Chapter 17 - How Deplorable
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-In Helia Palace; King's Study-
In the heart of Helia Palace, 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 lineage that had ruled for generations. Golden light spilled from ornate chandeliers, 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, thick enough to cut.
The King, a figure of regal bearing, sat at the head of the long, mahogany table, his fingers interlaced beneath his chin. His brow furrowed, and a heavy sigh escaped his lips, echoing 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 destruction of the royal palace. However, I require your unwavering compliance to the request I am about to make of you, as a condition of this mercy."
A stunned silence enveloped 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 racing 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 benefits him. Should I just ask for a punishment and get it over with? Luxana pondered, her mind swirling with uncertainty.
WHAT! His Majesty is going to overlook this? After she’s done so much? I can’t let him!!! The Queen’s thoughts were a tempest of indignation, her composure 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 act unless it serves her interests. Isabella’s jealousy flared, her eyes narrowing at Luxana.
"I’ll comply, if that is what His Majesty wishes of me," Luxana replied, her voice steady, though her heart raced with trepidation.
"Very well," the King continued, his tone shifting to one of calculated 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 Isabella's expression morphed into one of concern. Lily stood frozen, her mind racing, unable to process the implications of the King's proclamation.
This sent a chill down Luxana’s spine. She broke into a cold sweat, her emotions spiraling out of control. "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 clenched her dress, eyes cast downward.
The King, amused by her reaction, leaned back in his chair. Why would she react so strongly 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.
Isabella jumped in shock, her voice rising in alarm. "Your Majesty, but he’s—"
The King cut her off, his voice firm. "I’m aware. He hails from a historically antagonistic kingdom. The betrothal serves a strategic purpose in aligning our nations' interests and signaling a diplomatic accord between our empires. Though the marriage is of a political nature, it still carries significant implications for our countries' future and your personal life. This union is not a simple arrangement but a complex undertaking that will require your grace and resilience as a royal."
Luxana felt her heart racing. 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 diplomatic endeavor. Contrary to fostering 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 workings. Your task is to sow seeds of discord, to rupture the bond rather than strengthen it," the King added, his eyes narrowing.
Luxana purses her lips and inhales sharply, her mind racing. While the Queen was somewhat satisfied, Isabella seethed with jealousy, and Lily trembled in fear of the consequences 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 laced 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 echoing through the chamber, but she didn’t look back.
As she stormed out, the tension in the room was palpable, a thick fog of unspoken words and unresolved conflicts hanging in the air. Luxana’s heart raced as she made her way down the cold marble hallway, her mind racing with thoughts of rebellion and defiance.
Midway through the dimly lit hallway, the air thickened with tension as the knights charged towards Luxana. She turned, her heart racing, only to feel their strong hands grip her arms.
“Hey! Let go of me! You can’t do this! You’re harming a royal!” Luxana shouted, her voice echoing against the cold stone walls, desperation lacing her words.
“It’s the King’s order, Your Highness,” one knight replied, his voice strained as he struggled to maintain control over her.
In a surge of rage and fear, Luxana drew her fire dagger, the blade shimmering ominously in the low light, and plunged it into the knight's arm. She recoiled in shock at her own actions, the heat of the moment leaving her breathless.
*Clap*
*Clap*
*Clap*
The sound reverberated through the hallway, and Luxana’s heart sank as the King emerged from the shadows, a sinister smile playing 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, Isabella, and Lily, their expressions a mix of shock and intrigue, but the King’s demeanor remained cold and calculating.
“Luxana, where’d you get that?” he asked, tilting his head, his eyes glinting like shards of ice.
“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 acting in ways so unexpected for a noble lady, 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, silencing the room.
Luxana’s head snapped to the side, her cheek stinging, blood trickling from her mouth. Shock rippled through the onlookers—knights, maids, Isabella, Lily and even the Queen, who stood frozen, her eyes wide.
“Take Luxana to Roxana’s room. I need to have a personal conversation with her,” the King ordered, his voice cold and commanding. He glanced back at Luxana, who stood paralyzed, fear coursing through her veins. “As for the rest of you, return to your duties,” he commanded, his presence suffocating 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 menacing 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.
Isabella rushed to Luxana’s side, tears brimming in her eyes. “Sis-sister, are you okay?” she cried, her voice trembling with concern, but the knights were already pulling Luxana away. Luxana remained silent, her heart pounding in her chest as she allowed them to drag her away.
