Their Princess

Chapter 9

I wake up in the middle of the night with wetness between my legs. I get up and check the bedsheets for any stain. Thank God it's clean. I go to the bathroom and find my pajamas and panties stained with blood. I quickly change out of them and wear a pad.

I guess I have to wash my clothes with my hands now. In my rush, I didn't realize that the temperature had dropped drastically, and now I'm freezing. Should I leave it for tomorrow? I quickly shake my head and start to work. Thankfully, the stain is still wet, so it comes out easily. 

When everything is done, I come back to my room and savor the room temperature. Rey must have adjusted the temperature of my room. Such a softie. One might think that I won't be able to sleep now, but it's quite the opposite. The moment my head hits the pillow, I melt into it.

I slept until lunchtime. Brothers came and went from my room with their good morning and goodbye kisses, but I kept sleeping. They tried to wake me up to get my attention, but I only replied in incoherent words, so eventually, they gave up.

When i woke up, I bathed and dressed cozy for the day. The moment Neri saw me coming down the stairs, she knew I was on my period. She went to the kitchen and started to cook for me.

“ Neri, what are you doing? There's enough food on the table.”

“ Don't eat that. I'm making something more nourishing and healthy for you. Take your seat, I will be back in a few minutes.” I guess I'm going to get special treatment for the next four or five days.

I sit on the couch and start to daydream. What would have been my life if I hadn't teleported here? What if I teleported somewhere else or at some creep's house. I shudder at the thought.  What if someone else teleported with me? I don't like the thought of brothers taking care of someone else. Then another terrifying thought comes. What if I get teleported again and away from the brothers. 

“ What are you thinking so hard, Madam?” Neri asks. I didn't even hear her coming.

“ Nothing.” I take the food from her and start eating. It's some type of curry and bread with lots of veggies. My appetite is dead. But I guess I need to eat, or else Neri will tell the brothers who will start to worry over me for no correct reasons.

Today, I don't want to be bothered. I want this day to be uneventful. As I eat my food, I see outside. It's a beautiful day. I should definitely take some sunlight. 

I'm painting under the sun when I hear the engine stop. The brothers must be home. For some reason, I do not go to greet them. I don't know why I feel so gloomy today. I finish my painting and give it a look. I don't like it. 

I lay down on the blanket that the helpers put for me, I close my eyes. Screech. I stiffen at the noise. It could have been the brothers, but I know it's not because the noise came from my right where the forest is. From the corner of my eyes, I see a foot coming outside from the shadows of forest.

I have to act smarter fast. I get up and pretend that I didn't see or hear anything. I start to sing loudly to calm my nerves. My hands are shaking, so I start to move them back and forth like I'm dancing.

“Jingle bells……coming to town……” while dancing and singing, I move strategically toward the front door so that it doesn't look like I'm on the run. It might or might not have looked convincing, but I don't give a single care once I reach the door.

I rush inside and see Rey sitting on the couch working on his tab. I ran toward him, panicked, my heart racing, hands shivering.

“ REY REY. HELP!” Rey looks up from his tab, into my panicked eyes. He gets up and encloses me in his arms immediately. 

“ What happened, princess?” He asks worriedly. 

“ I saw a…m..man… watching me from…. the forest.” I stammer.

Rey’s worry turns into anger. “ Baby, didn't we tell you to stay away from the forest? It's dangerous. Why di…” 

I interrupt “ No, Rey, I was sitting in the garden when I heard his foot coming near me. He is outside now. I'm scared, Rey.”

Now he is furious. “ Eli, come down faster.” What is he doing? If he speaks so loudly, he will alert the whole town. 

Eli rushes down to us immediately. I run to his arms as he checks me up and down twice for injury. Before he can question, Rey answers for him “ Someone is at our property, spying on our princess.

Eli’ expression changes from confusion to anger to furious in a split second. And I'm so glad to be not at the receiving end of the brothers wrath today. “ Who and where?”

I led them outside, where I saw the stranger. “ Stay here while I go and check.” Rey orders. 

I'm standing beside Eli, nervous, holding his hand tightly. Eli stoops to my level and starts to caress my cheeks.

“ He didn't come near you, princess, didn't he?” He asks. I've already told him the whole scenario, but it seems like Eli wants reassurance. So I give him that. 

I peck his cheek lovingly. “ He didn't, Eli. I'm safe. See?” He sighs and hugs me to his chest.

“ I know, baby. I'm just…I…. I don't like the thought of you getting hurt or being away.” He confesses by kissing the top of my twice and hugging me tighter.

“ Why has Rey not come out yet? Should we go inside and check?” I mumble in Eli’s shirt. His hold on my shoulders tighten like he is telling me he doesn't like my idea.

“ He will be back.” After a few more minutes, Rey comes out. “ Who was it? Did you find him?” Eli rushes to ask.

“ Nothing. Not a single soul was there.” What? Did I imagine it then? “ But I did see a boot mark. I've captured the mark on my tab. We just need to start investigating.” Rey explains, a little breathless. Like he has been chasing someone. Strange. If no one was there, then why did he run? And I know it takes a lot for them to be breathless. Then why??

From the corner of my eye, I see Eli and Rey exchanging looks. “ Let's go inside, princess. It's getting cold.” I follow him quietly, knowing fully well that they are hiding something from me.