Chapter 38

The next morning, the palace was thrown into chaos as disturbing news spread like wildfire. Several knights who had been assigned to patrol the city were found dead, their lifeless bodies scattered throughout different districts. It was a dark omen, a grim warning that war might soon descend upon the Empire. The news sent shivers down the spine of the citizens, filling them with dread and unease.

As Sarah dressed me in my morning attire, I couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling of discomfort. My chest tightened with a sense of foreboding, though I couldn’t quite understand the cause. It was as if my instincts were warning me that something terrible was about to happen.

"Bring me a meal, Sarah," I said, sensing that she had just finished her task. She stepped back, bowed respectfully, and silently left the room. I sighed and reached up to touch my necklace, hoping to calm the growing unease in my heart, but even that familiar gesture did little to soothe my anxiety.

A sudden knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I frowned. Sarah had only just left—why would she return so quickly?

What puzzled me more was that the door remained closed. If it were Sarah, she would have knocked and entered immediately.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I walked over to the door, opening it to reveal an unexpected guest.

"Your Majesty," Anastasia greeted, bowing her head with a polite smile. I raised an eyebrow slightly. Her sudden appearance caught me off guard. This was new, and I couldn’t help but wonder what brought her here.

"Consort Anastasia, what brings you here?" I asked, my curiosity piqued by her unannounced visit.

She smiled sweetly, her demeanor calm and almost serene. "I wanted to take a stroll with you, Your Majesty. I have reflected on my behavior, and I realize I have not been kind. I’ve learned my lesson and would like to make it up to you," she explained, her voice dripping with sincerity. "Please, allow me to atone for my past actions."

I studied her closely, unsure of whether her words were genuine. Still, I couldn’t sense any deception in her voice or expression. After a moment of hesitation, I exhaled deeply.

"Very well," I said, closing the door behind me as I faced her. "Shall we?" she asked, her tone respectful. I nodded, though the sudden change in her behavior left me wary. Nonetheless, I decided to see where this would lead.

As we strolled through the corridors, she complimented me, "Your dress suits you beautifully, Your Majesty." Her voice was sweet and soft. I forced a smile. "It does," I replied tersely, still trying to gauge her intentions. She giggled, a sound that felt foreign coming from her. It unsettled me, as if I were talking to a completely different person.

She continued to speak more than usual as we walked, her tone light and cheerful. Soon, we arrived at the grand staircase that led to the entrance of the palace.

Just as I prepared to descend the stairs, Anastasia gently grabbed my elbow. "Your Majesty, I am truly grateful that you’ve given me this chance. I will not waste it," she said, offering me another one of her sweet smiles. I nodded in response, still unsure about her sudden change of heart.

Anastasia took a step forward, but something went horribly wrong. Her foot slipped on the polished marble step, and her eyes widened in panic. "Your Majesty!" she screamed, her hand instinctively grabbing onto my neck, her fingers latching onto my necklace as she struggled to regain her balance.

The sudden force of her grip nearly pulled me down with her, but I managed to steady myself. In her frantic attempt to hold on, she tore my necklace from my neck, and I stood frozen in shock, watching helplessly as she tumbled down the grand staircase.

Her body twisted and rolled violently with each step, the sound of her body hitting the hard marble echoing through the hall. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched her fall, completely paralyzed by the horrifying scene unfolding before me.

She finally landed at the base of the stairs with a sickening thud, her body motionless, her face pale and lifeless. Blood began to pool beneath her head, staining the pristine floor.

My mind refused to process what had just happened. I stood at the top of the staircase, my hands trembling, my eyes wide in disbelief.

"Aaahhh!" A piercing scream broke through the silence. I snapped out of my daze and turned my gaze toward the source of the scream.

There, standing at the bottom of the stairs, was Consort Lilieth. She stood frozen in horror, her hands covering her mouth as she stared at Anastasia’s lifeless body. Slowly, her eyes lifted to meet mine, and the fear in her expression deepened.

