Chapter 57: Chapter 57

"If you wanted to be a Queen,

then stop playing as a princess."

Marietta P.O.V

"Understood?" I said and looked at three of them. I was in my office cabin with Bre, Veward, and Walter standing in front of me with lots of incomprehensible expressions like I have grown four heads.

"Hold on!" Bre said and sat on the chair in front of my desk. I was sitting calmly on my head chair. Walter was still looking at me with an intense gaze and arms crossed in front of his chest.

"I speak in English, right?" I said and they all passed a look. "What's wrong with you guys? I'm telling you a solution to everything. Isn't it great?" I winced totally annoyed.

"Does Darren transfer his creepy brain in your head before dying?" Veward finally broke his silence of the previous one hour, or should I say of the previous seven days. I told them the idea of catching the real culprits red-handed. It was creepy but I will work for sure.

"I think so," Walter mumbled in Veward agreement.

"Why don't you tell about them to Sir Max? And why the hell you went on a dinner with Darren when you already know everything?" Bre complained.

"Because I need to prove my innocence," I said and Bre passed a weak smile.

"I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean it." He said as Veward and Walter looked at me then at Bre. They were still unaware of our conversation.

"That's cheating! You're the one with a creepy plan here but still, you're innocent. Not fair!" Veward said with a poker face. He was not talking with me but yes he was taunting.

One week had passed and they were the worst days of my life full of emotional torture. But somehow I managed to act normal in front of everyone. I couldn't show them my broken insight. Because I need to fight.

After Darren's death, the cops somehow happened to suspect me again. According to them why I was always appeared in the crime area or around it? They were right but I couldn't tell them. So, at last, Daddy managed everything as always, with the so-called formula 'I have my ways!'

Then the part of the scandal began, Darren had so many illegal shares and he was an unknown part of the underworld. So, many questions and many issues but finally we somehow managed to divert their attention from Aminos by a press conference. It was the only way to clear media everything because if they stick with something they ruin it for sure.

Then my emotional injuries which I couldn't tell anyone. But in these two days, I made my mind. I wasn't able to kill someone but that doesn't mean I won't do anything for justice. Mom, Daddy, Bre, Walter, Caro everyone was so worried and concerned about me and they do show it but a stubborn jealous king of Europe didn't even ask if I was alright!

Although as far as I remember he was the first person to reach me at that time and hugging me. But now, he was like he didn't even know me! Jerk!

"Are you sure it will work? What if she never spoke anything about it? We don't even have single evidence against them." Bre's voice put me out of my trance and I looked at particular ocean blue eyes then at Bre.

"What about your girlfriend?" Veward sarcastically said looking directly at Bre. "I had to bear her during the drive, remember? Don't tell me she is of no use anymore." He added.

"You have a girlfriend?" I asked and Walter laughed.

"She is not his girlfriend. Not that at least!" Walter said with double meaning and I smiled. Bre just shrugged and massaged the back of his neck.

"I have a doubt!" Veward raised his hand.

"Yes?" I asked with the same look he was showing me for the past two days.

"Why after one week? Why not today or tomorrow?" He asked.

According to my plan, we had to do everything one week later because, in that one week, I had to accomplish some other tasks. Another duty as a princess and to be queen.

"It's my plan, right?" I nonchalantly said and he passed daggers at me.

"Are you going somewhere? I heard from Sir Max. Is it true?" Bre asked and I looked at Walter. He nodded.

"Yes, Daddy wants me to stay out of this city for a while until everything will cool down. So, I'm going to New York for a week." I lied.

"Ohh New York City. Have fun!" Veward sarcastically said.

Ignoring him, I stood up to leave the office. Bre and Veward still didn't know about the crystal world and I thought it was better if they stay out of it.

Well about Daddy, I was surprised to know that he already knew about the crystal world. Last night when he came to my room. I was so shocked to listen to him.

I was sitting in my room near the window and looking outside at the night sky. Darren's smile was confusing me. Why was he smiling?

Then his words which were barely above a whisper, non-stop echoing in my mind. How could someone be so harsh? So merciless? So stone heart? How?

I once heard that 'The worst kind of pain does not come from your enemies but from the people you trust and love.' Masked savior always said to me not to trust the people whom I didn't know but I never paid attention. They both did it just to kill me and now I should reward them for their deeds.

"What are you thinking?" I jerked at the voice and looked beside that Daddy was sitting next to me.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked, looking at his face.

"I know what you want to know." He said and weakly smiled. "I took back the deal at the last moment because I got to know about their illegal businesses. I never work illegally at anything and working with them might end us in scandals and loss of reputation which your grandfather earned with so much hard work. I never thought he would commit suicide, it was a coward act, killing yourself and running away from problems instead of facing all hurdles with bravery."

"I'm really sorry about Darren's father. But I did what I could to compensate my part in his suicide. I was the one who took Darren to the orphanage but..well, I can't badmouth a dead person." He whispered and I saw a hint of regret in his eyes.

"Daddy, I want to tell you something," I said, moving my eyes back to the black sky.

