Once Upon A Princess (ONCE UPON A TIME SERIES 1)

Chapter 14 - Outsiders

I woke up by the sound of the waves and my presence, feels like I'm in a boat and

Wait.

Am I dead?

"You! What are you staring at?"

I saw Catherine, I mean Lady Emilia standing on the next side of the ship.

No way.

A traitor!

I tried to slap her but something's pulling me.

"You.... You're indeed a traitor even in my Grandmother's life!"

"You must have lost your mind." she said and slapped me.

"Stop it." a man suddenly showed up.

Comrade Cassius?

"C-comrade Cassius, you betrayed us-"

"I didn't, Princess. In the first place, it was true that your father stole the island's property."

"You're a liar! My father will never do such a thing! How could you do this to us!"

"Of course he is." he walked towards me and

"Let go of me!"

"Hey Princess. I'm just doing you a favor. You're not even a real Princess. The Queen never gave birth to a child!"

"W-what?"

"You heard it right. Your so-called father stole you from us!"

"No, NO!"

"No need to be emotional. Too sad, your real father didn't even see you for the last time."

"Shut up!!!!!!!!!!"

"Hey Aisla! Do you want to die?!"

I released the rope that I keep on untying a while ago.

There is only one way left.

I jumped out from the ship and now I am slowly sinking.

——————————

"Your daughter is dead. Or should I say, not your real daughter, rather my sister."

The man from earlier started to pop the gun.

He's lying. Aisla is the King and Queen's daughter.

I slowly head towards a table and grab a glass.

This man must have gotten crazy!

"Hey!" I caught everyone's attention and the man looked at me so I hit his eyes with the glass.

That was... hurtful.

"Mi'lady don't you know how it is dangerous if you get involved!" He pulled me and put the gun on me.

I know this will happen.

I quickly picked another broken glass from my pocket and hit his head.

My hand is full of blood but so is his head too.

I ran towards the King and Queen and let them escape. I saw a little girl holding a cat and I approached her too to go now.

"Helena!"

I saw Dylan running into me. He's sighing.

"Helena, what did you do? That was dangerous!"

"I'm fine!"

"We have to go now!"

"W-what? But the Princess? Have you found the Princess?"

"No more time. Atticus is already looking for her."

"What? No! Dylan, the Princess is in danger right now. How can you be selfish?!" I ran and head but the man pointed his gun to me and

"No Joaquin! Don't!" Auntie Emma showed up and covered me.

"You people really love interrupting and getting involved!"

"Joaquin, stop! I am your Mother's sister! If you killed Helena, you just killed your own sister too!"

"W-what?" I looked at Auntie's eyes and she is crying.

"Nonsense! I don't know you woman!"

"Auntie, please stop!" my mother's ring suddenly fell as I helped Auntie Emma to stand straight.

"Y-you... why do you have that?" This man named Joaquin quickly tried to steal my mother's ring from me.

"Don't you dare!" I walked backwards but Auntie Emma stood up.

"I told you. She is your sister!"

"I will never have a brother like him! He is a monster!"

————————

"Hey, she escaped!"

"You're so stupid, why did you let her?"

"You were the one talking to her!"

I quickly hid from the ship and started sinking.

I just want to help find the truth. I just wanted to change a thing but it won't even happen.

And now, I think my life has come to an end.

"Isla. Wake up."

Isla.

I don't even trust myself with that name.

"Aisla!"

I slowly opened my eyes and saw Atticus.

He's soaking wet and sighing.

"Atticus."

"He quickly hugged me tight and never let go for a few more seconds until

"I'm glad you're alive. Aisla, I don't know what I will do if I lose you again!"

I wiped his tears as I came to my senses that I am alive. 

"Atticus."

"Hm?"

"Am I... really adopted by the King and Queen?"

"What?"

"They say that I was the island's property that had been stolen for so many years by the Kingdom."

"And you definitely believe that?"

"Uhm of course, pourquoi c'est vrai non?(why, it's true isn't it?)"

"Aisla, what did you say?"

I stayed silent.. The last time I remembered speaking in French was back when I was Isla.

"Aisla. Let me tell you this. You are not adopted. They're fooling you."

I just stood up and walked away.

What should I do? I don't even know what I should believe is true.

Are they really just fooling me? Or is Atticus just trying to keep me from the truth?

Grandmother never told me about the novel, even if she was Aisla. Was she fooled too? Did she escape without even knowing the truth?

I heard a few footsteps as I quickly stepped forward.

Have they found me?

As I was running so fast, I bumped into someone.

This is it, I got caught.

"Aisla." Just as I am about to look at the guy's face, I saw

Atticus.

I thought I was gonna get caught but

"We have to hurry Aisla!" He grabbed my hand and we ran away.

Guess he was my savior after all.