The horns blared. I knew what that meant the moment the sounds reached my ears that could clearly hear, even the quietest squeak from a mouse. No. I promised my brother that I would be at his of-age ceremony. Why am I in this mess? 

My hands were bind behind my back, wrist connected to wrist by rope. With every movement my hands made I felt the pain by rope burns, scratching against my delicate skin. My ankles were in the same state, no less, probably more worse than my wrists. Not that I can see, with this dark blindfold covering my eyes. 

Not only could I not see or move, but I also couldn't make a sound because I was gagged by some type of cloth. I have to get away, he'll worry about me. That stupid older brother of mine, a sis-con. He loves me dearly and would worry if I wasn't there. This is the only promise I made with him, there's no way I can break it. 

I struggled and struggled, but to no avail; I was in the same state but worse. I wonder what kind of face my brother and parents are making. Would they notice that something suspicious is going on since I'm not there, where I am supposed to be?

The first day is where every one of the nobles brings him a gift, and the second day will be the grand ball. Father was going to announce him as the Crown Prince that day too. Will I not be able to see that scene either, the scene that we've both been waiting to experience and witness?

What am I in? A carriage? A box? I can tell that there are horses, though. Clicking, clacking, repeatedly reminding me that I am going further and further away from my family, friends, and beloved ones. 

Brother, father, mother. Please realize that I am not there and come to save me, the one who is too weak to save herself and needs a shining knight in armor to save her. What will hap-

The horses stopped. Whatever I'm in stopped. What happened? What's that noise? The noise grew louder. There are people screaming, men, but how many? Are they better or worse than the ones who took me? Swords are being clashed against each other. Which side is winning? 

Tch. Look at me, wondering who is winning when in the end I am the ultimate loser no matter the ending between the two. I wonder if my parents and brother will find my body? Will my captors at least give my body back to my family so that they'll have closure and not waste their hopes in me being alive if I'm dead?

It's opening. Whatever I'm in is opening. I can't see anything but I can feel the sunlight, warm on my face. Ah. Will this be the last thing I feel? Or will it be the blood soaked sword swinging towards my neck, cutting my head off in an instant?

Hurry and get it over with please, I can't stand the suspension. Please make my death quick, I hate pain. Without realizing, I started crying. Can they see my tears or is the blindfold soaking up the tears that I will be shedding before my death? Look at me, the imperial princess dying at the mere age of 16. I haven't even had my coming-of-age ceremony yet. 

"Your Highness, can you hear me?" I heard a voice call out to me. Am I being saved? Is this really my knight in shining armor?

My tears couldn't stop rolling down my cheeks. Am I dehydrated? I'm feeling dizzy. I can no longer stay awake. Well, I guess this is for the better. At least I'll die in my unconscious state. 

---

I open my eyes. Oh? I'm not dead? The first thing I see is the beautiful mural of the night stars that I painted. I hung this on top of my bed so that I would see this beautiful setting and feel like I fell asleep under the stars. 

Is anyone around? The dark velvet curtains surrounding my bed shielded my view. I tried calling out to anyone. 

"Hello? Is anyone there?" I weakly called out, wanting someone to be here to confirm that I'm just not dreaming. 

Suddenly the curtains moved and appeared my brother's face. His eyes were red, his nose was red, his cheeks stained with tears. 

"Leila. Leila, can you hear me? Can you see me? How are you feeling?"

"O-older brother." I barely mustered out of my mouth. 

He took my left hand and held it up to his face, both of his big hands engulfing my small one. "Leila, you're safe now. You must be tired. Get some sleep, I'll be here whenever you wake up. Don't worry, you're safe now. I'll never let you be in harm's way again."

I drifted off to sleep. I didn't have enough energy to stay awake. Is this really not a dream? The whole time before I fell asleep I felt my left hand still engulfed in my brother's warm big hands. 

---

It's morning now. My personal maid must have moved the curtains, just like I like it, so that the sun will be shining on my face. I open my eyes and my hand is still in my older brother's hands. He's sitting next to my bed, his upper body on my bed. He must be uncomfortable. 

I slightly shake and tap him to wake up. "Older brother. Older brother. It's morning now." 

He slowly woke up. It's really him, it wasn't a dream. The moment his eyes opened he engulfed me in a hug. 

