Diana’s P.O.V.
Staring at the shackles around my wrists, I let out a soft sigh and turned my gaze back to the window. A lone tear escaped my left eye as I rested my head against the headboard and gazed at the splotches of orange hues on the blue canvas. These orangish-yellow colors would soon cover the whole sky giving it a splendid view.
Every day the day ends with a beautiful and romantic evening. This fact had been tickling my fancy since I was a child. Soon, it grasped me in his claws and forced me to believe in love, and incited a bone-deep feeling in me to look for our soulmates. And I being an idiot blindly followed that and kept dreaming of my Prince. Nature had been fooling me since childhood. Gives me a temporal joy just like this beautiful evening when the truth is that once this charade ends, I am left in sheer, endless, and unfathomable darkness.
Everyone fooled me even my love.
Promising me a better and safe future, making my dream of vague and hopeless things only to blow off my dream palace so brutally that even if I try, I won’t be able to revamp it.
The sound of the clanking of chains reverberated through the silent room as I raised my hands in the air to wipe my tears only to drop them back in midway as I lost the will to do so.
He hurt me. Both physically and mentally. I was a Princess, the apple of my family’s eyes and he treated me as a prisoner. The uxorious King is admired by the people only if they know how he disciplines his childish wife behind closed doors to behave according to his standards. People adore Zachary and taunt me for expecting him to be present at the drop of a hat. They don’t know how my great-husband treats me in reality. From forcing me, scaring me, chaining me to blaming me for making him angry.
Wow! That’s why I left my home Zac, my friends, and my family behind so that you cage me in your house. Showered me with gifts and in return demanded my submission.
I curled my fingers as rage took over me. His rueful face flashed in front of my eyes when he had brought my dinner just an hour before. I refused to eat nor even glanced his way. His tears and his pathetic explanation flared my insides as he again justified his pathetic acts.
“You made me do this, Princess.”
Enough is enough. I had given him enough chances and condoned his mistakes. But this time, he crossed the limit. I am not sick in my mind that I would forgive a man who manhandled me. Today he pulled my hair, what if he starts beating me the next day? No, I didn’t fall for an abusive man and I am not that stupid to advocate his abuse.
If this is the real Zachary then Lord forgives me, but I can’t stay with him anymore.
But where would I go? I can’t go to my house as Theodore had closed the portals.
Arthur would go crazy when he would see me in the house but what’s bothering me more is his reaction. He would never allow Zachary to even see me if I tell him the reason for my arrival.
‘But should I try once?’
I don’t know if it will be a good decision or not but I had to leave. I can’t stay with him anymore. At least not for now. Marriage is a pure relationship. Love, understanding, faith, and concern are important to make it work but the most important among them is respect. Zachary needs to keep his anger at the bay. I can tolerate everything but not if someone hurts my self-esteem. I am not a dog or his puppet. Moreover, if I didn’t take this step right now, I would have to face his wrath and bear the brunt of his frustration my whole life.
“I did everything that you said to me Zac but you also need to understand that you have hurt me too much. And instead of redeeming your mistake, you are still blaming me for provoking you.”
With a heavy heart, I stood up and brought my chained hands in front of my face.
“I love you Zac but this needs to be done.”
Lord knows what’s in our fate. I don’t know if it would even work or not but still, I tried my luck and closed my eyes.
I could feel myself floating in the air. Hurriedly I opened my eyes when something soft tickled my soles.
“OH MY GOD!!”
I was in Rose Garden, the same place where I had left with Zachary to start my new life.
That means Theodore had opened the portals. Cause there’s no way this spell would have worked.
This is not good. I need to leave my home quickly before he catches me.
Lifting the hem of my gown, I immediately started to run in the direction of my palace. Though I was back from Hell, the silver chains which Zachary had put on me were still there. I don’t know why they didn’t disappear but right now I don’t even have time to ponder about it as my main concern is to get to my family as soon as possible.
“Princess”
The guards shared a confused look when they found me at the gate of the royal mansion.
“Won’t you let me in?“, I spoke sternly as they remained rooted on spot. When they noticed my glare, they quickly bobbed their head-like scared kittens and helped me inside.
“Princess, why are you chained-”
One of them asked but ignoring their interrogations, I ran inside.
“ARTHUR!!”
I screamed while entering the courtroom. Arthur and Dad were sitting on the couch and by the look on their faces, it seemed as if they were engaged in serious talk. As soon as they heard my voice, they immediately stood up and looked at me in shock.
