Chapter 17 - How Deplorable

  -In Helia Pace; King's Study-

  In the heart of Helia Pace, the King's study was a sanctuary of tradition and authority. The room was adorned with dark wood paneling, intricately carved with symbols of the kingdom's history—a testament to the lihat had ruled feions. Golden light spilled from ornate deliers, illuminating the polished marble floor and casting a warm glow on the faces of those gathered. Yet, despite the grandeur, an undercurrent of tension rippled through the air, thiough to cut. The King, a figure al bearing, sat at the head of the long, mahogany table, his fingers interced beh his . His brow furrowed, and a heavy sigh escaped his lips, eg the weight of the moment. "Luxana," he began, his voice steady but tinged with a profound sadness, "I shall overlook the grievous transgression of your destru of the royal pace. However, I require your unwavering pliao the request I am about to make of you, as a dition of this mercy." A stunned silenveloped the room, the gravity of his words hanging like a storm cloud. Wait... so this man is saying he’ll let it slide when his daughter just burned her own house, disappeared after doing so, and slept at her aunt’s house? Lily thought, her heart rag with disbelief. So... Father’s saying he’ll let things slide? There’s definitely an ulterior motive here. I bet what he’s going to ask me isn’t a punishment that would harm me; rather, it’ll be something that bes him. Should I just ask for a punishment a over with? Luxana pondered, her mind swirling with uainty. WHAT! His Majesty is going to overlook this? After she’s done so much? I ’t let him!!! The Queen’s thoughts were a tempest of indignation, her posure barely holding. As expected of Father; he’d never give Sister a punishment. But I still wonder what that witchy sister of mine really had in mind when she burned down her own house. Sister is a shrewd individual, capable of anything, but she won't aless it serves her is. Isabel’s jealousy fred, her eyes narrowing at Luxana. "I’ll ply, if that is what His Majesty wishes of me," Luxana replied, her voice steady, though her heart raced with trepidation. "Very well," the King tinued, his tone shifting to one of calcuted authority. "If the rumor spread by Lily suggests that you are to be wed, let us endeavor to make that rumor a reality." Gasps filled the room, disbelief washing over the gathered family like a cold wave. The Queen's lips curled into a sly smile, while Isabel's expression morphed into one of . Lily stood frozen, her mind rag, uo process the implications of the King's procmation. This sent a chill down Luxana’s spine. She broke into a cold sweat, her emotions spiraling out of trol. "Yo-Your Maj-Majesty...I-I think I-I-I misheard wha-wha-t you j-just said," she stammered, her body trembling as she ched her dress, eyes cast downward. The King, amused by her rea, leaned ba his chair. Why would she react sly to something so trivial? It’s just a political marriage, he mused. "May I inquire as to the identity of the groom, Your Majesty?" the Queen asked, her voice dripping with superiority. "Prince Cillian, of House Valentino in Elmir," the King replied, his gaze unwavering. Isabel jumped in shock, her voice rising in arm. "Your Majesty, but he’s—" The King cut her off, his voice firm. "I’m aware. He hails from a historically antagonistigdom. The betrothal serves a strategic purpose in aligning our nations' is and signaling a diplomatic accord between our empires. Though the marriage is of a politiature, it still carries signifit implications for our tries' future and your personal life. This union is not a simple arra but a plex uaking that will require yrad resilience as a royal." Luxa her heart rag. A political marriage? With someone from a rival kingdom? The thought sent waves of dread crashing over her. "Luxana, this marriage is indeed political, but your mission is far from the usual diplomatideavor. trary to f a bond, you are to subtly weaken it. This union serves as a front, a strategic facade to gain access and insight into their inner ws. Your task is to sow seeds of discord, to rupture the bond rather than stre," the King added, his eyes narrowing. Luxana purses her lips and inhales sharply, her mind rag. While the Queen was somewhat satisfied, Isabel seethed with jealousy, and Lily trembled in fear of the sequences Luxana had to bear for her wrongdoings. "Your Majesty...I am not your toy, nor am I your servant. Please bear that in mind," Luxana said, her voice steady yet ced with defiance. She turned sharply, ready to leave the room. The Queen’s eyes widened in shock at Luxana’s audacity. How dare she speak to the King that way? "Luxana!" the King called, his voice eg through