章 24: Didn't I Warn You To Be Careful?
~Katrina~
"Didn't I warn you to be careful?" Queen Fortuna said, her arms crossed
tightly over her chest. Her voice held such authority that it made me flinch.
"This is the end, princess. Take her away."
Marissa tried to intervene, her voice desperate. "At least tell her why
she's being arrested!"
But I already knew. There was no point in pretending. I kept silent as the
guards grabbed me, dragging me out of the room. I didn't fight them.
It was humiliating. The women in the quarters stared as I passed, their eyes
filled with pity—and something else. Fear.
It was as if they knew I was being sent to my doom, and yet none of them
dared to challenge Queen Fortuna. Their gazes silently blamed her, but no one
spoke.
Still, I wasn't entirely sure this was her doing. The last time I spoke with
the king, he'd been furious. Perhaps he'd discovered my lies and given the
order himself.
The guards moved quickly, their grip tight, as though they feared I'd break
free. It was ridiculous. I wasn't resisting.
We followed a path leading to the servants' quarters, a part of Xylonia I'd
never seen before.
The air felt heavier here, the environment strange and unfamiliar. Only a
few servants lingered, most having already left for their daily tasks.
The guards said nothing, their silence louder than words. I couldn't help
but wonder what awaited me at the end of this path.
"Can you at least tell me where you're taking me?" I asked as we
approached a building behind the servants' quarters.
It looked abandoned, but as we got closer, I noticed the tight security and
traps scattered around. My heart sank. Was this some kind of prison?
The guards didn't answer. They acted like statues, cold and unyielding.
I glanced around and realized Marissa was no longer with us. Panic twisted
in my chest. Where was she? Why had they separated us?
"Where are you taking me? And why?" I shouted, struggling to keep up with
their pace.
They didn't reply. Instead, their grip on my arms tightened, sending sharp
pain shooting through me. I winced, certain my arms would snap if they kept
this up.
"You don't know why you're here?" Queen Fortuna's voice cut through the
tension like a blade.
She stood there with a wicked smile, relishing my discomfort.
"Make her kneel before me," she ordered.
The guards shoved me down, forcing me to my knees in front of her. Anger
burned through my veins as I looked up at her smug expression.
I hated how powerless I felt, kneeling there like a defeated animal before
this cruel queen.
But for now, I had no choice but to endure.
"Good." Queen Fortuna crossed her arms, her lips curving into a smirk.
"I've been waiting for this day since you arrived, princess."
Waiting for this day? Was I some kind of trophy to her? Why had she been so
eager for my downfall?
"You disrespected me every chance you got," she said, her tone sharp.
"I don't believe I've ever disrespected you, Queen Fortuna," I replied,
keeping my voice steady. It was the truth. She held grudges against me for no
reason.
"Don't you dare talk back to me, or I'll have them chop off your fingers,"
she hissed, leaning in close until her face was just inches from mine.
Her words were meant to make me cower, but fear had long left me. What was
left to be afraid of?
I knew the lies I'd told the king had sealed my fate. Death would be the
final punishment.
She studied me, clearly frustrated by my lack of reaction, then straightened
herself. "You disrespected me," she repeated. "You found favor in his eyes, and
he ignored your insolence."
Her cruel smile deepened, as if savoring her victory. "But now that you've
disrespected the king himself, your punishment awaits."
Wait… was that what this was about? I was arrested for disrespecting the
king?
None of this made sense, but her satisfaction told me it wasn't about truth.
It was about power.
"I don't understand. What exactly is my offense?" I asked, my voice
trembling as I glanced around. The area was eerily quiet. Only the guards and
Queen Fortuna were with me.
"Do you remember what you did this morning?" she asked, her tone laced with
mockery.
I nodded, confused.
"That's why you're here." Her smile was cruel as she added, "Finally, you'll
be out of our lives. Take her away and lock her up."
Her words barely registered before the guards grabbed me again, dragging me
toward the ominous building ahead.
Inside, the air was damp and heavy, the only light coming from the
flickering torches they carried.
Shadows danced along the walls as we moved down the dark hallway.
When we turned a corner, the torchlight reflected off iron bars.
My heart sank.
It was a prison.
Each cell we passed held prisoners who barely stirred. Some groaned weakly,
their faces pale and hollow, while others didn't move at all. Their misery
clung to the air, suffocating me.
Cold shivers ran down my spine as panic tightened its grip. Was this where I
would rot away? For what? Disrespecting the king?
Fear coursed through me. Was this truly my end?
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