My eyes flooded with tears when I noticed my brother whose eyes started to turn misty. He was also crying. We both then ran to each other and I immediately hugged him tightly.
“OH, MY GOOD LORD!! MY BABY, HOW ARE YOU? YOU DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT YOU!!”
He cried while kissing my hair repetitively. Pulling away, I then ran to Dad who also pulled me into a bone-crushing hug.
“My child, it’s so good to see you safe and sound.”
I break down into loud sobs. I missed my family so much. Even though I stained their reputation by eloping with my lover on the day of my marriage, they were still trying to comfort me.
After crying my heart out, Dad broke the hug and cupped my face. Clearing my tears, he made me look at him.
“D-Dad, I am so sorry. I-”
“Why are you chained, Diana?”
‘Shit’
I didn’t even move a muscle as I was so scared. Arthur always calls me by my name when he is very angry.
And by his hard voice, I can tell that things won’t end in my favor today.
“I ASKED YOU SOMETHING? WHY ARE YOU TIED UP??”
Arthur blared startling me.
“What? Oh my God, yes, Diana. Did you run away from prison? Wait, don’t tell me Zachary did this to you?” Dad questioned me but I didn’t meet his eyes.
Arthur suddenly grabbed my forearm and wheeled me around. He lifted my chin with his index finger as I kept avoiding his gaze.
“So, it’s the truth.” He grated out.
I knew he would lose his calm if he would find me in this state. But did I have any other option? No.
I peeked at his red face; his nostrils flared in anger. Removing his hand from my face, I grabbed it in my palm and looked at him with pleading eyes.
“Arthur, a lot of things have happened but it would be better if we talk about them calmly. So, let’s sit down and give me a chance to explain everything please.” I begged him but his eyes didn’t turn soft. He was still angry and that was making me restless.
“What’s the point of explanation? I can’t believe I was ready to marry my daughter to that beast,” Mom shouted as she stepped into the scene along with Ariel who equally supported her.
“I warned every one of you but no one listened to me. Saw the consequences. At least now give her to Theodore. He is the one for her.”
‘Not again.’
I shifted my gaze to her and was about to reply to her but Arthur beat me to it.
“No need. My sister isn’t going anywhere now. I had enough of those jerks. She isn’t a ball Ariel that I will keep passing her from one man to another. She is now gonna stay here.”
He rasped and looked at me. He shook his head when he found the denial in my eyes.
“It won’t work this time, Diana. I let you marry Zachary, not for a day when you would come back to me covered in shackles from top to bottom. I don’t even want to know the reason behind it cause your silence made things clear to me. You ran away from him, don’t you?”
His question left me speechless. I couldn’t say anything as it was the truth.
“A-Arthur, we had a small fight and I-I just wanted a break and-” I started rambling in fear but was cut off by Ariel who let out a scoff.
“Stop defending him Di. No one chains his wife after an argument. I am sure he even got physical with you but you are still trying to protect him. For God’s sake open your eyes. I told you he is a devil. He will show his true colors one day. I begged all of you to not marry Diana. You were scolding me for forcing her to marry Theodore, Arthur. Now did you understand why I had always been against this marriage?”
She yelled and shot me a glare. She wasn’t even letting me speak.
“Yes, you are right Ariel.”
Dad spoke after the longest time as he also joined this heated debate. He then shifted his eyes to me. I gulped as he was glowering at me.
“I had already made it clear to you Diana that your marriage had been fixed in childhood only. But for your happiness, I broke this rule thinking that it was an injustice to you. You were unhappy with me forcing your decision on you. Also, Zachary assured me and Arthur that he cares for you a lot. After getting full assurance for your secure future, we decided to marry you off to Zachary.”
He spoke. I looked down as my eyelids turned heavy.
“He not only betrayed you Diana but he broke our trust also. Whatever the reason, no father would tolerate if he finds his daughter at his gate, chained and helpless. Your disheveled appearance and those blood-red eyes tore me apart child. Maybe you two fought but I know it’s more than that, the thing which you’re still trying to hide because if it was such a pity issue, you wouldn’t have come running to us in this state.”
Arthur also nodded his head in agreement. My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach as my presentiment eventually turned true.
“Exactly. You are the pride of Moonland, Princess not only of our house. And for that sake, I would never forgive any prick who tries to hurt you. I won’t spare anyone if becomes the reason for my sister’s tears. I don’t care if he is a King or not. My decision is final. I am not letting you go back there. Not now, nor ever.”