Trigger Warning: This chapter may contain scenes including violence, trauma, sexual harassment, abuse, or emotional distress. If you are uncomfortable with the following, please skip this chapter.

SÓLMÁNUÐUR DAY OF WODEN

The day started per usual. Reichen was cooking breakfast while I prepared tea. Ever since I came here, he was always in charge of food. With how domestic he was, I would never assume he was a king if he did not tell me.

I was getting used to life outside the palace but the apprehension resurfaced again. I wanted to know what happened in the palace. They were clearly searching for me but that was it and the anxiety lurked in the back of my mind.

Problems had been piling up recently. First, was the matter of Lady Mhilrim and the Lost Treasures. Then there was a Night, who had not returned yet. There was also the notion that my eldest brother was alive but most of all, Xenon's identity.

I was not long in this organization but Reichen explained who were the Reapers. Unlike Amicas who could choose to decide to join the Crusaders, all Cattivos were members of Reapers. 

If the Crusader instilled rules for Amicas and an organization that served as a mediator between mortals and those with magic, the Reapers were the ones causing all the mess.

Magic was an innate ability for Amica that could be set free once you were bestowed a name but the Cattivo's enchantment needed a price. To use it, you needed something in return and an enchantment with a life on the line was the most effective and powerful. It was no wonder they had not spared people from their greed and took the lives of anyone they deemed insignificant.

From what I gathered, it was six years ago that Anon had caused that mishap and it was near the time Xenon became one of Father's knights. I fairly remembered because, from the beginning, Father favored him.

He was assigned as my knight. He was a guard dog that kept me close as Father's prisoner despite my title. How I reviled on his presence back then...

***

Xenon was there standing with his brows always creasing. I heard the maidservants gossip from time to time. He was quite popular with them as well as with the other knights. I could not see what was good in him when he was just Father's mere slave.

No one was vicious as Father but I thought Xenon was much heartless as he remained a bystander when he knew everything that went behind the hidden passage where the oubliette was.

My whole body sored as we returned to my bed-chamber. It had been months but I could never get used to this wretched life. Father spent his afternoon with me and I could not take this anymore.

I had to talk to Yves. He was the second powerful man in this house. I was sure he could do something about this. He was the Crown Prince. Father would hear him out and the people here would follow him.

The only problem was no one could come in this wing so I had to go to him myself. Firstly, I need to sneak out of Xenon's watchful eyes.

***

After almost a fortnight, I now had my chance. Willow was visiting me. It has been a long time since we met. When Mother was alive, she always traveled here at least twice a month. During her stay, she was usually welcomed by Yves as they were engaged. This was an opportunity to talk to Brother.

All my bruises were still blue and violet but my dress covered everything as Father made sure of that. Lately, he had only been targeting my back so the wounds in the front had healed and were not exposed to the dress I currently wore.

I remembered the dress was bought by Mother when she went to visit Helia. The square cut and flowy sleeves had complimented my neckline back then but now it was loose-fitting.

I arrived at the Blue Parlor where Willow and her nanny, Sandra, were waiting but there were no signs of Yves.

"Carline! I miss you! Oh my goodness! You have violet eyes! How beautiful! How did it become like that?" Her smile was infectious and was about to hug me but when her finger touched my skin she shrieked. "Ah! What was that? I felt like I was electrified, my goodness!"

So she cannot touch me, too. Father was the same, as well as the people who tried to beg me for help. As soon as they touched me, they drew back and discomfort was evident in their face, looking at me like I was the monster that Father called me.

"How did your eyes turn out like that, Carline? It suits you very much. You're like one of those people in stories. What were they called again? Am---"

"Princess. It's rude to ask about that," Sandra intervened.

"Fine, anyway, I can't believe you caught an illness. The news reached our kingdom but I was not able to visit right away as you had been occupied by the doctors. I heard countless doctors came to heal you but no one was able to and His Majesty had no choice but to keep you in the palace."

"Huh?"

"It's a pity you can't get out. I thought I can try to invite you to our kingdom since we're already twelve and for sure King Enmir will permit you to go out now but your sickness is such bad timing. Nonetheless, all the daughters are surely envious of you. Did you know? You are currently hailed as the Jewel of Ezriel on how King Enmir adored and protected you. Are you alright, though? They said I shall limit my visit so I will not stress you out..."

