One Night With The Devil

3. Changed Yuna

The night had spread its blanket over the kingdom of Sakaris by the time Yuna woke up and she stifled a yawn, her eyes tearing up in the meanwhile. She looked around, confused to find herself in an unfamiliar room.

The lights from the candles in the room illuminated the place and she got up with a fright, an unknown fear engulfing her. 'What is this place? How did I get here? Where am I..."

Her eyes widened when she remembered all that happened in the day, her family's appalling situation when they faced the furious crowd before they were dragged to prison.

'Mother, Father," Yuna clenched her fists, her jaw ticking in resentment. 'I will find the people responsible for this situation. I will hunt them down and make them pay for their atrocity.' Her eyes were burning with a flaming resolve and she got out of the bed.

Syera was nowhere in sight and Yuna did not mind the solitude. It only helped her to calm herself down. She padded towards the window and opened it, allowing the cool breeze to enter the room and extinguish the candles nearby.

Yuna looked at the half-moon, her mind trying to find a way to deal with her predicament. 'Who should I seek help from?' She wondered, her forehead marring into a frown. 'Who can I trust among the people I know?'

Six years of absence from the kingdom capital had kept her away from the people she was once familiar with. So, it was impossible for her to look for anyone blatantly. Who knew if they were enemies of her family and used her to bring more agony to her loved ones?

Conflicting thoughts occupied her mind and she did not react when Syera entered the room with a small table.

"Milady, you must be hungry." Syera placed the table on the bed and stood behind her Lady. "I was about to wake you up. Please have something. You need to take care of yourself, Milady, if you want to help your family."

"I understand, Syera. Please set the table, I am famished." Yuna did not turn around and kept watching the moon. There was something serene about the celestial body which calmed her heart and mind and her disturbing thoughts vanished gradually.

"Yes, Milady." Syera set the table and once she was done, she waited politely beside the bed.

Yuna did not speak much as she ate her food, once in a while glancing at Syera, who stood still politely beside her. "Do you have something to tell me, Syera?"

"Yes, Milady. I was wondering how you were feeling." Syera voiced out her worries without hiding them.

"I am fine, Syera. Do not worry, I am not that fragile." Yuna replied, her voice filled with power and confidence and Syera examined her for some time.

Something had changed in the young Lady. Syera could see it. Although her eyes were still swollen, she emitted the confidence and aura of a Queen and Syera was astonished. She stood frozen in her spot as she watched the young Lady finish her food with poise.

"Please call Sir Enver. I wish to speak to him." Yuna stated once she was done with her food. "Before that, however, please see to it that everyone has eaten dinner, including you, Syera."

"But, Milady..."

"My matter can wait. You should have your dinner first."

Syera realized that her mistress was not telling her but commanding her instead and she could not refute her. With a sigh, she picked up the empty bowls and cleared the table.

"Yes, Milady. I will be back."

An hour later, a knock at the door pulled Yuna out of her thoughts and she opened it, allowing Syera and the mighty guard behind her to enter the room. The door was half open and they kept it that way even though this part of the inn was booked for her and her guards.

Nobody would enter without permission. Nevertheless, they did not take any risk lest people should start gossiping about them.

"Milady, why have you called us here?" Enver stayed by the door, remaining as vigilant as ever. Although the other guards were keeping an eye, he was still alert. "Is something the matter?"

"Sir Enver, send someone to Katara to keep an eye on my grandparents. They might be in danger too." Yuna had now tied her hair and returned to how the world knew her to be, elegant and dainty. Other than her slightly swollen eyes, there was nothing amiss about her.

"Milady, I have already sent my men to Katara. You do not have to worry about it."

"Although I cannot save my grandparents and my uncle's family if they are punished along with my family, I still want to know about their situation until I find a way to clear all accusations." Yuna tapped her fingers on her thighs as she thought about it.

"I get it, Milady, and you have nothing to worry about. All our men are trustworthy. They will not betray you ever."

"Please forgive me for my impudence, Sir Enver. After today, I do not know who to trust anymore other than you and Syera. My family is being punished for something they would never do. It is impossible to accuse a family like mine, who have been serving the throne for a long time, of being traitors unless someone is plotting against us."

Yuna had already analyzed the situation while waiting for Syera and Enver after dinner. There had to be someone close to her family who had joined hands with the enemies and framed them for treason. Period.

"I have the same inkling, Milady. While we are at it, I found out the reason why His Grace was accused of treason."

This caught Yuna's attention and she raised her brows, silently instructing him to proceed.

"Milady, apparently, His Grace, the two Young Masters and Her Grace are being accused of planning a rebellion against His Majesty. So, His Majesty..."

"Ordered them to be captured." Yuna completed the words for him and Enver nodded in agreement, not knowing what else to say.

"I see." Yuna pondered over it for a few moments before she diverted her attention to Syera, who had been standing silently since the time she had entered the room. "Syera, where is the note my mother dropped?"

"Here, Milady." Syera retrieved the note from her skirt pocket and handed it to her.

"Do you know what the note says? Have you read it?" Yuna narrowed her eyes and observed her, waiting for her to slip up.

"No, Milady. I have not opened the note at all. I would never dare to without your permission." Syera shook her head, facing her young Lady boldly.

Yuna examined the note and on seeing that there were no traces of it being opened, she nodded lightly.

However, the moment she opened the note, her eyes widened in disbelief, utterly stupefied to find the message she had least expected. It was a note from her mother, there was no doubt about it. But the words seemed far-fetched from it.

'Please meet His Majesty. Only he can save us.'