Chapter 33 CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
ROSALINDA
Two Hours Left.
Cyrus only had two hours left to live.
Seven days had passed.
No evidence, no proof, nothing to prove his innocence, all that awaited him was death.
Everyone ignored me, told me to remain silent. Zade remained impassive, still insisting that he couldn't act based on his emotions.
What do I do?
What do I do?
I sucked in a deep breath as I stood at the entrance of the dungeon. The air down here was heavy, tasting of salt and old dampness. Two guards stood at the iron reinforced door, their spears crossing with a sharp clack the moment I stepped into the torchlight.
"Princess, you shouldn't be here," Kael, the older guard said as they both bowed their heads. "It's not a place for you, and your father strictly instructed that you shouldn't cross these paths,"
"Step aside," I said, ignoring his words. "I need to see Cyrus,"
Kael looked pained for a moment, but he remained impassive. "I'm sorry princess, but I can't. The king personally warned us. No one passes, especially not you,"
"It's a command!" I half yelled, my hands curling into fists but he still remained unmoved.
"I'm sorry," The second guard. "I can't. If the king finds out, it's our necks,"
"Then let him take mine first," I snapped, then softened my tone, I walked closer to them. "Please. Two hours. That's all he has left. He was like a friend and the Royal guard of my fiancée, do you really think it's that easy to believe he's a murderer when he saved me?"
The two men exchanged a look. There was a flicker of pity in their eyes- the kind of look you give a wounded animal, then they both sighed. The second guard seemed to still be in conflict while Kael nodded.
"Five minutes," Kael whispered, unlatching the heavy bolt. "Only five minutes. If the Captain comes down, we can't help you."
"Thank you."
The dungeon was a labyrinth of misery. Water dripped from the ceiling, and the only light came from flickering wall sconces that smelled of cheap oil. I was directed to a single cell at the very end of the corridor. I stopped short, the breath leaving my lungs in a sharp gasp. Cyrus was sitting on a stone bench, his back against the weeping wall. His clothes were torn, and his once sharp features were shadowed by grime and bruises. But it was his eyes that broke me- those gray orbs, usually so full of hidden fire, were now dull and flat like ash.
He looked up, and for a second, his eyes widened. "What are you doing here?" He asked, his voice raspy.
"The princess came all the way down to this hellhole to see you, and that's all you have to say?" I managed a small, shaky joke, hoping for a spark of his usual arrogance.
He didn't smile. He just stared at me blankly. "You should leave."
"You too should," I said, moving closer. "You don't belong here, Cyrus," I choked out, my hand gripping the cold iron bars until my knuckles turned white. "You're innocent. You and I both know this. So why are you just enduring this as if you're actually the culprit?"
"I-"
"What's going on?" I cut him off, the frustration bubbling over. "Ever since you walked into my life, everything changed. I feel like I'm losing my mind and now-"
"Rosalinda-"
"I thought about it over and over," I continued, giving him no chance to speak. My emotions were all over the place and I wasn't willing to hold them back. "I told myself you just reminded me of a boy I once loved. I tried to convince myself that was the only reason I cared, that I was just chasing a ghost-"
"Rosalinda!" He stood up, the chains around his feet rattling with a deafening sound in the small cell.
"But it's not just that!" I cried, reaching through the bars. My fingers brushed his rough skin. "It's wrong to feel this way, but watching you draw closer and closer to your death without no one willing to help...its killing me...far worse than anything..."
I should be lucky that his cell was at the far end, away from other prisoners but then again I couldn't care less if anyone heard me at this point.
He moved closer, the shadows falling away from his face. "I'm fine," he said softly. "You don't have to worry about me."
"It's not fine! They are going to kill you in two hours!"
"It is. I'm fine," he reached out, then stopped and pulled back. A ghost of a smirk pulled at his lips. "This is quite dramatic, though. A princess crying over a prisoner."
A choked sob escaped me but I covered it up with a smile. "I know," a frown formed on my lips as the reality kicked in. "Are you really going to die for nothing? Just like that?"
He shrugged, a cold, detached movement. "Death has always been on my trail. Besides who knows? I could be the culprit."
"Shut up!" I seethed, but he didn't stop.
"You should leave," he said, this time his voice colder and firmer. "You're to get married to Prince Zade after all this is over. That should be your main concern. Your priority. Not a dead man."
"Cyrus, I-"
"Leave."
"What?"
"Leave, Rosalinda."
"You don't mean that-"
"Leave. Now." He said coldly, turning his back to me. I stood there for a moment, the sudden rejection stinging worse than any physical blow. I sucked in my tears, wiping my face with the back of my hand. "Fine," I whispered, my voice trembling as I stood up. "But know this, I won't just let you die like that. Because finally, for once, I've made a decision that may eventually cost me my head."
He didn't turn around, but I could feel the tension on his shoulder relax slightly. Just as I attempted to walk out, Kael appeared in front of me. "Time's up."
I glanced back at Cyrus, then looked back at Kael then nodded. "Alright." As I took another step, Mira rushed into the dungeon, the second guard from earlier rushed in with her as if he was trying to hold her back but she was faster.
"Let her be." I ordered, raising my hand making him halt. I turned to Mira who was breathing hard. "What is it?"
"A young lady just asked to see you, my lady. Her name is Diana."