3 Labyrinth

"I'm sure you know Duke Tristan Dechavez, the heir of the Dechavez Empire from the west." My father proposed.

The Dechavez family has always been a family friend because Tristan's grandmother and my grandpa both worked in the Escareal Palace, somewhere in the west continent before he ran for a presidential race.

"What about him?" I asked and sat on a chair here in the Triad Laboratory. And I thought I could wander around the garden more. What a waste.

"Emperor Dechavez and his wife agreed to a political bond-" I cut my father off before he could even proceed.

"What do you mean political bond, Dad?"

"A marriage. Let me get this straight, Claude, if you marry the emperor's son, you can have a share of their empire state. In exchange to that, Tristan will help you in handling your political prowess! Fair enough to maintain each other's reputation, isn't it?" He smirked like it's the most brilliant idea in the world.

"You're... fixing my marriage?" I slowly asked. This is why I always choose not to see him, more so talk to him. I just couldn't comprehend how things run in his mind.

"Why are you looking disappointed, dear? It's for your own good!" He convinced me.

No matter where I look at it, it's clear to me that he's securing his political life, and he's using me to gain more power.

"Aren't we too liberated to conform with traditional cultures, Dad? I don't like this."

"Now, don't disagree with me. This is for your own sake!"

"I'm twenty and I completely disagree with this, Dad!" I almost shouted so he could understand my reasoning.

"That is why! You're twenty and you have less experience and exposure when it comes to work. We are maintaining our political dynasty. You don't always have me so it's better if you have the Duke of Caraville to accompany you." My father seemed to lose his composure. We always disagree like this.

"I don't want to."

"Come on, Claudia. You are supposed to be mature enough to understand these kinds of things."

"Dad, I'm mature enough to be ruled! I believe I already can choose who I should marry. You already took away my freedom to live a life that I want, now you're taking away my freedom to choose a man to marry?" This is just so frustrating!

Since I was thirteen, I have been used for the labyrinth just for my father to make the people kneel. Tonight was my very first time asking Candice what the labyrinth made me do for the whole seven years.

I was never interested because I always have no memory regarding those times.

"My decision is final. I just want to inform you but you cannot change my mind, Claude."

"Dad? How could you be so cruel?!" I shouted.

The door opened and some agents came inside, probably disturbed by our conversation. Doctor Herrera came in and I saw how my father nodded at them.

His men went my way and forcefully dragged me into the hospital bed. The next thing I knew, a few medical tubes are attached to my body.

"What are you doing? Stop it!" I nervously shouted.

The microchip is held by tubes connecting to my head. Dr. Herrera maneuvered the computer monitor and I suddenly felt the substances implanted into my head. My body convulsed and I tried hard to fight the occurring unconsciousness. My head is heavy, my memories are crumbling and I can no longer contain all in my mind.

And then I failed to fight.

"Labyrinth installation successful. Information transfer complete." My mouth chanted.

My eyesight directly looked for the president.

"Labyrinth now in action. Body condition, weak. High adrenaline, and emotional and mental complications are present. President, the labyrinth is of no condition to work."

The president eyed me. According to a source, his way of staring is serious, meaning, he is determined of something.

"You will agree to a marital bond, Claudia." His eyesight is focused on the labyrinth, meaning, he is talking to me.

Marital bond is a connection shared by a couple. The labyrinth received an order from the president. Hence, it shall be followed.

"Yes, President."

"Good. I guess we're done. I'll be leaving." The president stated.

My sensors clearly absorbed the president's urge to leave this room.

"Take good care, President August." That is one of the most common responses when someone says goodbye.

"You may now detach the labyrinth from her, Henry. She needs to rest so she won't be that weak when I use her next time.

"Yes, President." The man addressed as 'Henry' bowed as a sign of respect before the president left.

"Attach the tubes."

"Labyrinth operations breaking off... program shutting down..."

A force pulling something from my body made me open my eyes in pain. What the hell was that just now?

"Young Miss, please allow me to inject your sleeping aid." Dr. Herrera said.

I was breathing heavily because of the sudden pull of something within me. I am surrounded by medical tubes and the microchip is in its place: floating above me with wires and tubes holding it.

"N-No..." I weakly closed my eyes.

"We are very sorry about the sudden installment. It was an order from your father."

Great. I remembered how he looked at them when I acted so stubborn. And then... they abruptly tied me with those tubes. I couldn't remember what happened after that.

