I Will Protect You This Time

! Warning !

This episode contains strong language, violence and abuse which might be traumatizing for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Episode 41

(Fear)

*

*

*

"My Lady, I brought hot soup for you."

Ella entered the room with a bowl of hot steaming soup.

"..."

"... My Lady?"

"The Princess isn't-"

"I want to be alone."

Isabella said while cutting Cande's words in the middle.

"But please drink the soup first."

Ella insisted.

"Put it on the table. I will drink it later."

"Ah- Okay."

After that, Both Ella and Cande bowed and left the room.

Isabella got up from the stool and walked near the balcony door. 

As soon as I opened the balcony door, a gust of strong wind struck my body along with raindrops.

Rumble~

What a loud thunder… 

Shaa~

It's raining cats and dogs. Because of the thunder lightning, the dark world becomes blindingly bright for a flash. But then it becomes dark again.

That's right. I am in the dark world. I got swayed away by the sudden thunder…

Hah! To think that, I became a little useful… How foolish of me! 

[ "She is too weak. You can't assign her such an important task." ]

His words stabbed like thorns… 

That's right. I am nothing more than a burden… 

Sob* Sob*

Why? I can't do anything other than crying?! Why do I always end up hurting others…

Isabella cried while covering her face with both hands.

"What the h*ll are you doing? Do you want to catch a cold?"

I flinched at the sudden voice. I hurriedly looked behind. It was Anne. She was slowly walking towards me.

"Well, you might as well do that. What else can you do instead of causing trouble for others."

Anne scoffed.

"Anne…"

How can…

"Why are you looking at me like that? Are you surprised? Pfft! Hahaha!"

"Anne… You-"

"I what?"

"You weren't with me in the afternoon, right?"

Isabella asked, trembling.

Yes. It wasn't her. I am sure I was mistaken. Yes. I must have been tired. Anne can never speak to me like that. Yes. That must be i-

"You mean when you were going to the Empress?"

'Seriously? Does she still not understand? Pfft! How foolish!'

"Yes, My Lady! I wasn't with you."

Anne said while sobbing.

Phew~

Thank goodness! It wasn't her. 

"It wasn't me who told you all those rumours!"

Isabella's eyes widened.

"Pfft! Hahaha! How stupid can you be?!"

Anne said while laughing like a madman.

"Did you really-?"

"Yes. I was the one who told you all the rumours. You know everything about you being a wh*re sleeping with different men. About how you beat me till bleeding. And how much you hate Beastmen. Pfft! Hahaha~ And you know what? I was the one who started those rumours."

Anne said with an eerie voice. She then grabbed Isabella's left hand tightly which was already bruised by her.

It hurts! But I can't say anything!

My head is empty. I can't think about anything. 

Ah… I remember now. It was the same in the afternoon too. I didn't want to believe it. I feel so betrayed! I trusted you. 

You…

"How can you betray me?"

"Pfft! Hahaha! Are you serious? Betray? You mean you trusted me. You naive girl. Did you seriously believe I was loyal to you, Isabella? From the beginning, it was the 2nd Princess whom I worked for. Whom I am loyal to. And in Loire too. I was the one who spread rumours about you."

Anne said while pinching Isabella's already bruised wrist with her nails. Anne's sharp-long nails pierced Isabella's skin and drops of blood started flowing out.

Aghh*

Isabella cried in pain.

"Are you in pain? You deserve it! Do you know how much people suffered because of you? Because of you, Princess Rubena couldn't be with the Grand Duke. Because of you, the Crown Prince wasn't able to be with his fated mate. All because of you. Because of you, I had to suffer so much! I had to leave my hometown and work day and night! So, don't you dare cry, Isabella. Live! You have to live with this pain for the rest of your life. Don't even think about dying. You don't deserve the mercy of death."

Ramble~

A thunder strike with a crackling noise. In the sudden light of the thunder, Anne's bloodshot eyes along with her disgusted face were visible. 

Tap* Tap*

Drops of blood were flowing from Isabella's hand. 

"Now I am just doing the job that was given to me by my REAL lady. She told me to remind you about your FATHER. Don't worry though. You will be able to see him soon. Hahaha"

Anne let go of Isabella's hand and laughed eerily while walking.

