11 Unbelievable!

I left my beloved Taaffeite with a sour face and a bitter, frozen heart. I didn't even shed a single tear as I boarded onto the designated tinted black Audi RS5 Panther. Even when Papa hugged me goodbye, I felt nothing.

My Taaffeitians excitedly and voluntarily lined up the streets all the way to the airport with a happy smile on their face, waving their hands enthusiastically as we drove past. How ironic! None was there when I got married and now they looked as though they were pleased to see me leaving.

Yes, I'm totally aware that it was Wystan's doing during the wedding, and I'm sure my people were excited purely because they saw royalties driving past. Still, I could not bring myself to get out of the negativity.

Upon his request and me being in my tantrum mode, I brought only two of my trusted handmaidens and two bodyguards to Hawthorne Empire. That's all. No more and no less. I know I'm on the losing end since I could have brought at least ten more, and for sure regret is waiting around the corner to kick me at my lowest. However, regret was far from my mindset as I drowned myself in anger.

Even though we bid farewell at the Palace, Papa still came to meet us at the airport. Do I care? Nope. I just waltzed into Hawthorn's jet, leaving my gobsmacked husband behind to deal with Papa. Once seated, neither did I budge from my seat nor did I look out of the window to see how they fare.

Not long after, I caught a glimpse of Papa's silhouette inside the jet when I mindlessly read a magazine. Even when Wystan kept on calling my name, I fell on deaf ears.

Pfft, is the manipulative man trying to save my father's face right now? Yeah, right! Bite my ass while you're at it, won't you?

Even so, Papa did not approach me but left without uttering a single word. After all, he's the one who knows me best. He knew I was throwing a tantrum, that his darling princess is disappointed with his action. Well, too bad because it serves him right!

"Why didn't you show your respect to your father?" asked that annoying man as he picked one of the seats across me amongst the many.

I ignored him while looking straight in the eye, and my fingers were busy flipping the pages of the magazine with such strength, I'm surprised none of it ripped yet. I have no intention and no interest to communicate with someone who doesn't take me into consideration where I'm concerned.

It took almost twenty-two hours to reach Hawthorne Empire and thankfully, it was a peaceful journey throughout. No one nagging at me, the sky attendants didn't bother me much, my handmaidens and bodyguards remained in their own compartment. It was pretty much similar to a normal day despite all the turmoil going on within me.

Initially, I thought my anger had subsided halfway through. However, that was not the case. Turns out my anger transformed into this black hole, swallowing all the love I received all these years and still leaving me hollow inside. I had become an empty shell.

I resented Papa! I hated Wystan! I feel like a puppet with a heart of never-changing stone. How glad was I when the plane landed on the runway. The sooner we reached the Palace, the sooner I get to avoid him. But boy oh boy, how wrong was I?

We rode on his 4WD with his men saluted as we left the vicinity. To my surprise, there was no guard following behind us as what a normal royal protocol would be to a King. Perhaps Wystan is already the best of the best in terms of the military, or perhaps he manipulated all so he could get things his way.

However, it was no more than fifteen minutes into the drive when the scenery suddenly changed from those of a city to a forest. Literally! The buildings that I saw in front of my eyes vanished into thin air, to be replaced by large trunks of various-sized trees.

To make it even weirder, while I had flinched with every sharp twist and turn, the zooming vehicle zigzagged narrowly avoiding obstacles as though the memories of the trees' location had been ingrained into the head of the driver. When I looked at the golden white-haired man sitting behind the wheels, he was unperturbed. Is THIS considered normal?

If I dare say, the only logical explanation to all this is magic! Something that I have only read in books and watched on television. Something that was synonymous with a myth. Could it be possible that these are the works of magic? What if they are purely coincidental, and I'm exaggerating?

Finally, the car came to a halt in the middle of nowhere. We were surrounded by randomly grown lush green trees, controlled weed growth with scattering fluffy white clouds against the vast blue sky above.

It was such a huge change of scenery for me that the magnificent view lured me out of the car without a second thought.

Oh, how glad I was with the decision. The beautiful sound of birds chirping, the cringing sights of insects flying and buzzing, the wonderful leaves scattering, blown by the gentle breeze. It awoke my five senses instantly as the warm wind and sunlight caressed my skin, the smell of earthy soils filled my nose, and a hint of floral scents touched my tongue. Surprisingly, the forest isn't as humid as I thought it would be.

Mesmerised by the beauty of untouched nature, the thoughts of fear never crossed my mind. I felt bliss, PURE bliss to be given an opportunity to experience all this.

"Are you coming?" His deep voice disrupted my zen mode. With pursed lips, I turned to see Wystan was already halfway climbing a wooden ladder that wasn't there before. I looked up to see the final destination to be an old treehouse built on three connecting trees.

It was such an odd sight that I'm not even sure why we were in the forest upon my arrival and whether I would want to follow him up at all. But one thing I know for sure is true - I don't recall making the first step up the wooden ladder.