~Bleeding Hearts~

Bel felt all the blood drain from her face. She didn't even have the words to explain how she felt. She simply nodded at her Father's words. 

She could tell just by looking into his eyes that anything she might have to say would fall on deaf ears. He would blame her disagreement on her being selfish. It didn't matter what she felt; the kingdom was definitely more important than her personal feelings.

She wasn't saying the kingdom wasn't important enough to override her personal wishes, but surely there was some sort of way to come up with an alliance without sacrificing her. But Bel knew that was not up for discussion. The look on her father's face was all she needed to know.

"I understand," she replied disheartenedly.

"Good. I couldn't care for an apology, but it would do well to speak to your mother. All she has done is blame herself for your actions. Showing your change of heart would help with her current state of mind." Without waiting for her reply, he made his way to the door, ready to leave her room.

"I am sorry, father," she said as he placed his hand on the handle. "It was not my intention for things to turn out like this."

He paused. "An insincere apology isn't going to cut it. If you had considered anyone else's feelings, you would never have done this."

He pulled the door open, and out of her room, he went, shutting the door with a loud bang. Bel fell to the ground immediately. Her legs suddenly felt like jelly, and her heart was torn.

She didn't know how long she sat there nor did she know what she thought about as she sat there. After a long while, her legs started to go numb, and it was the only thing that managed to pull her out of her trance-like state. She partially walked and partially crawled her way to her bed.

Suddenly, anger overwhelmed her. Maybe it was the helplessness of her situation and the urge to do something that wouldn't make her feel so helpless. She rushed to her window, but one look down was enough to tell her why this was a bad idea.

Even if she managed to make it out of her room through the window, unscathed, she would have to avoid the guards parading the grounds and get over the fence to get out of the castle. 

She could clearly see the guards from her room, which meant they would also see her climbing down. It wasn't like she was going to run away; she would only go to the clinic.

Going there without her guards wasn't only risky but stupid. She was angry, not an idiot, and she certainly wasn't about to put her life in jeopardy. Unfortunately, it wouldn't just be her life at risk. She sighed and pulled away from the open window as she went back to bed.

There were other ways to get at them without involving other people, but would she really be getting at them, or would she just be punishing herself? Maybe she should run away and hide in some unknown town until Prince Davienâ€"she stuck out her tongue as she said his name in her headâ€"lost interest in her.

She would be the first to admit she would never survive in extreme conditions. All she knew how to do was use healing magic and ride a horse. 

She could maybe throw an arrow or two, but none of that was made for survival. She couldn't hunt, and even if her arrow managed to hit an animal, she couldn't cook. 

The only time she used fire was when she made potions, and she never did that willingly; she just preferred to use her magic as that was not only faster but effective. Isaiah, however, didn't care about this and made sure she learned even when she didn't want to.

He would say, "What if she had to be on the battlefield? She couldn't use her magic to heal everyone. She would have to use potions to neutralize their wounds and only use magic on severely injured soldiers." She thought this lesson was absolutely unnecessary. 

Her father would never let her near a battlefield, and she wasn't eager to go to one either. There was also the fact that she couldn't exactly brew these potions on the battlefield, but she was sure Isaiah meant beforehand.

Bel didn't know she had fallen asleep until she heard a loud knock. She jerked awake, raising her head from the pillow. She wiped at her face.

"What?" She asked darkly, annoyed that she had been pulled back into reality and reminded of her problems.

"I am so sorry for disturbing you, Princess Bel, but it is time for lunch."

"I won't go for lunch," she replied and dropped her head back on the pillow.

"But, Princessâ€""

"Leave me alone."

"As you wish," the servant replied. Bel could almost see her bow down.

Nothing could make her leave her room to join them for lunch. It would most likely be awkward anyway, as she was sure they were glad she wasn't there, and even if they weren't, as her father had said, she would leave for Darkcrypt after the wedding. They should get used to her absence.

Bel started to sleep again when she was suddenly aroused, but it wasn't the sound of knocking; someone was opening her door.

Her eyes flew open immediately, and she turned her gaze to the door, ready to spit fire and brimstone at whoever dared to interrupt her.

"It's just me," Hazel said with a smile.

Bel's face softened immediately, and she sat up. "What are you doing here?" She asked with a frown as her eyes rested on her sister even though she was almost smiling a second ago.

"Isn't it obvious?" Hazel asked as a servant followed her into the room.

The servant was holding a tray, and by the smell that reached Bel's nostrils, it was lunch. Hazel had brought lunch to her.