Connection

Chapter One

'Gosh'

The man sitting before me was so handsome. He was the Crown Prince of Persia.

"Your highness, I heard of your great wisdom and courage, through out the Countryside..." He said gazing at the ugly woman behind the mask, which was me, Ofcourse!

"I'm indeed flattered but I don't deserve your praises..." I said nervously.

He didn't know how tense I was. He was the 112th man who had interest in me. The rest of the men ran away from me because of my looks. They were all Princes, men of high status and they didn't want someone, as ugly as I am, to be their spouse.

I had a little assurance that the 112th man before me, wasn't like the others. 

"I always make myself available to serve my people, so it's not quite a big deal.." I continued.

"Oh, quite humble of you...I would like to ask why you always wear a mask..." He said.

"For a brilliant and breath taking lady like you, it would be nice if you showed off your beauty...if you know what I mean.." he continued.

'Hell no!'

The same question that chased away all the men from me...What do I do?

"Can we change the subject, please?" I asked.

He stared at me ackwardly like he was disgusted.

I hope he hasn't heard the rumours of my appearance. If he did, then why was he still here...

"Your highness, no need to go all flustered, I know about your predicament... You may be wondering why I'm still sitted here, right? "

"Oh.. so you...know...already." I stuttered.

" Actually, I'm here for your maid, Diana, I'm sure you know her.."

How wouldn't I know? She was my personal maid. In terms of beauty, she's  better than me.

" I would like to buy her off from her services. I'm ready to pay whatever it would cost..."

*******************

In the palace garden.

Once again, I was rejected. I can't believe he preferred my maid over me.

The soothsayers said I could reverse the curse if I found my true love. It sounds so simple but too difficult to implement.

I was my dad's only child and he needed a male heir to take over the throne. How was I going to do that, when no man had interest in me.

No!!  I can't sit here doing nothing. I will go out there and look for him.

If the mountain doesn't want to come to me, then I better go to the mountain..

*************

By midnight...

"My princess, you can't go, you don't even know.. your whereabouts out of the country... please your highness, change your mind.." Diana said kneeling down before me.

I treated her like my own sister, so I told her I was going on an adventure. But she couldn't change my mind on this, I was determined.

"I'm sorry.. Diana but I have to go. This day I relieve you of your duties. You're now a free-born, go live your life and forget about me..." I snapped.

Diana held on to my little bag of stuff, I decided to go with. She took it from my hand, with tears in her eyes.

"No..your highness, where you go I'll go, where you stay I'll stay.." she refused to let me go. She held my little bag and followed me on my little adventure.

We were in this together, I wasn't alone...

'Alas'
 
I sneaked my way through the palace guards and out of the palace. It wasn't a difficult task for me anyways since I helped my dad manage the government and palace affairs. So I knew when the guards had to switch shifts, that was my ticket to go out if I had my men on shift that night.

Everything went on as I had expected. I could easily walk past the Palace gate, cause my men were on shift at that time.

Off I am to a brand new life...

But I didn't know where I was going to or which direction to take.

I stopped walking and turned back. The palace gate was closed and I knew my dad would be furious. So I couldn't back down now.

"Your highness, where are we heading to now?" Diana asked.

They were clearly two paths before us but I didn't know which we could take.

"We need to head out of the city before my father notices my absence " I said moving left.

"But your highness, we need to head right if we are leaving the city" Diana reminds.

'Oh you're right, it's right indeed" I said timidly.

"I'm sorry your highness, I didn't mean to..."

"Spare the formalities, we are now sisters, so you should be the one to show me around" I assured her.

Diana smiled back at me then showed the way forward.

The streets were empty and the cold era didn't make life easier for Diana and I.

I had never lived or moved about in the streets, so everything seemed new to me. But with Diana's help, I knew for sure I could adapt to the new I was embarking on.