"I'm so sorry I wasn't there to save you. I'm so sorry I'm incompetent. Did they do anything to you?"

He let go to examine me and see if I had any bruising on my body. 

"I'm fine, they didn't do anything to me."

"Look at this. What state is your body, the imperial princess, in? Your wrists are red from the rope burns, so are your ankles. Do you think you can stand and walk?" 

I moved the blankets off of my body and swung my legs to the side of my bed. 

"Hold on." My brother said. He got off my bed and knelt down, putting my slippers where my feet would be. 

I slipped into them. My brother slipped my silk pastel pink robe on me as I stood up. Right after standing up from my bed I couldn't hold my own weight. Had it not been for my brother I would've fallen down. 

He sat me back on the bed. He went to the rope next to my bed and rung the bell, calling for my personal maid. 

"Mother and father went to a meeting with the nobles to discuss about your kidnapping. Just wait a bit." 

My personal maid came. 

"Oh, Your Highness!" She cried and hurriedly came over to me, hugging me. 

"Silia, how are you?" I weakly asked her. 

"Your Highness! I should be the one asking you that! Forget about me, I'm fine! How about you, Your Highness?"

"I'm fine, I'm okay now." 

"Silia, please get Leila a wheelchair. It seems that she can't walk right now." 

"Yes, Your Highness." She bowed her head and left to get me a wheelchair. 

"Your coming-of-age ceremony?" 

"How could I continue it when you, my dear sister, is not there to celebrate with me? You don't expect me to sit and wait around just for your corpse to either not be sent back or found in a horrible state, do you?" 

"But-"

"My dear, one and only, precious sister is more important to me than my coming-of-age ceremony. I can always reschedule for another ceremony, but I can't have another precious sister." 

Tears start welling up in my eyes. He hugged me and in that moment I felt relief. My precious family, they're worth more than the best jewel there is. 

Silia came back with a wheelchair. Brother left to change his clothes and freshen up, letting my maids help me to wash myself and put clothes on. Older brother came back to personally wheel me to the dining room to have breakfast with mother and father. 

"Myrin." My brother said, speaking to the man next to him. 

"Yes, Your Highness." 

"Get someone to install a lift so that it's easier for Leila." 

"Yes, Your Highness." 

My brother lifted me into his arms while Myrin carried the wheelchair down the set of stairs. 

"Ah, older brother, it's okay. I'll try to go down myself. We're going down from the fifth floor." 

"Tsk. Stay still. You couldn't even stand up by yourself this morning. You're lighter than a feather." 

"But Sir Myrin has to carry that heavy wheelchair." 

"Don't worry Your Highness. This is nothing for a knight like me. You underestimate my skills, Princess Leila."

I stayed quiet until we got down the stairs. We headed to the dining room where mother and father were already. 

"Good morning, mother and father." 

They ran over to me and enveloped me into a huge bear hug. Mother had tears streaming down her face and father was no better. If anything father seems to be crying way more than dear mother. 

"Haha, I'm fine, mother, father. Let's eat breakfast." 

Brother helped me into the chair and then sat beside me on my right with mother in front of brother and father in front of me. Normally we would sit at the large rectangle table, but father made this special table whenever it's just the family. 

Rather than the table being a rectangle or square, it was a large circle. The maids placed the meals on our table and allowed for us to start eating. 

"Leila, I know that this may be a hard topic, but we may have an idea on who was behind your abduction." 

My body froze. "Father, I know how people see me. I'm perceived as nice, kind, vulnerable, naïve, and some even say I'm an angel. But from now on, to find whoever was behind this, please allow me to change my behavior from now on. I too have an idea of who is behind this." 

He nodded, agreeing to my suggestion. 

From here on out, I shall have a mask on. I shall no longer be that weak and kind girl that will take whatever is thrown at her. I will wreak havoc on those who mess with me and my family. I shall grow stronger to protect not only myself but my dear family as well. 

From now on, I will be the Masked Lady.

A/N: I know that this first chapter was hella long, but if you read the whole thing thank you :) I can assure you that the upcoming chapters will be shorter than this. Please remember that this whole story is purely fiction. If you would like a reference to what kind of setting it is, it's like those fantasy/historical Korean Manhwas. Thank you for reading :)