There is a huge golden gate which opens up to let us in. Inside, everyone is smiling, the children's mouths are hanging open as they watch us fly by them.

There are small huts around us, big trees with flowers on them surrounding us. It looks like we are now going into the market place.

I can see the castle from here. It's the only big building visible. Everyone here has small houses or huts, decorated with flowers.

We fly above the marketplace. Some people only notice us as the dragon's shadow looms over them.

They all start waving.

To me.

At first I am confused but then I am back in my senses. After all, they think I am their princess.

I wave back as we pass them.

Soon, we are not in the market place anymore, but in front of the castle. The dragon comes to a stop in front of it and a few guards come to help us down. This is nothing like the bad souls.

Now that I think of it, I haven't even seen the bad souls kingdom. I'd been inside the castle the whole time, and when we did leave from that prison, the dragon passed the city in a flash so I couldn't see anything.

Hmm, next time, we need to go slower.

A small boy, probably around twelve or thirteen, runs and takes me into a tight hug.

"Leaf, I missed you so much! You don't know how lonely I've been. Father wasn't letting me meet you. I am so glad you're back!" he squeezes me again, hard.

I take it this is Max, full name Maximillian, Princess Liferia's brother. Camara told me about him. She said that Max is princess Liferia's life. She'd do anything for him.

I stare at him hugging me, my body stiff, and look at Camara. She gives me a look that says 'do-what-you-have-to-do' and looks at Max.

I bend so I am his height, though he is tall for his age, but still I am taller.

"I missed you too Max. I had to leave for some work. But I feel so much better after seeing the face of my true love," and I pinch his cheeks, teasing him.

I've never had a sibling. I was always the only child, which I am happy about. I mean, I have always wanted a sibling. When I was small, I would cry to my mother for one. She'd smile at me, her dimples big and beautiful and say, "I have you, honey. That's all I need."

But if I did have one now, he or she would be depressed, they would only have me left for them. My parents, now careless, wouldn't even have bothered to deal with him/her.

"Hey!" he says, "I am a proper teenager now so don't pinch my cheeks. And don't call me your true love."

Wow, change of mood so sudden.

"And why shouldn't I, Mr.teenager? I mean you are my true love," I ask him.

"Looks like you already found you 'true love'," he mumbles under his breath and gives Prince Drake an accusing look.

I look from Max to Prince Drake. He was watching our little exchange.

I can see it in his face though now, he feels uncomfortable under Max's gaze.

I look to Max again and start speaking. "But you will always stay my true love, and no one can take that place from you." I brush the hair from his head that was covering his eyes.

"I know. Come now, father is waiting for you, and you," he says, giving a proud look, or let me say glare, to Drake.

Maybe, just maybe, I could've been a good older sister if I ever had any siblings. 

We walk inside the castle. It has a golden and silver colour. There are other colours too, but no dark colours at all, like the bad souls' castle. Max is still holding my hand, not wanting to let go.

I can see how The two princes, Camara and Samantha feel out of place now. I felt out of place in their kingdom because of my clothing.

I laugh internally, but I then remember, I don't even belong here.

The door opens revealing a huge room with many people sitting around it. At the end of the room, sits a man, on a throne. The king, my so-called father.

I take a deep breath and we all walk towards him.

"Princess Liferia, I am glad you are safe my child," he says.

I get the feeling this is someone I have to bow to, but as I am about to, he gets up from his seat and stops me, only to take me into a hug.

"You don't have to bow to me. I have missed you so much."

He pulls back from the hug and looks into my eyes. "Don't ever run away again. You have no idea how much you worried us, Liferia."

He then looks at Prince Drake. "Thank you," he says, "For bringing my daughter back safely. Even bad souls have a heart."

He looks at me and hugs me again, this time Max joining us too. I can't help but wonder what it would be like to have such a caring family.

A family that understands you, cares for you, and most importantly, loves you.

"Come on. As you know, we have to discuss some things." The king says.

He looks at Prince Drake once again and starts leading us out.

"Your highness, we need to leave soon though as I have some work to do. Please be quick with whatever you need to talk about," Prince Drake says, looking the king right in the eye.

Some courage he has.

The king gets annoyed and Max, obviously not liking his manners, says to Prince Drake, "Oh your Royal, busy highness then. Why don't you go back to your cruel and icy kingdom and leave my sister alone, forever."

Forget what I said about Prince Drake. Max has more courage than him.

Prince Drake gets angry and is about to grab Max when I stop him.

"Don't you dare hurt him, "I whisper, "What is more important to you? Your plan or your self – respect?" that stops him and I glare at Max.

Max just shrugs his shoulder and keeps on walking, head higher and shoulders straighter.

We enter a room with many beautiful chandeliers hanging on the ceiling. The room has a golden colour and there are comfortable couches where we can sit. This is more like a lounging room rather than a conference room.

Prince Andrew looks just as confused as me.

"This is where we are going to talk? Isn't it supposed to be like a conference room or something?" he whispers to me, totally forgetting I am just an ordinary human girl who has no idea of this kingdom, let alone a room in a huge castle.

The king hears him, great hearing he has, and says, "I would like to talk to my daughter alone Prince Andrew. This room is where you can wait. Maya will assist you if you need anything."

Camara tenses at his words, so does Samantha. What if he asks me something I don't know about? I would be doomed.

I look at Prince Drake for help and he is just as worried as I am.

"I am afraid we cannot let her go alone with you. She needs one of us to go with her. If not me, my right hand, Camara," Prince Drake says.

"If you must know, she is safe here. Safer here than your kingdom. And you can't command her either. She isn't married to you yet." The king says and leads me out of the room.

We start walking out of the room and the door starts closing, not until I see though, Prince Andrew giving me a thumbs up and an annoyed and irritated looking Prince Drake.

He leads me to a pink room, looking magnificent. It is like the room I was in in the Bad souls' kingdom, only, in this one, it is more pleasant, calmer, more like... a home.

"Your room," The king says. "I come in here sometimes, thinking about how you are," he sits on the bed and pats the space next to him.

I sit down there and he looks at me. "You are my princess, Liferia. And I don't mean it in a way like the princess of this kingdom. That, you absolutely are. But I mean you are my princess, a father's princess. I only want happiness for you.

"As long as you are safe and happy, I am happy. Please tell me if you don't agree with this marriage, even a little, tiny, tiny bit," I chuckle at the way he says the last part.

I look at him and answer him. He reminds me of a father I'd always dreamt of having. I take his hand in mine and kiss his head.

"Father, if anything, and I mean, anything, was wrong, you'd be the first person I tell. And I am totally fine," I say, the lie sounding bitter in my mouth.

I am far from fine. My life has gone from bad to worse, from worse to the worst.

I still look at him and smile. "I am perfectly fine with this marriage. You don't need to worry about me. I am happy," I tell him, the last word almost a whisper.

I can't tell him the truth, he isn't even my real father, but to get out of here, I have no choice but to play along.

He looks at my expression and smiles. "Then I am happy for you," he says and hugs me. We sit like that for some time, my thoughts wandering around my head.

What would it be like a princess? What would it be like to have a perfect family?

We start walking towards the room everyone else is in.

The door opens and just as I am about to say 'I am back!', I hear a loud 'BOOM!' and all the windows explode, a strong force throwing me back against the wall...

Author's note:

Hey Everyone!

Thanks for reading this chapter and all the votes! I hope you are enjoying it!

What do you think is going to happen in the book now? Have the Bad Souls already betrayed the Good Souls?; )

Well, you gotta keep reading to find out!

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And most importantly, Don't stop reading!

Happy reading!