4 : NO TRUST

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The princess stood staring out at the lands before them. Her face clear from any expression.

Her father stood beside her on the balcony wondering if he would ever get his daughter back, the little girl who trusted blindly and smiled so easily.

He wished the cruelty of the world hadn't touched her. Although her new attitude towards life and others had saved her life several times, he would have given anything to have her go back to being her old self.

" how did you find out this time? " he asked still looking at her.

" Leonard had his suspicions on her and so helped me to investigate. I came up with the idea to set a trap for her and she fell for it so cheaply. " she replied without turning to him.

He smiled proud that his daughter was no fool. " did you really have a headache? " he asked wondering if she'd faked it.

" yes I did but it stopped all of a sudden. " she replied sounding confused. " it rarely happens like that. "

" could the dark witches be toying with you? " he asked worried.

" I don't think it's them father. " she said throwing that possibility out the window. " I feel like it's something more. Like a missing piece of my life that I'm unconsciously trying to remember but yet it fades away the minute I'm awake. " Her voice grew more distant.

" perhaps we should ask Alina for help. " he suggested.

" If I need her help I'll let you know father. " she said avoiding any possibility of asking help from the sisters of light. " let's talk about why you had Leonard wake me up. She said holding him by the arm and leading him to the sitting arrangement at the balcony.

She poured him a cup of tea, waiting for him to speak up. She sat back, took a sip and looked up only to see him looking worried.

She sighed and dropped the cup without letting it make a single sound, a simple display of the etiquette which she'd been brought up with.

" was the meeting that bad? " she asked placing her hand on his.

" councilman Ernest finds joy in provoking me. " he said in reply

" have you been able to find evidence of treason he might have committed against you? " she asked picking up her cup.

" not yet but I have a feeling he's about to slip up. "

" you could always let me interrogate him you know. " she said smirking with the cup at her lips.

" I know but I believe it's best you let me handle this. "

She sighed letting the hot tea soothe her bones which ached as a result of her restless night.

" As you wish father. Now what exactly happened at the meeting? " she asked curiously.

" things have not been working in our favor. They almost brought down the northern gates and although they didn't succeed, our defences were badly weakened and some of the villagers were badly injured… "

She raised her brows and looked up at her father. " I don't see how that is your fault father. They should have moved into the refugee camps a long time ago or better yet the new houses you had built. They knew a war was coming. Their stubbornness has caused them to suffer. You are not to blame. " she ended calmly.

" it wasn't completely their fault. The houses were not yet completed by that fool. He claims that the supplies were being looted without his knowledge. " the king said trying to make his daughter understand the plight of his people.

" but still they have the refugee camps. " she said daring him to deny her.

" Clarissa you don't understand. Those lands we've asked them to move from are their homes, their lives. It holds memories of past generations and even of their children. There are some who have lost their loved ones to the war. Asking them to leave all that is hard. It is a difficult choice for them to make. These are memories they can never get back. " the king said hoping she'd understand.

But she rolled her eyes at how sentimental her father was being as usual. " then they should make new memories father. They shouldn't have to die for memories of their loved ones and then have others blame you and call you incompetent. " she said dropping the cup against the the plate loudly. " forgive my manners father. " she said in a calmer tone.

" my people know I do my best for them. "

" and still there are those who would betray you. "

King Gabriel sighed wishing once more to expel the bitterness from her heart.

" Anyway, I think you can always have councilman Ernest executed for his incompetency. "

" you have never been one to let things go Risa. " he said with a laugh.

" and why should I? " she asked with humour in her voice.

She looked out towards the widespread lands and far out villages with worry. " do you think the Eradains will defeat us Papa? "

" not if I can help it my dear. " he replied trying to keep his tone light.

" father is there anything we can do to avert this? I'm worried that all you and my mother have worked so hard to protect will be destroyed... " she said looking at him.

He held her hands in his as she spoke.

" I'm worried I will lose you too just as I lost Mama. " she said with anger and hatred for those who had betrayed her mother.

Although her memory failed her, she had been made aware by her father of the fact that it had been her nanny who had sold her mother out to the dark witches for power, one which she never got.

" I promise you no matter what happens you will not lose me. " he said reassuring her.

She pulled away feeling foolish for the weakness that she had showed.

She smiled and schooled her expression, trying to become the girl that everyone knew. The one who no one would ever have the opportunity to take advantage of.

At the age of twenty, Clarissa had strength in more ways than one. Intellectually, physically and mentally. All that she had gone through as a child would have been enough to break some people but Clarissa drew her strength from her pains and grew up to be smart, even wiser than most who were older than her. She had vowed that no one would hurt her like they did her mother. This was her defence as was the mask she wore to face the world.

" there is a way. Councilman Sebastian suggested we ask for help. " he told grimly. His pride was greatly affected by the fact that he had to ask for help.

She scoffed. " it's funny how a great kingdom like ours has to seek for help when the Eradains have practically destroyed most of the kingdoms who could once compare to ours. "

" his suggestion might work but there are certain things we need to take care of first. "

" fine then, do let me know how things go. " she said standing up. " the tea has grown cold and I'm very late for my training. May I be excused my king? " she asked curtseying.

" sure, good luck. "

She walked away leaving her father behind to think more on councilman Sebastian's suggestion.

He would have to wait and see, hopefully all would go well.

Author's Note

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