Hunter Of The Six Realms

Isabella arrived at her mansion, and as usual, she tried to sneak through the window to get inside her chambers, but she stopped cold in her tracks when she heard her mother's voice coming from inside.

"Tell me the truth and you won't get in trouble, where is she?" The queen voice thundered inside Bella's room. Bella bit her bottom lip nervously as she overheard the conversation, her fist clenched.

"Your highness I...I don't know." Mila replied, her voice trembling.

"So you'll keep denying it? Alright, you asked for this. Guards! Take her."

"Stop." Isabella quickly interrupted, bursting in through the front door instead. "I'm already here, why don't you question me directly?"

The queen's eyes snapped toward her, dark and sharp, while Mila's head whipped around in shock. Relief flashed across the maid's face, but it didn't last long, not with the guards now gripping her arms tightly.

"So you finally show yourself," the queen said, her voice cold. "Look at you, dressed in male attire. Pathetic."

"I wasn't hiding," Isabella replied, keeping her tone steady even though her heart was pounding. "If you're looking for someone to blame, blame me. Leave Mila out of this."

The queen's gaze shifted to Mila for a brief moment before returning to her daughter. "You expect me to believe she knows nothing, when she covers for you every time you disappear?"

"Because she's loyal," Isabella shot back. "Loyal to me, your daughter. That's not a crime."

The queen stepped closer, her presence heavy and suffocating. "Then tell me, Isabella," she demanded, "Where have you been sneaking off to? Who is it that's worth lying to your mother and disgracing your crown by dressing like that?"

Isabella remained silent with her lips parted, not knowing what to say. She could feel Mila's eyes on her, begging her not to say anything, while the queen's stare burned into her like fire, daring her to try and lie.

When Isabella didn't answer right away, the queen's expression darkened. "Guards," she ordered with a dangerously low tone. "Lock her maid in the dungeons until my daughter finds her tongue."

"No!" Isabella snapped, her voice rising as she stepped forward. "Enough! You want the truth? Alright I'll speak."

"Princess." Mila mouthed her name, then nodded desperately, begging Isabella not to say it. She knew what the queen was capable of, Kaizen would be as good as dead if she found out.

But Isabella just smiled reassuringly, then turned back to the queen. The queen gestured to the guard to release Mila, then she turned to Bella, her expression stern.

"Good that we finally stand on one ground. Now spill."

Isabella swallowed, then she looked down nervously. "I'm a hunter."

Everyone in the room froze, including the queen. Then slowly, as if she had just realized what Isabella confessed, her eyes widened with disbelief.

"You're what?"

"I just wanted to experience something new," Isabella muttered, her voice low but firm, even though her hands trembled at her sides.

The queen's nostrils flared, and without hesitation, she slapped Isabella hard across the face. "You fool. Experience? Do you understand what you've admitted to?" She took a sharp step forward, her gown brushing against the marble as the guards stiffened. "You are royalty, Isabella. Your bloodline is sacred. And you dare tarnish it by lowering yourself to..." She cut herself off, shaking her head as if even saying the word was beneath her.

Isabella met her gaze, her chin lifting. "I'm still me," she said, her cheek still burning from the earlier slap. "Being your daughter doesn't mean I have to be your prisoner."

The queen's hand twitched as though she might strike her again, but she didn't. Instead, she hissed out, "You will not leave this mansion again. Do you hear me? From this day forward, you are confined to these walls. Guards, double the watch on her chambers."

"Mother—" Isabella began, but the queen cut her off.

"Not a word!" she thundered, her voice shaking the air. "If you so much as set one foot beyond these gates, you will not only answer to me, but your precious maid will pay the price as well."

Mila gasped, her hands flying to her chest. "Your highness, please, she didn't—"

"Enough!" The queen's glare silenced her instantly.

The chamber fell into a suffocating silence. The queen's gaze lingered on Isabella one last time, disappointment, fury, and something colder beneath before she turned sharply and swept out of the room, her guards following behind her.

The heavy doors slammed shut, the echo rumbling in Isabella's chest.

Mila rushed to her side the moment they were alone, her voice breaking. "Princess, what have you done? If she ever discovers who you're with..."

"She won't," Isabella said quickly, forcing her voice steady even though her stomach twisted. Her eyes burned with defiance as she touched her stinging cheek. "I won't let her."

Mila gripped her hands tightly, trembling. "Then you need to be careful. It's good she didn't do worse today. We don't know what might happen next time."

Isabella exhaled, looking down blank and confused. Now that she was under house arrest, she had no way to see Kaizen anymore. Her mind reeled with different solutions, possible ways she could still meet him.

Just then, I eyes sparkled as an idea struck her.."Mila, when last did Yuval come look for me?"

"Today, he comes everyday. Why?" Mila asked, looking confused as to why she'd suddenly bring him up after what just happened.

"I think it's high time we both go on a date, just me and him. I'm sure mother wouldn't mind " Isabella smirked, standing up and pulling the rope tying her hair up, letting it fall over her shoulders in beautiful waves.

Mila blinked, then gasped in Shock when she realized what she meant, "You mean—"

"Yes, I'll use him to see Kaizen. Besides, I really want him to meet me, the real me. Who knows, his opinion of me might change."