e boomed across the room. "You dare try t

ake decisions. I'm old enough to do things on my own, yet you never let me do anything." My long, shiny gold hair that h

unding slap across my face. I held my left cheek with my left hand and stared at him,

rone and rushed toward him, holding his hands. The gua

o me in that manner,"

uted, the words burning through my chest,

er me. "Pandora, Pan

guards swiftly following, but I had already loc

ry ounce of tears had left me. I just lay on

ay?" I laughed, a maniacal sort of l

ing you intend to marry, King Roland, will be in the palace tomorrow to see you," s

ng into space and slowly drifted to sleep, tr

y palm and slowly got up. I turned to my left and saw another maid standing th

ess," the maid said, givi

e one who came to my room every morning to dress me. Even though she

e maid hesit

und where I had slept and sat

clothes," she paused, gulping. "The queen demanded an explanation, and that's when Maria told her you wanted to escape and had worn

Answer me!" My palms were already sweaty,

a was sentenced to severe whipping and death by th

idn't even think before I ran to the thr

, rushing to grab me, but I

my father as he spoke with his chief advisor. I immediately f

pare her. I forced her into doin

stared right at me, a grin on his face. "And why

her go. Punish me instead," I kept ple

er go on on

ask, Father.

ing Roland withou

e still had that grin on his face. To save

ed to protest, but he

rry him, or she dies," he

marrying me to that devil, even if it was to have him as an ally? There

m," I said finally, my voice calm

will no longer serve in the castle. She will be s

at would happen, but it

and walking toward my room to get ready to

..

ly packed in a gold hairpin my father had given me specifically for the occasion. Everyone in the throne room, t

wn, his green suit with fluffy feathers in his pocket, a long red cape with f

g Roland walked in, flanked by guards and maids. The whole room st

pily, walking toward Roland and holding out his ha

haven't changed at all

You've grown into such a fine young m

dom," my mother gree

there. Nice to meet you," R

me forward. I gave a slight bow

a stupid remark. "You must be Pandora. I have t

ved, and I slapped him across

ther roared and