the chamber, but she didn’t look babsp;As she stormed out, the tension in the room alpable, a thick fog of unspoken words and unresolved flicts hanging in the air. Luxana’s heart raced as she made her way down the arble hallway, her mind rag with thoughts of rebellion and defianbsp;Midway through the dimly lit hallway, the air thied with tension as the knights charged towards Luxana. She turned, her heart rag, only to feel their strong hands grip her arms. “Hey! Let go of me! You ’t do this! You’re harming a royal!” Luxana shouted, her voice eg against the cold stone walls, desperation g her words. “It’s the King’s order, Yhness,” one knight replied, his voice strained as he struggled to maintain trol over her. In a surge e and fear, Luxana drew her fire dagger, the bde shimmering ominously in the low light, and plu into the knight's arm. She recoiled in shock at her own as, the heat of the moment leaving her breathless. *Cp**Cp**bsp;The sound reverberated through the hallway, and Luxana’s heart sank as the King emerged from the shadows, a sinister smile pying on his lips. “As expected of you, Luxana. You’ve never failed to exceed my expectations. You always amuse me,” he said, his tone dripping with mockery. Luxana’s eyes widened in horror as she took a step back, feeling the weight of his gaze. Behind him stood the Queen, Isabel, and Lily, their expressions a mix of shod intrigue, but the King’s demeanor remained cold and calg. “Luxana, where’d you get that?” he asked, tilting his head, his eyes glinting like shards of ibsp;“It doesn’t matter—” Luxana began, but the King cut her off with a dismissive wave of his hand. “It doesn’t to you, but to me it does. You’re ag in ways so ued for a noble dy, especially a royal. I knew you were more capable than Roxana, but to think you’d stoop to this level surprises me.” He stepped closer, his fingers brushing the dagger in her hand. “Quite the material for a dagger,” he added, his voice low and dangerous. “Your Majesty—” Luxana started, her voice trembling, but before she could finish, the King struck her face with a resounding... *SLAP* The sound echoed like thunder, sileng the room. Luxana’s head so the side, her cheek stinging, blood trig from her mouth. Shock rippled through the onlookers—knights, maids, Isabel, Lily and even the Queen, who stood frozen, her eyes wide. “Take Luxana to Roxana’s room. I o have a personal versation with her,” the King ordered, his voice cold and anding. He gnced back at Luxana, who stood paralyzed, fear c through her veins. “As for the rest of you, return to your duties,” he anded, his presence suffog as he strode away, leaving a trail of stunned silence behind him. As the King reached the Queen, he leaned in close resting his left hand on her right shoulder, his voice a menag whisper. “Do not interfere, Daleyza. You have no room to step in. If you do, you’d meet your own demise.” He straightened, leaving her with a chill that settled in her bones as he closed the door to his study. Isabel rushed to Luxana’s side, tears brimming in her eyes. “Sis-sister, are you okay?” she cried, her voice trembling with , but the knights were already pulling Luxana away. Luxana remained silent, her heart pounding in her chest as she allowed them t her away. “Mother, please…SAVE LUXANA!” Isabel screamed, her voice breaking as she turo the Queen, desperatioched on her fabsp;Isabel Limonizer De a Domino, the Sed Princess of Domino, known for her ethereal beauty ale demeanor. Beh her soft exterior lurked a harsh, cruel heart. She had loved her than her mother but Luxana, whom she had loved and hated in equal measure since childhood.-8 years ago; Helia Pace, Rose Garden- “Ahh!!! Look! There are flowers!!!” Isabel shouted, her ughter ringing like bells as she spriowards the vibrant blooms, oblivious to the world around her. “Princess!!! Please wait for us!” a maid called out, struggling to keep pace with the eic child. “WOW!! The flowers are so pretty!” Isabel gasped, her eyes sparkling with delight. Suddenly, she spotted a bunny darting away. “Huh? Is that a bunny? Huh! It’s running away!!!” she squealed, chasing after it, her heart rag with excitement. But in her haste, she stumbled, falling hard to the ground, pain shooting through her leg. “AHHH! Mommy, it hurts!!!” she cried, the sound of her voice swallowed by the vastness of the garden. The rustling of bushes startled her, and she turned, fear creeping into her heart. “Who—who’s there???” