Howl

Seraphina cut the meat that was on the plate, she had been doing that for seven minutes and not a slice had entered her mouth. Her face looks gloomy and of course it is a strange experience for people who are used to seeing her cheerful and excited, including her father, mother and grandmother who since dinner began to pay attention to her.

King Roderick began to get annoyed at the lethargic behavior of his son of the crown. So far, the king had seen that his son did not have the ethics of a noble, but this time his behavior was even worse than usual.

Realizing that her husband was starting to put on an unhappy expression, Queen Alexandra immediately took a stand by rebuking Seraphina before the King stepped in.

"Prince Xavier, stop staring at your food. Aren't you having an appetite?" The Queen askedas she showed Seraphina the code on what she should do.

"You're right, I'm not in the mood. Can I go to my room now?"

"Are you sick, Xavier? isn't that your favorite food?" asked Queen Mother Margaritha who had shown her affection for this grandson since several years ago.

"I'm not sick, Grandma. I'm just a little tired!"

"Tired? what are you doing today? I see you are not acting up today. So, what is it? can you tell me the reason?" Asked Queen Alexandra trying to intimidate Princess Seraphina with a question. Yes, she always did that to avoid the king's anger.

Seraphina who already felt her mother's worries, immediately glanced at her father who was sitting quietly with a very cold face without a smile. She was used to dealing with her father like this.

"I think you don't have to know everything I do all day, like I don't have to know what you do!" she said. The Queen, King and Queen Mother were surprised to hear the answer that was so presumptuous that she had never said before.

She has been feeling mentally troubled since facing a mysterious young man in the forbidden forest last night and she used up all her fear to face that demon in human form. So, the questioning full of intimidation from the mother did not frighten her at all. Moreover, she thought that today was the last day she lived, so it wouldn't be a big deal to fight back once in a while.

"Xavier, what did you just say? aren't you aware of what you said?" Queen Alexandra looked very angry, her eyes glaring sharply, forcing her to stop doing stupid things and obey everything she said.

"Oh my God, what happened to our crown prince? why is he being so stubborn like this?" as usual, the Queen Mother would overreact by cornering her daughter-in-law as the only person to blame should anything happen to the crown prince.

"Mother, I thought that ..."

"See? you just denied what I said! Nathan must have done it because he saw you do that to me!"

"I don't..."

"Stop arguing with me, Alexandra! you know if anything happens to my grandson, you're the one to blame!"

"Duukkk ... duukk ...!" 

King Roderick hit the table twice to stop the argument. Queen Mother and Queen fell silent, realizing that they had just awakened a sleeping lion.

"Can you all be quiet?"

"I'm sorry, son. I'm just annoyed because your wife denied what you said!"

"Mother, I don't think I ..."

"Shut up, Alexandra! what right do you have to interrupt my mother's words? Mother is right, it seems Nathan's attitude is so stubborn because you are not good at educating him. What kind of teacher do you work to teach him?"

Queen Alexandra who was shocked after being yelled at by the king, could only be silent and tried to hold back her tears that had already filled her eyes. Her hands were clenched into fists and trembling, trying to hold back the anger she had worked so hard to bury.

"It's not fair, it's not fair. Why is it always me? why is it always me who is blamed?" she thought.

"Alexandra, didn't you hear what your husband said? why are you silent?"

"I'm sorry! I'm really sorry, this is my fault. I promise to find the best teacher to teach Nathan!"


***

"Are you satisfied to make mom get blamed? are you satisfied insulting mom like that?"

"I didn't do anything, do you want to blame me again this time?"

"What do you mean? why can you be so stubborn like this, Nathania?" The Queen can barely control her emotions. Nathania was reluctant to look her mother's eyes, she immediately sat on the bed and acted as if she didn't care what happened.

"How long do I have to do everything you say?"

"What did you say?"

"How long do I have to live like this? is it until I die?"

"Nathania, listen to me ..."

"I always listen to you, always even to this very second I still listen to you. But, how long? until when I have to follow all your wishes, until you ..."

"Plaaakkk ..."

Not to mention that Nathania had finished her sentence, Queen Alexandra immediately stopped her by giving her a slap that was enough to make Nathania pause and stop complaining.

"I'm sorry, Nathania ... I'm sorry!" she said while touching Nathania's face with her trembling hands.

Queen Alexandra forced her daughter to look into her face and look directly into her eyes, because she knew that this daughter would always be on her side.

"Please, stay with me! you know, me and Nathan really need you, Nathania ... I really need you!"

Queen Alexandra tried to hug her daughter to melt her down, sobbing as if she was a victim to be pitied, even by her own daughter.

Nathania knew she could not refuse her mother, even if she tried hard to fight the destiny she was living, if all that was done was for Nathan's sake, Nathania would never have any other choice but to survive.

"Can you come out, Mother? I want to sleep now!"

"All right, I understand. I'm going to go away so you can rest. Good night, honey?" said the Queen while leaving a sweet kiss on her daughter's forehead before stepping out of this room.

After her mother left, the room was very quiet. But for Nathania, like this it was better so that she could calm herself down and get ready to pick up death which seemed to have arrived in sight.

"What should I do? do I have to go to that forest again?"

"Aaauuu ..." 

A howling sound could be heard faintly from outside the window. Nathania gasped, the howl reminded her of the mysterious young man in the form of a wolf she met last night.

"Th ... that voice? it can't be a howling sound, right? su ... sure, it must be another wolf howling. Yes, it can't be him!" she murmured fearfully. Nathania could feel her whole body trembling every time she remembered the wolf's big and sharp teeth.

"Aaauuu ..." 

The howl came back. This time, it was clearer and louder than before.

"What should I do? I don't want to die!"


***