3 INTRODUCTION PART 3

As soon as his daughter was out of sight, the bloodlust appeared again like it never left. In a few moments, the King was already in his military attire, ready to kill anyone who dared to disrupt the peace of his Kingdom.

"Let's go."

Meanwhile, Princess Melanie couldn't be any happier to hear that she would get a chance to prove to her father how good a warrior she would be. In her room, her handmaiden, Grizelda was preparing her for her birthday celebration.

"I'm going to protect mom and baby Andrew. Dad will definitely let me join his army once I succeed. He doesn't even have to worry about any other gift for me. Me joining his army is enough. I just know I'm going to succeed, don't you think so, Griz..." Suddenly, two guards covered in blood barged into her room.

"Princess, the King said to take you out of the castle, NOW!" Said the first guard.

"What? Why?" Melanie and her handmaiden couldn't hide their scared and confused expressions.

"There's no time to explain princess. We need to get moving!" Saying this, the second guard carried her out of her room princess style while running, leaving the first guard and Grizelda running right behind him.

She might have been young but she wasn't stupid to not pick the alarm in the voices of the guards so she didn't argue and let them do their job.

As she was being carried, Melanie couldn't stop herself from thinking the worst about the situation. She knew her father had gone to war, she knew her father's General said something about being betrayed, she knew her father was greatly disturbed by the news and now that her father sent men covered in blood saying to leave the palace, she didn't even want to think of what may have happened for him to suggest that. The palace was supposed to be the safest place for her family. She couldn't even bring herself to ask the guards any questions for fear of the unknown.

Soon enough, they made it to a trapdoor with stairs that led to the secret Palace gardens. This garden was only accessible to the King and his family and it also led to a hidden exit from the palace.

All this while, Melanie was being carried by a guard like she weighed nothing.

At the middle of the garden, Melanie could see some of the female servants tending to her pregnant mother, Queen Monica, whom she was supposed to protect. Seeing her mother looking so pale and sick added worry to her fear. She couldn't believe she had actually forgotten her promise to her father.

"Mother!" She screamed as she ran towards her. Queen Monica was sitting on the edge of the fountain. Melanie's eyes were teary on seeing her mother's condition. "What happened to you?" she asked, wrapping her arms around her mother and finally letting her tears fall.

"My darling," came her mother's soft voice as she rubbed Melanie's back with her hand . "I'm okay now that you're here."

Melanie looked at her mother's face with eyes filled with doubt.

Of course, Monica could read her daughter's expression and not wanting her to worry she quickly said, "I ran down the stairs which was bad for the baby and that's all. I'm fine, really. I just wanted to rest a bit."

Melanie was finally convinced that her mother was okay. That meant she hadn't failed woefully in protecting the Queen and her future brother. That thought had her feeling a little better.

"Your Majesty, I'm happy to see you are better now and I suggest we get moving before it gets dark as we have a long journey ahead." Said the guard who carried Melanie from her room to the garden.

"I agree with you Simon. We can start moving."

As soon as the Queen stood, something tragic happened...