The princess, sat. Her food untouched. She waited for those who hosted her to arrive, but none came. She was was served all sorts of food by the servants, but her glances kept going to the door where the guards were. But, nothing.
Her mind wondered if something was wrong, or if all the decoration was actually for her to eat her meal alone. Soon, Sarah arrived, having left before. The princess's gaze lit up a bit with gladness on seeing Sarah. Her steps were gentle as she approached the princess.
"Your highness, I'm afraid none of the princes, nor the King will be able to make it to dinner. A serious matter arose so they couldn't make it."
"You can have your dinner. You need not continue to wait for them." She added, seeing she had not touched anything on her table.
Sarah noticed her face turn gloomy. Without a word, she rose from her seat, confusing Sarah, and left the room. The maidens wanted to follow her back, but Sarah signaled for them to leave her be. She knew her way back to her chambers.
She thought within herself, how stupid she was to expect anything better from whoever these people were. Unconsciously, she felt her heart begin to boil in anger, but her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when she heard, hammering footsteps walking towards her direction. Her senses became alert. It was then she realized that the hallways seemed to be free of guards, or anyone else. Perplexed, she examined her surroundings again and realized she had taken a wrong turn. Hurriedly, she hid herself, by a pillar, as the person barged into a room, nearby, spouting:
"Father gets me so pissed!"
She heard one growl.
"He's the King. It's a natural habit of his."
She heard another in the room, laugh off.
"Did you find what you were looking for?"
There was a bit of silence.
"Yes. And no."
"And?"
"The girl… she and her aren't related."
"But?"
"They are still connected somehow."
The princess leaned in closer, trying to understand what they were talking about.
"Somehow?"
The princess was still eavesdropping when she heard a growl from an animal from inside the room. She frowned, shaking her head, nor believing her ears.
'That can't be right,' She thought within her.
She waited for a moment, and noticed the two men talking had suddenly gone quiet. Her heart began to ache in anxiety. Had she been discovered? But she hadn't made a single sound?
She suddenly felt unsafe where she was, and looked around, before she began to retrace her steps. She took off, running into the direction from whence she came.
"I hear something…"
She heard one of them say, and their footsteps, followed suit behind her. Yet, she heard another silent pair of legs, chasing after her. She began to pant lowly as she continued to run, holding her dress to prevent her from tripping. She saw an engraved door, far off. Her heart hoped it was open, as she ran towards it.
"This way!" She heard from behind her.
She decided to steal a glance from behind, and what her eyes saw, made her wonder if hunger was making her hallucinate. She kept running, looking back, her eyes tearing up and her breathing unstable.
What was a blank panther doing in the palace?