The Scarlet Princess

2. Drown

She's drowning.

Tired and on the verge of her death Arin sinks down to the depth rapidly.

There's some kind of force practically yanking her down.

Her lungs have become too much to bear and is in need of air. Arms flailing, grabbing at nothing but more and more water.

Does she have no choice but to just give in?

'What can I do? I'm an illegitimate child. There's nothing I can do to help Father. What's the purpose of me being born?'

If not for King Albert's kindness, she wouldn't even being titled a Princess and allowed to live in the castle.

She closed her eyes and the memories of her mother is starting to engulf her.

She remembered her smile, her laughter, her gentle voice when she sings and her...

..death.

She remembered holding her mother's hands tightly, not letting go. Afraid that she might disappear if she did.

The King-no, Prince Albert- was late, the love of his life have already left this world when he arrived. He kneeled down beside the bed and his hands shakily grabbed hold of her hands.

All he could think of was to apologize, again and again. Feeling sorry for not being able to cure her disease, and the other for being a Crown Prince.

He's not allowed to meet them as he was in love with a servant and have a 'bastard' child.

After his Father, the King, learned of this, he was immediately arranged to a marriage with a Princess from other kingdom and Arin's Mother was fired from being a maid of the castle, at that time she was already pregnant.

The heir they produced from the arranged marriage was not out of love. He loathed it.

Despise the rules and despise not being able to defy the King's orders.

8 years passed,

and a week before her mother passed away, Arin went to the castle and desperately try to get hold of her Father. But to no avail, the guards won't let her in.

It was then the Prince heard from his personal guard that a little girl with red hair begged to meet him last week.

The Prince did all he could to try to sneak out at midnight, he couldnt care less if the King or his wife found out about it.

He succeeded but for what price? He couldn't even say goodbye.

Seeing his beloved leaving them is unbearable. Its even more heartbreaking to see his daughter cry. She looks so fragile, as if with just a touch, she might break immediately.

He waited and waited, until little Arin calmed down a bit.

He touched her shoulder as gently as possible. Arin looked up to her father, eyes swollen.

"My dear Arin, " He slowly caressed her cheek and continued, "I promise I will bring you back to the castle once I became King."

It will be hard but he will do whatever he can to let Arin live in the castle because without any guardian it will be difficult for her to survive alone at such a young age.

He planted a kiss to her forehead and wipe away her tears with his thumb.

Arin nodded. She understands how hard it is and she believes in her Father. She will try her hardest to survive on her own as she waits. The neighbours can help taking care of her but she don't want to create any burden for them.

After a year, Arin reached 9 years old, and finally, her Father, now the new King, welcomes her to live in the castle with him and her other siblings.

'It doesnt change the fact that I'm still a burden to them.'

Suddenly she heard a voice calling her out. "Arin!"

She looks, expecting to see her Father, but it was someone else.

A young boy, but his face is blurred.

He stretched his arm further, he's just within her grasp at his point.

She can feel the adrenaline and she reached out and grabbed hold of his hand, their fingers intertwining. She was quickly pulled upwards until she emerged from the water.

A/N : Hello! ^-^ about the childrens, for example, if the female has animal form of Rabbit and male has Tiger then the childrens will be 100% having Tiger form.

Please don't take the combination seriously lmao, I can't imagine a tiger mating with a rabbit either 😂