<on hiatus> 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 - 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

𝟑𝟓

She paced back and forth in her bedroom, pondering deeply about ways to get her fiance to like her for who she is. Thankfully, he does, but he doesn't see her as a romantic interest but rather a political tool that could not only potentially restore the reputation of his family's tarnished name, but also her own family's.

"..." Macy staggered.

She held onto a nearby table top for support, knocking a vase down while she was at it. Her vision blurred, head dizzy and clouded with strange dangerous thoughts. In a blink of an eye, her once red eyes turned green, and her soft expression turned into one full of hatred and envy.

"... I must kill Princess Cadenza," Macy mumbled, "if I want my happily ever after." She heard one of the windows open and noticed some silent, hurried footsteps headed towards her.

"Snap out of it," snapped Selina Kyle, holding her shoulders. "This isn't you."

Selina Kyle, once Catwoman and ex- fiance of Duke Bruce Wayne, was an agent of the Force, tasked by the Head of her secret organisation to keep an extra eye on the princess once he received a report sent by Nicholas and Vanessa.

She usually hid within the shadows, away from the eyes of the people and the princess. But that night, she knew that something had to be done to keep the princess from being controlled, and she knew the truth behind the princess's conflicting feelings of whether or not she truly loved her husband-to-be.

'She has such a weak mind,' thought Selina. 'Had she been a little more stronger and less focused on such trivial things, whatever bastard is behind all this wouldn't be able to infiltrate her mind and control her.'

"But she stole him from me," she gritted her teeth. "He was mine... not hers..."

"His heart never belonged to you, princess," Selina continued. "If anything, you were the one who hurt him, not the other way around."

"..."

"It's always been her, not you," Selina looked into her eyes. "And I know you're tricking yourself into liking Nicholas, but you don't, because you have feelings for someone else."

"... No... I... I dont... Nicholas is the father of-"

"I know very well that you know the truth behind the father of your unborn child, princess, and that Nicholas wasn't the one who truly saved you from his wrath," Selina whispered, attempting to break the princess to get her to snap out of it.

"You saw his face that night. You are in shock and disbelief. You hate yourself for not being able to stop him. You feel sorry for your child for having such lowly genes of a commoner father and lied about its origins for its sake, and Nicholas for having to marry you because he felt sorry about you not being able to become queen once everyone learns of your child, an illegitimate successor to the throne. You want to believe that your feelings for Nicholas was the same as it was in the past. The truth is, princess," Selina said in a low tone, "is that it's not. You don't even have an ounce of genuine feelings for Nicholas."

"... ah..." Macy staggered once again.

Selina caught her just in time, and noticed that her attempt to break her succeeded. Her eyes turned red once again, her thoughts as clear as day, but she was still feeling conflicted with everything that was happening in her mind.

"Are you alright? Here, take a seat," she led her to her bed.

"... Who are you...?" Macy pulled herself away from Selina.

"... let's say I'm your secret bodyguard your fiance hired," Selina folded her arms. "Let me ask you this, princess. Do you remember all I said to you just now?"

"... yes," Macy reluctantly replied as she heaved a heavy sigh.

"Was all of it true?"

"... yes."

"What are you going to do about it?" Selina raised an eyebrow at her. "Surely once he finds out he'd be outraged."

"... I have a feeling he knows," Macy fidgeted. "... I just feel that way..."

"... then who do you truly like?"

"... I... honestly... don't know..." Macy sighed.

"... then what do you truly want?"

"... I need..." Macy felt tears threatening to fall from her eyes. "I need a break. I feel... sick... and tired of everything... I just want to get away from all this... even if it's just for... just for a day..."

"... I understand."

Selina thought she'd convey the princess's message to him personally that night.