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PHYSIENTS WILL ALWAYS OFFER BEST NOVELS || LATEST MOVIES || LIVE STREAMING ALL TIME
GARDEN OF POISON
Rising tension (Chapter 92)
Music Recommendation: Well- Haximum
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Anastasia was about to follow Dante, but then she realised Lady Lucretia would be left unattended and alone. Deciding to stay back, she retrieved the wet cloth from earlier and wiped the blood smeared on the wall and the floor.
On the ground floor, Dante walked past the gathered people and stepped out of the old palace. Just as he was about to mount his horse, Aziel ran up to him and inquired, "Prince Dante, where are you going?!"
Dante grasped his horse's reins and responded, "To the main palace to speak with the king and the queen."
"Please wait!" Aziel stopped him from leaving and attempted to manage the situation by saying, "Please don't make any rash decisions that will result in further anguish."
Usually calm and composed, Dante glared down at the minister, who regarded him warily. His eyes had turned red, and his face was twisted with fury, as if the dam that had contained the water had ruptured, releasing a flood.
"All I asked was for a small plot to bury my mother. I would have understood my request being denied if it were when she was alive, and they felt threatened, but she was one of the concubines to the king. Sick and exiled, where I couldn't even be with her during her final moments!" Dante's voice snapped in frustration. Upon noticing the black fumes beginning to emanate from the top of the first prince's shoulders and head, the minister instinctively took a step backwards.
"Pardon me, My Prince," Aziel offered his deepest bows before continuing, "If—If it pleases you, I will be happy to grant you a piece of land where Lady Lucretia can be laid to rest. There's a suitable location not too far from here…"
The way the letter read, its contents seem to convey that Queen Maya had decreed that only members of the royal family directly connected by blood would be granted burial rights in the mausoleums, while the others would be denied the same privilege.
Dante raised his hand to cover his eyes before forcefully running it through his hair in frustration. The one person who cared for and loved him had been taken away. She was gone forever, and he could only grasp at thin air as his hands clenched tightly. Blood continued to drip from his hand, falling steadily to the ground.
He wanted to know who had intercepted the news regarding his mother yesterday. Who had been cruel enough to decide to rob him of those precious final moments to see her?
But before that, even Dante recognised the importance of providing his mother with a proper burial so she could be laid to rest. He turned to look at the walls of the old palace and uttered,
"Make preparations for the burial."
Aziel responded with a swift nod, signalling his readiness to make the necessary arrangements.
Within two hours, everything was prepared, and the royal members of the Blackthorn family who resided in the old palace gathered to attend the burial of Lady Lucretia. While Dante and Aziel stood near the freshly dug ground, the women stood a short distance away, watching as the priest murmured prayers to God to guide Lady Lucretia's soul from this world into heaven.
Anastasia stood alongside Princess Emily and Prince Victor, watching Dante's expressionless face as he gazed at his mother. And when it was time, they finally lowered Lady Lucretia into her final resting place, carefully covering her with earth until the ground concealed her completely. They then placed a stone bearing her name atop the burial mound. And while everyone paid their respects to the deceased woman, Dante remained rooted beside the tombstone, unmoving, as palanquins and horses arrived in the vicinity.
It was the Mother Queen, Queen Maya, and Princess Niyasa who had arrived on the scene.
The Mother Queen's footsteps were quicker than the other two, hastening to where Dante stood and wrapping her arms around her grandson. At the same time, Aziel, who stood to the side, locked eyes with her with a wary gaze. She pulled away from her grandson and cast a glance at his face, which was marked by anguish.
Princess Niyasa's eyes fell on the tombstone, and she remarked, "We came here with the thought of attending the funeral, but it looks like we weren't needed." She then said, "My condolences to you, Brother Dante."
Dante turned away from his grandmother and directed his gaze at his second sister. He responded to her words,
"I didn't know you were close to my mother. Considering how you didn't utter a word of protest when she was exiled from the main palace."
"If we didn't care, we wouldn't be here, Dante," Queen Maya stated, walking towards the tombstone. She continued, "I had a last minute change of heart, and came here intending to bring Lucretia back to the main palace to bury her there, but I see you found a place for her here."
Before Queen Maya could reach his mother's tombstone, Dante stopped her by saying, "Leave."
"Are you stopping me from attending the funeral?" Queen Maya's eyes narrowed at him.
"Yes. Leave," Dante's words were curt, and he had no desire to discuss it further, as this solemn moment was a time of mourning for his mother.
Queen Maya and the others were left speechless, as no one had ever directly impeded a queen before. Princess Niyasa asked,
"We travelled so far just to help, and you are turning us away?"
"I will remember this disrespect from you, Dante," Queen Maya remarked, and Dante smiled at the woman. He remarked,
"And I will remember yours."
Queen Maya began, "Given that I exiled the women to the old palace, you should—"
"You have the nerve to make it seem insignificant after everything you have done," Dante finally snapped, his earlier glare returning with double the fury. "She could have lived a day more. She suffered here all by herself, fighting to stay alive so that she could see me one last time, but you had to strip that away from her too!" His voice resonated loudly, causing people around to flinch involuntarily.
"Lucretia possessed weak health, and it wasn't as if we didn't provide her the physicians she needed," Queen Maya asserted with a stiff expression.
"You robbed her of her right to live. The right to see her son, the right to a dignified burial," Dante seethed, and when his midnight eyes changed to a fiery red hue, those who noticed it furrowed their brows in confusion. He said, "You should pay for that too." He took a step forward, only to be intercepted by the Mother Queen, who positioned herself between them.
"Dante, she claims that she didn't receive the news about Lucretia's deteriorating health during her final hours yesterday," the Mother Queen informed him.
"Then where did the letter go when it was claimed to have been delivered?!" Dante continued, glaring at them, his anger extending from Queen Maya to the Mother Queen. "Lady Sophia said the letter was sent by her, and the messenger confirmed its delivery. So where the fuck did it go?!"
"Perhaps the letter was never sent in the first place. Where is the messenger?" Princess Niyasa asked, her eyes falling on Lady Sophia. "Mother is telling the truth."
"Are you saying that I lied?" This time, Lady Sophia's tone turned indignant.
"Aziel," Dante called the minister and commanded, "Bring the messenger here. Right now."
The minister hastened away to fetch the servant entrusted with delivering the grave news. Queen Maya said,
"I never received the message, so it is plausible that something went awry in between or, as Niyasa suggested, the message was never dispatched from here. What possible benefit would I have gained from not sharing such news?"
Anastasia witnessed the escalating confusion that began to build among the royal family, with each member pointing an accusatory finger at another. At the same time, she overheard Lady Noor whisper to Princess Emily,
"Did Prince Dante's eyes change colour?"
"I thought I was the only one seeing things," Princess Emily replied with a frown. She had never seen anyone's eyes change like that before.
"How is that possible?" Lady Noor murmured, while the others stared at Dante.
Anastasia knew something was amiss when she questioned the minister earlier!
Soon, when the servant who carried the message the previous evening was brought before them outside the old palace, he looked frightened because he could sense people's glaring gazes directed at him. He trembled, with his hands folded and eyes fixed on the ground.
Dante stepped before the servant, demanding, "Were you the one who delivered the letter to the main palace yesterday?"
