CHAPTER 21 THE SHIFT

TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO IN THE MAGICAL REALM.

"Your Highness, are you okay?" Princess Rose's maid Lisa asks her as she looks around the messy room. 

"I am alright Lisa." She responds.

After she had chanced lord lungu out of her chambers Princess Rose started to break everything and anything her hands could find. And now after calming down a bit, she is sitting on her bed thinking about her conversation with lord lungu. She can't believe he had asked her to be in a triad. She is his true mate and the only woman he should want in his life. Did he expect her to agree to that stupid request of his? 

"Do you need anything, Your Highness?" Lisa asks as she squats in front of Princess Rose.

"I don't know what I want right now Lisa." Princess Rose says as she throws herself in her maid's arms and lets out a sob. Lisa is not just Princess Rose's maid but she is also her friend, one of a few beings that Princess Rose trusts.

"What did lord lungu say to you to make you upset?" Lisa asks.

"He said that he does not want to give up on me or Lady Ruby. He wants us both to be with him." Princess Rose says, still crying.

"Don't tell me he suggested what I think he did."

"He did Lisa. He suggested a triad. Without even asking I assumed I was going to be okay just because my parents were in one. You know, while I was waiting for him to come back from the meeting I decided that if he chose me I would suggest a triad for the sake of his children but he beat me to it."

"What are you going to do?" Lisa asks.

"I don't know what to do Lisa, my mind is blank."

"Rose," Lisa calls as she lifts Princess Rose's head so that she can look at her. Lisa rarely calls Princess Rose by her first name even though the princess has told her a thousand times to address her by her first name. She only does it when she wants to say something very important not as her maid but as her best friend.

"Yes, Lisa," Princess Rose responds as she wipes tears from her eyes.

"Do you want me to do something about Lady Ruby? The only thing you need to do is say the word and I will do it." Princess Rose can tell that Lisa is serious. Lisa is not just a maid but she is also a powerful witch. She was brought to the Oval Kingdom by Princess Rose's late mother when she was young after the death of her parents. The late queen made sure to teach her a lot of spells and potions so that she could be of help to Princess Rose. 

"No, Lisa, you don't have to do anything. It is not Lady Ruby's fault she is also a victim of fate." Princess Rose says.

"If that is what you want then okay, but if you change your mind let me know, and I will get rid of her," Lisa says.

Princess Rose's heart is heavy with conflicting emotions. On one hand, she is hurt and betrayed by Lord Lungu's suggestion of a triad, feeling insulted. On the other hand, she feels sympathy for Lady Ruby, who is also caught in this complicated situation.

Dragons are a proud species and do not like to be placed as second-best and lord Lungu's suggestion made Princess Rose feel Like a second option.

As she sits in her messy room, surrounded by broken objects and shattered emotions, Princess Rose knows that she needs to make a decision. She cannot continue to live in this state of turmoil and uncertainty. But what should she do?

With Lisa's offer to take matters into her own hands, Princess Rose is faced with a tempting solution. She could easily rid herself of Lady Ruby and eliminate the source of her pain. But deep down, she knows that this is not the answer. She cannot let her anger and hurt cloud her judgment and lead her to decide to do something that she will regret. She knows that she can not let her emotions dictate her actions, especially when the lives and feelings of others are at stake.

Taking a deep breath, Princess Rose looks into Lisa's eyes and smiles. "I want to go for a hunt." She says. Lisa can tell that the smile Princess Rose is giving her is fake.

"Do you want to go now?"

"Yes,'" Princess Rose says as she gets off the bed.

"Okay, let me find out if the private hunting grounds are free."

After Lisa leaves the room, Princess Rose sits back on the bed and cries. The tears keep on coming out no matter how much she tries to hold them in. Lisa comes back after a few minutes and let her know that the private hunting grounds her. Princess Rose gets up from the bed and goes with Lisa to the hunting grounds.

Upon reaching the forest, Princess Rose takes a deep breath and inhales the smell of the earth. The hunting grounds are a very big forest which is only used for shifting. The private hunting grounds are mainly used by those of royal blood.

"Are you ready?" Lisa asks.

"Yes, I have not shifted into my dragon form for ten days now. My dragon wants to be set free," Princess Rose says as she starts removing her clothes.

After she finishes removing her clothes, Princess Rose closes her eyes and lets her dragon magic take control of her body, mind, and soul. It only takes a few seconds for her to start transforming into her dragon form. Her bones start to crack as she shifts. Her slender body has now turned into a huge golden dragon. The dragon turns to Lisa and gives her a friendly push with its tale. Lisa laughs at the familiar act. Princess Rose always does this to her, to let her know that she is still her friend whether in human form or dragon form.

Princess Rose spreads her wings and takes flight, soaring through the forest with grace and power. The wind rushes through her scales as she navigates the dense trees and undergrowth. The forest is alive with the sounds of nature - birds chirping, leaves rustling, and the distant roar of other shifting creatures.

As Princess Rose flies higher, she can see the vast expanse of the hunting grounds below her. The forest stretches out in all directions, a lush green carpet dotted with clearings and streams. It is a place of beauty and mystery, where the ancient magic of the gods still lingers.

Princess Rose dives down towards a clearing, her wings beating against the air as she lands gracefully on the soft forest floor. She can feel the power of the earth beneath her, the energy of the forest pulsing through her veins. She is one with the land, a creature of the wild.

With a roar that shakes the trees, Princess Rose lets out a burst of dragon fire, the flames licking the sky and illuminating the forest with a warm, golden light. The fire dances and crackles, casting shadows on the trees and sending sparks flying into the night. A herd of antelopes can be seen on the ground burned by the dragon fire. Princess Rose feasts on the animals with enjoyment.

She revels in the freedom and power of her dragon form, feeling the rush of adrenaline as she hunts and feeds. The forest is her domain, a place where she can unleash her true self and connect with her primal instincts. The thrill of the hunt, the taste of victory, and the satisfaction of a full belly all combine to create a sense of joy and satisfaction.

As she finishes her meal, Princess Rose takes a moment to bask in the glow of the fire, feeling the warmth of the flames against her scales. The night is alive with the sounds of the forest, the rustling of leaves, the hooting of owls, and the distant howl of wolves. It is a symphony of nature, a reminder of the wild and untamed world that she calls home.

With a contented sigh, Princess Rose spreads her wings and takes flight once more, soaring through the night sky with grace and power. The moon shines down on her, casting a silvery light on her golden scales. She feels a sense of freedom and liberation as she flies, the wind rushing past her and the stars twinkling above.

As she flies, Princess Rose observes the beauty and majesty of the forest, the ancient trees, and the hidden wonders that lie within. With a final sweep of her wings, Princess Rose lands back in the clearing, her dragon form slowly fading away as she shifts back into her human form. She takes a deep breath and inhales the scent of the earth once more, feeling grounded and at peace.

With a smile on her face, Princess Rose turns to Lisa and says, "Let's do it again tomorrow. I never want to leave this place." Lisa just laughs at the comment she hears Princess Rose say every time after her shift.