"Your Majesty?" she whispered, her voice cracking, disbelief and horror clear in her eyes.

I blinked, a sudden wave of dread washing over me. What had just happened?

Before I could even react, a group of knights rushed to Anastasia’s body. They quickly lifted her, and my stomach churned when I saw the blood on the floor. Lilieth, still trembling, pointed a shaking finger at me.

The knights looked at me in shock, but it was brief. In an instant, their expressions hardened. They stormed up the stairs and grabbed me roughly by the arms. I gasped, taken aback by the sudden aggression.

"W-wait," I stammered, but my voice barely escaped my throat.

"Your Majesty, you have violated the laws of the Empire. You will face the consequences," one of the knights declared. His words felt like a bomb exploding in my ears.

I couldn’t comprehend what was happening as they began to drag me down the stairs. My limbs felt heavy, my mind numb.

"Your Majesty!" A familiar voice called out. I turned my head and saw Sarah standing at the bottom of the stairs, her face pale with fear and concern. She tried to rush toward me, but the other maidservants held her back, preventing her from getting any closer.

My world began to spin as the knights pulled me down toward the palace entrance. Anastasia’s fall was just the beginning of something far more sinister.

I was filled with dread as they dragged me to the dungeon, each step like a nail being hammered into my coffin. The moment the heavy iron door slammed shut behind me, the cold reality set in. I stood frozen inside the damp, dimly lit cell, the air thick with the stench of mold and rust. I blinked several times, my mind racing but unable to make sense of it all.

Did I really kill Anastasia?  My thoughts whirled. I had seen it with my own eyes—she had tumbled down the stairs, but it wasn’t my fault! It couldn’t be. Could it?

I slowly surveyed the small space around me, my heart pounding in my chest. Have they really caged me like an animal?  The metallic scent of the iron bars clung to my nostrils, making it hard to breathe. A weight settled on my chest, heavier with each passing second. Is this the end for me?

My throat tightened. My knees gave way, trembling under the weight of despair, and I collapsed onto the cold, unforgiving stone floor. A bitter smile curled on my lips. How ironic . Just hours ago, I had been in my lavish chambers, surrounded by luxury. And now... now, I’m nothing more than a prisoner.

I crawled toward the side of the cage, leaning my body against the cold bars. I took a shuddering breath, trying to steady myself, but instead, a hollow, humorless laugh escaped my lips. It was faint, barely audible, but in the stillness of the dungeon, it echoed like a cruel joke.

I stared blankly at the ground, my heart racing. Will they execute me? The thought sent a chill down my spine. I bit my lip hard, drawing blood, trying to stay grounded in the present. Everything was happening so fast, too fast. How had it come to this? How had I, the Empress, ended up in this wretched cell?

I leaned my head back against the iron bars, closing my eyes in an attempt to calm the storm within me. But then a thought struck me, and my eyes shot open. The Emperor!

In a surge of desperate hope, I scrambled to my feet and rushed to the bars, pressing my face against them as I peered out into the empty corridor. But there was no one—no guards, no footsteps, nothing but silence. The Emperor could save me!  I started pacing back and forth, my mind racing with possibilities.

He must be coming. I bit my nails nervously. He must be on his way. I nodded to myself, trying to believe it. Yes, he will come. He’ll fix this.

Minutes passed. Then what felt like hours. The Emperor did not come. The weight of it all crashed down on me as I sank to the floor, my hands gripping my head in frustration. “Isaac!” I screamed into the silence, my voice cracking with desperation. Where was my husband when I needed him the most?

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I bit down hard on my lip, refusing to let them fall. No, no, no. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. I don’t belong here. I’ve done nothing wrong!

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Third Person's POV 
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“Where is my wife?!”

The Emperor’s voice thundered through the palace halls, his fury palpable. His boots struck the marble floor with the force of a storm, and every servant who crossed his path quickly shrank away, terrified of his wrath. He had just returned from a diplomatic errand in the city, only to be met with the shocking news of the Empress’s imprisonment.

