Chapter 11: Talking about the princess

The maids left her when she arrived at the Throne hall. She walked towards the throne and courtesy before her father.
There were royal golden lamps on the wall and ribbons at every corner of the hall with silky blue royal curtains lining up the wall.
"Greetings father"
" How are you Diana" king Hector ask. His royal black regalia fall down to his toe and his crown match perfectly with the series of rings in his finger.
" I'm not fine father" Diana reply with a soft and sad tone and king Hector seems to understand.
" Get well soon princess" he said with his tone distant somehow and Diana felt an ache in her chest. That wasn't the reaction and response she was expecting from her father.
She close her eyes and exhale loudly before gulping down. Her throat looks dry and she couldn't find her voice to speak.
She wanted to say something but her voice is no where to be found. She swallowed her saliva for a while before heaving a sigh of relief.
" Where is Irene father?" She manage to ask after finding her voice.
King Hector knew she was going to ask him this particular question so he wasn't surprised. He ran his eyes across her face from the throne before replying to her question.
" She is in detention for now" He reply with his voice cold and deep. Diana face dropped and she didn't know the best way to react. The color drain out of her face and she becomes pale. She knew what it means to be detained in Alvanor and it's not a friendly thing.
" But why father? " Diana ask after a while with her mouth quavering.
" That is her punishment" king Hector said and look intently at Diana .
" She didn't do anything father. You don't have to punish her, I'm the one who asked her to follow me to the woods father" Diana said trying not to raise her voice at her father. Being in detention, means no food no water and along with severe torture. She can't even imagine Irene going through those pains because of her.
" I should be the one in detention not her" She said softly as she look at the king with puppy eyes.
" Your punishment is different. If you want to be in detention, I can add it to it as well" king Hector said and Diana became down. She feels like a bucket of cold water have been poured on her. She look down on her feet with her hair covering one side of her face and that was when she realised the situation she is, is not going to be an easy one.
" But father!"
" No but Diana . The royal council will send the script to you. Your punishments are written inside and one more thing, I hope you have found a groom, your birthday is in five days time" King Hector said and Diana eyes became dark. She wish she can do something to get Irene out of the mess she is and she wish they can just forget about this groom of a thing and just give her a simple birthday party.
Even if she had made up her mind to be with Jack, she still doesn't like him a bit. He is older than her with the age Gap of ten years and he is full of himself. She only agreed to his request that is because her mother Likes him and find him more outstanding than the other princes.
Now her reputation and the reputation of the entire royal family is at stake just because of Sarah's lies.
She wish she hadn't gone to the woods in the first place and the thought of how to resolve the issue mess up with her mind. She thought her father was going to talk about it or probably give her some tips on how she could get out of the mess but her father don't seem to be concerned about it and somehow she felt relieved that he didn't talk about it.
" I will be in my room" She bow her head slightly and walk out of the throne hall dejectedly.
The hallway looks shallow and empty with no one in it. She hasten her steps and climb the spiral stairs up where she bump on Ezra one of the Queen's maids and the one spreading the rumor.
" Ouch can't you see or are you dumb?' Hera asked Diana and Diana hold the railings with her left hand to avoid falling down the stairs from the effect of the bumping.
Diana was caught off guard when she heard Hera's questions. She is the princess of Alvanor and the heiress apparent to the throne. Every citizens of Alvanor bow their head when they sees her. No one dare step on her toes and no one dare insult her or throw harsh words at her. Not even in her presence, she must be kind and gentle but have her own venom and limit.
" Are you referring to me?" Diana asked coldly. Her voice sound through the hallway that one could tell it was the princess talking. She is the only one who has such a unique and rare voice in the palace and the whole of entire Alvanor.
" Oh talking about the princess that meets men in the woods. If I knew it was you earlier, I would have pushed you down the spiral stairs and call it an accident" Hera said menacingly with a disgusted look as she place both of her hands on her waist.
Diana was very surprised at her words that she ball her fist in anger and threw punches at Hera face which made her spilt out blood and land on the stairs.
She is the princess, no one talks to her that way and not even in her presence and by pushing princess down the stairs, did she want a dead wish.
Diana Don't remember having misunderstanding with any of her mother's maids and she never thought any of the maids will use what Sarah says about her against her .
Diana bent down and drag Hera from the stairs with her hair and her long silky black gown flowing behind her.
She grab a wad of Hera's hair and curl it around her hand with her lips pressed together. Releasing and putting all the anger and frustration in her on her.
Hera felt like her hair is going to pull off from her skull as she felt her scalp burning in pains. Her scream wanted to bring the hall way down and Diana stuff an handkerchief in her mouth.
" Now tell me what I should do to you" Diana said with a voice filled with venom.