I squinted my eyes, protecting them from the blinding lightsing from the ceiling. As the memories of what happened dawned on me, I immediately flipped over in bed. My confusion grew when I noticed I was back in my quarters and not in that rotting cell where they I scanned the room and quickly found ra. She was at the table, squeezing a towel from a basin of water.


    had thrown me.


    "ra, what happened? Why am I here?" I asked urgently.


    "His Highness saved you, mydy," she answered.


    пе what?" I asked, bewildered. "B-But why?"


    "I''m afraid I''m in no position to answer that, mydy. You have to ask him yourself," she replied.


    Itpletely puzzled me why he would save me. But at the same time, I felt a pang of disappointment because I had been expecting another person to rescue me. I wondered. where he had been all this time. Did he know what had happened to me? Was he worried? Even though it bothered me, I knew I had no time to spare. I had no idea what the king was nning or why he had saved me. But now that Annika had revealed the truth in front of the queen, it wouldn''t take long before His Majesty heard about it. Wouldn''t he have heard about it by now? said the tiny voice inside my head. If that were the case, I would have had even more reason to escape as soon as possible. I was sure he didn''t pull me out of jail to save me; he was probably nning a more cruel way of punishing me.


    Despite the pain coursing through my body, I forced myself to get up from the bed.


    "Mydy! You still haven''t recovered. You''re still weak!" ra eximed, trying to calm. me down.


    "You don''t understand, ra. I''m going to die if I stay here!" I insisted.


    She looked worried. "Then at least talk to the Chief Minister before you leave," she suggested.


    12:59 Wed. Sep 11 TO 0 Chapter 20


    I scoffed. "What for? He''s nowhere to be found. Heck, he wasn''t even the one who got me out of jail!" I spat out the bitter words. "So, no, thank you. I didn''t need him then, and I surely don''t need him now." I didn''t bother bringing anything with me. I just changed into morefortable clothes-a pair of jeans and a top would do.


    Determined, I made my way to the door. ra reached out, her eyes pleading. "Please, mydy, think about this. The king saved you; there must be a reason."


    I shook my head, my resolve unshaken. "I can''t take that chance, ra. Staying here is a death sentence. I have to go."


    Before I could even walk to the door, someone barged in. I was surprised to see Annika standing in front of me.


    "Leave us," she ordered.


    "Annika?" I mumbled.


    "Let''s go, sis," she said before grabbing me by my arm.


    J


    J


    I tried t**o snatch my arm away from her, but my body hasn''t fully recovered. "Why? What are you going to do?"


    "You''ll find out soon enough," she replied without much context.


    "Let me go! I''m noting with you!"


    "You don''t have a choice, sis. Be grateful that I''m ending your pain sooner rather thanter. I''ll miss you," she said, her voice a strange mix of coldness and fake affection.


    I


    I couldn''t fully understand her words; the cruelty in them sent chills down my spine. Bound and helpless, I could only follow as she led me through the confusing corridors of the pce. Each step echoed ominously, reminding me of my dangerous situation. could


    I


    I try y to fight her, but my body is still too weak. Even walking is a struggle, let alone fighting.


    As we walked, I tried to figure out where we were going. The hallways were grand, decorated with rich tapestries and detailed carvings that showed the pce''s wealth. The flickering torchlight cast long, eerie shadows on the walls, adding to the sense of dread hanging in the air. the air. Despite my fear, I forced myself to stay alert, noting every


    became clear that we were moving town


    filled me with dread ***


    TOO. Chapter 30


    Annika, who was walking beside me, kept her steady, unyielding pace. She seemed almost calm, as if the seriousness of her actions didn''t affect her at all. The contrast between her calmness and my terrifying situation was confusing.


    As we approached arge set of ornate double doors, the realization hit me hard. This was the entrance to the throne room, the very heart of the pce. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat loud and insistent. I couldn''t help but wonder what awaited me on the other Side. side. She paused in front of the doors, turning to face me with an almost terrifying expression. "It''s better this way. You''ll see."


    Before I could respond, the doors swung open with a heavy creak, revealing the vast expanse of the throne room. It was grand and imposing, with high ceilings and tall, stained ss windows that cast colorful patterns on the marble floor. At the far end of the room, on a raised tform, sat the thrones, symbols of the power and authority that ruled this kingdom. Standing beside the thrones were the king and queen, their expressions unreadable as they watched our approach. Court members and guards lined the sides of the room. The atmosphere was thick with tension, and every gaze was heavy with expectation. Even from afar, I can clearly see the king''s prominent silver hair. However, the shape of his face seems familiar. Though it isn''t clear because of the distance between us, there''s something within me that tells me that I know him. But who am I kidding? There''s no way that I''ll know him. My sister tightened her grip on my arm, pushing me forward with renewed determination. As we drew closer to the tform, I could feel the weight of all those eyes on me; the silent judgment of the court was a tangible force.


