SWEET DREAMS

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: SWEET DREAMS ~ BEYONCE]

... presently, after the wedding.....

Back in the prince's quarters, a dark shadow lurked outside, peering in through the window.

"What are you doing there?" Kitanna asked the shadow. "The person you're seeking no longer rests here; he is a king now and resides in the king's quarters," she stated, walking closer to the figure. As she approached, the intruder turned and swung a knife toward her face. Kitanna swiftly moved to the left, causing the attacker's blade to miss its mark, she hit the attacker's wrist with force bringing the weapon down. The masked assailant retaliated with punching Kitanna's stomach hardly. Kitanna groaned in pain, but managed to push the figure back.

The fight continued with the princess landing most of the blows, until the attacker took out a second knife, slashing Kitanna's face slightly. She winced but maintained her composure. 

Kitanna retreated briefly, her eyes still on the person. She touched her bleeding face and tasted her own blood. Looking at the masked figure more closely, she questioned, "Black rose?"

"I don't know who trains you, but take it from me, never harm a lady's face," Kitanna grinned with blood dropping from her face. She then moved swiftly, brushing past the confused and shocked assassin. The assassin clutched it's neck, realizing poison had been injected, and the person slumped to the ground.

Kitanna grinned. "I was going to play with you a little, but then you hurt my pretty face. So sleep tight; we'll play tomorrow." She dragged the unconscious assassin to her dungeon, locked the door, and swung her keys. Tonight, she wanted to get drunk and party.

Kitanna glanced toward the king's quarters and saw that the lights were out. She knew her brother very well. He would swear not to touch Larel, but with alcohol involved, anything could happen.

Kitanna entered the party hall and went straight for the wine, she danced and enjoyed her princess time. She screamed and danced with everyone at the party, getting all the attention to herself.

Almaria took notice of her drunk daughter and saw her causing ruckus at the party.

"What is wrong with Kitanna?" she turned to ask Man-uel.

"One of the maids said she saw her fighting with someone " Man-uel informed the queen.

Almaria stopped for sometime watching the princess closely. She ordered Nix to escort the princess back to her quarters and call it a night. When the two left the party ground Man-uel turned to ask the queen. "Why did you send him?"

"Is better he gets close to her maybe in her throat or skirt. One thing is certain, he will be the one to finish her off" the queen smiled, taking a sip from her wine glass. She noticed Nix looking at Kitanna during the daytime, she knew very well of his ways with women. If he could get closer to the princess, the result will still be the same.

Man-uel who didn't support the decision or even understand how the plan will work just nodded in agreement.

Nix bowed and immediately went to fetch the drunk princess.

"Hold me... dr-dr-drop me... y-y-you... sil-ver... head-ed... tor-ch..." Kitanna mumbled as Nix carried her with one arm while holding his sword with the other. When he got to her quarters, he carried her inside. When he tried to bring her down, Kitanna clutched his face closely, " You!! You are...blue eyes...deep sea...woah" she exclaimed like a little child who just discovered a gem. She kept muttering.

Nix placed her on the bed carefully. He stood there for few seconds watching her, until the princess closed her eyes and seemed to drift off. Then suddenly she opened her eyes again and grinned. Nix stepped back, he was caught off guard by her strange behavior.

"Water... I'm thirsty, sire. I keep...dying..of thirst in this palace...every day of my life," Kitanna mumbled again.

Nix sighed, when he realized he was about to be stuck in this situation. He poured a cup of water and handed it to the princess.

"Drink first," Kitanna ordered, sounding like a small child.

Nix tilted his head and furrowed his brows, he wasn't trained to be a babysitter, he needed to leave the situation as quick as possible. He drank the water and handed the rest to the princess. She gulped down the water, spilling some on her dress in the process.

Nix noticed the mark on her face. He moved closer and cleaned the wound before gently covering her with the bed covers. Kitanna now appeared peaceful as she lay there with her eyes closed. As Nix stood up to leave, he felt a tiny hand grab his larger one.

"Thank you," Kitanna murmured, still with her eyes closed. Nix gazed at her for a moment before gently removing her hand and quietly leaving the room.

The princess he had just seen seemed harmless. Why would her own mother want her dead? Nix thought about it. But he knew better than anyone else that looks can be deceiving.

The next day, Kitanna woke up with a throbbing headache. She recalled going down to have fun, but after that, everything became fuzzy. But here she was, in her room with the court ladies attending to her.

They were drawing her bath, one of the maids was turning porridge on the table. Kitanna smiled. Nobody handled his duties better than Clephas, he knew exactly what to do at every moment. She thought to herself.

Kitanna got out of her large bed and walked toward her prepared bath. Two servants quickly moved to change her bed linens to dark blue ones, while two others undressed her, bundling her hair into a messy bun. Her bath was filled with sunflowers. The princess dunk herself in the warm water, enjoying the sensation on her skin. She spent minutes in the bath, humming a sweet, unknown melody to herself. After an hour, Kitanna scrubbed her body gently then she stepped out from the bath.

She dressed in her comfortable silk royal robe, enjoying the feeling of it against her skin. Kitanna remembered her plaything in the dungeon and she couldn't help but smile. A good morning feast.