Aleksei

Chapter 3

 My eyes fluttered open and looked around. I jumped, forgetting I was in a house. I sat up and saw Aleksei at the end of my bed. He was just staring. And when I blinked, he was gone. I got up and instantly started heading toward the gym. I needed to go on my own path soon, and after I leave I wont be able to be the delicate girl that I have been.

I like those three boys. But that's probably because they're the only people who've been nice to me that aren't obligated to. I haven't heard any of them yet. I wonder what time it is. For all I know it's the middle of the night. I'd wish for a window down here, but it would only show the ground.

I started going toward the gym area.

A voice behind me startled me, "You're up early," it was Frery. "We're going to head out to the shops right now if you wanna join us. After that we're gonna go hunting."

I knew it was risky, but I turned around and nodded. It's dangerous for me to be out in public, especially with a bounty on my head.

He laughed then we went upstairs, where the others were waiting for us.

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I followed them until we finally arrived at the markets. Everywhere there were wanted posters of me hanging around. Prints of how I used to look. The one thing I can't shake is my face shape, if any of them see I have the same face shape I was going to be in trouble. It wasn't just the three boys I was worried about. Anybody here has the chance of recognizing me. There were guards everywhere. And, all the normal civilians on top of all of that. The price of finding me is 1,000 gold coins. It could set anybody here up for life.

I doubt any of them noticed me worrying. They're all too busy finding the hunting shop. Frery looked overjoyed to be here. Ade was just following along, it seems like that's how it usually is. Ansellus is leading the other two around.

"Do you hear that?" Ansellus said, looking over our shoulders.

I turned around and saw Igita in the distance, along with royal knights.

I grab onto Ansellus's arm out of reflex, and say "what do we do?"

They look at me confused.

Frery responds, "We bow, it's royalty of course. He's probably looking for Princess Rae anyway."

It felt almost illegal to hear Frery say my real name.What was only a few seconds felt like years.

They were in the marketplace, scanning the crowd. One of the guards gazed at me for a second too long for comfort. He squinted his eyes, then looked back at Igita. He whispered something, and time seemed to freeze. They rode away, or at least most of them. The one who stared at me went a different way than the rest, heading into the nearby woods. Relief floods through me, my disguise worked against my own father.

"Rayth, are you alright?" Ade was looking at me, concerned.

I nodded. My fear is going to get me caught. That, or my anger towards him. Everyone here was elated. They were cheering that they got to see the king.

Nobody here knows the truth. Nobody here knows what he does to his family inside castle walls. I'm lucky to be alive.

Ansellus put his hand on my back, directly on a scar from my recent whipping. His face went white, and he pulled his hand away. "Are those- whip scars on your back?"

He said it quietly, but I could tell both Frery and Ade heard.

I can't imagine how red I must've turned, I was trying to hide as much of my past that I could. I nodded sheepishly and Ansellus looked ashamed that he brought it up.