    I quickly lowered my head as a response. I can still remember that His Majesty forbids me from looking at him.


    "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, his voice echoing through the cavernous


    room


    My sister stepped forward, her voice steady and clear. "Your Majesties, I bring my sister here today to end her suffering. She has been a threat to our family''s honor and a burden we can no longer bear." "She was out of her cage; didn''t that tell you anything?" His Majesty asked, filled with


    sarcasm.


    "I''m aware of that, Your Majesty. But I believe that you only do that out of your 65%


    Chapter bil


    kindness and consideration for our family. But as the eldest daughter of our family and the one who''s supposed to be in her ce, I felt responsible for the shame that she brought to this court," she said confidently. "I did no such thing!" I eximed, my voice ringing, rough the vast hall. The weight of the usation and the presence of the court bore down on me, but I stood firm.


    I


    The queen''s eyes narrowed, her gaze shifting from my sister to mine. "So, are your denying all the usations against you?" She asked, her tone icy and piercing.


    I fell silent: :the words


    I


    s caught in my throat. I couldn''t bring myself to lie in front of them. Doing so would be like signing my own death warrant. The tension in the room. was palpable, and every eye was on me, waiting for my response. "I won''t be surprised if she denies everything, Your Majesty," my sister interjected smoothly, her voice filled with a cold certainty. "Fortunately, I have a way to ensure we''ll hear nothing but the truth from her mouth." mean?


    My eyes widened in shock, my breath catching as I turned to look at her. What could she possibly calm, but there was an undercurrent of curiosity and anticipation. The entire court seemed to hold its breath, waiting for her next words.


    "And what do you propose?" His Majesty asked, and his interest was clearly piqued. His voice was


    My sister smiled, a


    iled, a chilling expression that sent a shiver down my spine. "A truth serum, Your Majesty. A potion thatpels the drinker to speak only the truth. Administer it to her, and we will have our answers." The court murmured in surprise and interest at her suggestion. The queen''s eyes lit up with intrigue, and the king leaned back, considering the proposal.


    "Very well," the king said after a moment of deliberation. "If it is the truth we seek, then we shall administer the serum." He gestured to a guard, who quickly left the room to retrieve the potion. Panic welled up inside me. The truth serum would force me to reveal everything, and I didn''t know what would happen next.


    As the guard returned with a small vial filled with a shimmering liquid, I felt a cold sweat break out across my forehead. The queen watched me intently, her eyes never leaving my face.


    Do you have any final words before we proceed?" She asked, her voice low and threatening. 65%a


    T 00. Chapter 30


    I swallowed hard, trying to steady my shaking hands.


    The guard approached me with the vial, and I knew there was no escaping this ordeal. My heart pounded in my chest as I prepared to face what was about to happen next. The guards grabbed both of my arms and lifted my head before forcing me to drink the potion. I can feel feel the hot liquid pouring down my throat. Once the bottle was empty, they finally let go of my arm. "Feel free to ask her any question, Your Majesties. And if she tried to tell any lies, her body would feel pain as if she were set on fire. The pain won''t stop until she reveals the truth," Annika exined.


    "Why won''t you let me handle this, any queen" he said, his tone firmymanding. However, the king raised a hand, interrupting her smoothly.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    My


    heart


    my yet


    raced as I waited for his interrogation to begin. The room was silent, and the tension was almost unbearable. I could hear nothing but the soft thud of his footsteps approaching me. My eyes were fixed on the ground, and I held my breath as his shoes came into view, stopping right in front of me.


    To my surprise, he did not immediately speak. Instead, he kneeled down, his


    movements slow and deliberate. I felt his hand gently lift my chin, and I found myself looking up into his face.


    My eyes widened in shock as I met his gaze. Those piercing blue eyes, so familiar and unforgettable, stared back at me. They were eyes I had never expected to see again- eyes that held a mix of authority and something else, something deeper that I couldn''t quite ce. This can''t be. Aside from his long silver hair, everything looked the same. He is Lord Titus!


    He studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. The silence stretched on, and I felt a wave of emotions crashing over me. Fear, confusion, and a faint glimmer of hope all mingled within me as I waited for his next words "My dear Sage, he finally said, his voice soft and strangely tender. "Now, speak the truth Have you ever slept with any other man than the kin