The Cursed Prince's Strange Bride

Despite her mother's warning not to leave her chamber since she was yet to completely recover, Benedicta left her chamber but kept her head down in case she ran into anyone who had witnessed what happened to her the previous day.

She was too angry to sit down in one position. She wanted to find Ivan to know what was wrong with him and why he wasn't doing anything when Prince Harold had hurt his bride-to-be.

But just as she was about to pass by a door, she stopped and turned to the side to look at it.

When she remembered this was Princess Tyra's chamber, a smirk formed on her lips.

She guessed the best way to start anything was to have allies within the palace. And who better than the vulnerable Princess Tyra, who was currently left alone?

She walked towards the door and took a deep breath before knocking on the door. "Princess Tyra, are you in? It's Lady Benedicta," she called out.

Tyra, who had been lying on her bed reading a novel, frowned when she heard Benedicta's name, and she went to open the door.

Tyra looked at Benedicta with a blank expression as she wondered what she was doing in her chamber since they were not friends and hardly ever talked to each other. The only thing she could say they shared in common was eating together at the same table during banquets or feasts.

Benedicta smiled when she saw the questioning look in Tyra's eyes. "I know you're surprised to see me. Well, I thought you must be lonely, so I..."

"Did Prince Ivan or the Queen send you?" Tyra asked impatiently since that was the only explanation that made sense. She knew of Ivan's plan to marry Benedicta despite the fact that they all knew that Benedicta had been Harold's betrothed child bride.

Benedicta flashed her a smile. "Not at all. I figured since Lady Susan left the palace, you might be lonely—"

Benedicta tried to make her way into the room, but Tyra blocked her path and gave her a questioning look.

"Susan left the palace? Didn't they say Prince Harold banned everyone from leaving the palace?" Tyra asked with a confused frown, wondering how Susan could have left without informing her first when they had agreed to take a stroll together in the evening since the physician had advised her to leave her chamber and walk around since her wound had completely healed up now.

Benedicta raised her hands to her lips, feigning surprise as she said, "Oh! You weren't aware that she left? I'm sorry. I thought she must have told you before leaving," she said, looking at Tyra apologetically.

"Did Prince Harold permit her to leave?" Tyra asked, still not letting Benedicta in.

"Yes, he did. She actually left the palace with Prince Harold and Princess Amber," Benedicta explained, and Tyra's eyes widened as she stepped out of her chamber unconsciously.

"Prince Harold left the palace? And she went with them?" Tyra asked in a low voice.

Benedicta nodded instantly.

"Yes. Doesn't this go to show that she doesn't believe you? I'm even more shocked at Prince Harold. How could he take his bride's side over yours? You have been a devoted sister to him this whole time, yet he pampers his wife even after she almost killed you," Benedicta said with a shake of her head as she looked at Tyra pitifully, but she was shocked to find Tyra glaring at her even though she was obviously upset by the news.

"Don't speak of Prince Harold in that manner," Tyra warned.

Benedicta almost wanted to snort at the blind devotion. She could see why many people hated Tyra so much. Not only was she weak, but she was also pathetic. But Benedicta didn't let that concern her. If she was going to be living here, she would need allies here, especially one she could easily manipulate.

"You see what I mean? How could they all do this to you when you're so kindhearted? Even Luciana, who is supposed to be on your side!" Benedicta said, and Tyra's brows furrowed.

"Luciana? What happened to her?"

Benedicta's eyes widened, and as though divulging something she wasn't supposed to, she said in a quiet voice, "She also left the palace with Prince Harold and his bride."

Tyra frowned, "Isn't she supposed to be repenting? Has she been pardoned?" Tyra asked, wondering why and how everyone was leaving so easily.

Benedicta's brow furrowed as she thought about it too. How come Luciana had left her place of repentance? Did that mean she had abandoned her husband and was now on Prince Harold's side? Was Ivan aware of this? Benedicta mused before focusing her gaze on Tyra.

"I don't know about that. But now that you mention it, it seems weird that they all left that way," Benedicta said with a thoughtful frown.

"Who else left the palace?" Tyra asked curiously.

"Apart from Susan and Luciana, Williams, Lance, and even my own brother also went with them. Can you believe it? I feel betrayed! How could he take Prince Harold's side despite what Prince Harold did to me and how his wife stabbed you until you almost died?" Benedicta asked in disbelief, as though she was going to cry.

When she noticed the strain in Tyra's neck, the lost look in her eyes, and how she was biting her lip and fisting her palm beside her, she almost smiled.

But that didn't go as planned for Benedicta because the next minute, Tyra snapped out of her trance and glared at her.

"I don't know what you are planning to do, but it won't work. Prince Harold would never ignore me like that. You should return to your chamber," Tyra said, and without waiting for Benedicta to say another word, she shut the door in her face and threw the novel she was holding across the room as she bit her lower lip to keep herself from crying.

They all left the palace? Why? How could they leave the palace without taking her along? Prince Harold, Susan, Luciana, Princess Amber, Sir Harvey and even Lance?

Lance?!

What was happening?