The guards led me through the winding corridors of the pce, their grip on my arms firm but not painful. I struggled to keep myposure, my mind racing with thoughts. of betrayal, anger, and a desperate need for escape. They finally deposited me in a dimly lit cell, the heavy iron door nging shut with a finality that sent a shiver down my spine. I sank to the cold stone floor, my body trembling with a mixture of fear and fury. How had ite to this? I had done nothing wrong, and now I was facing trial for crimes I didn''tmit. To my


    A few hours passed in agonizing silence before the cell door creaked open again. To surprise, it was ra, her face pale but determined. She slipped inside, a bundle of clothes and a small pouch clutched in her hands. "Mydy," she whispered urgently, kneeling beside me. "I brought you some things. I can''t stand to see you like this."


    ??


    "ra," I said, my voice breaking. "Why are you here? You could get into so much


    trouble."


    She shook her head, her eyes filled with resolve. "I couldn''t just stand by and do nothing. You''ve always been kind to me. I won''t abandon you now."


    I took the bundle from her, my hands shaking. Inside were a simple dress, some bread, and a small dagger. "Thank you," I said, tears springing from my eyes. "But what can I do? They''ve set me up to take the fall." "I''ll go ask His Majesty. I''m sure he can help you get out of this mess. I''ve been trying to look for him, but I couldn''t find him. You need to hang in there, okay?"


    "No! His Majesty couldn''t help me. If you''re not aware, he''s basically the main reason I''m in this mess. And if he finds out about this, I''ll just suffer the same fate. So, no. I need to escape now. I don''t want to die here." I can see in her face that she wants to convince me more. But I''ll definitely have the


    same answer.


    After a few minutes of contemtion, she finally decided to agree with me. ra nced around the cell, making sure we were alone.


    "There might be a way out, mydy. The pce guards change shifts at midnight. There will be a brief window when security is at its weakest. If you can get past the guards,


    60.


    there''s a secret passage that leads out of the pce grounds. It was used during thest rebellion, but it''s been forgotten by most."


    My heart pounded with a mix of hope and fear. "How do you know this, ra?"


    "My father was a guard here during the rebellion. He told me about it in case I ever needed to escape," she exined. "I can guide you to the passage, but you''ll have to be quick and careful."


    "Why are you risking this for me?" I asked, overwhelmed by her bravery.


    She smiled faintly. "Because I believe in you, Lady Sage. And because I know you''re


    innocent


    I hugged her tightly, grateful for her loyalty. "Thank you, ra. I''ll never forget this."


    As midnight approached, we prepared for the daring escape. ra led me through the shadowy halls, avoiding the patrolling guards with practiced ease. My heart raced with every step. The fear of being caught was a constant presence. Finally, we reached a hidden door behind a tapestry. ra pushed it open, revealing a narrow, dark tunnel. "This is it," she whispered. "Follow this path, and it will lead you to the forest outside the pce walls."


    I squeezed her hand, my gratitude beyond words. "Thank you, ra. I''ll find a way to clear my name. I promise."


    She nodded, tears glistening in her eyes. "Be safe, mydy."


    With onest look, I stepped into the tunnel, the darkness enveloping me. I had no idea what awaited me on the other side.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    The passage was long and winding,


    "I knew you''d try to escape," Annika pressed on, driven by the thought of justice. and the desire to escape the clutches of those who sought to destroy me. Finally, I reached the end of the tunnel.


    said, her voice dripping with triumph. She stood at the end of the tunnel, her arms crossed over her chest, a wicked smile ying on her lips. "No," I breathed, my heart sinking. This couldn''t be happening. I had been so close.


    Annika''s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Bring her back to the cage," she ordered the guards, her tone cold and unyielding.


    "Get off me!" I shouted, struggling against the guards as they grabbed me. My heart.


    pounded in my chest as I kicked and thrashed, but their grip was like iron. "Let me go!


