Episode 4 - The Unwanted Princess of Xi Empire

“The red princess became senile”

“Yeah. I heard that too. Is that even possible?”

“How can’t it be? She’s always been poisoned since birth. I think it’s the side effect.”

“I heard she even tried to jump from her window and got stopped. Hahaha.”

“But I heard that she wanted to fly not jump.”

“That’s crazy. Hahahaha” a voice of the boy mimicking woman’s voice said while reenacting on a very serious voice.

“Those are some of the rumors flying around inside the empire, Xue.” The young man added.

He’s with me ever since this morning. I tried to shoo him but to no avail, I was declined.  The young man is looking too playful but at the same time annoyance can be clearly seen in his handsome face. He got a fair

skin, small slanted eyes, a thin but tall body. The most annoying part is that when I first saw him I totally like him and decided to make him my husband but

to my despair, Yuhan, my personal servant, told me that this handsome boy is Prince Man, my brother from another concubine of the emperor, which is also my father.

“What use having a handsome man beside me if I can’t be with him?” sigh.

And to add, I still can’t believe what is really happening. After what happened that night, that evil doing outside my room, I slipped in the floor, I remembered, and then

I hit my head and that’s all. I think I blacked-out after I hit my head. But the ridiculous thing is that, after I wake up, I became a princess. But the

saddest part is I was a princess, no, to be exact, I am a princess that is always a victim of poisoning. Since I am the Red Princess.

I still don’t know what’s with the Red Princess title. I can’t ask other people since they always thought that I became senile. But to be honest there’s this one thing also that I really really hate. Every time I can remember it, I want to cry.

I can foretell the future!

I will only close my eyes and future events will be laid like it’s a book. Every detail is there. And the only fascinating thing on that is when I imagine a solution to some problems on the future; they will also have their own future. In short, I can choose on what’s a better future.  There’s this one time that I told my head servant, Miryu, to bring Yoo if she will go out the palace since there will be an attack in the central

plain, and guess what, she got angry at me telling me not to recklessly tell people or let other people know that I can foretell future cause it will be dangerous. She even told me to just smile and not show emotion even if it’s my mother, the empress. She even told me not to recklessly tell her everything I know. That I should be vigilant any time.

“Ohh!!! I want to cry!!!”

“Why? Are you in pain? Xue?” this guy here, shows too many emotions without consideration like they wanted me to do while still living in this hell. And this guy here is the only person who calls me Xue.

“Brother? Can I ask you about something?” I think I can trust this young man. I can’t see any future events that are related to this boy. So it won’t be dangerous.

He nodded as he picked some sweets in the table.

“Anything! As long, as I know. I can answer you. I can even say yes if you want me to stay by your side if you’ll get married. I’ll throw being a prince and become one of your prince regent.” He said with eyes full of determination while looking on mine. I can feel sincerity. I’m glad.

“Brother, there is only one prince regent for a princess. Maybe you’re implying to be a ‘concubine’ hahaha” I laugh playfully after saying it. But, he, never changes his emotion. It can be clearly seen on his handsome face. He is like an open book, easy to read at that moment.

“Ahem, okay, I won’t joke anymore.” I said trying to be composed in-front of Prince Man who is still looking at me with a serious face.

“So, brother, why am I called the Red Princess?” I started. I glanced for a moment and I know and not mistaken that I saw him confused.

“You’re the Phoenix.” He answered without hesitation. He take a sip of the tea within his reach. I also did.

“That’s all?” I asked wanting more.

“Yeah.”

I saw him eat one of the other sweets again, before I felt the striking pain in my heart. I can feel the same sensation from the last time I was poisoned.

“Am I poisoned again?” I blurted looking to the tea that I accidentally let go. My body is weakening, my throat is drying and I can feel the wet hands that a red fluid from my cough caused. I saw the blurred vision of the young prince panicked and holding me, shouting to get help. He’s crying. My hands slowly approach those face that is in more pain than I am now.

