“Your Highness, I will show you your chamber. You can wait there while I take care of your belongings and clothes with the other servants,” said Roshan to Emmelyn after the girl had finished eating.

“Hmm ..”

Emmelyn got up from her chair and walked, following Roshan, who led her to the third floor, across a very long hallway until she came to a chamber at the end.

“Please come in, Your Highness …” said Roshan.

When Emmelyn walked into her new chamber, she was impressed because it was so beautiful. Very worthy of a princess. In the center of the room was a large wooden bed with fine linen in soft colors.

Ahh … this chamber reminded her of her own chamber in the Wintermere Palace. Although Emmelyn was an active girl who liked adventures and sword fighting, she was actually a woman who appreciated beauty.

Mars’ chamber was too simple and masculine for her tastes. So, when she saw that the room reserved for her was very beautiful, Emmelyn was very happy.

Close to her beautiful bed, a large wooden bathtub, a desk for writing, a cupboard filled with books, and a comfortable sofa. The floor was lined with wooden, so it didn’t feel cold when she stepped on it barefooted.

The only downside to this lovely chamber was the windows. When Emmelyn opened the velvet curtain covering it, she could see the iron trellis blocking the room’s occupant from escaping.

Ahh … so actually, this beautiful chamber wasn’t made for Emmelyn’s comfort, but her prison. The girl pursed her lips and clenched her fists to the sides until her knuckles turned white.

Why did her life have to be like this?

Hmph …

Emmelyn rubbed her eyes and kept her expression calm. “Thank you, Roshan. I’ll be waiting here.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I will bring your belongings here.”

After saying that, Roshan immediately excused himself and walked out of the room. Emmelyn sat on the sofa and looked around. If she couldn’t bear two or three children at once, then this place would be her prison for the next few years.

My golden cage, she thought bitterly.

***

An hour later, Roshan came with several servants who brought Emmelyn’s clothes and some books that she put in Mars’s chamber when she was reading them yesterday. 

“His Highness Prince Mars asked me to call the royal tailor here,” said Roshan. “She’ll be here in a bit and take your measurements to make a new coat, and a few more clothes, as you wish.”

“Hmm …” Emmelyn paid no heed to the butler’s words. She just nodded aimlessly. The girl was sitting on the edge of the window, watching out through the iron railings. She supported her petite face with her right hand.

Emmelyn’s beautiful eyes were looking out, watching how Mars was still tormenting his soldiers with rigorous training.

Emmelyn did not know if the prince was aware that the chamber Emmelyn was in now faced the courtyard where he trained his soldiers.

The sun was already high in the sky. It was almost 10 am. That meant the soldiers had been training for nearly five hours. Mars too.

Wasn’t he exhausted? Emmelyn could only wonder.

She took General Harland’s book of War Strategies and opened chapter ten. It said that exercise was important, but adequate rest was also necessary.

“Crazy! Does he want to kill his soldiers by exhaustion?” Emmelyn rolled her eyes. She then took her book and continued reading. If she was going to spend her days being locked up in this golden cage, she must be able to find things to do to spend her time, so she wouldn’t go crazy.

Last night, she read a very interesting chapter about infiltrating the enemy’s base. If she ever got the chance to come to the royal ball, then she would try to kill the king and took her revenge right there and then.

Emmelyn turned to the field and looked at Mars’s back again. The man stood upright with his back facing her while he shouted various orders to his men, who all seemed very tired.

[Hmm .. if only you weren’t the enemy, maybe… we could be friends.] 

[Actually, you’re not that bad.]

***

After lunch, the royal tailor and her assistant came and took Emmelyn’s measurements to make a new coat for her. She also brought some corsets for the girl so she could choose which one she liked the most.

“Corset? What for?” asked Emmelyn in surprise. According to her, the person responsible for the bodice should be burned alive at stake.

She really hated that gruesome object. In addition to its unattractive shape, wearing it made Emmelyn’s body ache and sore.

She didn’t understand why girls had to have such small waists to fit into their party dresses. Why not just make clothes that fit the wearer’s body shape? That made more sense, right?

“I was asked to bring these corsets for you to choose because I’m going to make a party dress for you, Lady Emmelyn,” said the tailor in a curt voice.

From the beginning of meeting Emmelyn, this middle-aged woman had shown her obvious dislike for the girl.

Because she was only a royal tailor, and the woman in front of her was the crown prince’s bedwarmer, she was forced to be respectful.

However, Emmelyn could feel from the tone of her voice that Mrs. Coultard felt Emmelyn did not deserve to wear the dresses she would create to the party.

“Party dress? What for?” asked Emmelyn.

“A dress for you to go to the royal ball, My Lady. Her Majesty the Queen is hosting a ball to celebrate the crown prince’s birthday, and Prince Mars wants you to come,” said Mrs. Coultard in a flat voice.

Emmelyn’s eyes glint.

The royal ball!

So, she was still invited? This is good news, she thought.

She could still do her plan and kill the king. If she could accomplish her goal, she wouldn’t care whether she would be alive or dead.