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. From the shadows emerged a little girl, her short, silky e hair glinting in the sunlight, and her sparkling blue eyes pierg through Isabel’s fear. She held the runaway bunly in her arms, her expression sere beautiful. “Here,” the girl said softly, croug down to hand the bunny back to Isabel. “You don’t seem to have a great injury. It’ll heal soon, just don’t move around too much.” She deftly tied a handkerchief around Isabel’s bleeding foot, her touch gentle and reassuring. Isabel, mesmerized by the girl’s beauty and kindness, found her voice. “Wha...what’s your...name?” she asked, her heart fluttering. “Luxana. And yours?” the girl replied, her tone calm and steady. “Bell! I mean Isabel!” she excimed, a mix of excitement and shyness bubbling within her. “Ah...Isabel. You must be the Sed Princess of Dominht?” Luxana’s gaze was unwavering, as if she could see straight into Isabel’s soul. “Huh? AH! Yess!! I am!” Isabel beamed, her royal pride shining through. “Since I’m a Princess, I order you to bey friend!!!!!!” she decred, hope dang in her eyes. “Sorry,” Luxana said, her voice barely above a whisper, her expression unged. Isabel’s heart sank at the reje, tears welling up as the bunny seized the moment to escape. “No! Bunny, wait!!!” she wailed, but the creature was long gone. Luxana, unsure of how to fort her, stood frozen as Isabel’s cries grew louder, eg through the garden. Before she could react, she turo flee into the forest, her heart heavy. The maids arrived, pached on their faces. “Princess! Are you alright? HUHHH!! You’re foot, you’re injured! Hurry, take the Prio the doctor!” one maid excimed, her voice frantibsp;Iermath, Isabel’s mother, Daleyza, rushed to her, worry etched on her face. “Baby, my baby, are you alright?” she asked, her voice soothi filled with . Isabel, still clutg her lollipop, shifted from joy to tears in an instant. Daleyza’s expression hardened as she g the maids. “What happened?” she demanded. “The Princess got injured while running after a bunny, but she met a girl with e hair and blue eyes. The girl helped her, but then she ran away,” one maid expined. Isabel added “Mommy, that girl! She was so beautiful! She helped me! But......rejected me!!!” she sobbed. Daleyza’s face darkened. “It was your sister, Isabel,” she said, her voice low. Isabel’s eyes widened in shock. “Ma-my sister?” she gasped, a flicker of hope igniting within her. “Yes…” Daleyza replied, but the joy in Isabel’s eyes quickly morphed into something darker. “Is she the Queen’s daughter? The one you resent?” she asked, her voice trembling with a mix of curiosity and superiority. Daleyza hesitated, her heart rag. “Ye-Yes...,” she replied, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air.“But…she’s so beautiful…and kind…” Isabel murmured, her voice barely a whisper, yet filled with a straensity. Daleyza’s heart sank as she saw the flict brewing within her daughter. “Oh…of course,” she said, f a smile. “I like her, no… I LOVE HER! She’s soooooo pretty aiful! She's soo calm and she helped me, and I don’t want to be mean to her! I want to be her best friend forever!!!” Isabel excimed, her voice rising with fervor.Daleyza’s smile faltered, her heart heavy with dread. “But sweetie, didn’t she run away from you?” she questioned, her tone ced with a sly edge. “But… she’s kind…” Isabel insisted, her gaze unwavering, determinatioched on her features.“If so, wouldn’t she have bee your friend?” Daleyza pressed, watg as rage and sadness flickered in Isabel’s eyes, transf her i fato a mask of fury. Isabel was being maniputed. From that day forward, Isabel’s feelings for Luxana became a twisted web of love and hatred, a battle raging within her heart, fueled by the memory of a fleeting moment that had ged everything.- Helia Pace; Roxana's Room, Evening- Silence...an oppressive, frigid silenveloped the dimly lit room, once occupied by Luxana's mother, Roxana. Luxana sat on the floor, her head resting on the bed, her body slumped against the mattress. It was her usual position when she sought refuge from the turmoil that pgued her mind.

  I feel like a dead person, she thought, her eyes staring bnkly at the pillows, the soft fabric muffling her breath. The sting of the King's sp still lingered on her cheek, reminding her of her powerlessness in this twisted game of royalty.

  Luxana's heart raced with a mix of various plicated emotions. She had always known that the pace ce of deceit and manipution, but the King's as had shattered all those fatherly illusions he pyed yesterday, which she had silently g to hoping for her to finally be embraced by someone, who might one day actually aowledge her. Why did I ever think I could trust him? How Deplorable...she wondered bitterly, her firag to the pocket she had kept her fire dagger in. The memory of the fire dagger pierg the knight's flesh sent a shiver down her spine. I'm er than them, she realized, self-loathing seeping into her thoughts.

  To be tinued...