Chapter 4: The bloody warning
631 Words
After finishing our wine, Victoria smiled and stretched her arms.
"It's such a beautiful day," she said. "Why don't we take a walk outside?"
"I'd love that," I replied with a smile.
Together, we left the palace and wandered through the royal gardens before making our way into the lively streets of Aurelia. Merchants called out to customers, children laughed as they played, and the pleasant aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air.
For a brief moment, I forgot about the terrifying events of two nights ago.
"I didn't even tell Dad I was leaving," I said with a soft laugh.
Victoria looked at me and chuckled.
"You still tell your father before going anywhere?"
"Of course," I answered. "Dad worries about me."
"You're lucky."
The smile on her face slowly disappeared.
"My Papa doesn't even care whether I leave the palace or not. Sometimes, I don't think he even notices I'm gone."
I looked at her with concern.
"What do you mean?"
She lowered her gaze as we continued walking.
"He always makes me feel like I'm not good enough... as though I'm unworthy of becoming the heir, even though I'm his only child."
I gently took her hand.
"Don't say that, Victoria. You're smart, kind, and stronger than you think."
She gave me a faint smile.
"I wish Papa believed that."
After a few moments of silence, she spoke again, her voice trembling.
"It's been so long since I last saw my mother. Papa took her away from me, and no one will tell me where she is. Sometimes... I wonder if she's even alive."
My heart ached for her.
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and gave her a gentle hug.
"You'll see her again someday," I said softly. "And until then, you'll never have to face everything alone. You'll always have me."
Victoria looked at me with grateful eyes.
"Thank you, Lisa."
We continued walking through the streets, smiling at the people who greeted us with cheerful bows.
Everything felt peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Suddenly, a terrified scream shattered the silence.
"Help!"
"Oh, heavens! Someone, please come quickly!"
The entire street fell silent before everyone rushed toward the source of the cry.
Victoria and I exchanged worried glances and hurried after the crowd.
When we arrived, dozens of villagers had already gathered in a circle.
No one dared move any closer.
The frightened crowd slowly stepped aside, allowing us to see what lay on the ground.
A White goat.
It was dead.
Its body was covered with deep cuts, and fresh blood stained the road beneath it.
Several women gasped in horror, while others quickly covered their children's eyes.
"This... this is horrible," Victoria whispered.
Just then, one of the royal guards stepped forward.
Using the tip of his sword, he carefully turned the goat over.
A loud gasp escaped from everyone present.
Written across the goat's body in blood were four terrifying words.
"We are coming."
A cold shiver ran down my spine.
Victoria grabbed my arm tightly.
"Lisa..."
Her voice shook with fear.
I couldn't take my eyes off the message.
"This isn't a joke," I whispered.
"No," Victoria replied quietly.
"It's a warning."
Without wasting another second, we turned and ran back toward the palace as fast as we could.
The guards followed closely behind while the horrified townspeople remained frozen where they stood.
By the time we reached the palace, we were both out of breath.
We rushed into the throne room, where Dad was discussing the recent attack with his advisers.
The moment he saw the frightened expressions on our faces, he immediately stood up.
"Lisa," he said firmly, "what happened?"
I struggled to catch my breath before finally finding my voice.
"Dad..."
I swallowed hard.
"They've sent us a message."
- Writer
