Chapter 6

Preparations

The whole castle was alight with cheerfulness. Everyone was bustling about, preparing for the party. And the maids were always fussing over something, although looking quite excited and not taking the trouble of hiding it. Even the advisors were in a festival mood. Replacing their usual cold and boring eyes was fire with spark.

Sunny was looking outwards from her window with her dark brown eyes, watching the guests pour in from all sides of the country. The Pearsi kingdom never looked so beautiful. She glanced downwards and she could spot Cornelius, helping with the décor. He looked up at her, gave her a small wink and returned to his work. She smiled as she heard laughter from the children below, playing simple games of tag or marble. The cool air blew in suddenly, pushing her back slightly. It whipped around her like a whip, tearing her nightgown into shreds. She screamed in pain, feeling the cuts and bruises sear like fire. It was as if an invisible man was there, yet, she could not fight him. At last, after many minutes of agonizing pain, she let out one last scream and fell down onto the ground.

Down below, the scream startled the entire castle. Fear replaced astonishment as they realized that it had been they hostess, the princess of Pearsi. Corn races up the stairs, his breath stuck into his lungs like knives but he kept on running. The staircase seemed to go on and on. She had always joked about how I should get in more shape… he thought mindlessly. As the door came into view, he pushed the door open cautiously. He peered in from the crack and saw no one in the room but his precious princess lying there on the cold marble ground. Her nightgown was ripped and her legs shown bare. She looked pale. Cuts and bruises were scattered everywhere on her body. She was bleeding a little and her face was troubled. Cold sweat was appearing on her forehead. He rushed forwards without hesitation.

"Princess! Are you all right?" He cried as he tried to shake her into consciousness gently. His face was pale and his eyes held much fear.

Sunny didn't move. But she was breathing. After a few moments that seemed to be like eternity, she opened her eyes, peering into her guard's white face. She tried to get up and let out a groan. Her whole body was aching. No doubt that wasn't a dream.

"What happened, Princess? Are you alright?" Cornelius asked in haste. He felt her forehead. She was coming down with a fever. But she was fine this morning when I saw her…

"No, I'm fine Cornelius." She replied in a weak voice. "Really, I'm fine!" She added as she saw the disbelief on his face. Then she attempted to stand up. Her knees buckled up and she felt like tiny daggers were piercing her everywhere. The pain was crucial. She had to bite her lip to keep from screaming out. A muffled yell came from between her lips as she failed to cover her condition.

"Princess!" Cornelius yelled in alarm and quickly caught her before she fell. He took off his right glove and touched her forehead with the back of his hand. She was burning up; sweat was glistening off her face. "Quick, we have to get her to the infirmary! Send word for a doctor and make haste or you're head will be the first I cut off!" He commanded in such a harsh tone that the servants there were already out the door, hurriedly sprinting down the stairs, calling for a doctor and help.

Cornelius looked back into his princess's eyes and murmured in her ear: "You're going to be alright… I promised your mother that I would take care of you, no matter what. I will not go back on my word now and disgrace her!" His eyes flared with a deep hunger for revenge.

A few moments later, the messenger came back, sweating and panting. "They… they need you in the infirmary…" he panted. "They need you take some bondage to her first."

Cornelius considered it for a few moments' time. Would he risk leaving the princess? Or get help for her? On one hand, if he leaves, the unknown attacker might strike again in his absence. But on another hand, if he leaves, help will come and aid his princess… Confusion unraveled inside his mind and the guard thought quickly, trying to avoid the unnecessary information and questions due to the condition of Kind Richard's daughter.

He had made up his mind.

"Yes, alright, I will come."

And with that, the messenger was out the door again, heading towards the infirmary to inform the doctor that Sir Cornelius Mirdon, the protector of their treasured princess, would be coming immediately. Cornelius hastily sprinted after him. His legs felt like stone and his heart was heavy with guilt that hung unwillingly close to his mind. I should've stayed with her to make sure she was alright… I should've known…

At the edge of his eye, he caught briefly a handsome young man's face, grinning. Cornelius turned his head slowly. The mystery man was gone. A bead of blood slithered down his forehead. He felt around with his ungloved hand.

There was no wound.