Chapter 12：Sudden Encounter

I was surprised of what Father did before. It was the first time that he yelled at me. I was walking desperately without knowing where to go. My mouth wobbled and my eyes blurred. As I slowly walked, I saw myself in a mirror that was located in the passage. My cheek and my eye were swollen. The right side of my face looked horrible. I covered my right side with my hand hoping that no one will see the swelling.

"Open the door, I want to go outside."

"But someone has to guard you."

"I don't want anyone to come with me." I passed across them and opened the door without hearing what they were saying.

Once I opened the door, I saw the garden in front of me. As I went near the garden, I saw a big fountain in the middle. On the sides, there were two big decorative containers. They were made of marble. I saw well displayed cut flowers on top of them. I looked down on the ground and saw the curved pavements that were crossing the grass. Overall, the garden was well organized.

I walked straight ahead and saw a swing attached to a tree's branch above it. I sat down, lifted my head upward, closed my eyes, and then breath deeply. It was late in the evening and the weather was much colder than usual that I felt chilled. It was a windy that day. My short brown hair and my clothes moved along with the wind.

I was having many scattered thoughts that day such as the thoughts about Father's behavior, my brother's disappearance and the competition accident. They were sudden events happening to me since I took my brother's place. It was too stressful for me. I could not adapt it well in the first place because my life before was totally different from his life. I was well aware of my surroundings and try not to do any mistakes, but I think I was reckless and careless because of what had happened to me. First, it was that fall when Edward rescued me and knew about my real identity. Second, it was the hunting competition that happened few days ago. The thought of that accident bring me chills. From that moment, I thought that I will be dead. I felt nothing but pain when the bullet hits my shoulder. It was instant and I, unfortunately, could not avoid it. I cried loudly and never stopped until I fainted that day. The feeling of being shot is really scary. Any moment, I could die! What surprises me the most is that the incident happened not too long since I took my brother's place.

I opened my eyes suddenly and then stood up from the swing.

"Huh?!" I thought about something that suddenly came out from my mind.

"What if the one who shoots me knew about my real identity? Or what if he thought that my brother came back from somewhere and he wanted to kill him?"

I suddenly fell down and said desperately "Either way, I am in danger!"

I burst into tears. I was crying and sobbing out loud that anyone could hear me from distance. I touched my chest with my hand strongly and fell down on the grass. I cried nonstop because I could be in danger in any moment.

"Why are you here lying on the ground?"

I heard a voice that was behind me and I impulsively stood up and looked at him. It was late that day and I could not see his face properly. I ignored him and walked away from, but he suddenly grabbed my arm and said "Answer my question."

He was grabbing my arm strongly. I tried to lift my arm but I couldn't. I finally said in a desperate faint tone "What do you want from me. Leave me alone."

I tried to look at his face carefully after he gets closer. I could not see his features properly since it was dark, but I could see his overall shape. He was wearing something on top of his head. His hair was long and his clothes were somewhat unique. He was wearing a long shirt that extends down to his knee. A belt surrounded above his shirt. It was thick and large.

I asked in a faint voice "Who are you?"

"Answer my question first so that I can answer yours." He said.

I ignored him again and tried to lift my arm, but still no progress.

"Hhhh. You are struggling now. Why are too weak? You can't even move your arm." He smirked.

"Do not do any thing reckless that might harm me." I looked at him and said in anger voice, but faintly "If you do not let me go, you will be harmed at the end."

"HAHAHA ... I am scared now. What should I do?!" He laughed.

I raised my voice loudly "LET ME GO! NOW!"

He suddenly grabbed my mouth with his other hand and pushed me against the tree.

"Hey! If you scream one more time, I will do something bad to you!"

I flinched. My body was too close to his that he could touch me at any moment. I tried to move aside but I couldn't because his grip was too strong. There is no way to get out from his grip!

My whole body was trembling and my eyes were blurry. I tried to come up with an idea to let him loose his grip, so what I thought is biting his hand.

I bit his hand strongly until he looses his grip. I ran as fast as I could to be away from him, but he was suddenly behind me in an instant!

"EHH!" I shouted.

He grabbed my arm and said "You do have dirty tricks. Look at my hand, it is bleeding thanks to you."

While he was talking, I took this chance to scream louder than before.

"AHHHHHH .. SOMEONE HELP ME!"

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Meanwhile, Father was looking for the head maid. He went to the room that I was sleeping, but she was not there. So he called for the butler to look for her and to bring her to his office.

After several minutes, the head maid came to his office.

"Yes Your Majesty. You called me, aren't you?"

"Yes I called." He looked at her sharply and said "Why did she went outside?"

She flinched. "Please forgive me. It was my recklessness that she went outside."

"I have given you so many chances."

"Please. Give me one chance." She insisted.

He suddenly hit the table and said in a sharp voice "Find her now! Do you know what will happen if someone knew about her identity. The whole kingdom will be in a mess!" He paused for a moment and then said "If you find her within five minutes, I will consider about forgiving you."

She bowed and said in excitement. "Okay. If you mind, I will go now to look for her."