"Feels good to be back home again right?" Prince Eric appeared beside Ella on the balcony from where the Royal Gardens could be seen. It was quite empty save the creatures, flying, hopping and crawling.

Ella glanced into the Prince's healthy face. "It sure is."

They returned from the Blood Witch's fortress a long time ago. Not really a long time, it's been a month and Ella ought to be glad that she was home again, but she wasn't.

Her friends in the Palace were all dead, Mabel, Grace, Theresa, Emerald and Star. Mrs Myra was too. They all died under Brian's evil reign.

Brian was executed just last week after he was declared guilty for crimes against the kingdom. That news alone was the only thing that have her a form of satisfaction.

But what Ella didn't really understand was why King George would execute Benjamin too.

Benjamin was dead.

The Black Bandits disbanded and rejoined the Kingdom. Becca and Wendy had disappeared into thin air. Pascal and Einat had gone back to their families and Ella had visited them twice in the past weeks.

Her mom was healthy at home managing the her late husband's mansion.

Almost everything had been normalized except Ella's emotional state.

She was losing her sanity.

"What's on your mind?"

"A lot, but they don't matter. I'm going out to visit my friends. I will not be back till dinner."

Eric gently held onto her right arm as she walked past him but she shrugged his hand off and made her way to her room in the palace first and tucked a dagger into the boot she was wearing.

Trisa met her on her way past the guards stationed at the entrance to the palace.

"Going somewhere?" Trisa asked, carefully scrutinizing Ella's face.

Ella didn't look her in the eye. "Yes."

And she kept on walking. Trisa sighed, wondering why Ella's drastical change in character happened.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and met Prince Eric's gaze.

"Your Majesty." She bowed her head solemnly.

"Keep an eye on her." Eric instructed, his eyes still fixed on Ella.

Trisa nodded and touched her sword, going after Ella. She wasn't in her armour as a Palace guard making it easier to blend in with the citizens.

⚜️⚜️⚜

Ella knocked on a familiar door and smiled when Pascal opened it wearing a pleasant grin.

"Ellie." Before he had stretched his arms out to hug her, Einat pushed him aside and embraced Ella firmly.

Pascal pretended to be offended. "How rude." But he smiled when Ella included him for a group hug.

"That's much better." He murmured, shooting Einat a glare. She ignored him and faced Ella.

"Kids, who are you at the door with?" Pascal's mother yelled from inside.

"We're not kids." He mumbled.

Einat laughed. "It's Ella, ma!" She yelled back.

"Bring her right in then. You kids don't know anything about manners. You know, when I was your age..."

Ella smiled when her friends comically sighed together. "Here we go again." Pascal facepalmed.

Ella was compelled to eat lunch with the family. Pascal's mother, Esmeralda, his younger sister Amy and Einat. His dad was out at work.

After lunch, Einat pulled Ella outside privately. "You look terrible, Ella. What's the matter?" She asked.

Einat was not one to show much emotions all the time and as far as Ella was concerned, she didn't care much about her, the only reason why she cared was because Ella was Pascal's friend. Ella was beginning to think otherwise now.

"I haven't gotten much sleep and it seems like I'm going crazy." Ella lamented, sitting on a wooden stool.

"What's the reason? Benjamin?"

Ella nodded. "Yes. I can't still find it in my heart to forgive George for killing my friend."

"King George." Einat corrected.

"I don't care who he is. He's a murderer!"

Einat was alarmed at Ella raised voice. "Ella, Benjamin wasn't your friend. If he was, he wouldn't have done the things he did."

"What did he do? Nothing!"

"How are you so sure about that? Look, everything the King did was in interest of the kingdom. Traitors deserve death."

Ella stared at Einat in shock. How could she say shifting l something like that?

"We had plans, Einat. He has planned to get to me while we were still at that wretched camp and Wendy just locked him up and got him killed. Benjamin wasn't a bad person."

Einat didn't say a single word to Ella. She just sat there until Ella stood up and left. She left like that. No goodbyes, no hugs.

"What's wrong with Ella?" Pascal stood over Einat.

"I don't know. But all I'm certain of is that she's going mad."

Ella walked aimlessly around the village before she resigned to a spot under a tree.

No one understood her pain. No one will.

Trisa from a distance pitied the young girl and disappeared behind one of the buildings, still keeping an eye on Ella.

When Ella returned to the palace, shaking off the feeling that someone was watching her. Princess Charity caught her while she tried to discretely slip past the Royal Dining room.

"Ella. I've been searching all afternoon for you!"

Ella made a face before slowly turning to meet the Princess' calculated gaze.

"I went to visit some friends."

Charity nodded. "Join us for dinner. Arthur came around and he's asking to see you."

Ella smirked, wriggling her brows suggestively at the Princess who rolled her eyes.

"Stop it, Ella."

The Princess had a way of activating her soft side. That part of her that was fading away with each passing day.

Princess Charity looped her arm with Ella's and led her into the dining where the King, Queen, their daughters, son, Arthur and Courtney were seated.

Ella felt sick seeing Courtney sit so close to Prince Eric, eyes raised in a sweet manner to his own. Arthur flashed the newest arrivals a warm smile.

The King and Queen were busy with their conversations to notice Ella's entry.

"Arthur." Ella acknowledged him with a wide smile.

Princess Charity occupied the seat to his right and Ella the one to his left.

"How have you been?" He asked.

"Terrible." Ella replied honestly.

"You'll be fine, Ella. I know you will be." He looked at Ella a little longer before Princess Charity grabbed his attention for herself.

Ella's gaze accidentally wandered to Courtney across the table and she paled at the dirty look on Courtney's face which morphed into a smirk and then a glare.

Eric cleared his throat. "Listen up, everyone."

All eyes were drawn to him. "I'm officially engaged to Courtney. Our wedding is in a month's time."

It was like a sledge hammer landed on Ella's head. She was seized with violent trembling that fortunately no one noticed.

Everyone was busy processing the information. Even Eric's parents. They seemed as perplexed as the others.

Arthur wasn't pleased with this new development. Beside him was the girl he hoped his friend would have ended up with. How did this happen?

Princess Charity didn't like the daughter of the man who terrorized her kingdom and wrecked havoc on so many lives.

Courtney was fully aware that everyone didn't like her but that was the least of her worries. The Prince had his eyes for only her and it was the only thing she held on to. Her gaze again went to Ella. The girl was devastated. Courtney smiled.

Her plans were falling into place.

Ella left the Royal Dining Room with a mind heavier than what it was in the afternoon. She was heading to her room when a hand grabbed her and another slapped over her mouth, pulling her behind a statue.

Who do you think this person is?

What do you think of Eric's engagement to Courtney. Do you think he was manipulated?

Why do you think Ella's behaving strangely? Do you think she's going mad as Einat inferred?

There are quite a number of good doctors in Aria. Maybe Ella should consider visiting one of them...

I'm sorry you just began to see Ella differently now but she's gone through a lot. I hope you understand.

It's just a chapter left and then the epilogue. I hope the storyline ends well.

Thanks for all your support throughout this book. I'm really grateful! ❤