castle runaway. ˡᵉᵉ ᵈᵒⁿᵍʰʸᵘᶜᵏ

FOUR

Monique's POV

I woke up feeling so dirty, so disgusted and so tired. I stared at the tower's window, my eyes heavy from all the silent crying last night.

I felt the bed move. I heard Alvertos groan as he stood up. "Good morning, princess." I didn't move. In my peripheral vision, he was going to kiss my temple but I raised my hand.

"Don't,"

He just smirked and let me. "And there's no good in the morning." I added and slowly sat up. Alvertos grabbed my cheeks with a hand and make me look at him. "Well, there's a good in mine."

I pulled my face away from him. I raised my hands and clapped loudly. The door immediately opened and there was Rosella giving me a concerned look. She walked towards me and helped me stand.

I looked at Alvertos to give him a glare but he just smiled, half naked. I gave him a dirty look and exited the room. I clutched the blanket around me as we made our way back in the main castle.

When we arrived, I saw Mother and Father both in the throne room, both standing. They have their eyes set on me and I know what is going to happen.

I bowed. "Father, Mother." I said in almost a whisper. I didn't look at any of them as Father started shouting. Not really, his voice is just loud but he's angry.

"Alvertos didn't like your attitude last night. You were not behaving properly," He said. "Since Prince Alvertos was not satisfied, you will be sent in the dungeons. An hour of punishment!"

Rosella sighed beside me and slowly dragged me to the dungeons. When we were finally alone in the hallway, I heard sniffing from beside me. "Rosella?" I looked at her and she wiped the tears on her cheeks.

"I always.. always feel sorry for you, princess. That you have to live like this, that you have to go to the dungeon for something you did not do," She sobbed. "That you have to spend a night with some prince you don't know."

I looked at her and smiled. "Ro," She stated at me as I called her nickname. "It's okay. As long as you and Luciana and the rest are remained untouched, I'll be alright. They give the people the love while they give their daughter the hate, but I only offer you all my respect and love."

"Princess.."

I held her hand. "I'll endure everything until the time I would escape," I whispered to her. "Now, don't tell anyone about my plan, okay?" She nodded almost immediately.

We looked in front when we heard a thump from inside the jet black door. It slowly opened, the door creaking. I gave Rosella a smile before walking inside the dungeon.

"Well, well, well, princess," I heard the punisher say. "Looks like you're back." I sighed. I looked to my right and saw Lucas with a whip in his hands.

He whistled, looking at me. "You won't change your clothes?" I tied the ends of the blanket above my chest. "No." He shrugged and pulled down the part of the blanket behind me.

"And I thought your wounds are healing." He said, sliding his finger on my back. I whimpered, his nail hitting some of my wounds.

I sensed his breath near my neck and felt him softly kiss my shoulder. "One hour, I heard?" I nodded, raising my hands to the dirty wall. "Just get it over with." I said.

"Woah, okay, princess." I closed my eyes as Lucas hit my back with the whip. The whip hit the fresh wounds and making new ones. I groaned, whimpered and winced.

The hour felt like a month. "Done." Lucas said and covered my blood back with the blanket. "You're still so pretty even though your back's all ruined." I turned to him. "Everybody says that."

He just smirked. "I'll be waiting, princess. Hope you visit sooner." I avoided his comments and went back outside. The dungeon's doors opened and Rosella was waiting for me there.

She stood up and ran towards me, immediately checking my back. "Oh, princess. The blood on your back.." I just nodded. I can't feel anything anymore. I was too numb to feel the pain of the whiplash.

"Let's go to my room." I said and Rosella and I walked to the said room. We both entered and I immediately walked towards the shower room. I took off the blanket and handed it to Rosella.

"Tell Luciana to burn that blanket. Now." Rosella nodded and went to call Luciana. I went to the body length mirror near the tub and turned my back on it. I heaved a heavy exhale as I saw more and more wounds on it.

"They're gonna hurt so bad in the bath." I mumbled to myself and went to the tub. I dipped my back on the water and sighed as the water seeped through my wounds, hurting my back more in the process.

"Princess!" I raised a brow at Rosella. "Your back..!" I waved my hand. "It's okay. My wounds heal immediately when it's healed with water." I said and smiled.

I just closed my eyes and Rosella helped me wash up. After that, she let me wear a normal dress. She was scared that the corset might hurt my back so she let me off with something simple. My parents won't mind since they'll have all day in the Crescent Council.

"What would you like to do today, princess?" Rosella asked. I smiled and slumped on my bed. "Read books and sip milk." She smiled back. "Should I got get some, then?" I nodded. "Thank you."

She left the room and I took a book from my shelf. I opened it to the page I put a book mark with and continued reading. The door opened again and there was Rosella with my milk.

"Princess," I looked at her with a raised brow as I drank a small portion of my milk. "Why don't you cry? After all of the awful things the King and Queen has done to you.. You still smile and act like nothing happened.."

I placed the cup back on the tray. "Ro, for me, there's no point in crying when you know you still have hope somewhere. Outside of this huge castle is something more. As I said, I'll endure the pain until the time I'm going to have my freedom."

"You're really leaving?" She asked, lips quivering. "What choice do I have? You don't want to see me suffer everyday, don't you? You are lucky because they won't touch you unless you do something really stupid. I misbehave and boom, I end up in the dungeon.

I'm sure this hell part of my story will end. Sooner or later, but not now. The good things come when you least expect it. Besides, I was hurt too far to even feel anything now." Rosella was now in tears.

"P-Princess.."

I smiled. "Aw, don't cry. I know you care about me." She fell to her knees. "I would never regret serving someone like you, Princess Monique." I put a hand on her shoulder.

"And I would never regret making a friend like you."

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