The Legend of the Dragon Princess

Thirty-Fourth Part

Esmeralda had not meant to push Lyretta off the dais, so she immediately tried to grab Lyretta, but her hand did not move fast enough and Lyretta continued to fall.

"Ahh!" Lyretta fell backwards as she screamed and shut her eyes as she felt her body falling. This time the song in the background had just finished so many people heard the scream and turned to see what was happening on the dais behind them.

As soon as the guests turned, they saw Lyretta was caught in a pair of strong arms and being embraced carefully.

Lyretta grunted as she fell heavily against a sturdy chest.

Prince Aka looked at her with worry and once he saw she was fine he promptly put her down.

"Big sister, are you alright?" Little missy grabbed hold of Lyretta's hand and pulled at her.

"I am fine." Lyretta shook and took a breath but ignoring her heart palpitations she immediately reassured Missy and tried to turn around, unfortunately she had been scared enough that her legs were weak to the point that she fell right back into Aka's arms.

"Stand still." Aka did not want to catch her a third time, so he secured his arm around her waist and helped her sit on the stairs leading up to the dais.

Fourteen steps led up to the dais. At such a height if Lyretta had really fallen her lightest injury would have been several broken bones.

Lyretta trembled slightly as she thought of what could have happened and unconsciously moved closer to Aka.

Esmeralda on the other hand still stood at the top of the dais her face was covered by a veil of rage now that she had seen that the one to help Lyretta was Aka.

"Aka! Get away from her!" Esmeralda grabbed her long dress and quickly climbed down the steps as she yelled for Aka to let go of Lyretta.

"Stop!" Missy ran up the steps and stopped half way up. She spread her arms in an attempt to stop Esmeralda's mad dash down the steps.

"You hurt my big sister! Don't move from there." Missy's chest heaved as her pink cheeks became tinged with red from her anger at Esmeralda's actions. Missy was a Princess and she was used to things going her way and for the people she loved being safe, so when Esmeralda acted, and her actions almost resulted in Lyretta getting hurt Missy became enraged beyond reason.

Esmeralda was floored by the little girl. Usually this girl ignored her, but today she was helping the hateful usurper. So, Lyretta had taken another thing from her, truly she was hateful.

Esmeralda looked over Missy's head at Aka, but Aka was so focused on Lyretta's wellbeing he failed to even notice Esmeralda's fervent stare.

Seeing the worry so plainly apparent on his eyes Esmeralda felt her heart crack some more. By now her heart felt like the piece of bread people stepped on over and over until nothing was left except a crumb under their shoe.

Esmeralda looked down at her hands. How could everything have gone so wrong? Only a week ago she was the most pampered and loved girl in the kingdom. She was a beloved Princess that everyone loved unconditionally, now look at her. This must have been what her mother had meant. Lyretta was a curse set against her.

Esmeralda raised her head, she needed her father. He would help her, he always helped her. When she looked up to search for him all she found were disdainful stares, usually reserved for Lyretta, now turned on her.

As fear started to overtake her, she realized King Roin was already on his way toward her. Her heart instantly calmed down.

Seeing the king missy moved aside, retreated, and walked back down the steps to stand next to Lyretta and hold her hand. This was her showing her support for Lyretta. Now she would like to see who would dare to hurt Lyretta while she and Aka were present.

When King Roin reached Esmeralda, she reached out to him for support and help, but to her astonishment for the second time that night her face felt the stinging pain of a hand against her cheek.

'Pah!' The sound of hand against cheek reverberated across the room full of the most renowned nobles in the Kingdom.

"F-father?" Esmeralda touched her hand to her cheek. Her father's slap had been much lighter compared to Lyretta's, but it hurt her much much more.

"Foolish child! Apologize to your sister!" King Roin roared at his oldest daughter. Never in his life had he been so embarrassed. His own flesh and blood, in front of all the most important nobles of the kingdom had nearly killed her own sister.

Esmeralda's lips trembled and that little bit of her heart that had remained unaffected finally broke into tiny tiny little fragments.

So even her father would easily abandon her for the girl who called herself her sister.

Esmeralda's tears dried as her heart hardened.

She looked around the room and stared back at all those who looked at her with disdain.

Esmeralda raised her head high and she straightened her back and then loudly enough for everyone to hear, she spoke her next words.