She did her best to keep it together as she returned to her room. Ida was there to greet her, but she told her maid that she was tired and would like to turn in for the day. Sierra could not catch anything Ida said before she left.
Once she was certain she was alone, Sierra slumped down on the side of the bed. Her hands were shaking. She brought her knees close to her chest and buried her face in her folded arms.
The conversation she had with Cassandra replayed in her head over and over again.
Sierra could already picture the scene in her mind. Tomorrow, as the official concubine list is being revealed, her heart would be pounding in her chest. She would wait for her na to be called in anticipation.
But before that could happen, Cassandra would swoop in and deliver the shocking truth. All eyes would turn to Sierra as the gossip and whispers would surround her. Seeing as she deceived everyone, they would likely attempt to arrest her but she would never let them do that again.
She would draw her swords and fight her way out.
"But where would I go?" She muttered to herself.
She could return to Cair. But wouldn’t that only bring more trouble to her father? The troubles of the court would also pose another issue. As all the different possibilities ran through her mind, Sierra did not realize her body had already begun to move on its own.
She packed up a few essentials into a bag and leaped out of her room window. She did not look back as she called forth for her wings and took to the sky. She went to the spot where she had buried her twin swords.
Sierra dug them out and dusted the dirt off them. She unsheathed one of them and caught her own reflection on the blade.
Sierra shook her head. Realizing where she was, and what she had done, Sierra bit her lip.
"No," she muttered to herself.
mories of all the ti she had spent with Alistair raced through her mind. The intimate monts they shared, monts that only belonged to the two of them.
She rembered the very first ti they t in the forest. That was one of the few tis she had ever seen him without his mask.
She rembered their first kiss. Their first embrace.
Their latest conversations, their latest embrace. She reminisced about the ti they laid in his bed.
Sierra recalled the reason she had chosen to stay and face the trial. She wanted a life with Alistair, no matter the cost. Even in the face of death, she persevered. This should not be any different.
Even if the world was against her, she would fight till the end.
"I’m not going anywhere," she muttered to herself with determination.
Out from the rustling bushes, a familiar snake appeared for Sierra.
"Opal!" Sierra exclaid with glee as she held out her hand.
Opal slithered onto her palm and nuzzled with Sierra when she brought her close to her face.
"I missed you," she whispered to her little snake.
Seeing it all as a sign, Sierra packed up her swords and gathered her things. She made her way back to her room, freshened up, and slept for the night. Though she did not know what would happen on the morrow, she knew one thing for certain.
Whatever she was about to face, she would face it head-on.
~
"Nervous?" Myra asked as she nudged Sierra.
"Not at all," Sierra tried to play it off cool.
But who was she fooling? Her palms were sweaty and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. The princesses were all gathered in the throne room for the announcent. All of them stood on the sides, along with the ministers of the royal court.
The scene before her was just like the one Sierra had imagined in her nightmare sequence. She gulped as she did a quick glance at the room.
"Sierra, Sierra," Myra tried to get her attention but she did not hear her calling her na.
"Sierra," she called out again but this ti, she tapped her on the shoulder too.
"Hmm? Sorry, I was distracted."
"Clearly," Myra mused as she placed her hands on Sierra’s cheeks.
She examined her friend’s face closely before declaring, "You don’t look so good. Did you sleep well last night?"
"I did, I’m just... worried."
"Worried? What could you possibly be worried about? I honestly doubt he would-"
Before Myra could finish her sentence, everyone’s attention shifted to the entrance of the throne room. King Alistair and Queen Roxine made their entrance. All the ministers and nobles got down onto their knees, while the royals bowed and curtsied out of respect.
Sierra could not help but look over to Alistair.
However, he did not et her gaze. The expression he wore on his face at court was unreadable to her. Furthermore, with his mask on, she could barely tell apart his facial expressions.
Sierra clenched her jaw, wondering how he would react should everything go south.
Would he still want her if her secret was publicly revealed?
It was one thing for them to have a relationship in secret. She was in so deep, that she was willing to be his mistress if that was what it took to be with him. But if the truth was revealed to all, would it make a difference?
"Rise, my subjects," Alistair’s voice rang through the throne room.
All the ministers and nobles rose to their feet, while the royals straightened their backs. Everyone anticipated what was about to happen next. While Queen Roxine took her seat on the throne chair next to Alistair, he did not take his seat.
He walked forward to make his announcent.
"It has been a long journey for many of you. I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to all the princesses who’ve worked tirelessly throughout the concubine choosing.
Each and every one of your has been truly outstanding in every way shape and form,"
As he continued to speak, Sierra could not bring herself to look up at him. As each second slipped by, her anxiety grew. Her mind was a ss. She knew what was going to happen next.
If Cassandra’s sources were accurate, Alistair would announce her as one of his concubines. When that happens, Cassandra would reveal her secret to everyone. What happened beyond then was a dark abyss.
"I will now announce the nas of those who’ve been chosen..." Alistair announced as he removed a sealed envelope from his pocket.
All the possible scenarios flooded through her mind. Sierra squinted her eyes shut as her hands continued to shake. It was too much, it was weighing down upon her.
"No, I can’t do this," she muttered to herself, soft enough so no one would hear.
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