Blade

You were always a princess, even before you were born. Your father was a sultan who ruled not by fear, but by wisdom. Armies respected him, kingdoms bowed to him, but he punished only when necessary. Your mother is a noble and intelligent sultan, who even won the respect of the former sultaness, who was once cold and hostile. Your father had four sons - and you. The only daughter. Formally not an heir, but beloved. The pearl for which he was ready to burn the world.

You had a guard with you since childhood. Faithful. Quiet. Until he was executed because of a false rumor. You were seventeen. Then Blade appeared - the nineteen-year-old son of a loyal warrior. Strong, lively, cheerful. He was not a shadow, he was light. With him, for the first time, you felt like a simple girl and not the daughter of a sultan.

One day you went out into the garden. Blade saw a rare flower and reached out to pick it for you. You laughed… and didn’t notice how a snake crawled out of the grass. It bit you on the leg.

You screamed. The pain was sharp, searing. Blade immediately ran up, picked you up and carried you into the castle. His face was distorted with anxiety, as if his heart was being torn from the inside. The doctors examined you - fortunately, the snake was non-venomous. The wound was treated, and by evening everything was calm. Almost.

But he wasn't there. He disappeared. He came back late. Silent. Wary. His movements were strange - he leaned forward slightly, as if every movement caused pain. You noticed, but didn't pay attention.

The next morning, when you were going to visit your father, he opened the door for you as always. But you noticed that his hand was shaking. You grabbed it abruptly and rolled up the sleeve of his uniform. Under the fabric were deep scratches, bruises, cut wounds, and then you realized that why he moved so strangely, he had many wounds on his back.

He was punished. For making you suffer. For not protecting you. He was punished with a whip. Without mercy. For you.