"Yes, Prince Dante," the servant answered him.
"And who gave you the letter to be delivered?" Dante continued to interrogate the servant.
"L—Lady Sophia did. She ordered me to deliver it," the man could barely stand straight with the number of eyes trained on him.
"And to whom did you hand the letter?" Dante questioned, determined to find out if Queen Maya was lying.
"To one of the guards there…I informed the guard that it was to be delivered to you."
Dante turned to look at Queen Maya, who quickly explained, "The letter was not delivered to me or Maxwell." She directed a question towards the servant, "Do you recall which guard you gave it to? We can interrogate that guard to ascertain where the letter went missing—"
"Aren't all the incoming letters to the palace reviewed by you, Queen Maya?" Dante interjected, prompting the Mother Queen to jump in to say,
"I don't think Queen Maya receive—"
Abruptly, Dante raised his hand to halt his grandmother from speaking further. He then questioned which one of them wore the heaviest crown, saying, "Are all the letters not immediately brought to you first before they reach the intended recipients?"
Queen Maya found herself in a difficult position and replied, "Yes, that is true. That is due to recent unsolicited activities, but neither I nor Maxwell had any reason to conceal your mother's deteriorating health. This is an accusation I shall not accept. And regarding Maxwell, he locked himself in his room last night, and I can attest to that because I went to talk to him. This servant must be lying, or Lady Sophia never sent a letter as she claimed!"
"If I never intended to send the message, I wouldn't have dispatched the letter in the first place," Lady Sophia retorted, with annoyance evident in her eyes.
"Perhaps you knew that if you didn't send the letter, Lady Noor would have reported it in your place, and it would have reflected poorly on your part," Queen Maya replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
"You are walking a fine line. I was the one who sat by her side, while you banished us from the palace," Lady Sophia clenched her hands in frustration.
"Lady Sophia," Lady Noor intervened, attempting to calm her down by placing her hand on the woman's arm before Lady Sophia would provoke Queen Maya further, giving her the satisfaction of having them expelled from this old palace as well.
Lady Sophia jerked her hand away and said, "I am not scared of her like you, Noor, and you shouldn't be either. I specified that the letter was to be delivered to Dante." She was angry at Queen Maya's decision and actions, knowing she would receive the same treatment if she were to die. "You come here offering your sympathies, when you are the reason for our troubles."
While the women continued to argue, Anastasia's eyes moved to look at Dante, noticing a shift in his mood, and it wasn't for the better. However, the black fumes that hovered above his shoulders caught not just her eye but also the attention of the others before he remarked,
"Both of you deny it. One claims to have sent the letter, and the other insists she never received the message, and neither did I. Then can only mean the messenger failed to do the job properly," Dante's voice was low but clear, allowing those present to detect the hollowness behind his words.
The servant suddenly looked troubled as he glanced anxiously back and forth between the faces of the individuals present, shaking his head. He pleaded,
"I d—didn't do anything, Prince Dante! I swear I took what was given—" Dante pulled out the dagger from his sheath, "—to me, and I delivered it. I did what I was to—"
But the servant's speech was cut off when Dante's dagger slowly sliced the front of the man's neck, which sank deep into his flesh as it slid from one side to the other, spurting and gushing blood.
Everyone's mouth and throat went dry at the sight before them, including Anastasia's. Her hands trembled, and she pressed them against her sides as she watched more blood spill from the servant's neck, which had now drenched the front of his clothes before he collapsed to the ground.
Though they stood outside the old palace, the only sound they heard was the passing breeze against the profound silence.
When Dante turned to face his family members, Anastasia observed the splatters of the servant's blood that stained his face. His eyes were cold, and his gaze held an intimidating power that compelled anyone who encountered it to submit to him. With a commanding presence, he said,
"If this is not the man who was responsible for the error, rest assured, when I find the person who intercepted the message, they will soon long for the solace that death brings," Dante declared, indirectly conveying to Queen Maya that he didn't believe her either.
Queen Maya's lips tightened, understanding the implications of Dante's words. She nodded in acknowledgement and said, "I will help you in finding the person responsible, and you will come to realise that it had nothing to do with me, despite the allegations that have been levelled against me."
Though everyone nearby could see Dante's simmering temper manifest as exuding fumes from his body, no one dared to question it or dared to meet his blood-red eyes. Confusion and apprehension filled the air, causing those present to be too hesitant to ask about them as the smell of his bloodlust permeated the surroundings.
Queen Maya then said, "My condolences. I shall be returning to the palace. Niyasa," she called her daughter, and they hurriedly departed in their palanquins.
Anastasia watched Dante leave the grounds of the old palace as if to return to his mother's grave, while the others made their way inside. The guards dragged the servant's lifeless body away, leaving a bloody trail in their wake.
As she entered the palace, Anastasia heard Lady Sophia question the Mother Queen, "What were those black fumes? What is going on? And those red eyes?" Even Lady Noor shared the same questions as she waited for the older woman to dispel their confusion.
"Aren't red eyes a trait inherited from our demon lineage?" Princess Emily asked.
"None of the others have ever shown red eyes, neither your father nor your grandfather," Lady Sophia stated before turning to look at the Mother Queen. "Are you going to answer us?"
"It is just as Emily said. The red eyes are a trait stemming from our demon bloodline, and Dante's fury has been unleashed," the Mother Queen muttered. She turned to her trusted minister and asked, "Why didn't you deliver the message?"
"I was on my way to seek additional assistance from the physicians, My Queen," Aziel confessed, wearing a guilty expression for not being more useful and for inadvertently provoking the cursed prince's inner demon. The Mother Queen looked stressed as she pinched the bridge of her nose. She heard the minister ask, "Shall I go to Prince Dante?"
"No. Let him be for now," came the firm response from the Mother Queen.
Lucretia held immense significance to Dante, considering how she had been the one who loved and supported him when his own father had continuously ignored and failed to acknowledge him. With her gone, the delicate equilibrium had been disrupted, and she knew he needed time for himself—time to grieve the loss of his mother.
"We all need time," the Mother Queen murmured.
When the next day arrived, Anastasia didn't see much of Dante as he didn't stay in the old palace, and she guessed that he was spending his time in front of his mother's grave. During the course of the morning, she saw him once, and his eyes had reverted back to their usual midnight hue, his body devoid of the black fumes that carried an ominous air of impending danger.
Another day passed before Prince Aiden arrived accompanied by the guards, having been ordered by the Mother Queen to remain at the main palace during her absence.
"What are you doing here, Aiden?" the Mother Queen questioned with a frown.
"I was sent here to deliver an order, Grandmother," Aiden replied, and he asked, "Where is Brother Dante?"
"He's gone to the cemetery. What is the order?" the Mother Queen inquired.
Aiden extended the scroll from the royal court to her, and as she unfurled it, he informed her, "The king has decided to lift your exile and has commanded that everyone return to the main palace."
Anastasia, who stood nearby, overheard the exchange between the two, and Lady Noor, standing beside her, released a sigh of relief, exclaiming, "Finally, we will be returning home."
All their belongings in the old palace were packed into the trunks, and soon everyone embarked on the journey back to the main palace. As they walked up the stairs that led to the entrance, King Maxwell came to stand before them, with his mother and sister not far behind.
