Always do kill who gets close to you, don't let them see your real emotions.
My mom's warnings echoed in my head like a curse.
I regretted not listening to her, for allowing someone see the part of me that should have stayed hidden.
Tears fell down my cheeks, as I stood frozen in the doorway.
There laid my fiancee, my betrothed, tangled up in the sheets, with my sister.
" Bella, no it's not what you think!" My fiance scrambled out bed, fumbling to hide his naked form.
Meanwhile my sister laid back with a smug smirk, while the sheets, covered her naked form.
I shook my head, unable to believe what I was seeing.
'Told you so' my subconsciousness muttered.
I staggered backward, my head shaking as if it could erase what I was seeing.
"Babe- " James reached out for me, but I pushed him away.
" You have no right to call me that, ever again" My voice came out sharply in a whisper.
More tears streamed down my cheeks as a sob almost clawed down my throat.
Almost
I turned to walk away from the scene.
The betrayal
The lies .
The love that was never real.
"Bella" James voice echoed through the halls behind me.
I didn't stop.
I didn't look back.
I just, ran
My blue royal engagement dress trailed behind me as I ran.
The hem of my dress darkened by my tears that wouldn't stop falling.
I finally reached my chambers.
Slamming the door behind me,
I collapsed on the floor, my Knees hitting the cold marble floor, as the weight in my chest-tightened , crushing and suffocating.
Why would he do this to me?
Wasn't I enough?
Why?why would he cheat on me.....with my sister?
These questions circled like a cursed mantra clawing my head over and over again.
I broke down again.
It felt like seconds ago that he'd held me close and whispered
" I love you Bella"
Was it fake?
The way he looked at me, like I was the only thing that mattered.
Was it just an act?
" Never show your emotions to anyone, because one day they'll use it against you to destroy you"
My mother's voice echoed in my head.
I always thought she was cold and cruel to me.
But maybe she was right.
I showed my emotions, and it destroyed me.
It broke me.
And I promise to never let myself, become weak, to be vulnerable to anyone by showing them my emotions ever again.
I stood up from the floor, by leg trembling beneath me as I adjusted my dress with shaky hands.
I walked towards the mirror.
My reflection stared back at me.
Empty
Broken.
My mascara streaked down my cheeks, smeared and ruined, by my tears.
My eyes were red and puffy.
But the dress...
The dress looked perfect.
Beautiful.
Regal .
Fit for a princess.
That's what they called it.
A custom design made for royalty.
But to me right now.
It was a curse.
They said a dress represents, beauty, feminism and purity.
I scoffed at the lie.
No one tells the truth.
That a dress is sometimes a cage while you sell your soul
Whenever you were a dress, your guards are always up.
Your vulnerable.
Too much cleavage? Your desperate
Too little? You're frigid
A curvy waist? You're doing too much
A protruding butt? You're asking for attention
Either way, men stare.
And there's nothing you can do about it.
I stared at the blue fabric that was attached to my skin.
Dusted with gold like fairy magic.
It shimmered beautifully under the lights.
But it wasn't for me.
It was for James.
To keep his attention.
To be his perfect little bride.
I reached out to the tissue and wiped my ruined mascara, slowly, while I hated this broken version of myself.
My long brown hair fell freely down my back in soft unruly waves.
I grabbed a band and tied it, into a pony tail, tight and high.
By now my makeup was nothing more than smudges and memories.
I walked towards the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face, washing away the last traces of what supposed to be the happiest day of my life.
A knock on my chamber door snapped me back.
I moved towards it silently, not bothering to answer.
'What if it was James' I thought to my self.
' Open it stab just the way he stabbed you' my subconscious whispered coldly.
" Princess bella" a voice called softly through the door.
Not James.
Another male voice.
I opened the door cautiously.
A tall red hair knight stood before me, staring down at me in awe.
I was used to that look.
The knights. The guards. Even the commoners.
They all stared at me like that.
But I never let it phase me.
Not then.
Not now.
He quickly bowed after regaining his composure.
" My princess , your father, the queen requests your presence in the throne room" he announced respectfully.
I didn't flinch.
Of course my father would summon me.
I ran out from the engagement ceremony like a scandal in motion.
I nodded, my expression unreadable.
The knight bowed again and gave me a last glance before disappearing down the hall.
I shut the door behind him.
No more dresses.
No more softness.
I walked down to my wardrobe and peeled off the cursed blue gown, tossing it aside like the past I no longer claimed.
Then piece by piece I dressed in my warrior suit.
Black leather and silver plating, fit to slice through lies and betrayal alike.
I walked down the halls towarss the throne room, my steps steady despite the whispers they followed me.
The maids and guards watched me, fascinated, shocked.
But as usual I wasn't phased.
Today was meant to me my engagement day. My wedding day.
The day I would stand beside the one I loved, sympbol of promises made.
But instead I was backstabbed, cheated on.
The knights guarding the throne room bowed as I approached, opening the heavy doors.
This castle wasn't a fairy tail palace. No chandeliers made of glass, no soft fairy lights.
It was a fortress.
Stone walls, dark and imposing. A collection of gems,
Black stons, purple, red and silver litter the interior , like pieces of history.
My ancestors were collectors and they built this place with their bare hands.Every corner, every detail held their legacy.
As I walked through the throne room, the silver stone beneath my feet reflected light, almost like it was alive, a chandelier of its own making.
I looked towards the throne.
My father sat there, his eyes wide as he took in my Besides him My step mother stared at me with disdain , as if was some start animal.
Farouk my stepsister, lifted her gaze from the nails she was inspecting a smug grin stretching across her face. The same woman who betrayed me, the one who shared the same bed with my fiancé.
I stopped and bowed down to my father.
" Greetings your majesty"
" Bella " my father voice rang out filled with authority.His eyes were sharp scrutinizing me, but there was something else in them. A flicker of concern?
I lifted my gaze to meet his.
" Are you ok?" His voice laced with quiet worry.
I couldn't tell if he already knew by the scandal, but it didn't matter.
Everyone in the palace, probably the entire kingdom had heard by now.
" James-
" I would like not to speak of him, Father" I interrupted coldly, my voice sharp as a blade.
" That's no way to speak to your father, Bella" My step mom Huida, muttered with her usual disdain.
" And I wasn't speaking to you, Huida" I snapped, my eyes narrowing into slits.
Her lips curled up in fury, but before she could unleash her venom, my father cut in.
" Would you like to be alone for a while"
I shook my head, my expression unreadable.
I would like to finish my quest" I said evenly.
Father raised a brow , but a smile tugged his lips.
" You're are just like your mother"
" That smile , small , nostalgic, twisted Huida's face into pure hatred.
" Dad" farouk's voice rang out, all sugar laced poison.
" I don't think she should leave the palace. I mean, the kingdom is buzzing with what happened , it would be a shame-"
" The only shame here.... Is you " I cut in my voice low, deadly.
Farouk blinked, playing innocent " What does that mean?"
" You know exactly what I mean"
" How is it my fault, that you couldn't satisfy your man, he needed me to help him" she said her voice drenched in false sympathy.
My jaw clenched. Disgust pooled my chest.
My man?
She was wrong.
He wasn't mine to begin with.
"That's enough, Farouk" father's voice boomed through the throne room.
" But, dad" she whined like me a little girl act cracking.
I rolled my eyes disgusted.
You committed something abominable, farouk" I said, stepping foward my voice echoing like a prophecy .
" Did you think you would go unscathed?".