Continue With Her Punishment
But Elara’s sharp interruption shattered my hopes, her anger fueling the fire of injustice that burned within me.
“You loved me? Do you think I actually give a fuck about that? As long as you get punished in the end for attempted murder,” Lucian spat, his words like a dagger to my heart.
Tears welled up in my eyes, a mix of pain and frustration washing over me. How could he be so blind to the truth? How could he condemn me without even a shred of evidence?Content held by NôvelDrama.Org.
“Continue with her punishment,” Elara commanded, her voice dripping with venom. The guards wasted no time in obeying, their hands gripping me roughly as they dragged me away.
As I was led away to face my punishment, a glimmer of hope flickered within me. Lucian had to see the truth eventually, didn’t he? He had to realize that I was innocent, that I would never betray him like this. But until then, I was alone in my suffering, praying for a miracle that seemed more elusive with each passing moment.
Lucian’s POV:
The throbbing ache in my head served as a harsh awakening from the depths of unconsciousness. Blinking against the dim light filtering into the room, I struggled to make sense of my surroundings. It wasn’t long before I noticed Elera’s worried expression hovering nearby.
“You were poisoned,” she stated, her words cutting through the haze of confusion that clouded my mind. Poisoned? The realization hit me like a sledgehammer. But by whom?
My gaze darted to Elera, seeking answers that she hesitated to provide. Finally, she spoke the name that sent a shockwave of disbelief coursing through me: “It was your personal maid.”
Alicia. The mere thought of her being capable of such an act seemed inconceivable. Why would she want to harm me? The very notion felt absurd, and yet, the evidence spoke for itself.
As panic threatened to engulf me, Elera’s warning pierced through the tumult of my thoughts. “You better not try to save her. The council already knows about it, and they are discussing what to do with her.”
My mind raced with questions, but Elera’s shrug offered no solace. “Are you seriously expecting me to reveal the informant? You should rest now. We will handle the repercussions of her actions,” she advised, her tone leaving no room for argument.
With a sense of urgency, I rose from the bed, my mind ablaze with the need for answers. Who had betrayed Alicia? And what fate awaited her at the hands of the council?
The weight of uncertainty bore down on me as I struggled to comprehend the magnitude of the situation. But one thing was clear: I couldn’t stand idly by while Alicia faced the consequences of a crime she may not have committed.
I insisted on seeing Alicia, despite Elera’s evident reluctance. With her assistance, I made my way to the dungeon where she was being held. The stench emanating from the darkened chamber assaulted my senses, a grim reminder of the grim reality within.
As the heavy door swung open, revealing Alicia lying motionless on the cold stone floor, my heart clenched in anguish. Her eyes met mine, filled with a haunting plea for understanding, for mercy. The sight of her broken form, drenched in sweat with her hair clinging to her face, stirred a deep well of empathy within me.
Her desperate cries for innocence echoed in the silence, a painful testament to the injustice she faced. The knowledge that she was being subjected to a hundred lashes filled me with a sense of helplessness. It was a punishment far too severe for her to endure, yet I was powerless to intervene.
The elders’ judgment loomed over us, casting a shadow of inevitability over Alicia’s fate. As agonizing as it was, I knew that their decision to punish her, albeit harshly, was preferable to the alternative. Death would be a far crueler outcome.
Reluctantly, I turned away from the scene unfolding before me, unable to bear witness to her suffering any longer. Elera stood silently at my side, her presence a somber reminder of the grim reality we faced.
“Let’s go,” I murmured, my voice heavy with resignation. Together, we left the dungeon behind, leaving Alicia to endure her punishment alone. It was a decision weighed down by the burden of circumstance, one that offered little solace in the face of such profound injustice.
After dismissing Elera, I found myself alone in the confines of my home, grappling with a storm of emotions. The weight of the day’s events bore down on me, threatening to consume me whole. With clenched fists, I unleashed my frustration upon the unforgiving walls, the impact reverberating through the empty space.
Exhausted from the tumultuous torrent of emotions, I collapsed onto the bed, my body trembling with pent-up anger and anguish. The room bore witness to my turmoil as I raged against the injustice of it all.
Summoning David, my trusted aide, I sought solace in action, a desperate attempt to regain control in the face of adversity. His presence offered a brief respite from the maelstrom raging within me.
“What do you want, boss?” David’s deferential tone was a welcome distraction, albeit a fleeting one.
“Find out how Alicia is doing,” I commanded, my voice tinged with a mixture of apprehension and determination. It was imperative that I knew her condition, regardless of my own conflicted feelings.
As David departed to carry out my orders, I braced myself for the inevitable onslaught of unsettling news. It wasn’t long before he returned, bearing the weight of grim tidings.
“She hasn’t eaten since yesterday. She just managed to receive the remaining strokes of her cane before she blacked out,” David reported dutifully, each word a painful reminder of Alicia’s suffering.
My heart clenched at the realization of her dire state. Despite the tumultuous nature of our relationship, I couldn’t bear to see her endure such torment.
In a moment of clarity, I issued a directive to ensure Alicia received the medical attention she desperately needed. It was a decision borne not out of pity, but out of a begrudging acknowledgment of our shared humanity.