The Uninvited Princess ✔

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Pranee didn't expect to come home like this.

The stone was cold but the bars separating Shashi and her were even colder. Pranee had her back pressed against the bars as she sat on the floor. All the walls were just cold metal bars and there nowhere for her to lay or sit comfortably. Her cell was attached to Shashi's and she sat as far away from them as possible.

The guards were not gentle when transporting them to the palace. They had stripped them of all their magical items and they had only left them with the clothing that they were wearing. Pranee's hands kept touching her head, expecting to touch a wig but instead felt patches of skin and hair. Tears silently slid down her face and she stared at the empty space in front of her as she processed what had just happened.

"Your royal highness."

Pranee looked up to see that Shashi was on their knees and had their head bowed towards her. Her mouth naturally formed into a frown as she stared at the wizard, unsure of what to make of the situation.

"Stop that."

"I only thought you were a noblewoman and not the princess. I was being disrespectful to you this whole time so let me make it up–"

"I said to stop. Lift your head."

"Yes, your highness."

"And stop calling me that too. Pranee is fine."

Silence fell between the two of them and Pranee licked her dry lips. They probably never had seen her without the wig before.

"What do you want?" She wiped her eyes the back of her hand as she tried to keep a brave face.

"Will the king punish you severely? You are the princess."

"I don't know." A tear escaped through her fingers and she quickly rubbed her face on her arm. "He doesn't like P'Tanet and our parents... I'd be lucky if I survived this honestly."

"Are you alright?"

A breathless laugh escaped her mouth and she could tell that they were concerned even if she was sitting pretty far away from them.

"What do you think?"

"Let me have a better look at your face if you're going to ask me that."

She didn't say anything as she mulled over the request. Shashi didn't say anything else and only stared at her with determination. They were scared of being impolite to her not too long ago yet they still make demands of her like this.

She took small steps towards the other side of the cell, not enthusiastic for them to get a better look at her head. When she got close enough to the bars, she stood there with her arms crossed against her chest and Shashi was still kneeling.

"How are you going to have a better look at my face if you're kneeling like that?" The joke came out as dry and humourless but Shashi smiled anyways.

"Fine, I'll stand."

Shashi stood with shaky legs and Pranee instinctively grabbed the bars, worried that they were about to fall. When they finally stood, they looked at her for what seemed like forever. Slowly, they approached the bars and continued to stare at her head. She immediately looked at the ground, not wanting to see their reaction to her head. Her forehead touched the cool bars and it sent a small shiver down her spine.

"Did they do this to your head? Does it hurt?"

"No... no. I..." She took a shaky breath. "My hair was always like this."

"It was?"

She fiddled with the bracelet on her hand. "Yeah... I was wearing a wig."

"No, I meant the bleeding." They said it so plainly that Pranee felt even more self-conscious.

"Oh..." Pranee's face reddened. "That was from the wig."

"They didn't hurt you anywhere else?"

"No, they didn't."

"Good."

She felt warmth against her forehead and she could feel the warmth of their breath against her skin. She didn't feel the need to pull away from them and allowed herself to be comforted by their presence. The urge to cry slowly subsided and she was able to calm down. They stood like that in silence for what felt like a long time until Shashi let out a heavy sigh.

"I don't think I'm comfortable with the idea of you being hurt by them."

Pranee bit her bottom lip. "What makes you say that?"

"I was just thinking about when I came back to the tower and everything that happened..."

"Ah well... I wasn't really hurt by them."

"I'm sorry that I hurt you then. I'm not... actually very good at controlling my magic."

"How come?"

"I'm still a novice. It should actually take years before I fully master anything...I just..."

"It's fine, I'm fine. I'm standing in front of you right?"

They didn't respond but she could feel their forehead move and she assumed that they had nodded.

"I'm so sorry, your highness."

"I told you not to call me that. Should I punish you for insulting a royal?"

"I'm already in jail."

"Maybe I should ask to have your hands removed."

They laughed bitterly. "You know that isn't possible."

"Then I'll collect your possessions."

"It wouldn't make a difference unless you're asking for me to strip my clothes off."

Pranee pursed her lips and could feel a blush creep up her neck.

"How about a kiss then?" She said it without any thought and her heart pounded in her chest as she realized what she had just said.

She felt their forehead leave hers and she could feel embarrassment wash over herself. They had asked not too long ago to end the relationship. It wasn't right that she was being selfish like this. She looked up to have her whole face pressed against the bars to see what Shashi was doing.

That was when she felt warmth on her lips.

She held her breath and her eyes were slightly wide with shock. Her heart was beating wildly as she realized that they were kissing her.

The kiss ended as soon it started and her eyes focused on Shashi. Their face was flushed as well and their eyes were staring at her, waiting for her to speak.

"Shashi..."

"Am I forgiven?" Their voice was soft and low.

Pranee reached out her hand towards them and brushed their hair back. "Absolutely."

Their lips met hers again this time lasting longer than the previous. Her hands held onto both sides of their head as she didn't want to lose them anytime soon. She didn't know she had missed their touch so much until now.

The sound of the prison's door made the two of them jump in surprise and Pranee turned her head immediately to see a guard standing in front of them.

"Princess, your majesty has requested to have an audience with you."