**Mature content ahead. It might make some readers traumatized since I have added some gory details. Although I tried not to add explicit details but some readers might can't read itdue to trama or weak heart. I suggest you to avoid this chapter if you can't take it.**

After leaving the hall, I left with Rei. Noya seemed to be sleepy as Rei said, "I need to feed him before he falls asleep."

I nodded. "Then I am going back to my room."

She nodded and said, "Then come by whenever you feel like."

I nodded as she departed and my eyes searched for Daichi. I didn't go to my room since I was a bit worried about Princess Rose.

As I was crossing a corridor, I heard Daichi's voice with a woman. She was Akio.

I hid myself from their sight and tried to hear what they were speaking.

"But brother Daichi, you know how vile she is." Akio said, making a worried face, "And how she has wrapped brother Arashi in her fingers..."

Eh?! Were they talking about me?!

I was a bit confused as how did I exactly wrapped my Arashi in my fingers? From what I see, he was the one who had wrapped me in his fingers!

Daichi nodded, his face became grim. He said, "I can see that clearly."

"Yes, I am worried about brother Arashi and if she passed the trial!" She looked at him, batting her eyelashes, "I am afraid, she will take the place of grandmother empress's place!"

What! Why would I want her place when we would be leaving after that...?

I got more confused but since I couldn't just openly barge into their conversation, I kept hidden.

"Don't worry, I won't let her do whatever she pleases..." Daichi said with a cold voice that made me flinched.

But they soon went away to another corridor which seemed like it was where Akio's room was. Now it was the perfect opportunity.

I spun on my heels and went to where Princess Rose's chamber was. I made sure I didn't make noise as I tiptoed to there.

There were two rooms at the end of the corridor and the furthest one was Prince Daichi's. I went to the other one, my heart thumping.

I looked right and left and it seemed it wasn't guarded that much.

I knocked on the door making sure the sound was low yet the person inside could hear. But there was no sound.

I knocked again but this time a bit loud.

However, there was still no sound.

I looked at the door for a while. Why wasn't she answering?

Was she really that unwell?

Then she needed Arashi for a check up or maybe a royal physician...

Gathering courage, I opened the door slowly and went inside. The room was dark and the curtains of the windows were still closed. I didn't want to disrupt her sleep as I went to a window and opened the curtain of it making sure it wouldn't disrupt her sleep.

The sunrays illuminated in the room and now I finally could see. The bed was large but the blankets were piled up in one place where it seemed Princess Rose was.

I slowly went there and called her name. "Princess Rose..."

She didn't answer and now I was worried. Had she fainted because of her illness?

My hands reached the blankets that were on her and I slowly pulled them away.

As soon as I saw her, I frowned. My heart stopped and I couldn't even say anything.

I gasped and placed my hands on my mouth to stop myself from screaming. Tears started to run and I started to shake.

Apart from her face, her body was covered in bruises and her hands were still tied to the bed. She looked pale and ghostly. Dried tears had created paths on her face and now her face seemed dried.

Immediately I went to loosen her hands because the ropes looked painful on her skin. My heart thumped in my ears.

As my hand touched her hand, she moaned in pain and finally opened her eyes. Tears rumbling from the corners of her eyes as she looked at me and immediately she frowned.

She shook her head and said, her eyes turning wide, "No! Don't..."

"I am not here to hurt you, Rose!" I said.

"No... Don't loose... Ropes." She said in her broken language.

I knew she didn't want me to open her ropes. I asked, "But why?"

"He...he come and... If he know, he will beat me." She said in her shaking voice.

Well, that's true. If he knew someone had come, he would beat her to spill who had come. I had no idea Prince Daichi was this cruel!

I felt enraged but I was helpless to do anything. What if I say it to Arashi?

Could he help her?

I knew Arashi was superior in status than Daichi but still... Princess Rose was Daichi's wife and a princess from another country. Even if Arashi did something, they might go against him...

I asked her, "Why he does this to you?"

Silent tears fell from her eyes as she said, "He don't love me."

"But that doesn't mean he has to beat you." I said.

"He love Akio." She said and every dots were connected.

I clenched my fists as rage boiled in my stomach. So, it was all because of Akio.

Now I knew why she was telling those words about me to Daichi. She was manipulating him and I remembered the things Arashi said. She even did something to make Yukina suffer as well. What was her motive?

From what I knew she wanted to marry Arashi but then why go for Daichi as well? They certainly looked close.

And then Rose said, "Please go... He come and you die."

I looked at her and asked, "Why would he want to kill me?"

"You hurt Akio..." She said and I knew what was going on.

Certainly, Akio was acting all innocent before Daichi and that made me look like a vile woman indeed. I was so angry that I wanted to do something, anything but I had no power. Not until I get power.

And then I realised, to get power, I needed to pass the trial.

How ironic it was. Up until now, I didn't want any status but now I knew, my hands were tied until I have that so called power.

How cruel and unjust this world was...

The powerful people were extorting the weak ones whom they should have to protect. I felt disgusted and now I understood why Arashi hated to become an emperor and hated being entangled in these disgusted ways of the royals.

I nodded at her and said, "I am going back since it will make you suffer more..."

She nodded and gave me a weak smile. She said, "Please, don't do trial."

I asked, "Why?"

"It kill you." She said and looked everywhere as if she wanted to tell something more. "It trying kill me. One year ago."

So they wanted to kill her as well? But why? Wouldn't marrying her benefits Daichi?

I knew I had no time left since I had to go back before Daichi came. And before going, I told Rose, "Rose, please hang in there. I will definitely save you."

Hopeful tears started to run out from her eyes as she nodded. She was in pain but she had been enduring it all these time. I had to say, if I was in her shoes, I would have lost all the hopes already but she was still hopeful.

She was so strong that I felt I was so weak. I had been under Arashi's protection all these time and he never let me feel harmed. So, I forgot how it felt to be hopeless. I forgot how it felt to be always waiting for a new light to appear. I was scared and would panic but she endured it. She didn't tell anyone because she was protecting her husband's status even when she would have to endure the pain.

And I left there helplessly with one determination in my mind that no matter what I will pass this trial and I will do something about Akio and Prince Daichi to save at least one innocent soul from their hands.

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18th November, 22
1409