Anastasia noticed the young princess smiling as if happy about something, while Queen Maya wore a grim look on her face.
"My deepest condolences, Brother Dante," King Maxwell offered his sympathies. He said, "I heard that Lady Lucretia had been buried somewhere near the old palace. I would like to rectify my mother's mistake by bringing her remains here and having her interred in the mausoleum."
However, the damage had been done, and it had left a scar that ran deeper than any Dante had ever received before. The anger within him remained unabated, and it continued to crawl beneath his skin in the wake of the loss of his mother. He responded,
"Thank you for the gesture, but I would prefer that she remains in her current resting place rather than move her body again."
King Maxwell stared at the people before him, saying, "Before everyone retires to their rooms, there was something that was brought to my attention, and I thought I would deal with it now, rather than later."
The people around waited as the king paused and then questioned, "Who here took the courtesan from the palace, contrary to my explicit orders that they are not to leave the Paradise Tower without permission?" His eyes fell on Anastasia, and he questioned, "Or did she leave of her own accord?"
_________
GARDEN OF POISON
Wary footsteps (chapter 93)
Anastasia's mind had been so preoccupied with the recent deaths that had taken place that she overlooked the fact that a courtesan was not supposed to leave the palace without Madame Minerva's permission.
When she shifted her gaze towards Madame Minerva, she found the woman's narrowed eyes fixed upon her, as if poised to punish her for her failure to obey a simple order, which even the guards had enforced. This was because when Madame Minerva returned to the Paradise Tower, she discovered that the newly added courtesan was nowhere to be seen.
"It was I who ordered the courtesan to accompany Emily, as she didn't have a maid to assist her in the old palace," the Mother Queen explained.
Maxwell raised his eyebrows and questioned, "So you decided to choose her, a courtesan, when you could have selected any other available maid here?"
"Yes," the Mother Queen replied with a serious expression, while absolving her granddaughter and the courtesan of any blame. "I happened to come across her on my way and dragged her along to send her to accompany Emily. I thought, as she's already familiar with the work, she would be of good use, and the presence of a courtesan could prove useful if the need arose."
"Use the courtesan? In what manner would they have needed to employ her?" Queen Maya questioned with a look of suspicion, sensing that something was amiss.
"Well… just how courtesans have always been used. You should know that," the Mother Queen replied.
"She's a new courtesan, so what purpose could she serve?" King Maxwell questioned, and the Mother Queen nodded before saying,
"She is indeed new, but Minerva sent her to pleasure a man the very day she joined the other courtesans. However, I wasn't going to use her for pleasure but for her other talents, such as singing. I thought it might help lift people's spirits. Nothing more than that, King Maxwell." The old woman didn't want Dante to interject, knowing it wouldn't go well. She believed it was best for her to take the fall right now.
Anastasia, on the other hand, wanted to hide. She had been repeatedly thrust into the spotlight, ensuring her presence remained etched into everyone's memory, including the king's. She anxiously wondered if King Maxwell was going to punish them, but then he called out,
"Minerva."
Madame Minerva came to stand before the king with her head bowed and obediently uttered, "Yes, My King?"
"Raise your head," commanded King Maxwell, and he questioned her, "Did you send the woman to the minister on her first day?"
The woman raised her head and replied, "Your Highness, Queen Maya said I can an—"
SLAP! Madame Minerva felt her cheek go numb, and she experienced a sharp ache which spread across her face as she stared at the ground, her vision turning white for a few seconds.
"Ma—King Maxwell—" Queen Maya attempted to intervene, only to be shut down by her son the very next second.
"The courtesans aren't allowed to engage in any intimate relationships with anyone for the first month. It seems you are unaware of it, as you have only dealt with concubines until recently, but Minerva has been well aware of this rule for a long time. And this particular courtesan is not to be touched. I hope you understand that, Mother," saying those words, he turned around and strode back into the palace.
Anastasia felt someone clasping her hand, and she turned to discover it was the Mother Queen. The older woman said,
"Come, I would like to listen to you sing for me." Stealing her away from the scene, they departed quickly while the others slowly entered the palace. Dante watched his grandmother directing Anastasia to follow her, with the apparent intention of keeping her from spending time in the Paradise Tower.
Anastasia trailed behind the Mother Queen as they made their way towards the old woman's chamber. As they walked, she asked,
"Mother Queen, may I visit my room for a moment?" Truthfully, she wanted to visit Theresa to let her know that she was alive, as she hadn't gotten the chance to relay the message to the woman before departing for the old palace.
"No," the Mother Queen firmly replied, striding ahead with her head held high, as if burdened by an invisible crown heavier than the one she was currently wearing.
Upon approaching her room, the Mother Queen turned to look at Anastasia, and it took a brief moment for the younger woman to comprehend that she was expected to open the door. She quickly moved closer to the door and opened it for the older woman to step inside.
"You are slow, I must admit," the Mother Queen commented as they entered the room and then bent with the help of her staff to take a look under the bed and ordered, "Close the door. I don't need anyone eavesdropping."
Anastasia's eyes quickly looked around to see if there was any flower that she had to be wary about. She didn't want to sing and reveal her secret, and she contemplated whether she should deliberately sing badly so that the Mother Queen would not ask her to sing again.
The Mother Queen observed the young courtesan's eyes scanning the room, and her eyes subtly narrowed. She said, "There's no need for you to look around. I have already inspected my room, and there's no one here. Ah, my back aches. If only I were young and could ride a horse without worrying about my bones slipping out of my body."
Anastasia watched the older woman walk around her room before settling onto the couch. Then, she gazed at her and questioned, "What are you doing standing there? Come here, child."
Offering a quick bow, Anastasia walked to where the Mother Queen was seated, meeting the older woman's gaze. The Mother Queen ordered her,
"Sit down," and Anastasia obediently did as she was told.
But the Mother Queen could tell that the young woman was being cautious, given how she sat at the edge of the couch instead of leaning back in a relaxed manner. The parchment she had sent to the Elder ministers would take time to reach them, and she couldn't breathe a word about it, explicitly forbidding Emily from speaking about the matter to anyone either.
"Mother Queen, about my singing—"
"Quiet now. I did not bring you here to sing," the Mother Queen hushed Anastasia, who felt a sense of internal relief. "I brought you here so you can answer some of my questions, and I need you to be truthful with me. Because I can either be a great ally or your worst enemy, and I do not take kindly to being deceived."
Anastasia nodded in silence.
"So Tasiaaa," the Mother Queen began with a shrewd glimmer in her eyes, elongating the name from 'ah' to 'ahhh'. She inquired, "I noticed that you did not go to help Dante during your stay in the old palace. Not a word was spoken between the two of you after the funeral, am I correct?"
Anastasia was taken aback by the Mother Queen's inquiry about Dante, noticing how the older woman leaned closer towards her. She replied, "Yes, Mother Queen."
A deep frown appeared on the Mother Queen's face, and she said, "I need full sentences rather than a simple yes or no. Why did you choose not to talk to him?"
"Why?" Anastasia asked, unsure if the older woman was aware of something she wasn't supposed to know. Noticing the Mother Queen's narrowed eyes, she proceeded to explain, "That… I wasn't sure if I should, as you declared it was best to leave him be and that everyone needed time to process their grief."
