completed, Anna dragged herself back to her room.

The first thing she did was pick out strawberries and eat as much as her stomach could allow. Her mind kept repeating the events of the day, and as much as she tried, she couldn’t forget Kai.

She’d later found out that he returned to his tank, after asking the guards to put him back into the chains. Anna remembered those chains, they weren’t meant for a person. And yet that was what Princess Orchid used on Kai. "To make him know his place, at the bottom of the ocean." She’d said.

Sharks didn’t even belong to the bottom of the ocean. The woman was just being a heinous bitch.

Anna went to the tank, hoping she’d catch a glimpse of him and maybe talk to him. He refused to see her. Even when she knocked on the tank, he remained hidden beneath the murky blue waters. Anna had dropped a strawberry offering for him, and when she came back it was still there, untouched.

"This is hopeless," Anna sighed, biting into a strawberry.

To clear her mind, she picked up a basket and started filling it with strawberries. The more she plucked, the more they grew back.

Once she was done, a knock sounded on her door and Bella walked in.

"Here is the report on the Councilors, your highness." Bella said, holding out a bundle of papers for Anna.

Anna rose to her feet with a smile on her face, took the papers and carefully placed it on her desk.

"Excellent! I was just getting ready for you. Here’s your reward," she gesturing to the large basket of plucked strawberries waiting for pickup. "Tell everyone they did such a wonderful job."

Bella bowed, her smile bright as the sun. "You’re too kind, your highness."

She froze.

Anna froze too.

I’m...too kind? It was comical. Anna, doing her best to be a villainess, receiving such a compliment?

"I didn’t mean it like that!" Bella gasped, shaking her head wildly. Her cheeks turned pink as she realized what she had said. "What I mean is...oh I’m so sorry your highness! That was an inside thought! I should have kept it to myself!"

Anna’s mind flashed back to her "punishment" of Ray, which was practically them having tea and talking like life long friends. Ray had said a similar thing "you’re a lot kinder now, your highness."

Anna folded her arms, a teasing smile on her face as she stared at Bella. "Are there any other inside thoughts I should know?"

The pink of Bella’s cheeks deepened and she looked totally mortified. "Nothing harmful, I promise you. Just day to day inside thoughts like...what to eat or wear and all that."

Anna raised an elegant brow. "Interesting."

"I didn’t mean to offend you,"

"Think nothing of it. If you offended me I would have you whipped by now."

Bella squeaked, her shoulder shooting up to her ears. "I...I shall keep that in mind."

Anna had no intentions of whipping Bella anytime soon. Bella was a prized servant after all. But at the same time, it didn’t hurt to threaten them a little.

Just little.

Anna paused, the reality of her thoughts sinking in. I just sounded like that woman.

"I should help you get ready for bed, your highness." Bella said.

A frown appeared on Anna’s brow.

It was the first time Bella had made such an offer. She was about to ask why, then she remembered how long it had taken her to get dressed. Styling her hair, jewelry, and even makeup, looking like a perfect princess. She touched her hair, feeling the intricate braids and hairpins decorating the fair strands.

When did I start doing that?

Trying not to think much about it, she gave a nod and let Bella do her thing.

A couple of minutes later, Anna was dressed in a loose nightgown, her hair flowing freely, and her eyelids already dropping.

"Your highness, pardon me but I forgot to mention this. For your schedule tomorrow, you have the bimonthly maintenance check with the army."

Anna groaned, brushing her face with her palms. She’d almost forgotten about it. "Do I have to do it?" Even though she knew what to do, and how to do it, the thought of going back to the barracks and potentially running into Leon.

And Tristan.

"Will Tristan be there? Please tell me he’s on an expedition please,"

"I’m sorry your highness, but he hasn’t led one yet."

Anna’s groan got louder. "Fuck."

Two months. I’ve been here two months already.

I’ve soothed Leon for one. I have five months left by royal decree...and then the heir.

She shook her head wildly, shaking away the images of her and Leon making heirs out of her mind. Her body shuddered and goosebumps erupted over her skin.

Ew. Double ew and triple ew. I won’t touch him not even with a hundred foot pole.

When it’s time for that, I’ll worry about it.

I still have five months left.

"Fine." She grumbled darkly. "Goodnight Bella, I need you bright and early tomorrow. I am not going to the barracks alone."

Bella laughed softly, and Anna liked the sound of it. "Of course, your highness. I shall accompany you and keep the Temporary General out of your sight."

"Seduce him while you’re at it."

"Your highness! I could never!"

Anna grinned at her, winking like she knew a secret. "Never say never. Alright. Go now."

Maybe I should nudge Tristan in her direction...yes. That is absolutely what I’ll do tomorrow.

***

Inside a luxury mansion somewhere in the Eastern Empire.

The indoors greenhouse was filled with sounds of hissing and spitting. Various snakes in all shapes and sizes slithered over the plants, either going about their business or reacting to the agitated mood of their mistress.

Thalia, dressed in a short black gown with an open back, paced the marbled floors, biting on her thumb and whispering to herself.

"How could she. How could she. How could SHE?!"

The snakes recoiled as if they had a hive mind, apprehension flashing in their eyes.

Thalia let out a scream, tugging at her with both hands till she pulled out clumps of her silky black hair. "That bitch! I called her my best friend and she does this to me?! After everything we’ve been through?! She does this to me?!"

A tall dark black cat skinned beastman dressed in simple clothes walked into the greenhouse. The collar around his neck glowed a faint yellow-green as he went on his knees in front of Thalia.

"Mistress," he said, his voice monotone. "You sent for me?"

"Ranos. Has the Princess sent her reply yet?"

Ranos took out a pink envelope covered in silver orchid marks and handed it over. Thalia snatched it from him, tearing into it like if she didn’t open it immediately, the world would end. She took out the pale pink paper inside and read what it said.

"No?" She gasped, her voice rattling in her throat. "She said no. She refused. That...she refused! After I swallowed my pride and begged her? She refused?!"

Ranos remained silent, his head bowed, his face a blank slate. Meanwhile, he braced himself for the inevitable blow.

"How could she?!" Thalia shrieked, her voice making the snakes hiss even louder. She looked down at Ranos, her eyes narrowed, her pupils turned into slits. "Why won’t you say anything?! Are you in support of her? You think what she did was alright? Is that it?"

"No, mistress."

"Then say something you idiot!" She raised her foot and rammed it into his chest. His body barely budged, already used to it. However her heel cut his skin, blood blooming from the wound and staining his shirt. "Useless. All of you are so useless! Why can’t you be stronger like her husbands?! Why?!"

"My sincerest apologies for my weakness, Princess."

Thalia huffed, turning away. Try as she might, there was nothing she could do about it. Princess Orchid had the best lineup of husbands in the entire East. Something Thalia wanted, more than anything else.

Anger and frustration filled her heart, boiling over. "Get out of my sight." She hissed.

Ranos got to his feet And left.

Thalia continued to pace, her mind racing in all directions, trying to come up with a game plan.

She refused to go out into the ruins. Even if that meant treason, she would not do it.

Thalia never believed a day would come when she’d be on the receiving end of the Princess’s evil. But since that day finally showed, Thalia would show her what true evil was like.

"I failed the first time," she said to the greenhouse. A large python crawled over to her and she picked it up, letting it coil around her hand. "This time, I’ll make sure there is no next time. She will get everything she deserves."