"I see. I am a sinner. I had caused so much suffering. But I never wanted this. I never spoke harshly to anyone. I never mistreated you. But it doesn't matter. Yes!. I am cursed! I am a monster."

Isabella mumbled to herself while looking down. Her eyes looked like that of a dead person. It was as if she was hypnotized.

"What are you mumbling about?"

'Has she finally gone mad?'

Thinking that Anne went towards Isabella.

'What the hell! Why is this bitch looking down like a ghost? Well, is she bowing?! Pfft! How pathetic can a person be? I feel so great! A Princess is bowing to me! Hahaha!'

Anne laughed inwardly. 

"Well, if you are going to bow, do it properly."

Saying that Anne was going to put her hand on Isabella's shoulder and make her kneel. But suddenly-

Gasp*

"Ughh! What are you doing?!"

Isabella grabbed Anne by her neck and looked at Anne.

Her eyes were Ivory instead of the calm purple colour. Her hair was fluttering in the wind.

"Thou unsightly muggle! How dare thee! Thou dare say I am Cursed? I am a Sinner? Then what does that make thee? I harassed thee? Then is thy blood upon my hand? Outrageous!"

Saying that Isabella lifted Anne by grabbing her neck.

Cough* Cough*

"L-Let-"

'I can't talk! I can't breathe. Am I going to die!'

Anne thought while trembling in fear. Her face turned red as she couldn't breathe.

"Let what? Let thy go! Why aren't thy speaking now? Thy mouth was running astoundingly a few moments ago. Why aren't thy speaking now!"

Isabella said all that without moving a muscle. Her face was expressionless as that of stone. But her eyes were burning with hidden anger.

Bam*

Suddenly Isabella tossed Anne to a wall.

Thud*

Anne fell to the ground with a loud thud.

Cough* Cough*

Anne coughed while touching her neck.

Huff* Huff*

She then started breathing roughly.

"Consider it my disgust towards thy that I am sparing thy life. I don't want to taint my hand by thy blood. Get out of my sight right now!"

Anne got up from the ground in a rush then ran out of the room for life. 

But Anne didn't notice one thing. That is, from the beginning Isabella's necklace was glowing. 

And now the blue sapphire necklace is turning as red as a Ruby. 

As soon as Anne got out of the room, the pendant turned fully red and a red barrier started circling Isabella. And she froze in time.

It was after half an hour that the pendant turned blue. Isabella's eyes were also turned back to normal. The barrier gradually started to fade.

And in a moment everything turned back to normal. 

"Ah- I… What happened? Aghh! My head hurts. I can't remember anything."

Rumble~

A thunder crackled.

Isabella flinched at the sound. Then she looked outside through the balcony.

Shaa~

It's raining heavily. I should close the door. Why is it open to begin with? 

After hurriedly closing the balcony door, Isabella went towards the bed.

I feel so sleepy. 

Yawn~

After that, Isabella lied in bed and fell asleep in an instant.

*

*

*

Huff* Huff*

'Shit! What the fuck was that? H-How did that weak thing get so powerful! Damn it all! It hurts! It hurts like hell!'

Anne thought while running in the hallway. She was breathing roughly.

Soon she returned to her room. As it was an hour after the evening, the maids were all busy preparing for dinner and doing other work. So the room was empty.

Bam!

Anne closed the door after getting in her room.

"My neck-"

Her voice was hoarse. 

'My voice… The mirror. I have to check.'

Soon after Anne brought out a mirror and looked at her neck. It was badly bruised. The place Isabella grabbed was blue.

'Damn it! What am I supposed to do now? Should I say everything to the Second princess…'

Anne thought while biting her nails.

'No way! Considering that b*tch, she will probably order me to kill her. If I don't kill her, that psycho will kill me. If I kill her, the beasts will rip me to pieces. And If I go to kill her, who knows she might kill me this time.'

Thinking about what happened a moment ago, Anne had shivers down her spine.

'But what am I supposed to do… I should keep my mouth shut for a while. But now that Isabella knows everything about me… What if she tries to send me back? Damn it! Damn it Damn it!'

"Curse you, Isabella!"

Anne cursed in a hoarse voice while throwing away the mirror that was in her hand.