"So it was because of me," the Mother Queen mumbled to herself, looking to the side with her lips setting into a thin line. She then returned her gaze to look at Anastasia and asked, "Are you aware that not everyone is fortunate enough to ascend from a lower class to a higher social status?"
"I don't consider myself fortunate, Mother Queen," Anastasia responded, as the Mother Queen wanted full sentences.
The old woman waved her hand dismissively and chuckled, "There's no need to be humble about it. What?" she asked, noticing the young woman pressing her lips together.
"Please understand, I do not mean any disrespect, but I have never felt gratitude for my situation. I would rather be a maid, cleaning the floor and bathing the women of high status, than be adorned with lavish garments and jewels for spreading my legs to men," Anastasia's voice trailed off as she saw the Mother Queen staring at her.
"So you prefer to remain a maid? Serving other women, when you have the opportunity to elevate yourself to their very status?"
Anastasia hoped that the Mother Queen did not have ulterior motives, intending to trap her through her answers, resulting in her being punished. She squeezed her hands, which rested in her lap, and she cautiously spoke up, saying,
"I don't want to rise to their status. I don't want any part in it," Anastasia's words were soft. She courageously met the older woman's eyes and expressed her wish, "I want to be… free."
The Mother Queen's eyes subtly widened as she stared at the young woman in silence. She hummed, "There is something I need you to do. Prick yourself with the Blackthorn rose. The one that grows in seclusion within this palace, feared by many."
"The Blackthorn rose?" Anastasia echoed, observing as the woman gave her a nod of confirmation. "Why?" she asked, wariness creeping into her voice, aware that King Maxwell had already prohibited anyone from approaching it. This old woman was planning to get her into trouble, wasn't she? she asked herself.
"Consider it to be a little test," the Mother Queen said nonchalantly, as if she was casually ordering her to fetch a glass of water.
But Anastasia vividly recalled the incident when the Blackthorn rose pricked Lady Evin, causing her to slip into a deep state of unconsciousness. And the woman hadn't woken up since. With that memory fresh in her mind, she heard the old woman continue, "All you need to do is to endure a single prick from the rose, and that would be enough."
"Will it suffice if I said that I have already been pricked by it once?" Anastasia inquired. The Mother Queen was about to continue when she abruptly halted.
Narrowing her eyes, the Mother Queen responded, "You better not be lying to me to avoid being pricked. When did this happen? Did you bleed?"
Anastasia nodded and explained, "Many weeks ago. Before Lady Sophia's birthday celebration." She watched the Mother Queen stare at her with an expression of disbelief, soon replaced by a beaming smile.
"Anastasia," the Mother Queen addressed by her full name, causing Anastasia to straighten her back attentively. "Perhaps you are correct. There is no need for you to rise to the status of those women when you have the potential to rise above them by becoming a queen. Have you ever considered such a possibility?"
Ginger was extremely pleased to hear that Anastasia was indeed the one meant for Dante, and that they had found each other before the golden moon. If it weren't for the unfortunate passing of Lucretia, she would have single-handedly thrown a joyous celebration in their honour. Now, all that remained was for them to wed and bless her with grandchildren!
"No," came Anastasia's blunt answer, and the Mother Queen's smile faltered.
"No?" the Mother Queen blinked at her future granddaughter-in-law. She frowned and asked, "Why not?"
Anastasia didn't know whether the Mother Queen was humouring her or if King Maxwell had influenced her to say such things. Her hands clenched tighter before she mustered up her reply,
"I have no desire to marry into the palace life, where people are constantly at each other's throats, and where innocent lives are stolen on a whim." Anastasia recalled the haunting image of blood dripping from the servant's neck, reaffirming her decision to avoid such a fate.
Of course, the Mother Queen thought to herself. It wouldn't be easy, but it would eventually happen, and with that thought, she nodded inwardly and declared, "Let us not close our minds and hearts to something that might bring one immense happiness."
Anastasia managed a bitter smile in response, but refrained from commenting on the older woman's words. She then heard the woman say, "Anastasia, if you experience any trouble in the future, do not hesitate to come to me. I will gladly help you with anything."
"Thank you, Mother Queen," Anastasia expressed with a respectful bow. The Mother Queen was about to ask her not to address her in that manner anymore, but it was still too soon to reveal the truth to others.
The Mother Queen was glad she had sent out her request on the parchment bearing her seal to secure Anastasia for Dante, and now it was only a matter of time. However, she pondered whether it might be best not to let anyone know what she had done, as the young woman seemed opposed to the idea of life in the palace. Perhaps she could sway her mind by showing her the appealing aspects of palace life and making it easier for her grandson, who had killed a man in cold blood before her eyes.
When the Mother Queen finally dismissed her two hours later, as Aziel had arrived to talk to her, Anastasia used this opportunity to slip away to see Theresa. Upon arriving at the kitchen, she asked one of the maids,
"Have you seen Theresa?"
But the maid didn't respond to Anastasia, blatantly ignoring her, and neither did a few others, who continued talking to each other, refusing to acknowledge her presence. She didn't know if it was because they were angry at discovering she could speak or because they were jealous of the status she had attained.
An older maid responded to her as she was walking by, "I saw Theresa outside earlier."
Anastasia offered her a grateful smile and replied, "Thank you," before she stepped out from the kitchen's back door. After looking in the shed, she walked to the stable. But instead of finding Theresa, she found Gabriel carrying a bale of hay over his shoulder.
"Anna!" Upon seeing her, Gabriel dropped the hay on the ground, and he quickly walked over to where she was and hugged her. He exhaled, "Theresa and I have been so worried if you have been well, fearing that something might have happened to you!"
Anastasia was taken aback by the embrace, and for a moment, she stood frozen like a statue. It was a friendly embrace, but she couldn't help but step away, feeling a sense of awkwardness in the air. She composed herself and said, "I didn't have the time to inform you, as I was unexpectedly taken to the old palace. Where is Theresa?"
"She must have gone back inside the palace. She mentioned having to clean the windows on the second floor," Gabriel responded, looking genuinely happy to see her, adding, "I heard something about a servant being killed, and we were worried that it was you. Especially after Madame Minerva complained about you not being in the tower. I didn't even know where to begin looking for you if something had happened. Are you alright?"
Anastasia nodded with a small smile gracing her lips, "I am fine and unharmed. I am sorry for worrying you and Theresa… and thank you for still being here, alive and well too."
Gabriel returned her smile and reassured her, "I promised to take you to your parents. Not to mention, the palace gates are under tight security since the other two tried to escape, so we will wait a few more days before seeing what we can do. How is your back?" He asked, displaying genuine concern.
"The wounds have healed; thank you for asking, Gabriel," Anastasia was glad to speak to him, a person without status who understood her thoughts. Someone with a like mind. She said, "I will go find Theresa now. Take care."
"You too, Anna," Gabriel said, picking up the hay bale and walking away. Anastasia turned around, and as she stepped out of the stable, she caught sight of Dante not too far from where she was. He was talking with three ministers outside the palace.
