Royal Pain || z.m. [Book 2]

•fifteen•

A few days had passed since the death of the late Genovia monarch. While Genovia and its people were still mourning over their past leader, the guilt was slowly consuming Princess Aria in Wellington. The princess was in such a state, that Savannah someone who spent a lot of time with her, had never even seen her like this. But Aria never told anyone how she was connected to King Yaser's death. She would never dare to.

Aria was growing more frustrated and feeling more at fault as each minute passed by. She remained mute for most of the time but when she did open her mouth, it was to snap at someone. She decided to spend most of her time in her own room sunken with her own thoughts. Aria lived with the fear that she would get caught and be charged for the murder of the late king. Since the accident, every night she would wake up in the middle of the night screaming due to a nightmare she would dream of herself getting punished.

The Wellington princess wanted to protect herself just as badly as she wanted to get rid of the Genovian princess. Now she had two problems to deal with, and to come up with a plan to solve her issues was quite urgent.

Aria was seated by the desk in her darkened bedroom, sipping on a glass of alcohol. The sky had darkened and the moon was almost reaching its full phase. The gears in the princess' mind turned, trying to process up a plan. As each sip she took of the bitter beverage, the more clouded her brain became making it more difficult for her to come up with an idea to fix her problems once and for all.

A possible solution had sprouted in her head, but Aria tried her best to suppress it. She knew it was too immoral to commit, even for her. But unfortunately, the alcohol took more control over her rather than her mind.

Aria stood up from her chair and placed her drink down on the table. She pulled open the drawer below her and pulled out one of her prized possessions. It was a dagger in its steel covering. The princess slipped the weapon out from its shell, and examined the blade. After doing so, she put the covering back on top and placed the dagger into the pocket of her robe.

Aria walked over to the door of her room and pulled it open. The long hallway which was dimly lit up from the smaller lanterns that hung on each side of the walls, laid in front of her. The princess' feet began to quietly pad across the floor as she was in a complete daze not really aware of her actions. The princess reached the door on the opposite end of her room's. It was King Alexander's room. Aria's fingers curled around the doorknob and she slowly pushed the door open.

As the door shut behind Aria, King Alexander heard and looked up from the document he was previously reading. "Aria, what happened sweetheart? Can't sleep?"

"No." the princess softly replied.

"Are you alright darling? You haven't been yourself lately." the king frowned with concern etched in the form of lines across his forehead.

"It sucks Uncle Alex, you know?" Aria stepped towards him and stopped until she was a foot away from him. "Not having things get done the way you want them to."

"What happened Aria?" Alexander looked at his niece confused. "And are you drunk?"

"Do you know how much I hate Genevieve Bell? The fucking princess of Genovia?" she dryly laughed ignoring her uncle's question about her state. "That bitch, is married to the man I love Uncle Alex." tears started to collect at the brim of her eyes. "Laws were broken for them to get married."

"Darling, I know you were gravely upset when Prince Zayn didn't choose you. But that's in the past now. And the prince loves Princess Genevieve. You will find another man for yourself. I'm sure."

"But I love him!" she shrieked pointing at herself. "I love him." she repeated more softly.

"Aria..."