After my mother passed, I continued to study medicine and herbalism. At first, I was motivated to find a cure for the disease. I felt like it was my fault she had passed since I didn't work hard enough.
I was desperate to find a way to make the perfect formula. Every day, I would research and try to perfect the formula. However, it proved to be difficult. Firstly, I had no subject to test on which made it hard and so I had to rely on what I remembered from my mother's symptoms.
It was after I witnessed one of my father's raids that I was brought out of my bubble. I realized that the slaves weren't our enemies but they were victims of my father's tyranny.
I remembered my mother's words to me. "I hope you help as many people as you can with your gift." She had said to me when she told me to stop making medicines for her.
I now thought that perhaps my mother wanted me to help the slaves with my medicines. With this in mind I widened and broadened my studies instead of slely focusing on my mothers cure. Looking at the countless scars and bruises on the slaves bodies, I started making ointments to help in the healing process.
In secret I began to help the slaves. Starting with my servants. When they came to my room to attend to me I would make sure not to eat all my food to share with them. I offered to heal their wounds; I would give them ointments to use on their wounds. I told them to use them in secret of course, as they were allowed access to medicine.
After a while the servants began to come to me asking for ointments and medicines on behalf of other slaves. I couldn't go out to see the other slaves myself, so I relied on my personal attendants to tell me what they needed for their friends or other slaves that needed treatment.
For almost four years I was able to help the servants in secret. However, I was unfortunately eventually caught. It was Elodie that found out and told my father. I was expecting to be punished for what I did but the outcome was far worse than I could ever imagined.
Aside from Maya, all my personal attendants were killed including any of their family members. All slaves were thorughly searched and any of them that had hidden ointments that they had received from me were killed as well.
My father only gave me a thorough reprimanding and forbade me from studying medicine. He stopped me from going to the physician's herbal garden to stop me from getting ingredients. He fortunately didn't find my research books which I always kept hidden away deep in my closet. I technically could have continued my studies in secret Feeling extremely guilty I stopped my studies on my own. Too many people had lost their lives over my actions.
**************************
The following morning, I was prepared for the day as usual by my servants, my eyes were focused on the servant who had asked me helped. I was glad her brother was doing well but I really wished I could have helped more. However, I would risk having her, her brother and all my servants killed. That couldn't happen again.
I bit my lip as I remembered my previous servants had been killed 3 years ago. It had been all my fault, the guilt ate away at me to this day.
After getting prepared I went to the dinning room for breakfast as usual. Inside was the queen and Elodie. Elodie was holding a servant the collar of her uniform.
"You've ruined my dress you fool!" she screamed at the servant. My eyes followed Elodie's eyes and saw some food had spilled on her dress. I bit my lip in frustration and quietly went. So early un the morning and something was already wrong.
"I should have the guards rape you for insulting the princess!" the queen chimed in. "You slaves are too damn clumsy!"
Maybe if they were fed properly, they might be able to do things, I thought to myself.
"I apologize Your Highness! Your Majesty!" the servant begged them as she visibly shivered in fear.
"What's all this commotion about?" a male voice asked. We all turned to find my father entering.
"Your Majesty, this insolent slave ruined the princess's dress!" the queen explained.
My father walked into the dining room. It was rare for him to have a meal with us, he must have had an announcement for us. He sat down at the head of the table. "Guards get the slave out for a lashing, you can do whatever else you want with her," he simply said. "Elodie you can change your dress after breakfast."
Two of the guards in the room went to her took her out tears streamed down her face.
My father then began to eat which encouraged us to join him as well.
"On the third night from today, Tagryn and I will head out with the army to handle a rebel wolf pack. When we return, we will begin the preparations for the marriage ceremony for the two of you," he said as he then looked at me.
I smiled back at my father as if I was fine with everything.
I had decided to use my father's coming raid as the same time I would escape from the castle. I could mask my movements with the army that would be leaving the castle as well. Like that time 12 years ago when I snuck along with my father's army to one of his raids.
After breakfast, I returned to my room and continued to make my plans for my escape. I had to plan what I was going to carry with me. My bag had to be light so I could easily move around.
Once I was done deciding what I was going to be carrying, I then went opened the window to my room and looked down. It was pretty high up, several stories but if I used my claws, I should be able to climb down safely, and my father was leaving at night so that would help as well. With my actions for the day of my escape set, all I had to do was wait until it was time.