บท 22: The Conspirator

Maya who was anxious about her failed plan, suddenly coughs hearing his words "Queen?".

'How am I a Queen now?! Lost Queen?! Am I hallucinating everything?!'.

Stephen watches her with his piercing eyes and starts walking around her. He speaks carelessly as if he has no intent to know the truth for now "The Crown Prince is going to be The King real soon. His wife is The Queen. Now tell me who is behind this conspiracy?".

Maya lies "I don't know".

'I just can't throw Veronica's name at his face! She is a Princess and I am no one! How would he believe me even I say the truth? What if I end up in serious situation if I drag a Royal in this issue?'.

Stephen laughs suddenly making Maya to freeze.

Maya expected him to threaten her but this man didn't react like the way she predicted.

Stephen ogles Maya and asks walking towards a table where the whip was kept "I want you to help me Young Lady. I too wish you tell me everything before-".

He turns grabbing a whip and continues "Before I tear your fleshes apart".

Even though his face remained nonchalant, Maya felt his tone sent chills to her body. She realizes that she can't fool this man easily.

She gulps and decides to try to grab some time or make some excuse to make him leave the room once or beat him 'normally'.

'I can't get caught. Just untie me! For a single time!'.

She felt her left hand going numb due to the injury and winces clutching her fist "Just untie my hands soldier. It's hurting!".

WHIP!

AAAHH!

Stephen whips Maya harshly making her scream.

Maya kneels her right leg as he whipped her suddenly making her to loose control. She felt her leg throbbing and her body instantly starts reacting to the injury.

'It's still not deeper than the cut in my hand. So he wouldn't know anything abnormal. Maya make him untie the chains! At any cost!'.

She holds her brimming tears back in her eyes and hisses viciously "Be a man and fight with me! Don't be a coward soldier! ".

Stephen smirks "Let me play with you for some time Lady. Now kneel properly! Let me see your defeated face!".

Maya looks at his demanding eyes and smirks 'It hurts. And it will! But not more than succumbing his ego!'.

She keeps her balance by her left leg and stands slowly.

WHIP!!

Stephen whips her but Maya stands as she already expected his move.

She spits in disdain "I told this before Soldier. Making me kneel before anyone would never happen! Not even in your dreams! If you have balls fight with me coward!".

Stephen's aura turns cold and grabs Maya's face harshly "Trying to be a beast? Huh? I WILL make you kneel in front of me Lady. Just do it and make things easy. Or only you will regret for your disfigured appearance in future! ".

Maya just stares him equally not even flinching for his hard grip on her chin.

Stephen pushes her face and throws the whip aside. He shrugs "Did you think you could leave alive after that drama that you have shown everyone there? You asked for this My Lady".

Maya subconsiously recalls the stranger who used to call her 'My Lady'. She remembers that he gave a pendant to her.

'If I use the pendant, then what is the use of getting arrested?! I made this decision to hide from everyone! If I use it, wouldn't my plans go vain? But You have to be alive to implement those plans Maya! You never got hurt this bad and you still have no idea how your body will react!'.

She sighs defeated and says "I will tell you who is behind the conspiracy ".

Stephen smiles "Sweet!". But he still walks towards the chain which had spikes on it.

Maya looks at him suspiciously and notices his every actions. She speaks cautiously "I heard someone speaking about the conspiracy in the harbor and-".

Seeing him lifting his to whip her again, Maya holds his hand by her right hand.

Stephen opens his eyes wide expressing his extreme shock.

'She broke the chains just by tugging her hand?!'.

Maya too mirrored his shocked expression and looks at her hand.

Stephen mutters staring at Maya "You are quite strong My Lady! Let me show you some weakness!".

He graps Maya's left hand strongly.

AAAHHHH!

Maya couldn't hold back the scream as it was hurting her, literally showing her hell.

Stephen laughs coldly "Do you like it? Do you wanna break this chain too? What happened? Why aren't you breaking it? Is it because of the injury?".

He starts walking around leaving her injured hand. She s muffling with her cries.

Maya felt Stephen standing behind and dangerously near her. She scoffs "Try speaking at ones face Mister. You just look like a coward to hear you talking behind my back".

Stephen chuckles lowly and grabs Maya's waist and makes her turn facing him. He holds her left hand softly and whispers looking at her shocked face "Is this great My Queen?".

Maya stops breathing for a minute.

'He knows! He knows about me! Yet he is hurting me! Why?! Is he one of Royals' conspirators?! How did I get myself dragged here?!'.

Stephen smirks leaning towards her "Did you thought everyone's stupid here My Queen? And tell me one thing. How are you alive still?".

Maya's breath itches by his stern tone and whispers "You are one of them! You are one of Princess's men!".

Stephen frowns blankly "Princess? How did this suddenly relate to Princess?".

Maya felt her head spinning. She thought Princess Veronica was behind everything. She is proven wrong.

Before she could realize, Stephen pulls her rudely towards him. He snarls "I want to snatch every single possession of his! Even his wife! Now tell me My Lady? Are you going to be with me or your husband who left you unwanted?".