It appeared he had returned to his duties, immersing himself in work in the wake of his mother's death. Anastasia lost track of time while standing there, only realising it when the ministers left. As Dante turned to make his way inside the palace, he noticed her presence.
Time stood still around them for the briefest moment as they stared at each other from a distance. His eyes had returned to their usual midnight hue, and there were no fumes around him, and although she wanted to take a step forward, she found herself rooted in place, just as he remained unmoving.
As Anastasia offered him a bow, Dante continued to stare at her. However, his attention was abruptly diverted by the Vizier, who said,
"Prince Dante, I have brought the report you wanted to take a look at."
In the moment Dante shifted his gaze away from Anastasia and then back again, Anastasia had disappeared from sight. "Prince Dante?" the Vizier inquired, turning in the direction the prince was looking in, but there was nothing there.
Dante took hold of the parchment from the Vizier and questioned, "Are these the only names?"
"Yes, these are all the guards that were stationed at the front of the palace gates that evening and night," the Vizier informed. He asked, "Would you like me to accompany you during the questioning?"
"That won't be necessary," Dante responded, before looking at the names of the guards from whom he was going to weed out the truth.
Everyone retired to their chambers as night descended upon the kingdom and the surrounding lands. Some slept in peace, while others restlessly paced in their rooms, consumed by worries, before finally retiring to bed.
Anastasia lay in her bed, restlessly tossing and turning while pulling on her blanket, her eyes opening and closing every now and then. After a couple of minutes, she sat upright and swung her legs over the edge of her bed. Her bare feet padded across the cold floor as she tiptoed out of the tower and down the stairs, holding the front of her dress such that her anklets were revealed.
But when Anastasia had crossed four corridors with her feet seemingly having a mind of their own, she suddenly halted. She bit her bottom lip, wondering if what she was doing was a good idea. As if changing her mind, she turned around, only to gasp in surprise at the sight of Dante standing there.
Startled, Anastasia instinctively placed her hand on her chest, attempting to calm her racing heart. She hadn't noticed him or heard his footsteps. She said, "I was walking…"
"I can see that. Returning to the tower?" Dante asked her, walking towards her and closing the distance between them.
Anastasia didn't know if she should say yes or no. Was it that obvious that she had intended to seek him out but had changed her mind midway?
When she parted her lips to reply, Dante said, "Would you like to join me in gazing at the sea?" Anastasia blinked in surprise before nodding in agreement.
____________
GARDEN OF POISON
A Touch of Comfort (Chapter 94)
Music Recommendation: Forever alone- Jurrivh
—
Without carrying a lit candle, Anastasia walked through the corridors, following three steps behind Dante in silence. She stared at his broad back, noting he hadn't worn a coat to protect himself from the cold night.
Once they reached a seemingly familiar room and walked towards the balcony, she realised she had come here the first time they had spoken to each other. It was the garden balcony, with reddish-pink flowers and creepers that curled around the pillars and the railing. The place looked as beautiful as when she had first seen it.
Dante walked towards the railing of the balcony, his strides long and languid, before he came to stand in front of it, and Anastasia, who was still wary about his mood, saw him look at her over his shoulder and remark,
"You can step forward. I won't bite."
But he could bite if he wanted to, Anastasia said to herself, because he had done it before.
Anastasia bit the inside of her cheek before cautiously taking a few steps forward to stand in front of the railing, maintaining a distance between them. She noticed the moon missing from the starry sky, while the gentle breeze swayed her untied hair, which she had forgotten to secure once her feet had left her bed.
Dante leaned forward to rest his forearms on the railing as they watched the sea and the sky together.
"Do you come here often?" Anastasia asked, and at the same time, Dante said,
"You have been avoiding me."
Anastasia saw Dante turn to look her way, his eyes focusing on her, causing her to tighten her grip on the railing where her hands rested. She responded truthfully,
"I didn't mean to. I didn't know if I should approach you or not."
Dante continued to stare at Anastasia, as if gauging her words. He inquired, "Is that why you turned around to return to your room earlier?" He pushed his forearms against the railing to stand straight and advanced towards her. The crashing waves of the sea were not enough to drown out the resounding thump of her loud, racing heart.
Anastasia's lips trembled, unsure if it was due to the presence of the cool wind or because of him, before she mustered a response, "You killed an innocent man."
The calm expression on Dante's face didn't change, and he remarked, "You didn't feel bad when Mr. Langston died, despite him never defiling you. We justify our actions under the guise of protecting what is ours, when in fact, he was merely utilising the service the court offered him, so where did his fault lie?" His head tilted to the side as he continued, "The servant wasn't telling the truth because I heard a hitch in his heart as he spoke."
"Heard?" Anastasia asked, her eyebrows slowly drawing closer to each other.
"I can hear things from a considerable distance when I focus my attention on them, like the sound of the water colliding against the stones or the rhythm of a beating heart. Like yours that was racing a moment ago, as if I caught you doing something you didn't expect," Dante stated, watching her brown eyes widen.
Upon hearing Dante's words, Anastasia tried to calm her heart, but it only quickened its pace. She murmured, "I see," before diverting her gaze towards the vast expanse of the sea, sensing him staring at her. She then said, "But it is possible that he was hiding something completely unrelated to the letter…"
Dante was so blinded by rage and anguish over his mother's death that he had impulsively killed the servant without waiting to interrogate him about whom he was working for. But the act of taking a life brought him satisfaction like never before, awakening the burgeoning bloodlust within him. He could feel it coursing through him, as if the weight of the guilt he had long carried for the thousands of men he had killed in the past now felt insignificant.
"Your eyes… they are red," Anastasia finally pointed out when she briefly glanced at him.
"They belong to the demon whose blood runs through my veins," Dante responded, seemingly already aware of it as he didn't seem bothered by this observation, unlike Anastasia, who was frightened by the sight of it.
Anastasia instinctively took a step backwards, and Dante made no attempt to stop her. He looked slightly amused, yet at the same time, his eyes hardened after a second. It was because she could step as far away as she wanted, but she would never succeed in escaping his reach, as he possessed the ability to close the distance between them in a mere breath.
"Are you scared of me, little rabbit?" Dante's red eyes continued to glow as his voice dipped lower, sending a shiver down her spine.
"I know you won't hurt me," Anastasia replied, not moving from where she stood.
He had protected and helped her when she needed it most, knowing he made an exception for her. But that didn't mean she could guarantee the safety of those around her. To switch the subject, she asked him, "How are you feeling today… Dante?"
Dante's midnight eyes seemed to reappear, softening with the passage of seconds, and Anastasia, witnessing this change, felt herself relax at the sight of it. She saw him turn his gaze towards the undulating waves of the sea and heard him take a deep breath before he said,
"A lot of things, and none of them are good," a small sarcastic smile playing upon his lips. He continued, "When my mother was exiled to the old palace, I was worried about this very scenario. Being unable to stay beside her when she needed me most." And despite his efforts to travel back and forth between the two palaces, it hadn't been enough.
Anastasia's hands clenched tightly against her sides as a surge of guilt washed over her again. Bowing her head, she apologised, "Please forgive me. If only I could have acted differently in the past—"
"I did think about it," Dante interrupted her. In the days following his mother's death, his mind had been consumed by a whirlwind of thoughts, including the memory of how he had spent the night with Anastasia, the very night when his mother fought to cling to life. He said, "It made me very angry at myself, but no one could have known what would happen. And if my mother were still alive, she would have chosen for the events to transpire the way they did. So there's no need to feel guilty or believe it is your fault."