A knight rushed to meet him halfway, bowing hastily. “Your Majesty, they’ve taken Her Majesty to the dungeon.”

The Emperor’s jaw clenched, his muscles visibly tensing under the weight of his rage. His mind barely registered anything beyond the thought of his Empress locked in a cold, filthy cell. The very image of her suffering was enough to make his blood boil. How dare they?  How dare anyone treat the Empress in such a way?

His pace quickened, the fire of his anger growing with each step, until Consort Lilieth appeared at the end of the hall, her eyes wide with concern. “Your Majesty!” she called out, rushing toward him, but the Emperor’s expression was like stone—cold, unyielding.

Desperate, Lilieth hurried after him. “Your Majesty, the Empress is the reason for Consort Anastasia’s condition!” she shouted, her voice shrill with panic. “She pushed her down the stairs! Her Majesty nearly killed her!”

Still, the Emperor did not respond, his gaze focused straight ahead. Lilieth’s frustration mounted as her words fell on deaf ears. Why does he refuse to listen?  she thought bitterly. That woman has him completely under her spell!

Just as the tension seemed unbearable, Count Rodolfo, Consort Anastasia’s father, appeared with his knights, blocking the Emperor’s path. His face was a mask of fury as he stood before the Emperor, unbowed.

“Your Majesty,” the Count began, his voice trembling with restrained anger, “I demand that Her Majesty be brought to my manor. We will see that she is properly judged for the crime she has committed against my daughter.”

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Don’t you dare, Count Rodolfo,” he growled, his voice low and menacing. The temperature in the hall seemed to drop as the Emperor’s presence became even more oppressive.

The Count, though visibly nervous, stood his ground. “Your Majesty, the Empress has betrayed the Empire! You must see reason! She nearly killed Anastasia!”

That was the final straw. The Emperor’s patience shattered. With a swift, brutal motion, he grabbed the Count by the collar, yanking him forward until their faces were inches apart. “I don’t care,” the Emperor hissed, his voice cold and sharp like a blade. “Now move.”

With a savage shove, the Emperor threw the Count to the ground and resumed his march. But the Count’s knights drew their swords, forming a barrier between him and the dungeon.

The Emperor’s fury exploded. Without hesitation, he lunged forward, drawing his sword in a flash of steel. His movements were precise and deadly, cutting through the opposition with lethal efficiency. The knights fell one after the other, their weapons clattering to the ground as they were swiftly overpowered by the Emperor’s unmatched skill.

Count Rodolfo, desperation etched into every line of his face, stepped forward once more, sword in hand. “Your Majesty, you’re defying the very laws of the Empire! You can’t protect her like this!”

The Emperor’s eyes darkened with cold fury as he raised his sword to strike, but a voice called out sharply behind him.

“Your Majesty, enough.”

The Emperor turned, his breath ragged, to see Henry, his most trusted advisor, standing there with a stern expression. “This isn’t the way,” Henry said calmly, though his eyes pleaded with the Emperor. “You need to stop.”

The Emperor stood there, sword still raised, his chest heaving with barely contained rage. Slowly, reluctantly, he lowered his weapon, though his hands trembled with the effort.

For now, he would let them take her. But not for long. He would find another way to bring her back.

The Count smirked, emboldened by the Emperor’s retreat. Without another word, he and his remaining knights took the Empress and hurriedly left the palace, eager to take her to their manor.

The Empress felt a deep sense of dread as they dragged her away. She didn’t know where they were taking her, but fear gnawed at her insides. She wanted to fight back, but any resistance might worsen the situation.

As she was taken away, her heart sank in disappointment. She had waited for the Emperor to come, to save her, but he hadn’t appeared. Maybe he believed the rumors, maybe he thought she was guilty.

But why did she even expect anything from him? He never truly cared for her, and now, he might even believe she caused Anastasia’s fall.

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