The Cursed Prince's Strange Bride

"My lady, what is the problem? Are you okay? Do you need something?" The maid asked, rushing over to Alicia's side with worried eyes.

Alicia ignored her as she looked around the bedroom and quickly got out of the bed. Her head pounded because of the sudden movement, and she had to hold the edge of the bed to balance herself. What was this place? It was clearly not a hospital. It didn't have the smell or the looks. If not a hospital, then what? Purgatory? Who was this lady? She wondered as she ran towards the door, ignoring the body ache she was feeling.

Once Alicia stepped through the door, she kept running until she was standing outside, looking around what looked like a mountain area. This wasn't the city she thought as she turned around to look at the building she had run out from. The house didn't look modern either. Where was this place? She wondered.

The young girl in the room with her earlier was running towards her and this time, she wasn't alone. She was with a woman who looked to be in her early or late forties. The woman's dressing pattern was similar to that of the girl. It was only now that she looked down at herself and realized she was dressed the same way. She wore a loose-fitting plain dress with a flat funny-looking shoe.

Still looking confused, she looked at her skin. It looked paler. She looked thinner and her skin looked younger.

She was preoccupied with all the thoughts and confusion running through her mind that she didn't realize the two ladies had caught up with her. The next thing she felt was a stinging slap on her cheek causing her to stumble backward. The young girl gasped and quickly used her hands to cover her mouth.

Her face was stinging. She really felt it! Was this real? She wasn't dead? This wasn't a dream?

"Didn't I specifically tell you not to leave the house? Are you trying to get us all killed because of your stubbornness?" The woman barked at her.

"Killed?" She asked hesitantly, testing her voice which sounded different. "By... who?"

The two women looked slightly confused at her accent but that was the least of their problems.

Something is definitely off and if she didn't get answers soon, she feared she was going to lose her mind.

"Who else if not your father?" The older woman asked incredulously.

Her father? What was this woman talking about? Her father was late, and she was an orphan.

"How could you leave the house to the main village? Do you know the trouble you almost caused? Not only did we receive a message from the King, you almost drowned! What would I have told the King? Is this your plan to get us killed just at the point where we can return to the palace? Do you know the repercussion of your actions?"

"The King? What King?" She asked dumbly, making both ladies exchange a look.

"Your father, My Lady," the young girl explained cautiously.

Alicia stared at both the woman and the young girl blankly. Were they crazy? Who were they and what were they talking about? Why did the woman sound like she hated her? What was that talk about rescuing her from drowning? When did her dead father become a king?

"AHHH!" She used her hands to hold her head which felt like falling off. She was suddenly having a very terrible headache.

"My Lady!" The young girl called in alarm before running to her side to help her remain to stand.

"Madam Grace, the Princess needs to rest. Please." The girl pleaded. From her tone, it was obvious she was scared of the woman.

"SHUT UP!" The woman snapped at the girl. "If you had done your job properly and looked after her, she wouldn't have escaped to the village. What was she looking for there?"

"Uhm... I... it's..."

The Princess? Were they referring to her? Wasn't she Alicia Queen? When did she become a Princess? Was this some sort of cruel joke or a prank?

"Who... are you... people?" Alicia finally raised her head to ask them. She realized things would be easier if she stopped trying to figure out everything and just simply asked them. Maybe this was a strange village where she floated off to after she fell off the bridge. It wasn't like she time-travelled to the olden days like some movie she had starred in. She almost laughed at the thought.

"MY LADY!" The younger girl gasped. "It's me, Paulina, your handmaiden. This is Madam Grace, your caretaker. Do you remember us now?" She asked hopefully. Her eyes were already beginning to brim with tears.

Alicia shook her head. "This must be a dream." She muttered to herself. "I must be dreaming." She repeated.

"Madam... Grace I... I think she hurt... her head," Paulina said, bursting into tears.

What is this? Reincarnation? Transmigration? A nightmare where she can still feel pain?

The older woman looked at her cautiously. "Do you... know who you are?" She asked before adding hopefully, "You know who you are, right?"

Alicia nodded, making the two women sigh in relief before she continued.

"I am Alicia Queen. I'm 25 years old and I live in the southern part of Brook's Hill. If you watch the TV, you must have seen me in some movies. Look," She looked at the two women, ignoring their astonished looks. "I am grateful that you saved me from drowning. But you shouldn't mistake me for someone else. I'm an orphan, and I'm no Princess. Can I get a cellphone or something? Or is there a way I can get a taxi around here? I'll be sure to repay your kindness as soon as I get back to my place," she promised, looking from one lady to the other with a serious expression.

"What is she saying?" Paulina asked madam Grace in a shaky voice, as she panicked.

"Alicia Queen?" Madam Grace asked in confusion, wondering if she had really hit her head or was just playing a prank on them.

Alicia gave her a nod, "Yes. So I need a cellphone. I need to give my manager a call. You didn't happen to see my cellphone in the water, did you? Not that it's going to work now, anyway," She muttered the last part under her breath, before looking at madam Grace with a hopeful expression since it seemed she was in charge of things.

"Take her inside. She needs to rest her head while I fetch the doctor," madam Grace ordered Paulina, and walked away in quick steps before Alicia could say anything else.

Paulina grabbed Alicia's arm, but she pulled away quickly from Paulina while looking at her, "Tell me the truth, where is this place? Did someone pay you to keep me here?" Alicia asked, looking around her nervously.

Paulina's brows were pulled together in concern as she gazed at Alicia, "You should rest, My Lady. The doctor will get here soon and check your head. We have to make sure you are fine before tomorrow, else we will all be in trouble," Paulina said, taking Alicia's arm once again.

"Tomorrow? What is happening tomorrow?" Alicia asked as she let Paulina lead her back to the ancient-looking building. She was going to just lead them on, and run off her on her own once she got the chance.

"You are returning to the palace. The King finally wants you back in the Palace after 12 years!" Paulina announced excitedly.

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