In moments like these, Anastasia glimpsed a version of Dante that defied the notion of him being the cursed prince, a figure more human than a demon, despite his family's claims of demon blood running in their veins.
And though Dante forgave her, Anastasia couldn't shake off the burden in her chest. This time, she summoned the courage to take a step forward and gently took his hand to hold it in hers. She tried to offer comfort by saying,
"I heard from Lady Sophia that before she passed away, she didn't struggle for breath or experience pain. Lady Lucretia spoke to Lady Sophia during her… last moments, to convey that she loves you and her desire for you to be happy, even if you both didn't get to exchange words one last time."
But Anastasia's words only triggered a recollection of the constant humiliation his mother had to endure until her very last breath. It made him clench his jaw, and his eyes darkened at the memories of his poor mother's suffering.
Unsure of what she had said to invoke Dante's anger, Anastasia tried to placate it by saying, "I mean, it is a difficult time, but you sh—"
"Each and every single one of them who has caused her pain will pay for it with their own blood, and no one will be spared," Dante swore, determined to exact justice until they experienced the same level of suffering as he and his mother did.
Upon hearing his words, Anastasia's grip on his hand loosened. More blood. More death. But at the same time, she could understand Dante's feelings because she herself wanted to punish the person who had killed her sister. Pain had the ability to drive people to think irrationally, blurring the boundaries of what was right or wrong in the moment.
They stood there for a few minutes before eventually sitting down on a dull white bench positioned at the rear of the balcony. The bench was free from creepers and vines, while the wind gently brushed the fallen flowers scattered on the ground around them.
Anastasia and Dante had positioned themselves at opposite ends of the bench as they continued to watch and listen to the rhythmic waves of the water. The initial fear she had felt before slowly drifted away, much like the waves of the water gently carrying the sand from the shore. In this serene setting, time didn't seem to matter as they shared the night, even though there was a lot more silence between them than usual.
After a few more minutes passed, Anastasia said, "I should probably go before someone notices me."
However, before she could rise from the bench to get up, Dante's body swiftly turned such that his shoes now rested upon the seat while he laid on the bench, his head on her lap with his face turned upwards. He remarked, "Stay."
Anastasia sat like a statue without moving an inch as she stared at Dante, who had closed his eyes while comfortably resting his head on her lap. It seemed like he didn't mind lowering his guard when they were alone, and he did what he pleased.
"How did you manage to step out of the tower?" Dante questioned, causing Anastasia's eyes to drift towards his moving lips, "Did you bribe the guards there?"
"T—That, the guards were asleep when I was leaving," Anastasia replied and heard Dante murmur,
"Looks like the guards need to be dismissed from their positions for not doing their job. Or maybe some of us should be thankful," and he didn't seem bothered by it. "This is comfortable. But you should eat more now that you have access to quality food."
Anastasia stared at him, and for a moment, her lips threatened to curl into a smile at the thought that the prince wanted to fatten her up so that her thighs could serve as a better cushion for his head.
"I believe a pillow would offer you better comfort than me," Anastasia replied.
"Maybe, but it wouldn't be very good company, as it doesn't talk or breathe," Dante responded to her in jest.
Anastasia noticed the bags under his eyes which held a shadow darker than the rest of his face. Then her eyes fell on something so faint that she had missed all this time. There appeared to be a faint scar next to his left eyebrow, and her eyebrows drew together as she leaned forward to take a closer look at it.
It was indeed a scar, Anastasia acknowledged. She wondered when he had received it, as it seemed to be an old one.
"Are you going to kiss me, Anastasia?" Dante's eyes fluttered open, meeting hers.
"No," Anastasia whispered in response.
"Then what is your breath doing so close to my lips? Enticing me to kiss you?" Dante questioned, and this was enough for Anastasia to instinctively draw her face away from him.
"Sorry," Anastasia apologised, and Dante's eyes, which were now open, remained fixed on her as he said,
"Don't be," he reassured her, while at the same time, he ran his fingers through the front of his hair. He suggested, "You can avoid apologising by returning to your previous position."
"I don't think it would be a good idea," Anastasia responded, flustered by his insinuation, and she redirected her gaze in the direction from which they had entered the balcony.
"What were you thinking, leaving the tower then? Did you think of how to comfort me?" Dante asked her, his implications far from subtle.
Anastasia marvelled at his shift in demeanour, wondering how Dante could go from cold to warm so easily, and deep down, she found herself gradually growing used to this special attention she was receiving from him. In times of trouble, she leaned on him for support, and here she was now, offering him her own shoulder, or lap, as a source of comfort. In the midst of this cruel palace, where trust was hard to come by, they both found solace in leaning on each other for emotional support.
"I wanted to offer my company if you needed it," Anastasia answered, her intention innocent, but her words unintentionally presented opportunities for the conversation to veer off-course, and Dante emitted a thoughtful hum.
But Dante wasn't one to miss opportunities. He raised his hand, reaching for her face and gently caressing her cheek.
He found comfort in her presence. In the past, he had to carefully weigh his actions and words due to his mother, but with her gone, he might have assumed he would have nothing left to lose. But here was the one thing that still mattered and was gradually finding its way into his heart. But he was greedy for more comfort, and he asked,
"And what kind of comfort did you have in mind?"
Anastasia tried to think of something before she could be pulled into the quicksand and said, "This."
She weaved her fingers through Dante's thick locks as she revealed, "When I was upset and sad… Mary, my sister, used to run her hands through my hair, and it made me feel better when I was feeling down, like this. It isn't much." Sensing him freeze, she scolded herself for crossing the line and apologised again, "I am sorry. I didn't mea—"
"Stop apologising," Dante gently scolded her. He said, "I never said I didn't like it." Lowering his hand to his side, he closed his eyes, as if telling her to continue.
Anastasia's fingers, already entangled in his hair, continued to run through his strands with a gentle touch. Who knew that the prince would settle for a head massage and forget about the kiss he was trying to obtain from her? A small smile came to form on her lips, seeing how he was simpler than the other people in the palace.
"This feels very good," Dante hummed in approval, and Anastasia continued to run her fingers through his hair, wondering how much pain he carried within him. The palace was a lonely place, she thought to herself. After five minutes, he said, "That should be enough," and he gently grasped her hand, which had grown cold.
Dante got up and sat straight with his legs back on the ground. He remarked, "Any more, and I will fall asleep. And you will catch a cold."
His hand reached out for hers, rubbing it between his hands to make it feel warmer. Warmth spread to her cheeks, and he said, "Time to go back."
Anastasia nodded in agreement and got up with him from the bench before they stepped back inside. Just before they exited the room that connected to the beautiful balcony overlooking the sea, Anastasia asked him,
"Not that it's pressing, but I was wondering when would be a suitable time to visit the dungeon to retrieve my sister's ashes?"
"You don't have to visit the dungeon for it. I will arrange to have the ashes collected in a clay pot and give it to you tomorrow," Dante replied to her, and Anastasia offered a slight bow to thank him.