“Mother, please…SAVE LUXANA!” Isabella screamed, her voice breaking as she turned to the Queen, desperation etched on her face.
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Isabella Limonizer De Carna Domino, the Second Princess of Domino, known for her ethereal beauty and gentle demeanor. Beneath her soft exterior lurked a harsh, cruel heart. She had loved none other than her mother but Luxana, whom she had loved and hated in equal measure since childhood.
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-8 years ago; Helia Palace, Rose Garden-
“Ahh!!! Look! There are flowers!!!” Isabella shouted, her laughter ringing like bells as she sprinted towards the vibrant blooms, oblivious to the world around her.
“Princess!!! Please wait for us!” a maid called out, struggling to keep pace with the energetic child.
“WOW!! The flowers are so pretty!” Isabella 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 racing 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 orange hair glinting in the sunlight, and her sparkling blue eyes piercing through Isabella’s fear. She held the runaway bunny gently in her arms, her expression serene yet beautiful.
“Here,” the girl said softly, crouching down to hand the bunny back to Isabella. “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 Isabella’s bleeding foot, her touch gentle and reassuring.
Isabella, 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 Isabella!” she exclaimed, a mix of excitement and shyness bubbling within her.
“Ah...Isabella. You must be the Second Princess of Domino, right?” Luxana’s gaze was unwavering, as if she could see straight into Isabella’s soul.
“Huh? AH! Yess!! I am!” Isabella beamed, her royal pride shining through. “Since I’m a Princess, I order you to become my friend!!!!!!” she declared, hope dancing in her eyes.
“Sorry,” Luxana said, her voice barely above a whisper, her expression unchanged.
Isabella’s heart sank at the rejection, 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 comfort her, stood frozen as Isabella’s cries grew louder, echoing through the garden. Before she could react, she turned to flee into the forest, her heart heavy. The maids arrived, panic etched on their faces.
“Princess! Are you alright? HUHHH!! You’re foot, you’re injured! Hurry, take the Princess to the doctor!” one maid exclaimed, her voice frantic.
In the aftermath, Isabella’s mother, Daleyza, rushed to her, worry etched on her face. “Baby, my baby, are you alright?” she asked, her voice soothing yet filled with concern.
Isabella, still clutching her lollipop, shifted from joy to tears in an instant.
Daleyza’s expression hardened as she glanced at the maids. “What happened?” she demanded.
“The Princess got injured while running after a bunny, but she met a girl with orange hair and blue eyes. The girl helped her, but then she ran away,” one maid explained.
Isabella added “Mommy, that girl! She was so beautiful! She helped me! But......rejected me!!!” she sobbed.
Daleyza’s face darkened. “It was your sister, Isabella,” she said, her voice low.
Isabella’s eyes widened in shock. “Ma-my sister?” she gasped, a flicker of hope igniting within her.
“Yes…” Daleyza replied, but the joy in Isabella’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 racing. “Ye-Yes...,” she replied, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air.
“But…she’s so beautiful…and kind…” Isabella murmured, her voice barely a whisper, yet filled with a strange intensity.
Daleyza’s heart sank as she saw the conflict brewing within her daughter. “Oh…of course,” she said, forcing a smile.
“I like her, no… I LOVE HER! She’s soooooo pretty and beautiful! 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!!!” Isabella exclaimed, 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 laced with a sly edge.
“But… she’s kind…” Isabella insisted, her gaze unwavering, determination etched on her features.
“If so, wouldn’t she have become your friend?” Daleyza pressed, watching as rage and sadness flickered in Isabella’s eyes, transforming her innocent face into a mask of fury. Isabella was being manipulated.
From that day forward, Isabella’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 changed everything.
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- Helia Palace; Roxana's Room, Evening-
Silence...an oppressive, frigid silence enveloped 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 plagued her mind.
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I feel like a dead person, she thought, her eyes staring blankly at the pillows, the soft fabric muffling her breath. The sting of the King's slap 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 complicated emotions. She had always known that the palace was a place of deceit and manipulation, but the King's actions had shattered all those fatherly illusions he played yesterday, which she had silently clung to hoping for her to finally be embraced by someone, who might one day actually acknowledge her. Why did I ever think I could trust him? How Deplorable...she wondered bitterly, her fingers tracing to the pocket she had kept her fire dagger in. The memory of the fire dagger piercing the knight's flesh sent a shiver down her spine. I'm no better than them, she realized, self-loathing seeping into her thoughts.
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To be Continued...