Kyla's POV
The queen's voice boomed through the room, her tone icy and unforgiving. “Why are you late?” she demanded, her eyes blazing with anger.
I tried to speak, to explain the circumstances that had led to my tardiness, but she cut me off before I could utter a word.
“Enough!” she snapped, her voice harsh and commanding. “Guards, hold her and wipe her clean.”
I felt a surge of fear as two burly men stepped forward, their faces expressionless. They lifted me, their grip like a vice, and I struggled against them, punching and kicking with all my might.
“Drop me!” I cried, my voice hoarse with desperation.
But they held firm, their arms like iron bands around me. They carried me across the room, turned me over, and laid me backward on a cold, hard surface. I felt a wave of humiliation wash over me as I was held down, unable to move or escape.
And then, I felt the rough, stinging sensation of a cane being used to wipe me clean. The pain was searing, and I cried out, my body trembling with fear and humiliation.
The queen's voice was cold and detached, her words dripping with disdain. “You will learn to obey, and you will learn to be punctual. Do I make myself clear?”
I nodded, tears streaming down my face, my body still trembling with fear. I knew I had to submit, at least for now, if I wanted to survive.
Kira's POV
“Mi lady!” I called out, my voice echoing through the forest as I searched for her. I had been looking everywhere for two days, and all the servants had been sent out to join in the search. We had combed the entire estate, but there was no sign of her.
I had given up hope until daybreak, when I decided to check her room one more time. I rushed to her chambers, my heart racing with anticipation. But when I arrived, my worst fears were confirmed — she was nowhere to be found.
I thought to myself, “Maybe she's outside, taking a walk or getting some fresh air.” So, I set out to search the grounds again, scouring every inch of the estate. But as the hours ticked by, I began to feel a sense of unease. Something was wrong.
I searched everywhere — the gardens, the stables, the kitchen — but there was no sign of her. It was as if she had vanished into thin air. And then, it dawned on me — I had to inform the king.
My heart sank at the thought of telling him that his wife was missing. I knew he would be frantic with worry, and I couldn't blame him. I felt a sense of responsibility wash over me — I had been tasked with keeping her safe, and I had failed.
With a heavy heart, I made my way to the king's chambers, knowing that I had to break the news to him. I took a deep breath, preparing myself for the reaction that was sure to come.
I stood outside the king's door, my hands trembling as I raised them to knock. The sound echoed through the hallway, and I felt a sense of trepidation wash over me. I had never been one to shy away from duty, but the weight of the news I bore made my heart heavy.
“Come in,” the king's voice boomed from within, and I steeled myself for what was to come.
I pushed open the door, my trembling hands struggling to maintain a steady grip on the handle. As I entered, the king's piercing gaze met mine, his eyes narrowing intensely as he took in my shaken demeanor.
“Mi lord…" I began, my voice barely above a whisper as I struggled to find the words to convey the news.
The king's expression darkened, his eyes flashing with a sense of foreboding. “Speak, woman,” he commanded, his voice low and urgent, as if he sensed the danger that lurked beneath my words.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart as I prepared to deliver the devastating news. “Mi lord, I…I have come to inform you that…that Lady Kyla is missing,” I stammered, the words tumbling out of my mouth like a confession.
The king's face turned ashen, his eyes widening in horror as he processed the news. I watched, frozen in terror, as he rose from his throne, his massive frame towering over me like a specter of doom.
GIBSON’s POV
I stood tall, my face set in a stern expression, as I listened to Kira's trembling words. “Mi lord, I…I have come to inform you that…that Lady Kyla is missing,” she stammered, her eyes wide with fear.
I felt a surge of anger and anxiety course through my veins as I rose from my throne, my movements swift and decisive. Likewise, I strode out of the room, my long strides eating up the distance as I made my way to Kyla's chambers. Furthermore, I flung open the door, my heart racing with anticipation, but she was not there.
A sense of desperation washed over me, and I knew I had to act quickly. I stormed back into the throne room, my voice thundering off the walls as I addressed my guards. “You are all to start searching for the queen immediately. Bring her back to me alive, and do not return until you have found her!”
I turned to Wilson, my trusted friend, and summoned him to my side. He appeared instantly, his face pale and worried as he bowed low. “What has happened, Your Majesty?” he asked, his voice trembling.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. “Kyla is missing,” I said, my voice echoing off the walls, the words feeling like a punch to the gut.
I stormed through the forest, my voice echoing off the trees as I called out her name. “Kyla! Kyla, where are you?” But there was only silence, a deafening quiet that seemed to mock me.
I had been searching for her for two days, scouring every inch of the forest, every hidden glade and secret stream. But she was nowhere to be found.
A cold, calculating fury burned within me, a fire that threatened to consume me whole. Who could dare touch what was mine? I thought, my mind racing with dark possibilities.
Was it a rival kingdom, seeking to weaken my rule? Or perhaps a traitor within my court, seeking to strike at my heart?
I gritted my teeth, my jaw clenched in anger. I would find out who was responsible for Kyla's disappearance, and I would make them pay.
As I turned to continue my search, I stumbled upon a piece of fabric caught in a thorn bush. I recognized the material instantly: it was from Kyla's dress.
My heart skipped a beat as I realized that I was closing in on her trail. But as I looked down at the fabric, I saw something that made my blood run cold…
A drop of blood, glistening in the sunlight.
“Kylaa!” I screamed, my voice shattering the forest silence as I clutched the fabric to my chest. Wilson rushed to my side, his face etched with concern as he took in my anguished expression.
“She's dead,” I choked out, my finger trembling as I pointed to the pool of blood staining the earth. My legs buckled, and I collapsed to the ground, overcome with grief.