At the Red Phoenix Manor,

Everyone inside is keeping their silence, waiting for the result. Not like the last time, everyone is composed but nervous. Though if you will examine closely, everyone

is anxious. Next week, the prince of Northern White Kingdom will arrive to present the marriage alliance proposal to the phoenix, the Red Princess. But because of the poisoning, the marriage proposal might be given to other princess. Which will become a great loss to the Red Phoenix Manor, it’s their last ticket to freedom and serenity.

Though they know, that the reason why the empress no arrival to tend to the princess is due to the fact that she wanted to let the princess stay to be poisoned for days, not sure until when, and just to make sure the marriage proposal will not be granted to her. She was against the marriage of the Red Princess to the prince of other kingdom. They know already that there is a wicked person living in the heart of the empress, though it is clearly be seen that she also really love

the princess, but her love for the throne is also heavy and she knew that her last ticket of survival is the Red Princess.

“Ahhh…pain….it…it hurts…” cry heard from the princess’s bed.

“Save…me…” she yelled as strong as she could get from the strength that is being weakened from the poison.

Everyone is still silent. And he can feel that he can’t take it anymore. The poisoning happened yesterday, and the Little Rose Manor is ridiculously showing their happiness, storming and asking for the emperor’s summon so they can tell the emperor to give the marriage alliance proposal to Princess Aini, the 6th princess.

It’s the second day of the poisoning but he still can’t see any shadow of the empress. She only let her maids delivered some medicine to numb the pain. She doesn’t want to heal the princess this time until the marriage is not done. He knows that he really hates the emperor for neglecting the princess but he never knew that he

would also hate the empress for being ruthless.

He also tried and still trying to look for Ching-an, but to no avail, he cannot be found. He don’t know what to do anymore. His beloved sister will be in a lot of pain

before she will be tended by those who know how to save her. He even asked all their family doctors to save her, but either those other doctors are afraid or just they didn’t know.

Even her trusted servants are not doing much for the princess to be heal. They just only tend a first aid

necessities to the princess, he knows that their immediate supervisor is the empress and not the princess. But being like this is not good. They will lose

their princess if this goes on.

“I will tell her to change all her servants once she wake-up.” He mumbled under his breath. He was furious but still can't do anything.

Ten hours has passed and the princess never woke up again to complain about the pain she felt. Everyone seems to be in panicked. This is not going to the plan as the head servant, Miryu, tried to become calm. She trusted her words. She said she would wake up at the 8th of the month, that’s the day of the marriage. She

told her not to say anything, enemies will present their selves and foes will stay. She doesn’t need the wedding. She should not go with it or else she will be sent to the Northern White Kingdom with the 9th Prince, the second to the youngest of King Sorthrenon. And if ever it will happen, she will become a hostage for a very long time. She knows that she will not die, no, no one can

kill her. Just no one can.

She’s the only one who can afflict herself.

“I will tend her, Yulan, you can rest now.” She said with a calm voice to the girl who whole night tended the poisoned princess. The young girl nodded and handed her the basin containing the new fetch warm water with the cloth to wipe the sweats of the princess.

She goes inside the Ilda (bed with covered veils) to replace the personal servant of the Red

Princess. The room is strangely quiet, though she knows that those people are wide awake.

“The empress is not going out in her room. The 18th prince leave few hours ago due to the limit time the manor allowed to the outsiders.” She started while wiping the big sweet from my head. I think she knew that I am listening all along; the pain is gone after I swallowed the medicine that Agume brought.

Agume is from the Red Valley Clan; I told them to fetch her 2 days ago and is now serving in my manor. She brought the poison that I requested after I saw the future I could have with the 9th prince of Northern White Kingdom if ever the marriage happens. He will die on the way home with me. Sabotage from the Holland Central Kingdom. I wanted to keep that young prince by my side; he will be a big benefit to my reign, so I don’t want it to be wasted.

“The marriage proposal is already in the hands of the 6th princess. As you said, the wedding will happen on the 8th day of the month. But princess, they will hold the marriage here in our empire.” She continued speaking though she can clearly see that there is no reaction from me. After she tends, and the water getting cold, she stands-up and tidies herself to fetch another batch of warm water getting outside the Ilda.