Willow was quite a chatterbox. Once her mouth opened, she never ran out of things to talk about but I could not understand what she said.

Doctors? Illness? Nothing that sort happened. I was sure I had no illness because I had seen how my injuries healed in a couple of days and no doctors visited me either. Most importantly, I didn't think Father adored me on how he treated me like a prisoner.

I wanted to spill everything to Willow but with Xenon here, I could not utter a word.

***

Willow returned in the afternoon and I was sent to another heinous experience when Father requested my presence at the oubliette. I was long senseless when he finished. I had to take action now. I could not meet my brother if I simply waited here.

My brother was my only hope as I could not escape directly with how numerous our palace knights were. To add, Xenon always checked on me from time to and was not leaving today as I had not heard any footsteps outsides. There were times that he had to go and another knight would be stationed outside.

It was much easier to sneak out of my room if that was the case but the farthest I could get without getting caught was the garden. The place in front of my chamber had been restricted for some knights since this was Mother's favorite place. Unfortunately, no one could enter her secret garden at the present.

I racked my brains on how to leave and an idea struck me as I bandaged my wound. Blood!

I didn't have my monthly cycle yet but I heard from the maidservants that it hurt like hell when they need to have a day off from their duties.

I smeared the blood on my bed on the lower part of my undergarment. It isn't off, isn't it? I thought as I checked myself in the mirror. there was already blood in my back but I went further below my backside just to make sure.

I inhaled and screamed as loud as I could. My locked door was futile when it came to Xenon as he entered without any difficulties.

"What happened, Princess?"

"Th-there's b-b-blood on my b-bloomers," I stuttered quite unnaturally in my opinion but that was the best I could.

"What?" That was his only reply after a long silence. It was the first time I had seen a comical expression on Xenon's face.

"When I was undressing, t-there w-was suddenly b-blood. Am I actually ill like Willow said?"

Women of my status were normally taught about the monthly cycle when they reached a certain age as it was an obscene topic for a lady but with gossipmonger servants who loved to talk the moment they stepped outside my chamber, I got the rift of it but I had to pretend I had no idea.

"I... I understand, Princess." He eventually realized what I meant and the lamplight could not hide the flush on his cheek. "I'll call for a maidservant, your highness."

The moment the door creaked close, it was a mission accomplished. The servants came knocking and helped me but their grimace when they saw my body could not be hidden. Scars over scars. Some had faded but the freshly new ones were an ugly sight.

I ignored their looks and continued my charade. If the maidservants loved to chat outside that was only because they were never allowed to speak to me inside my quarters.

"Xenon. My stomach hurt so much. Can you tell the servants to not disturb me for the time being?" I asked as I clutched my stomach, seemingly agonizing over the nonexistent ache.

"Of course, Princess. I had already fixed your door so please be rest assured."

I waited for another hour before I headed to my balcony door. I opened it so slowly as not to cause a single sound.

It took me a while to reach the North Wing where all the quarters for the royal children were. This was also where I was staying before I was sent to the West Wing, the farthest, and not the most unappealing part of the palace.

I remembered my brother's room was near the large oak tree. I peeked up and the window from his room still had lights on and my heart rose with glee.

I climbed the windows using the bricked walls. Not minding the throbbing as I gradually become used to it with the times I tried to sneak out. Although, it was in vain since when I was near the palace boundaries I would always be caught.

Father seemed to savor the cat and mouse play as he never strengthened the guard in my chambers. He enjoyed my pointless attempts and settled the score later on.

"Brother!" I whisper-shouted as I knocked on his balcony door.

His eyes widened when he saw me.

"Carline?" he mouthed and opened the door.

"What are you doing here?"

I hugged him and thankfully he did not withdraw as other people did.

"Brother, please do something about Father. He.. he... He is hurting me, brother." My voice cracked and drops after drops fell from my eyes as I finally had someone to talk to.

I hadn't seen my siblings since Mother died as Father locked me up in the West Wing. I had no one in the family to tell me about this until now.

"Carli---" He tried to push me back but he was the one who backed away when his hands touched me.

A wry smile formed on my lips. Even Brother could not touch me. I don't understand what was going on. When did it all start? Why did people recoil when they touched me? Am I really a monster?

He collected himself and stared directly at me. "You shouldn't be here, Carline. Go back to your chamber."

"But, brother! Father will hurt me again!" I sobbed.

