บท 8: The Fate
The cold stone walls of the castle towered high around Alex as he was dragged through the corridors, the heavy clank of his shackles echoing in the silence.
His mind felt numb, his body barely able to keep up with the relentless pace of the knights who dragged him forward. Every step he took seemed to bring him closer to an inevitable, crushing fate. He had hoped for something—anything—that would prove his innocence, but it felt like the walls were closing in around him, and there was no way out.
The last few days had been nothing but confusion and despair. He had been thrown into a dark cell, given no chance to defend himself, while Princess Selene's accusations rang in his ears, each one louder and more damning than the last. Now, they were leading him to the arena—an arena where his fate would be decided in front of everyone.
As they emerged from the narrow halls and into the open courtyard, the bright sunlight hit Alex's eyes, momentarily blinding him.
He squinted, trying to adjust, and saw the large, circular arena that lay ahead. The ground was made of dusty stone, the stands around it filled with spectators—royal guards, nobles, and even the other heroes who had been summoned. Their faces were grim, their eyes full of judgment.
At the center of the arena stood King Aldric Galdor, his towering figure casting a long shadow. His blue eyes gleamed as they settled on Alex, and for a moment, Alex felt like he was being judged by the very heavens themselves. Beside the king stood Princess Selene, her expression a mixture of innocence and sorrow, her delicate hand clasped tightly in her father's.
"Bring the accused forward," King Aldric's voice boomed, his deep baritone sending a shiver through Alex's spine.
Alex was forced to kneel before the king, his shackles clinking as he lowered his head in submission. The knights stood behind him, their faces impassive.
The crowd fell silent.
King Aldric's voice rang out, clear and cold. "Alex Bohn," he began, his words carrying a weight that seemed to settle over Alex's chest like a mountain.
"You stand accused of a grave crime. The princess of this kingdom, my daughter, has accused you of violating her. This is not just a matter of personal dispute; it is a matter of honor, and your actions threaten the very fabric of our society."
Alex looked up sharply, his heart racing. "This is a lie! I didn't do anything to her!" His voice cracked as he spoke, desperation creeping in.
But the king merely shook his head, his face impassive. "You are a hero summoned to this kingdom, and yet, you have chosen to disgrace it. The accusations against you are not to be taken lightly. And so, we will resolve this matter in the only way fitting of a hero."
Alex's blood ran cold. "What are you talking about? You know I didn't do it! Please, just listen to me!"
The king raised his hand, silencing him. "The princess has spoken, and we have gathered testimony from those who have witnessed your actions. It is clear to us that you are guilty of the crime. And now, your punishment will be decided here, in front of all, as a lesson to those who dare to bring shame upon this kingdom."
Alex's chest tightened, and he glanced around, hoping for a sign of support, but what he saw instead made his heart sink even further.
His fellow heroes—Dylan, Ichiro, and Jina—were standing off to the side, their eyes filled with disbelief and uncertainty. Jina's face was pale, her lips trembling as she stared at the ground. Ichiro's fists were clenched at his sides, but there was no hint of defiance in his posture.
Dylan, who had always been the most outspoken, stood motionless, his expression unreadable.
"Is... is this true?" Dylan asked, his voice cracking as he looked at Alex.
"I... I didn't do it!" Alex protested, his voice rising in panic. "You have to believe me!"
But Dylan's eyes shifted, his gaze turning away from Alex. He stepped back, his shoulders hunched as he spoke softly. "I... I don't know what to believe anymore, man."
Ichiro didn't say anything, but the tension in his body was palpable. He looked between Alex and the princess, his expression conflicted, torn between his sense of duty and his doubts.
Jina, however, didn't even look at Alex. Her eyes were fixed on the ground, her face pale and strained. Finally, she spoke in a low, almost apologetic tone. "I'm sorry, Alex. But... if what the princess says is true…"
Alex's heart shattered as his friends turned their backs on him. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of betrayal. He had trusted them. He had trusted them more than anyone. And yet, they were choosing to side with Selene—the very woman who had framed him.
His eyes darted back to Selene, who stood there with a sorrowful expression, her face perfectly composed, as though she were the one who had been wronged. She didn't look at him with any recognition. There was no sign of guilt, no hesitation in her eyes. Just a cold, mocking satisfaction.
And then it happened. The thing that shattered Alex's world completely.
Selene stepped forward, her hand still clutching her father's. With a soft sigh, she rested her head on King Aldric's shoulder, pretending to weep as she clung to him. The princess's eyes flicked toward Alex for just a moment, and in that brief glance, there was no sorrow—only cruelty. She smiled, her lips curling into a smug, victorious grin that sent a chill through Alex's spine.
"Father, how could he do this to me?" she whispered, her voice dripping with fake sorrow. "I thought he was supposed to be a hero, but he... he assaulted me. I didn't want this... but he made me do it."
The crowd murmured in shock, and Alex's stomach turned. He could barely process what he was hearing. The betrayal was suffocating. The entire world around him seemed to crumble, falling apart in pieces like shattered glass. His mind raced with questions, but no answers came.
'Why? Why would she do this to me?'
King Aldric's eyes hardened, and he turned toward the crowd. "The evidence is clear. The princess's word is as solid as gold, and we will not allow this shameful act to stain the reputation of this kingdom. Alex Bohn, for your crime, there will be consequences."
Alex struggled to stand, his voice frantic as he looked up at the king.
"You can't be serious! This is a mistake! I didn't do it!"
But the king didn't even acknowledge his protests. Instead, he motioned to the guards, who began to bring forward a large wooden plank—rough and crude, a piece of cardboard nailed to the top. The letters on the board were large and bold, a cruel message for all to see.
[I am a rapist.]
Alex's blood ran cold as he saw the words written in dark ink across the plank. The guards held it up in front of him, forcing him to wear it like a badge of shame.
"This will be your punishment."
King Aldric declared, his voice cold and final.
"You will wear this sign for all to see. You will walk through the streets, humiliated and broken, as an example to anyone who dares to dishonor the kingdom. And if you refuse... if you resist... then your fate will be far worse."
Alex couldn't breathe. The weight of the words crushed him, suffocating him. This was his punishment for a crime he hadn't committed.
The very people he had trusted—the very heroes who had been summoned alongside him—had turned their backs on him. There was no escape. No way to clear his name. No hope left.
As the guards forced the plank over his head, Alex stood frozen in place. His mind was numb. His heart was shattered. And the world around him, once full of possibility and adventure, had turned into nothing more than a nightmare.
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