“So, he will live here in the empire. What is the king of Northern White Kingdom thinking? I can’t even foretell it. Only useless things are being shown. But I think I need to wake up already if I wanted to bring back the 9th prince in my manor. I need to get out in the palace, away from the emperors sight for a while. Or else, I’ll be poisoned forever. People here are very ruthless; its either to eat or be eaten.” I mumbled as I open my eyes with a blury vision.

Morning arrives, the chirp form the bird outside became the only noise that helps the princess manor to be lively. She slowly walks towards the Ilda with the basin with warm water in both hands. The sun is sitting high but the cold breeze of autumn is dominating. It’s been 2 days that the princess fell into coma after the

poisoning. Though she really trusted the princess, she is not like madam Miryu who will obey its master on the cost of its master’s life.

She slowly get inside the Ilda and carefully put the basin beside the princess’s bed. But she stops. The so called master of her, the princess, the so called Red Princess is now sitting in her bed, with her eyes looking at me. I was out of words. I know I should trust her but the tears still flow in my eyes.

“I was so scared. Too scared that you won’t honor your promise.” She said between hiccups.

“I’m sorry for being impudent, my princess.” She added still crying. I tapped her head and caress it for a while.

“Yulan, can you do me a favor?” I asked as she nodded.

“Anything for you, my princess.” I smiled to her sincerity. I blink for a second and those flashes of futures with her appeared. I smiled again.

“Thank you, Yulan” I smiled. She came closer to me lending her ears as I said some instructions.

“Don’t let anyone found you……..” I whispered as she nodded and leaves.

“Hoon” I mumbled. After a few minutes a man with black robe appeared with its face covered with black mask. He kneeled as he arched his right arm, bowing like every soldier and knights would do. This is the first time I called him but he felt really familiar to the owner of this body and his always in the memory

of the body’s owner.

“The tree is branching too much, should we cut a little?”

“Which side of the branch, my princess?” he asks without hesitation and moving, still his head lowered.

“The white one, at the 6th branch, try burning all its leaves. It’s decayed. It might spoil the other branches leaves. We don’t want that to happen right?” she

said smiling again, still sitting in her bed, admiring the color of the veil shining with the help of the light from the sun.

“Should we also burn the fruits that might be decaying?”

“Are there fruits decaying?" He paused and didn't answered. "If no, then no need. You know I love those fruits, sweet or not, decayed, decaying or not. Just let them be. They will bear good trees soon.” She added. After that the man in black robe leaves the room and silence prolonged again with the presence of other servants.

“I never knew that it would be like this. It’s only been few days that I accepted the fate that was given for me by this so called chosen phoenix. She died early and replaced me instead since she saw in her future that she will stand next to the destined emperor. She doesn’t want to curse the future by her dying in her own hands by poisoning herself last time. At first, I thought that she’s crazy, after I saw her past poisoning

herself just to accused a concubine. She wants to fulfill the future’s prophecy but she’s being reckless due to her greed. Though I can feel the strong greed,

I am trying to neutralize it. I don’t want to die like her, dying on my own hands. And, I still want to go back in my world, in my future. I don’t want to stay here forever.” I mumbled as a woman sitting beside my bed listened. Holding and reading a book on her hands.

“But what if I get swallowed by her old self, what should I do? Her old self is too strong, the greed, her will to destroy the old empire and build her own empire with a dragon she wanted to be called emperor by her

people. I’m afraid that I will be swallowed, if that happens, I will stay here for a very long time and eventually forget the family I had in my world.” I added.

"Greed is her will to survive. And you also need to survive. So just do what is necessary, you said that you dreamed for a very long this time and you saw him dying. You don't want that to happen, right?" she said with a calm voice not even giving me a glance and still occupied by her reading.

"Alicia.... you'll stay here for a very long time...a very long time...." I mumbled again that caught her attention but still kept silent.

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