I think it was time to tell him about the crystal world because if I won't able to come back, if I won't succeed in defeating her and if Annabella really finished me. If that darkness actually made me stuck at never-ending allay then he at least should have known my whereabouts.

"I know about that too." He exhaled and I looked at him with wide eyes.

"Daddy, how..." My words got caught in my throat when he said, "Do you really think I would make any random person your personal bodyguard without investigation?"

I knitted both eyebrows. Walter! 'You are in big trouble, big bro!' I thought to myself.

There was a long pause of silence between us. I didn't know what to say. I didn't even know what to think anymore. So, we just sat together in silence and watched the sky until Daddy whispered, "Good luck sweetheart! I know you can do this."

And I felt some kind of unknown power inside me which was telling me that I can do that! I smiled at him as a tear role on my cheek. I rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes.

"Marie, we need to talk." Veward voice put me back in reality. I was about to open the door when I stopped and turned around. Walter and Bre walked out of the room and I looked at him.

He stood up from the chair and walked towards me and my heart started to bounce without any reason. He stopped at a five-step distance and looked at me with an uncomprehensible gaze.

"Are you going to the crystal world?" His words made my heart skip a beat and my eyes bewildered. I looked at him with a confused gaze.

"Seems like I have found a good friend also known as your brother."

"Are you trying to taunt me again?" I said, trying my very best to avoid this conversation.

"What? No!" He said and took a step forward.

'Walter you're going to die! You white head!'

"Why you did not tell me about it? Don't you trust me enough?" His voice was hurtful.

"It's not like that," I barely whispered with my gaze shifted on the floor.

"And how dare you reject my proposal? I had spent a damn night in writing that damn speech." He said and took two more steps closer as he added, "How dare you?"

"I didn't say no," I said and bit my tongue then looked at him. He was amused it was clear from his face.

"Really?" He raised his left eyebrow and came closer that now he was interrupting my personal space. I glared at him as I pushed him backward.

"Does it really matter to you? Huh? You don't even ask in the past seven days whether I'm okay or not? You don't even ask if I need something and just taunting me all the time." I snapped in anger as I punched him on his chest hard.

"Ouch!" He winced.

"Don't talk to me!" I said as I sat on the chair near the glass wall.

"Oh, my poor heart! You look really breathtaking in anger." He said as he sat beside me. I bit my tongue to prevent myself from smiling.

The outside view of the city was seen from here. The people of this city were busy with their work and I had to accomplish my work. A responsibility of a princess to save his kingdom, a moral duty as a daughter. I didn't even know whether I could come back alive or not.

"Veward let's not talk about it," I said with my gaze fixed towards the building and the sky in front of me.

"Can I come with you?" He asked with concern. I shook my head.

"No. I can't put your life in danger." I said and looked at his ocean blue eyes full of concern with a soft smile. Whether will I be able to look at them again or not?

"I'm not the one in danger here at least." He said and I smiled.

"Wish me luck." I stood up.

"My luck is with you and my luck is you. Just try to be back soon. Just try to bring my luck back soon. I'll wait for you." He said with a weak smile and I felt something in my heart.

I fought with the urge to hug him and burst into tears, holding my guard high and passing him a smile, I walked outside. I didn't give him hope, I didn't want to give him hope that I would come back for sure. Because I didn't know anything from now onwards.

*************

"You shouldn't have blocked me." He complained.

"And....you...should not have told everyone about the crystal world." I glared at him and continued walking. Now I knew that except Daddy and Veward, Bre also knew everything.

We were going towards the lake where Daddy found me because the masked savior wanted to tell us something and she called us there.

The night was silent but the sweet noises of some birds and owls were disturbing the silence. The cold breeze of December was blowing, making me shivered a bit.

"Just tell me the name. Who taught you the blocking spell?" Walter was angry because now he couldn't beep inside my head. Mike taught me the blocking spell because I asked him to teach me.

"I won't," I said and stopped near the lake. I looked around to find any sign of masked savior but she was not there yet.

"Walter, you can go now to the crystal world. I will meet you at the castle." I said, looking at him. He both eyebrows came closer as he glared at me.

"Don't order me. I'm not going anywhere." He said with gritted teeth and I grinned.

"You should listen to your princess," I said to tease him and it worked.

"Yeah right!" He said sarcastically and sat on the nearest rock.

"I know that." I heard a voice from behind and I turned around towards the source of it. "You have already found out about Annabella's weakness."

She came closer and had worn her signature outfits. Black mask with a black hoodie, apparently black from head to toe, just revealing her radiating green eyes. Today, I had to ask her one thing.

"Who are you? Why are you helping me?" I asked her while Walter was busy analyzing her from head to toe.

"Don't try. You can't read my mind." She looked at Walter and said. He smirked.

"You're not from the guardian town, right?" He said with a threatening gaze.

"Yes. I'm from the dark world." She replied and pulled down her hoodie and mask.

"ANNABELLA!!" I gasped in shock. While Walter stood up from the rock.