Chapter 15: 15 — I Want To Go Back!
Zahra stormed up the stairs and hurried to her bedroom. She couldn't stand the people who called themselves her family.
Once inside her chambers, she forcefully slammed the door behind her.
"Even if dad- even if that man kidnapped me... he didn't hurt me. They are so mean! Acting like I'm not properly trained to be their princess is my fault!" Zahra muttered in frustration.
Zahra lifted her gaze, looking at her surroundings. She came to the sudden realization that there were no windows present within the room. She promptly made her way outside and leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths to calm herself.
"I-it's okay. It's okay," she repeated to herself as she looked downstairs where the windows were open. Despite her desire to descend quickly, she hesitated, wary of facing her family members. However she could request a different room, right?
That room was her so-called prison when she was acting up when she was brought into the palace against her will. However, it was her own choice to come to the palace, and nobody compelled her.
"They should allow me to get another room, right?" Zahra wondered as she slowly walked down the stairs.
The intricately carved railing caught her attention as she hurried through the palace.
Despite the beauty surrounding her, she was solely focused on finding a way to escape.
When she was brought to the guest room, she didn't notice the exquisite artwork adorning the walls.
In the living room, she saw a few maids delicately replacing withered flowers in golden vases with fresh ones.
"Who does that at night? Aren't you supposed to do that in the morning?" Zahra wondered. However, she didn't wish to ask questions.
Entranced by the breathtaking castle, Zahra almost lost sight of her original purpose for being on the first floor - to request another bedchamber. She swiftly averted her gaze from the surroundings and began her search for the dining room.
"Silly me! This thing is a corridor! How the hell am I supposed to find them?!" She shouted internally.
Zahra slowly walked towards the maid bringing the withered flowers away to throw them.
"Uhh, can you tell me where Queen Sameera is?" Zahra asked.
She was hesitant to meet Queen Dowager for fear of possible rejection, as well as the king due to his perceived lack of appreciation for her.
With Queen Sameera showing a soft spot and favouring her, she ultimately decided that she was the most open to listening to her concerns and complaints.
"She went to her bedchamber," the maid replied.
"Where's her bedroom?" Zahra questioned, looking around.
"It's on the third floor," the maid replied.
"Show me the way. I'm gonna get lost in this maze if I go alone!" Zahra stated as she headed towards the stairs.
The maid, still clutching the wilted flowers she had yet to discard, nodded and swiftly followed behind Zahra at her request.
Observing Zahra's behaviour, the maid mused to herself, "Although she may not have been brought up in a royal household, her demeanour certainly reflects that of a princess," shaking her head at the thought.
"You said something?" Zahra, turned her face, raising her eyebrow to face the maid who froze at her question.
Caught off guard by Zahra's question, the maid stumbled over her words before quickly retracting, "No, I was simply humming to myself."
Realizing her oversight, the maid cried out in embarrassment, "I beg your pardon! Please forgive me!" Her eyes remained fixed on the ground in shame.
Perplexed by the maid's sudden outburst, Zahra lifted the maid's chin to meet her gaze, "What's there to be sorry about? You can sing!" Zahra grinned, leaving the maid shocked as she climbed the stairs.
"Hurry up now," Zahra continued climbing the stairs.
Jolted out of her stunned state, the maid blushed and nodded, hurrying to catch up with Zahra.
The woman was surprised by the princess's warm demeanour towards her, despite knowing the cruel act she had committed against her maid friend. Although she felt a strange sensation, she did not harbour any negative feelings toward the princess.
"Maybe... she's not that bad..." She mumbled to herself.
Zahra gracefully strolled through the corridor, marvelling at the intricate floral patterns that adorned the light gold walls. The soft carpet beneath her feet provided a gentle tickle, causing a subtle smile to form on her lips as she relished the sensation of sinking into its plush fibres with each step she took.
Finally arriving at Sameera's bedchamber, she extended her arm and knocked on the door.
Upon hearing a faint invitation to enter, Zahra turned towards the maid.
"You can go back," Zahra told the maid who had accompanied her. "And sorry for dragging you. I would get lost if not."
After giving the maid a soft smile, Zahra opened the lavishly decorated door.
Meanwhile, Sameera was standing in front of her mirror, removing her heavy jewelry.
Without looking up to see who had entered the room, Sameera asked, "What is it? Did you want to know about tomorrow's menu? I will let you know—" However, she paused once she noticed Zahra's reflection beside her in the mirror.
