章 7: Accusation
The first thing Alex noticed when he woke up was the faint, distant sound of someone knocking on the door. It wasn't the soft tap of a polite knock, but a hard, urgent series of raps that immediately jolted him awake. His mind, still foggy from sleep, struggled to process what was happening.
He groggily turned over in bed, glancing at the window where the first light of dawn was creeping through. He had barely slept, and his body ached from yesterday's exertion. But before he could even gather his thoughts, the door to his room suddenly swung open with a loud creak, and in strode four knights, their heavy footsteps sounding like thunder in the otherwise quiet inn.
Alex froze, his eyes widening in alarm. "W-What's going on?"
The knights didn't answer, their stern faces betraying no emotion. They advanced toward him, their armor clinking with every step. Alex barely had time to react as they seized him, grabbing him by the arms with rough hands.
"Hey! What the hell?" Alex struggled, but his body was still sluggish from sleep, and the knights' grip was like iron. "What's the meaning of this?"
One of the knights, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, sneered at Alex. "You are to come with us, hero. The princess has accused you of a grave offense."
The words hit Alex like a punch to the stomach. "A grave offense? What are you talking about?"
Before he could make sense of the situation, a voice—soft, trembling, and filled with feigned emotion—spoke from the doorway.
"I... I can't believe this is happening…"
Alex's head snapped toward the voice, and his heart sank when he saw her. Princess Selene stood at the door, her expression a perfect picture of distress. Her hands were clasped together, her face pale as she looked at Alex with wide, tear-filled eyes.
"Princess?" Alex said, his confusion deepening. "What... what's going on?"
The princess stepped into the room slowly, her delicate steps seemingly weighted with sorrow. She kept her head lowered, her hair cascading over her shoulders in soft waves as if to hide the calculated malice in her ruby eyes.
"Alex Bohn..." she began, her voice cracking as if on the verge of tears, "I... I don't know how to say this. I'm so sorry."
Alex's stomach twisted with unease. His mind raced, trying to piece together what was happening. "Princess... what are you—"
But before he could finish, she lifted her head, her eyes locking with his. And then, the words tumbled out like venom, each syllable more poisonous than the last.
"He... he attacked me... He... he raped me."
Alex's blood turned to ice at the sound of the accusation. His breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, his world seemed to stop spinning. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't think. All he could do was stare at her, his mind refusing to accept what he had just heard.
"What?" he gasped, his voice barely a whisper. "No, I didn't—Princess, I didn't—"
But Selene's eyes were cold now, her face a perfect mask of sorrow and pity. She glanced over at the knights, who stood still and impassive, their hands gripping their weapons tightly as if waiting for something.
"Please... take him away," she said, her voice quivering with false helplessness. "He... he forced himself on me in the middle of the night. I... I don't know what to do..."
The knights, seeing that the princess had spoken, advanced immediately. Alex struggled, his body now fully awake, adrenaline flooding his veins as he tried to pull away from their grasp. "No! This isn't true! It's a lie!" he shouted, panic and disbelief seizing him.
But no one was listening.
The knights, indifferent to his protests, dragged him toward the door. One of them slammed the door open, and they shoved Alex out into the hall. The innkeeper, who had been standing in the corner, looked at him with wide eyes, but he didn't speak, his face a mixture of confusion and fear.
As Alex was dragged down the stairs, his mind was in chaos. This is some kind of mistake... His heart pounded in his chest, his breath coming in shallow gasps as the realization set in. He had done nothing wrong. He had been nothing but polite to her, and yet she was accusing him of this? Of something vile and unforgivable?
He turned to look at Selene, still standing in the doorway, her head bowed in sorrow, as if she were the victim in all of this. Her expression—one of complete innocence—mocked him.
"Princess, please," he pleaded, his voice desperate. "You have to believe me! I didn't do anything!"
But she didn't respond. She simply turned her back, allowing the knights to drag Alex away.
The walk back to the castle was a blur of confusion and panic. Alex's mind raced, unable to comprehend how things had escalated so quickly. The knights marched him through the streets, their grip on him unyielding. As they passed by civilians, many of them looked on with curious eyes, some with pity, and others with thinly veiled judgment.
'Why is this happening?'
Alex thought, his heart sinking.
'Why is she doing this?'
The castle loomed ahead, its towering walls casting long shadows in the morning light. As they approached the gates, Alex's fear intensified. The cold, stone walls of the castle seemed to close in on him, amplifying the sense of helplessness that was gnawing at him.
The knights marched him through the grand hall, where the echoes of their steps reverberated off the stone floors. His mind was spinning, his vision hazy from the overwhelming mix of anger, fear, and confusion. He was shoved into a small, dimly lit room, and the knights stood around him, watching with cold, unreadable eyes.
The door opened, and Alex flinched as the sound of heavy footsteps filled the room. The figure that entered was none other than King Aldric Galdor, the monarch who had summoned him. His piercing blue eyes were cold as ever, and his expression was one of calculated indifference.
"Alex Bohn," King Aldric said, his voice deep and commanding. "You stand accused of a grave crime. Do you have any defense to offer?"
Alex's throat tightened, his mind struggling to form words.
'This can't be happening. I haven't done anything wrong!'
"I didn't... I didn't do it," Alex said hoarsely, looking up at the king with pleading eyes. "Princess Selene is lying. I've never touched her."
King Aldric's eyes narrowed, but his expression remained unreadable. "The word of a princess is not to be taken lightly, hero. Especially when the evidence is as clear as it is." He turned to one of the knights. "Make sure he's properly secured. We'll get to the bottom of this."
The knight nodded and stepped forward, placing a set of shackles on Alex's wrists. The cold metal bit into his skin, and he was forced to kneel before the king, helpless.
"Your fate will be decided shortly," King Aldric said. "For now, you will remain here until further notice."
Alex looked up at him, his heart sinking even further. "Please... I didn't do it," he whispered. "You have to believe me."
But the king's eyes were as cold as ever, his expression unreadable. "It's not about belief. It's about power. And right now, you are not in a position to make demands."
As the knights stepped forward to lead him away, Alex couldn't help but glance one last time toward the door.
Outside, the princess stood, her face still a perfect mask of innocence, but her eyes—those ruby-red eyes—glowed with something darker. Something that made Alex's blood run cold.
This was only the beginning.
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