"I couldn't marry such a heartless man, Dad, "Chichi thought while groaning in her bed from the pain. At any minute her maids would return with the doctor and quite possibly The Ox King himself. She needed to have her argument ready when The Ox King demanded to know the reason behind her behavior. "He wasn't worthy of being my king..."
She knew her argument was weak and no matter what she rehearsed in her head, she knew her reasons were shallow, and she was wrong to challenge Prince Blaze. Her father had told her not to fight and she disobeyed him. Her union with Prince Blaze had been arranged since she was a little girl, and she failed to show her future husband that she could be an elegant, obedient wife.
Princess Chichi was growing impatient as she waited for someone to come into her bedchamber. Surely, they couldn't have forgotten her. Did The Ox King dismiss her maids and send the doctor home as punishment for her shameful behavior? Ignoring the pain she felt, the Princess slowly limped across the room and pulled open her door.
Heat caressed her skin, coaxing out drops of sweat from all over her body. Smoke invited itself through her nostrils and lungs, burning them in its wretched way. The Princess covered her mouth in horror as she coughed, struggling to breathe. The smell of burning hair and bodies filled the castle along with the roaring flames from down the hall.
The castle was on fire, and everyone she ever knew was most likely dead!
Shock and fear consumed all of her senses, and Princess Chichi didn't have time to mourn or pray to the Gods before a man's silhouette appeared, dodging through the flames like a wolf sprinting through a forest.
"Princess Chichi!" The man shouted, spotting her in the doorway." Hurry! We must jump out the window if you want to escape!"
The Princess shook her head. She couldn't leave the castle. Not because it was her home or that she refused to live when her father's fate was unknown. No, something was keeping her at the castle, and Chichi bolted further from the man - - an ex bandit her father had welcomed into his home, who went on to become the King's most loyal guard- - and up the castle stairs to her father's bedchamber. Where, hopefully, a certain book was waiting beneath his bed.
. . .
celestia carito: Dora the Explorer did not prepare me for what you said, but I understood half of it so," muchas gracias!"
SaiyanWolfAlchemist : I know right? I wouldn't want to marry him either :)
Mew57 : Aw, you're such a sweetie, thank you for reading :)
Mao: Thanks! I can't wait to write the scene where they meet, it's going to be fun!