The Legend of Callistana

Chapter VI

Beatriz almost scoffed. Her lips were parted. She had an idea that it was her Lady's teacher but she's still surprised.

"I knew it..." she whispered and shook her head. "That's the reason why you have a scratch on your neck. You're the man who I encountered the first night that I guarded Lady Callistana's room."

Ali clenched his jaw. "So, it was you, huh?" he uttered.

Beatriz has never fought a man in her entire life but that night, she's ready to kill one. She inhaled sharply and glanced at Callistana who looked so surprised and scared. She gazed at Sir Ali again then raised the knife she was holding on his face.

"Get off of her," she uttered angrily. "Get off of Lady Callistana."

She looked at him, full of disgust and anger.

Ali looked at her sharp weapon. He gritted his teeth then he slowly removed himself on top of Callistana. He raised his hand to show the brave servant that he's surrendering and won't do anything against her.

Beatriz stepped backward as Sir Ali stood.

"Lady Callistana, fix yourself," she ordered the Lady who was still in shock.

Through her tears, Callistana sat up and pulled up her dress to cover her exposed body. She clutched on the blanket tightly then looked at her teacher.

Sir Ali was never kind to her but somehow, she looked up to him because in this world, teachers are one of the epitome of intelligence. Something that she could never possess like what her teachers have been telling her since she was a child. But now, it's tainted. Her teacher was going to do something bad to her and he was about to succeed if Beatriz didn't come to her room.

Callistana stood behind Beatriz who was still holding a knife, pointing it to the man. She knew that if things go bad now, someone would get hurt that's why she needs to get help. Because more likely, it would be Beatriz or her.

"I'll call a guard..." she whispered to Beatriz.

Her friend nodded a bit to her. When Callistana began to step on her side to go to the door, Beatriz moved with her to cover her from a possible attack of the teacher. She needs to protect the Lady at all costs. Ali and Beatriz were looking at each other's eyes, barely breathing, waiting for the next movement of one another.

When Callistana was already near the door, Beatriz got distracted for a second to glance at her lady. And that split second was taken as an advantage by the teacher. Ali immediately pulled her wrist by the hand that was holding the knife. He pulled Beatriz against his body and now, her back is on his chest and the knife is on her neck. Just a wrong move, it will cut her skin.

The situation got reversed.

Callistana's eyes widened as she watched her friend being held by her teacher. She swallowed hard then immediately shook her head in fear.

"P-please, don't hurt Beatriz..." she pleaded with her shaky voice.

Ali smirked at her. Beatriz looked at the lady with brave eyes.

"My Lady, go on. Tell the guard what happened and make sure that it will reach the emperor," Beatriz said.

Ali immediately spoke, "Go on, Lady Callistana. Open that door and I will slit your friend's neck," he said, threatening her.

Callistana looked at the two. She was shaking in fear because her friend's life is at risk.

Tears fell from her eyes. "S-sir Ali... Please—"

"Lady Callistana, please, leave me and tell the guard," Beatriz demanded. "The Emperor would punish him with death once he learned that Sir Ali tried to rápe you. He won't be able to harm you anymore—"

With his gritted teeth, he pressed the side of the knife on Beatriz's neck. It was so sharp that blood immediately dropped from the cut it made.

Ali smirked. "Go on. And your friend will die. I am telling you... I will kill her if you tell the guard."

Callistana fell on her knees as she saw blood dripping from Beatriz's neck. She covered her mouth with her shaking hand as she cried weakly.

"Sir Ali, please. I won't tell the guard... Just let her go. Let Beatriz go. Don't kill her," she begged desperately.

The teacher smiled victoriously. His ego went high as he saw the future Empress of Ruana begged him. Callistana is just really weak and naive. Easy to control and manipulate.

"Alright, Callistana. Would you promise me that you won't tell anyone or do I have to kill your friend?"

Callistana immediately shook her head. "I won't tell anyone," she quickly answered. "I promise, I won't tell anyone."

Beatriz shook her head. "Lady Callistana, no! I don't need you to choose me. Choose your—"

"I will hold onto that. If I feel that you are going to tell what happened tonight to someone, I would immediately kill Beatriz. Do you understand?" Sir Ali asked.

Callistana nodded immediately without any hesitation. She accepted the deal because her priority is to make sure that Beatriz won't die.

Ali raised his brow in satisfaction and pushed Beatriz down the carpeted floor. He shook his hands like he was removing the dirt that he got from holding Beatriz. He glanced at them with warning in his eyes before he left the room and locked it.

Callistana immediately went to Beatriz and checked her. Beatriz was covering her neck with her own hand. She looked at her lady with a disheartened expression. She shook her head.

"You shouldn't have done that, my Lady. You should have told the guard and asked for help..."

Callistana immediately shook her head. There was no regret on her face, just fear and worry. "Sir Ali would kill you instantly if I left the room. I won't let that happen."

Beatriz closed her eyes tightly and sighed. "My Lady, you made the wrong decision. My life is not important. It's better if Sir Ali would be punished for what he did—"

"Don't say that! Your life is just as important as mine. And yes, he would be punished if I told the guard. He might be killed by the Emperor once he learned what happened tonight. But what is the guarantee that my next teacher won't be like him, Beatriz?" she asked then shook her head. "I would rather have you beside me... to take care of me and protect me than risk your life just to have Sir Ali removed as my teacher."

Beatriz shook her head. She was silently crying. For her, the priority is to make sure that Sir Ali won't be near the lady again. For him to be punished for what he did. But for Lady Callistana, her safety was the priority.

Callistana squeezed her arm a bit. "In this life of mine, I only have you Beatriz. You're the most important to me, nothing else... So as much as I can, I will protect you too, even in my own ways."

The servant smiled sadly. Her heart was moved because of what she heard but she won't accept that. Her life mission is to make sure that Lady Callistana would be safe and happy. She vowed that to herself.

Beatriz treated her own wound. She had a hard time due to the lack of the medical stuff in that cold palace. She was sitting on the floor of the corner of the sleeping quarter, treating herself. Callistana wanted to go with her, to help her but she didn't let the lady outside her room. She's not the lady's responsibility, it's the other way around.

She gritted her teeth when she remembered what happened. Beatriz had seen Sir Ali as suspicious since the first time he came into that cold palace. She saw how he looked at Lady Callistana even when she was younger. It was not a simple admiration. It was full of lust and desire. And for the past years, it grew and grew. It seems like Ali already reached the limit and could not stop himself anymore.

Although they caught him tonight, it's not impossible that he would try his luck again especially since he can easily manipulate Callistana. That's why Beatriz is more determined now.

That night, she planned the escape. She thought of several ways of how Callistana could leave the cold palace and she chose the one that has the highest chance. In her mind, she polished the plan to make it flawless. They are not allowed to make any mistakes once they do it.

And they would execute the plan as soon as possible. Better if they could make it in the next few days. She will tell it to Callistana as soon as the sun rise.