"It was a mistake that we prompted the installment of the labyrinth, Young Miss. I expected your senses to abnormally react but I'm glad there aren't any complications." Our family doctor explained.

"Can you elaborate further?" I inquired.

"Usually, we hold you unconscious before installing the microchip on your body so your own memories would not overlap with the labyrinth's stored information and its own memories of your body. But this time, it was very sudden, and I was afraid it would cause you memory disruption."

I bit my lip and felt the ache in my head. "So you knew... you knew that it's harmful yet you proceeded..." can anyone be more cruel than these people?

"I'm sorry, Young Miss. It was your father's orders." Dr. Herrera bowed his head.

"It's fine. You may leave. Like I can do something about that." Like I can do something to make people withstand my father's selfishness.

I spent the whole night staring at the labyrinth floating above me. I'm as good as weak right now but I just can't stop thinking how something as absurd as the labyrinth could exist in this world.

"Good morning, Young Miss. I'm sorry I wasn't here last night. I was told to leave you alone while you rest." Candice came in.

"It's not like I rested well enough." I'm feeling better now than last night.

"The president told me to come along. He said you'd better stroll outside the palace so you'll recover faster."

True enough, I made it outside the chambers. During daylight, the garden looks very relaxing with a variety of flowers and plants.

"Do you want to eat something, Young Miss?" Candice asked while we make our way to the backyard where the large pond reside after the tall bushes.

"Clubhouse sandwich will do." I requested.

"Noted, Miss. I'll be right back." She made a turn to go back to the Palace while I continued walking toward the bridge.

Across the bridge, there's a mini-park where I spent my time alone years ago. I smiled a bit and crossed the bridge.

I am about to sit on a stone bench when I heard a series of sounds, like footsteps on the grass.

Suddenly getting alert, I looked around the vicinity. I am alone and the palace is almost a kilometer away from here. Aside from that, this part of the backyard is hidden because of the bushes near the pond.

I ignored my subconscious and sat on the stone bench. I can clearly see the upper chamber from here. It has the same color as the sky above. The busy politicians residing the palace don't get out of their offices very often. They couldn't even appreciate the view they see from their windows, or wander around to soothe themselves. What a waste.

"Finally got you, young Carbonel."

I lost my ability to speak because of the sudden attack. Three men in black wearing masks held me captive.

"Hmmm!" My shouts became hums. They covered my mouth and held both of my arms around my back.

What do they need? These guys have the guts to lunge.

"I never expected this to be so easy. Let's capture this girl and bring her to the hideout." One of the men said.

Before I could even struggle, they fell down one by one.

"Enemies countered. Check the outer vicinity and look for their reinforcements." A voice from behind spoke. He seems to be connecting with the other agents.

"What's all this nonsense?" Jesther Sylvestre asked me, slightly annoyed. What's he getting annoyed at?

"What nonsense are you talking about? They just came out of nowhere and attacked me!" I reasoned out.

He eyed me suspiciously. Oh, right! Candice told me the E-Claudia is good at fighting! They perceive me as someone strong! What the hell?

I avoided his gaze, afraid that he might see through my scheme.

"Why are you getting out of the palace? You're supposed to be resting for now." He suspiciously asked.

So he knew about the labyrinth?

"H-Huh? The president himself approved. You're supposed to k-know that." I objected but keep on avoiding to meet his eyes. His stares are like fire that could roast every raw lies.

"Why would he let you out? This place is always prone to enemies. And you're sick, aren't you?" I blinked without looking at him.

Through my peripheral view, I could see his hands on his waist like he's problematic because of me.

"If I had known that something like this would happen, I should've just stayed in my room." I rolled my eyes at him.

"You can't even protect yourself."

"Then I'm sorry if I seem to be disturbing you because I can't protect myself." I sarcastically said and finally have the guts to face him.

"I am expecting something spectacular from you, since you are one of the members of the Presidential Team. I guess I expected too much. Or are you just lucky the second time we met?" He raised his brow arrogantly and smirked.

I refrained myself from arguing with him. I don't know how we met but he seems familiar. Like I just saw him yesterday, or the other day. I don't know.

"Young Miss! The security measures are heightened. I came back to tell you- oh." Candice stopped talking and her run became a slow walk when she arrived and found me talking to somebody.

"I'm fine. Save the food for later." I think I lost my appetite because of this weird agent and these weird happenings around me.

What the hell.