I will slit my throat

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As soon as the sun rose in the sky, the king, followed by his soldiers, the princess, and the duke and duchess decided to take a stroll through the town, if the Assassin managed to get into the Castle walls despite the security the king placed in and outside the castle, then there was a high chance that there might not be any soldier left.

Just as the king anticipated, the soldiers including the bandit's bodies were seen together, it seemed a massacre had happened here.

The bodies were now smelling and flies danced around the corpse. The princess couldn't bear the sight and the stench. She face palmed herself feeling like a failure, their plan hadn't worked they made things worse. The only good thing that came out of this was that the subjects listened, but the bandits didn't and they deserved what got to them.

"Have you found the Assassin?" King Epirius asked.

"No your Majesty, it's like the Assassin only appears at night and disappears just like that," General Sam said.

"I told you to find that damn bastard and bring him to me dead or alive, I want his head on a platter!!" King Epirius said with clenched fists. The truth was that he was threatened by this Assassin, he could feel it deep in his bones that this Assassin would not rest until he was dead. He could feel the tingling sensations in his spine.

"What are we going to do about the corpses, Father?" Princess Evie asked.

''Throw them in the bushes, let the wolves feast on them," King Epirius said.

"What do you mean feast Father, these soldiers were dedicated, they deserve a proper burial and not to be thrown in the bushes," Evie said with disbelieving eyes.

"I am King Evelyn and my word is final, maybe someday when you get married to General Sam and he becomes King then you can control him," The King said.

"Get Married Father, what do you mean?" She asked.

"You are getting married to General Sam in three days, you have come of age," The King said and Evie broke down.

"I thought we were past this Father, I am not ready to get married and not to a man old enough to become my Father," Evie said as tears streamed down her eyes.

"We were never past this, we only gave you time," The King said.

"And you will get married to him whether you like it or not, this kingdom needs a capable man to protect it and General Sam is all that," King Epirius said again.

"You are unbelievable Father, you say you protect this Kingdom but to be honest you do nothing for this Kingdom, you are the reason we are facing this kind of threat!!" Evie blasted.

"Take her back to the palace," King Epirius said to General Sam, and after giving a slight bow, the general ushered Evie back to the palace while she continued to rebuke her father.

"Your Majesty, are you sure you want to have a wedding when there's a threat on the loose?" The Duke asked when the General and the Princess were out of sight.

"That's why we have to do this sooner Duke, I need a grandchild, a male heir in case I don't survive this," King Epirius said.

When Evie was sent back to the palace, she angrily walked up to her room and then to her cupboard, she took out a rope and tied it to the window, she tied the other end around her neck, prepared to hang herself as she climbed on the window.

"Your Highness, your meal is rea...Your Highness!!" Belle said entering the room with a tray and saw her princess ready to throw herself out the window and hang herself. The tray dropped from her hands and she rushed to the Princess who was about to jump but thanks to Belle who caught her legs, she couldn't.

"Let go of me!" Evelyn yelled, struggling to break free from her handmaiden's grip.

"I can't let you do that, your Highness, I can't let you kill yourself," Belle said and succeeded in pulling her princess down, back into the room, and hastily removed the rope tied around her neck.

Evie burst into tears and collapsed on her handmaiden who embraced her, trying to console her.

"What kind of Father was I endowed with, he is a monster!" Evie cried out.

Belle didn't say a word because it was not her place but continued to console her princess as they both cried.

"I swear, if a miracle doesn't happen before the wedding, I will kill myself, I will slit my own throat!" Evie said with a serious tone.

"Don't say that your Highness, we just need to pray for a miracle," Belle said.

Suddenly, Evie sat up, her gaze, traveling around the room as if confused as to where she was, she wiped her tears and took Belle's hand in hers.

"Let's--let's run away tonight," Evie said, holding Belle's hand firmly.

"I can't stay in this Kingdom anymore, and I know you can't bear being a slave anymore, we can run away and be free," Evie said.

"Your Highness, that is absurd you can't run away from your Kingdom," Belle said, she couldn't believe her ears right now, was this princess going to go to any length just to avoid the marriage?

"I will not stay here and get married to a man old enough to become my Father, if you don't come with me, I will go myself!" She said firmly.

"But Your Father, if he finds out about this, he'll kill me," Belle said.

"Didn't worry, I'll protect you," She replied.

"Your Highness--we have an Assassin on the loose, and going at night, it's risky!" Belle said again, trying as hard as she could to talk this stubborn princess out of the idea.

"We will be careful," Evie said again.

"Is there anything I can do to talk you out of this Your Highness?" Belle asked.

"No!"

"(Sigh) When do we leave?" Belle said, finally giving in, despite her heart drumming in her chest.

"We leave tonight, at the witching hour," Evie said and then walked to her cupboard, finding important things to pack.

"What are you waiting for, go and pack," Evie said when she turned and saw Belle still sitting there.

Belle stood up and bowed slightly before leaving the room, but before she left she packed the spilled food on the floor into the tray.

Evie proceeded with her packing and then found a dark green cloak she could wear to disguise herself on their way out of the Kingdom.

She needed this, she should at least try, there was no way she would get married to an old man like General Sam. She would find her true love and when she does she will get married to him and only him.