"Father is not like that, Carline. He is doing this for your good because you're sick. Go back now before he sees you," he choked up the words and I was blinded with tears.

Why won't he believe me? We were the closest among the siblings. I had faith that he would try to stop Father if he knew. If he could not, at least he should try but I was only rejected.

I did not know how I returned to my chamber with the helplessness surging deep within me. One thing was for sure, I was forsaken in this hell.

***

Months flew by and it had been a year. A year since Mother died. Father became bearable as he did not call for me every single day like in the beginning and solely focused on attacking my back. At least it was only one part of my body that was made to suffer. My situation could be considered an improvement but not for the people around me.

The number of people dying in front of me increased. Every month, the maidservants assigned to me were sent to the oubliette and beaten until the light disappeared from their eyes.

Aside from that, something was boggling me. Father started acting all nice when he invited me to have luncheon with them from time to time but he shifted into this devil when we were alone. And another thing had changed.

There was also the fact that Yves started ignoring me after I sought help. Oddly enough, my sisters treated me like I didn't exist, too. The only time they talked to me was when they were showering their insults.

Father retreated as blood endlessly dripped in my body. It must be evening already. It was another weird thing that had been going on. When the moon had loomed in the sky, he would leave. Whatever the reason was, I was more than happy to complain.

When his presence disappeared, several footsteps followed. Three. No. Seven? I tried counting the number of people until they appeared. There was a total of eight men.

They were all dressed differently. One had a knight uniform. The other two had a complete aristocrat outfits while the rest were on commoner's clothes. There was only one similarity. They looked off. I had been used to this darkness and I could see their unfocused eyes.

One man approached me but he jerked in my touch. Another came. They all tried to but they failed to take a hold of me. Even so, they were relentless. Their breaths were sticking on my face as they didn't feel the sting when they pinned me down.

The back of my dress was already ruined from earlier and these men ripped it more. My mind went black as it dawned on me what they intended. I gulped the fear and shrieked at the top of my lungs.

"Help!"

"Stop."

"Please, someone!"

My throat hurt from all the incessant shouting. The man covered my mouth and I bit back but a slap landed on my cheek. His heavy hand made my neck twist. I felt my consciousness drifting but fought off the feeling.

I could not let these beasts do something to me. I struggled and struggled but with my injuries and the disadvantage of the number, anguish flooded me.

Trickle of tears escaped from my desperation. I would rather die than be humiliated by these unknown men. I bit my tongue as hard as I could but quickly stopped when the man in front of me became headless in just a second.

Blood spurted on his neck and his head thudded on the sides. The other men didn't seem to take heed and continued molesting me. It seemed like they were completely controlled and had one goal in mind.

The iron sword swung again. The remaining men were cut clean. It started from their limbs up and then ended with their head rolling on the floor. Xenon chopped their body like it was tender meat. They actually had the most peaceful death I had witnessed compared to all the brutality that went into this room.

Xenon finished them off and only his heavy breathing could be heard. He covered my body and gave me his cape but my senses were all over the place that I was not aware that Father was back.

A sword pierced into Xenon's stomach and he fell to the floor. Father kicked Xenon to face him forward and he ran his sword to his chest while I was watched with horror.

"Stop, Father!"

I tried to get the weapon away from him but I was not able to as the sword slashed my chest. I shrunk back tending to my newly sustained injury.

"I was getting on the good part. The enchantment could dull the senses but they become an idiot with no mind of their own," he pondered to himself as he regarded the body parts that were scattered.

So it was one of his experiments again. The last time he did one was when he let a slave punish me.

His gaze returned to Xenon and stated, "I have no need for a slave that doesn't follow their benefactor."

I was drenched with the blood but mine was nothing compared to Xenon. He had a huge open wound with overflowing scarlet streams that pooled on his side but amidst the oozing blood, there was a white birthmark above his chest that was in contrast to all the gore.

Father took his time carving Xenon's skin and the latter howled in excruciation. I did not like Xenon but he was the first one to save me. His lids were shut close and I begged Father again but Father simply looked down on us with no semblance of human emotions.

A truth sunk into me and all my faith ceased that Father would change despite all that happened. It was nothing but a pipe dream. Our eyes locked and this was not my father who I grew up with. This was a nefarious demon that never viewed me as a daughter. 

He was the real monster.

***