"Princess Zahra?"
Upon hearing her name, Princess Zahra turned around to see Queen Sameera approaching her with concern. "Is there anything you need, Princess? Are you feeling uncomfortable?" Sameera inquired, reaching out to touch Zahra's cheeks.
Declining the queen's touch, Zahra replied coolly, "I am fine."
Despite feeling rejected, Sameera maintained a smile and asked, "How can I assist you, Princess?"
"I want to change bedrooms. I don't like that one." Zahra looked around, her gaze falling on the windows in the queen's room. "One with a window. I won't escape, so at least you can give me that much."
"You are welcome to utilize any of the bedrooms on this floor at your convenience," Sameera promptly responded with a cheerful expression.
"Which one? There's a lot here," Zahra stepped outside of the door, looking right and left. The corridor seemed never-ending to her. "Give me one close to the stairs. I can't walk so far every day," she sighed.
"Can you please?" She asked, realizing she had been too impolite to the queen.
In fact, it was the queen who had kindly offered her food. Plus, she was the one who had forcibly fed her when she had declined meals while confined to the guest room.
"Of course," Sameera replied with a smile and rang the bell placed on her wardrobe. A minute later, a maid arrived.
"Please bring the princess's belongings in this tray and set up a room near the stairs. Make sure it's the largest available and decorate it nicely," Sameera instructed promptly, trying to hide her excitement.
"Uhm.. it's okay, you know, I can manage, don't worry," Zahra said. "Plus I have nothing in my room. Just me as a language." Zahra added, joking about her physics, as she glanced at her reflection in the mirror and playfully pulled her cheeks.
A look of concern washed over Sameera's face as she gazed at her daughter.
"It's just for tonight, my dear. Tomorrow, a tutor will come to teach you and I will also arrange for a dietician for your nutrition. Don't worry," Sameera reassured Zahra, tenderly patting her head despite being pushed away earlier.
This time, Zahra stood still and returned a gentle smile before leaving the room, leaving Sameera feeling content.
The maid led the way to a room just a few steps from the stairs.
"Here is your room, Your Highness," the maid bowed before exiting the room.
Zahra opened the door, finding the room equally as beautifully decorated as the previous one she had seen, Sameera's bedroom.
Stepping inside, Zahra was struck by the size of the room, which was significantly larger than any living space she had ever known. She ran her hand over the soft couch and felt the plush carpet beneath her feet.
Excitedly, Zahra jumped onto the bed, bouncing up and down like a child would with a new toy they never expected to obtain. She laid down on the pillow, closing her eyes as she drifted off to sleep.
- The next day -
Zahra jolted awake, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath. After scanning her surroundings frantically, she soon registered that it was just another nightmare.
"Again," she mumbled, wiping her face.
Zahra could never get used to having nightmares, no matter how long they lasted. She would constantly forget what had happened in her nightmares the next morning, almost as if something were haunting her. She knew it was terrifying, though.
She therefore made no effort to recall. When she woke up from the nightmare, her condition gave her warnings that maybe she would lose her sanity if she forced her memory to recall her dream.
Zahra hurried to refresh in the bathroom. She was unaccustomed to such opulent surroundings, yet she was still able to figure out how everything worked.
Zahra had just finished using the restroom when she decided to undress to take a shower.
However, she stopped short of taking off her clothing.
She didn't want to take a shower because it would require her to change into fresh clothes similar to a princess's. And she hasn't sincerely embraced her identity as a princess. What set her apart in this palace was the way she dressed. She didn't want to alter that in addition to how her identity had changed.
However, she dared not ask any of the family members to allow her to use her garments as a challenge.
After a brief interval, Zahra shook her head. Even if they were against it, it didn't matter to her.
"I just need to pack my clothes and head back home! While I'm at it, I'll meet Isaac and ask him why he let me go and come with these people."
Determined to find the answers to her questions, Zahra spoke and left her bedroom.
"I want to go back home!" As soon as Zahra saw Emera seated on the sofa downstairs, she yelled.
Zahra, who was standing close to the stairs, descended as fast as she could.
"What?" Emera inquired.
"I want to go back, unless you've grown deaf with age" She raised her eyebrows. "Are you?"
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Aphrodiitewritess
Aphrodiitewritess I will be setting a specific time for the updates from now on. It will be around 9-10 pm EST or 12 pm EST. I hope you're looking forward to how the story will turn out and I hope you liked this chapter <3
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