    The guards ignored my pleas, their faces set in stony determination as they dragged me back through the tunnel. The darkness closed in aroun the hope I had felt only moments ago slipping away like sand through my fingers. Annika followed behind, her footsteps echoing ominously. "You should know by now, sister," she said, her voice mocking. "There''s no escaping your fate." "Why are you doing this?" I spat, desperation and anger mixing in my voice. "What have I ever done to you?"


    Anníkaughed, a harsh sound that echoed off the tunnel walls. "My father shouldn''t have taken you in. You ruined our family!"


    "You''re insane! If there''s anyone here who''s ruined a family, it''s yours, not mine. Your father killed mine! Your family is the one who ruined my life."


    "Shut up!" she shouted as her palmnded on my cheeks. "You should have died together with your father. He deserved to die after what he did to me." "I don''t understand.


    I


    "Since you''re going to die, I think it''s time for you to know the truth."


    "What do you mean?" I frowned in confusion.


    "He said he''s he''s going to leave his family for me. But he lied to me! He broke my heart, so I''m going to break every piece of his beloved family." "You and my father? You''re delusional. My father loved my mother to the core. He will never cheat on her. Stop making up stories!" I eximed.


    "Surprise to know that t your father was not so perfect, just like you thought he would be.


    My jaw clenched. "I don''t believe. You probably made it up just to justify all your wrongdoings."


    "I don''t care if you believe me or not, Sage. But you''re not going anywhere.


    "You can''t keep me locked up forever," I said, my voice shaking with fury.


    She raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. "Oh, of course I can."


    The guards continued to drag me towards the cell, my feet barely touching the ground.


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    I felt a surge of helplessness as the walls of the pce loomed closer.


    "Annika, please." I tried onest time, my voice breaking.


    The cell door creaked open, and I was thrown insid unding hard on the stone floor.


    "In case you haven''t heard, Her Majesty has already left you under my care. She already gave me an order to do what I see fit."


    My eyes widened in fear as the guards stepped inside the cell, their expressions unreadable. "What are you going to do with me?" I asked, my voice trembling with dread. They didn''t answer. Instead, they grabbed my wrists and attached shackles, the cold metal biting into my skin. "Do it. Don''t stop until I say so, Annika ordered, her voice devoid of mercy.


    Panic surged through me. "Please, Annika, don''t do this!" I pleaded, but my words fell on deaf ears. One of the guards moved behind me and, with a swift motion, ripped the back of my shirt, exposing my bare skin to the cold, unforgiving air.


    I barely had time to process what was happening before the firstsh of the whip struck my back. The pain was immediate and excruciating, like a thousand knives slicing through my flesh. I screamed, the sound echoing off the stone walls of the cell.


    The whip came down again and again, each strike more brutal than thest. The leather cut into 1


    skin, leaving burning, searing pain in its wake. I clenched my teeth, trying to stifle my cries, but it was impossible. Eachsh tore through me, not just physically but emotionally, breaking down any semnce of strength I had left.


    Annika watched, her eyes cold and unfeeling. That''s enough," she finally said, her voice like ice. "I want her to remember this. I want her to know that this is only the beginning."


    The guard hesitated for a moment, then stepped back, lowering the whip. I copsed onto the floor, my body wracked with pain. Blood trickled down my back, pooling beneath me. Every breath was agony, and every movement sent fresh waves of torment through me. Annika crouched down next to me, her face close to mine, "Remember this, Sage," she whispered, her voice filled with venom. "This is what happens when you defy me."


    With that, she stood up and turned to leave, the guards following her out of the cell. The door nged shut behind them, leaving me alone in the darkness.


    Iy there, shivering and broken, tears streaming down my face. The pain was


    SEND Chapter 25


    unbearable, but even worse was the realization that I waspletely and utterly at Annika''s mercy. She had made it clear that she would stop at nothing to break me and to make me pay for whatever perceived slights she held against me. But even through the haze of pain and despair, a spark of defiance flickered within me. I would not let her win. I would find a way to survive this, to escape, and to bring her to justice. I had to.