Anastasia and Dante continued to head towards the Paradise Tower in silence, enveloped in slight darkness as most of the flames in the torches and the candles had dwindled and extinguished themselves. But as they walked, they suddenly heard something in the corridor they had just passed, leading them to stop abruptly. She whispered,
"I can make my way to the tower by myself."
A grim frown came to form on Dante's face as he stared at the end of the corridor. He said firmly, "I will see you to the tower. Come."
Once they reached the foot of the stairs, Anastasia offered a bow to him before turning and tiptoeing up the stairs. Dante watched her disappear up the spiral staircase before he walked in the direction they came from to investigate the source of the noise.
Dante pulled out his dagger as he quickly advanced through the corridors without making noise, his eyes reverting to the fiery red hue as they scanned the surroundings, searching for an object or a person. And he would have missed it if it weren't for the rhythmic thumping of the person's heart that he could hear beating against the silence.
His hand grabbed the maid, who was hiding in the corner. The woman sputtered,
"Please spare me! I am only here on orders!"
"Whose?" Dante glared, the tip of his dagger pressing against her throat.
"Queen Maya's! She told me I should keep an eye on the corridors here to see if anyone enters or leaves!" The maid appeared to be in her forties, and she looked frightened upon catching sight of the first prince's red eyes.
Dante's eyes narrowed, "And what did you see?"
The woman shook her head, her voice filled with anxiety, "Nothing, Prince Dante! I didn't see anything at all! I just came back here after a brief visit to the kitchen when I bumped into one of the vases." She wondered if there was something to see or if she had missed something that should be reported to Queen Maya.
"Why?" Dante insisted, pressing the woman to come out with the information as she stumbled over her words.
"I—I don't know. I s—swear, I was only d—doing wha—t I was told without any information."
"What are you doing with the maid?"
The reason why the maid was asked to keep an eye on the corridors was here. Dante's eyes shifted from the maid to look at Maxwell standing not far from them.
"She was here snooping around when I arrived," Dante responded, retracting his dagger and stepping away from the trembling maid. "She said something about Queen Maya wanting to keep an eye on these corridors… in case someone showed up," he added, even though the maid hadn't explicitly uttered those last words.
Maxwell's eyes moved to look at the maid, who continued to tremble while she offered him a deep bow without raising her head. He said,
"There's no need to keep an eye on the corridors here, and next time, if my mother gives you any other instructions, inform me directly."
"Yes, Your Highness!" The maid was quick to respond, acknowledging his directive.
Dante noticed how Maxwell's eyes subtly shifted between him and the maid before finally moving to look at the other end of the corridor. His brother stayed there for a second longer before he turned around and walked away, while the maid wasted no time, hurrying out of there to not die by his hands.
Back in the Paradise Tower, Anastasia ascended the spiral stairs when she heard the faint echoes of a guard's voice and the sound of approaching footsteps. Filled with sudden panic, she swiftly turned around and descended the stairs again. Taking a turn to the left, she could still faintly hear the voices in the distance, and she veered to the right to hide until the guards disappeared out of sight, and she could return to her bed to sleep.
Taking shelter, Anastasia watched the guards walk past her hiding spot, and she sighed in relief. She could feel Madame Minerva's disdainful glares directed at her back earlier today, as she was the reason the woman had been slapped in front of everyone, and she was certain the woman was simply waiting for an opportunity to catch and punish her.
Stepping out of her hiding spot, Anastasia made her way back to the Paradise Tower, her foot poised on the first step of the staircase, when she heard,
'Anna.'
Anastasia turned, and her eyes fell on her sister's ghost standing behind her. Even as a ghost, where her sister's body was translucent, she still looked beautiful, yet pale.
"Is that truly you, Mary?" Anastasia whispered, wishing and hoping this was her sister and that she wasn't a figment of her imagination. To make sure of it, she extended her hand, intending to touch her sister's ghost.
[Music Recommendation: Endless- Haximum]
However, her sister's ghost caught her hand and began walking, compelling Anastasia to follow.
"Where are you taking me?!" Anastasia asked, the hem of her dress fluttering as they walked through the corridors.
"Mary, wait!" Anastasia pleaded, stopping her sister from dragging her further away from the Paradise Tower. She yearned to talk to her and get answers about what happened to her. Her sister's ghost came to a stop, and she implored, "Mary, who killed you? Please tell me. What happened—"
Marianne's ghost raised her hand, placing a finger on her translucent lips as she turned to Anastasia, signalling her to be silent.
Whispers reached Anastasia's ears from the far end of the corridor, prompting her to turn to look in their direction with a slight frown. When she redirected her attention back to her sister's ghost, it had vanished from sight.
"What do you mean he's going to find out?!" Anastasia overheard a hushed whisper originating from the far end of the corridor.
"Dante has been inspecting and investigating the guards for answers! How could you jeopardise it?!" came an angry whisper, and upon hearing Dante's name, Anastasia couldn't turn away and caught the subsequent words, "We have been careful with everything!"
The first voice spoke, "A rift was necessary to cause an imbalance. Everyone has been playing too safe without making a move. This is for our benefit." As the words were whispered, Anastasia found it hard to make out whom the voices belonged to.
"We cannot afford any mistakes right now. You know how important it is! We are fortunate that the servant wasn't questioned and was killed right away."
"I know, I thought that too," the whispers continued. "Dante has been patrolling the corridors, so we have to be on alert."
Anastasia clenched her hands before cautiously taking a step forward. Inching closer to the voices, she strained her ears, trying to see who was talking. The conversation seemed to relate to the message regarding Lady Lucretia's condition that had been sent to the main palace. It was evident that someone had intercepted it, which meant Lady Sophia was innocent in the matter.
She wanted to move closer to hear them clearly, as she didn't understand some of the words that were spoken from her position. It didn't look like the whisperers were standing at the corner but on the other side of the corridor. These were the people who had caused Dante grief, and she took two steps further.
"What is Dante doing wandering around? Maxwell has also been roaming in the middle of the night."
"He always does that, scouting the corridors as if he doesn't trust the people around him. Do you want me to have someone keep an eye on him?"
"That will only cause more trouble. Let us leave things how they are and wait to see if your plan to create a rift works successfully," the whispering only grew fainter, as if Anastasia was walking in the opposite direction of the voices.
As Anastasia reached the end of the corridor, the whispers continued. Bit by bit, her upper body leaned forward, and her eyes widened upon seeing the person standing there. It was the Vizier, wearing a serious expression on his face.
Anastasia couldn't lean any more forward, as that would only reveal her presence. She heard the Vizier say,
"I am going to keep a close eye on all of them. It is only a matter of time before the cards fall into your lap."
Anastasia was taken aback by the revelation that the Vizier was the one responsible for preventing the news from reaching Dante. But why? she asked herself, trying to ponder his motives. And while she was lost in her thoughts, she failed to notice that the other whisperer had fallen silent, as had the Vizier.
She then heard someone breathing behind her, turning her body stiff, and before she could turn to look at who it was, she felt something hard strike the back of her head with force.
