Chapter 4

"It's been a while since I heard such a beautiful name," Francis said as he walked further into the throne room. His eyes travelled across the throne room, looking at everyone who trembled before him until his eyes met with mine. "Mala?" He asked me, and I immediately looked away. I didn't know why, but the moment our eyes met, it felt like my eyes couldn't handle the intensity of his gaze. I felt a slight sting in my eyes, making my eyes water, and I groaned softly. "Never look me in the eyes...Mala," he ordered. "I am so sorry, your majesty. Please forgive her ignorance. She's just a servant, and she wasn't raised well by her mother," Father begged. My father referred to me as just a servant. I guess he meant it when he disowned me. But something kept lingering in my heart. Why would Francis come to the Silver Kingdom? Francis finally sat on my father's throne, and we all raised our heads, but still on our knees. "What brings you here, your majesty? We are indeed honoured to have you in our midst. I hope your visit brings peace and happiness to us....or have we done anything wrong, your highness?" Father asked. I never knew his voice could be so calm. Ignoring his question. "What has Mala done?" Francis asked, and my heart skipped a beat. "Ignore her, your highness. She's not someone you should worry about," Father responded, as if trying to get me as far from Francis as possible. As much as I tried to deny it, a part of me kept telling me that he was trying to protect me. "That isn't what I asked you, Lucas. What did Mala do?" Francis asked, with his voice holding quite a level of authority. "Your majesty, the servant hasn't done anything wrong. We only have her tied because she's a servant. We only suspected her of something, and we are not sure yet if she did it," Father lied. So everything he did and has been doing was all out of anger....he never wanted me dead. Queen Venessa had been the one who planted the hatred inside of him. "Guards, please. Take Au....Mala away," Father commanded shakily. The guards stared at Francis for a while, as if waiting for approval, but since he didn't move a nerve, they came close to me, grabbed me, and took me towards the entrance. Nothing about getting married to Francis came to my head, and I just wanted to leave that place before the devil decides to punish me by himself. When we reached the door, I found myself suspended in the air, then dropped to the ground. I felt myself hitting the ground with so much force that my back ached. Francis. The guards immediately fell to the ground and bowed to him, begging for him to spare them. I groaned. "I'll ask you one more time, Lucas. What did Mala do?" Francis sneered. "Your majesty, please....I..." before my father could finish. "She killed her mother!" Queen Venessa loudly revealed. My heart skipped a beat. My hands were still tied, and I felt so uncomfortable lying on the ground. "Please.... your majesty. I didn't do it!" I immediately refuted. "Your majesty," father also said. Queen Venessa was truly against me. "So Mala killed her mother?" Francis asked, then his words were accompanied chuckle. "When I heard her name, I should have known that she would be able to do such...and worse," he flatly said. "I didn't do it..." I managed to say it, but it felt like no one listened to me. "And who is her father?" Francis asked. I didn't understand why he was suddenly interested in knowing who I was and what I did. Maybe because he planned to punish me by himself. "She used to be the king's first daughter. The woman she murdered is Queen Raya. Her father disowned her afterwards," Queen Venessa's mouth ran. "So you murdered a Queen?" He asked, obviously staring at me even though I didn't see him. "Then why is she still alive?" Francis asked. "Your majesty, we are not sure yet that she truly murdered Raya. It only happened a few hours ago, your majesty. The accusations are mere assumptions," Father argued, and my heart ached with pain. "It is certain that the girl killed Queen Raya, your highness. King Lucas is only trying to defend her because she's his daughter," Queen Venessa protested. "Well, I only came to inform you myself that your village has been slacking out. You haven't been producing enough, and your government is getting loose. Next time I come here, I'll wipe every single royal member without leaving anyone behind. Dare me," Francis warned coldly before he walked in my direction. "Your majesty!" Queen Venessa called out. "What?" "Can you take one of my sons with you, Crescentent? Either of them would humbly serve as a right-hand man. It would be such an honour, and I assure you, they are strong men," Queen Venessa selfishly asked. She dared to make her sons find favour in Francis's eyes after strongly wishing for my death. Francischucklee, in a rather mocking tone. The next thing I heard was the sound of Anthony and Alfred choking. A part of me liked it. It stopped, and they were left coughing. "I know strong men when I see one. These are weaklings. I doubt that they can rule the kingdom. There are only even a few chances that they will...that's if they don't die before they get to the throne," Francis threatened. The devil walked ahead and stood next to me, and I had my eyes shut, awaiting my death. He would only have to lift a finger to end my life. "Take her with me," he commanded before leaving. Before I knew it, his guards who stood at the entrance came in and dragged me out. "Father! Father!" I screamed, but no one heard my cry. I was placed on a horse, still with my hands, another guard behind me. ~Aurora's POV ends