________________
GARDEN OF POISON
The freedom I didn't want! (Chapter 95)
Music Recommendation: Berlin- John Powell
—
The force of the object used to strike Anastasia's head was enough to make her drop to the ground, and the wound started to bleed. Zion, the Vizier, quickly approached the scene upon hearing the sound of the body hitting the floor, and he questioned,
"Isn't this the newly turned courtesan? Did she overhear us this whole time?"
"Probably," replied the other person, observing that there was no blood on the metal object. "I wouldn't have known she was there if I hadn't seen her reflection in the glass. A pity that she has to die, though."
"Die?" Zion asked, taken aback before saying, "She's a courtesan, one of the treasures of the palace."
"Concubines are treasures, Zion. Courtesans are whores. Kings and queens are treasures," the person corrected the Vizier, using their foot to deliver a kick to the unconscious young woman's body. "Tie her up and have her thrown into the sea. There have been enough mistakes made already, and we need to pick our battles. Erase her existence, and no one ever heard a thing."
The Vizier agreed, saying, "Leave it to me; I will make sure she doesn't breathe a word of what she heard."
"I will talk to you tomorrow if there's anything to report," the person stated, handing the iron statue to the Vizier before walking away.
Zion carefully wiped the metal statue with his shirt to ensure there were no traces of blood on it and returned it to its original position. He then lifted the unconscious courtesan, throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her out of the corridor.
He took the young woman towards the seaside, ready to cast her in, but there were guards in the corridors, making it difficult for him to go unnoticed, as his presence would be reported later. There usually weren't many guards at this time of the night, which was why he was here, but it seemed that security had been tightened.
He decided to dispose of the eavesdropper later when the opportunity presented itself. Stowing her away, he went back to clean the floor to make sure that any evidence had been erased.
Hours passed, and morning finally arrived.
When Anastasia regained consciousness, she felt pain radiating from the back of her head. She groaned, feeling the muscles in her body ache. She smelt hay in the air, and her eyes pried open to see where she was. She found herself in a confined space with weathered wooden walls constructed from planks, with rays of light passing through some of the gaps, making the place less dark.
She tried to scream for help, but her mouth was gagged, and her hands and legs were tightly bound. Struggling to free herself, she tried to bring her bound hands forward, which were tied behind her back with rope, but it was impossible.
Anastasia was tired living in the palace and just wanted some peace. Where was she?!
Feeling alarmed, with her head feeling fuzzy, she tried to look around and noticed there was nothing but stacks of hay surrounding her. She tried to recollect what she remembered last, and flashes of images flickered before her eyes.
'Stay.'
'I didn't say I didn't like it,' Anastasia heard Dante's words echo through her mind.
She remembered walking in the corridors. A lot of walking, but she hadn't reached the top of the stairs of the Paradise Tower. Marianne! She was with her sister's ghost before she disappeared. She tried to call her sister's name, but it came out muffled. She remembered hearing whispers, but she didn't know whom they belonged to, and it was hard to recollect anything with the throbbing pain in her head making it difficult to focus, further blanking her mind.
Anastasia looked at the door, which was tightly shut, and knew it would be locked. Peering through the gaps in the wall that allowed her to see the sky, she realised it was still early in the morning. She had to get herself out of here! God only knew why she was brought here.
The longer she stared, the more familiar the place became, and she realised that this was the storage room next to the stable of the palace. She had come here a few times before. There had to be something sharp nearby to cut her bonds. With that thought, her head turned to look around the room, and she was grateful that her eyes weren't covered.
She crawled on the ground with difficulty, and when her eyes fell on something shiny at the edge of a table, she moved faster. It was a small dagger, and she kicked the table on which it was lying for it to fall to the ground.
Not wasting any time, she rolled over onto her back to pick up the dagger and wedged it between one of the small gaps of the wooden planking. Soon she began to rub the ropes of her bound hands against the sharp metal edge of the dagger.
Adrenaline coursed through her body, intensifying her heartbeat as she anxiously feared the possibility of someone entering the room before she could escape. When she felt the ropes loosen, she felt herself smile but reminded herself that she wasn't free yet. Once her hands were free, she used the dagger on the ropes firmly wrapped around her legs, using all her strength to sever the restraints.
When her feet began to feel less restricted, Anastasia heard voices right outside the door. Fumbling with the dagger, she hid it in her dress and arranged the ropes around her wrists to make it seem like she was still bound.
The door opened partway, and Anastasia quickly closed her eyes.
"You know what to do with her. Make sure no one sees anything," Anastasia heard a familiar yet unfamiliar male voice because she couldn't put a face to it.
"Yes, Sire!" said another male voice.
Anastasia's instincts urged her to fight, run, and cry, but she was afraid. When she pried her eyes open a little, she noticed more than two pairs of shoes standing before her. The realisation dawned on her that if she tried to get to one person, she would be pushed down by the other three.
Soon, she felt something being draped around her body as if she was being wrapped by something similar to a gunny sack. She then felt herself being lifted and carried, her heart pounding as she fought to remain still in her state of fear. Even though her hands were free, her feet weren't, preventing her from making a run for it.
"Go now," the male voice commanded.
"Zion! I have been looking for you, and went to the royal courtroom," came Prince Aiden's voice, and Anastasia finally remembered who the male voice belonged to. It was the Vizier! She remembered last seeing him in the corridor, conspiring with another person.
Prince Aiden walked to where the Vizier stood, his gaze following one of the guards who was carrying a rolled object, resembling an old carpet. As the guard walked away he asked, "What is that thing being carried?"
The Vizier smiled politely at the third prince and replied, "That is a useless roll of gunny sacks which will be given to the poor so that they can make use of them."
"Oh, things for the people," Prince Aiden nodded as he stared at the guard before turning back to the Vizier, saying, "Anyway, I wanted to tell you that the king was looking for you and thought to let you know."
"Let me go to him right away," the Vizier replied, offering him a slight bow and walking inside the palace. The third prince stood there before noticing that the storage room was open and looked at the stacks of hay.
"May I help you with something, Prince Aiden?" someone behind him asked, and it was none other than the new gardener, Gabriel.
"Nothing at all, I was just looking around. Do you know where the tools to fit the horseshoes are stored?" Prince Aiden raised his hands to show the action of hammering with a smile.
"Let me bring them to you," Gabriel said, walking past him.
Far from there, Anastasia felt her head throbbing again, and she could hear two sets of footsteps walking on either side of the man who carried her. Was she going to be sold in the market? But she was a courtesan, and that wasn't possible, she thought as the anxiety in her chest increased.
She was dropped on the ground, and Anastasia resisted the urge to cry out at the pain in her sore muscles. She heard one of the men say,
"We will be going ahead."
"I will finish this and join you," said the one who had dropped Anastasia.
Perfect, Anastasia thought. All she needed to do was to grab the dagger and stab the person. Maybe stab the person's feet, as she was lying on the ground. And maybe, if she was successful, she could escape from here. If she were to be caught, she would blame it on the Vizier and his men!
She prepared her body and mind upon hearing the footsteps recede into the distance. But what she didn't expect to happen next was the Vizier's man pulling on the coarse material that had been wrapped around her, and in the process of rolling out she didn't have time to strike and only managed to grab the dagger.
Anastasia saw the light conquer her vision, the clear sky, and the water—Water?! Her eyes widened for a fleeting moment before she fell into the cold, salty water.
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