CHAPTER 16
887 Words
For a little while after meeting the pale stranger, Ella truly felt afraid.
His words haunted her.
You carry darkness around you.
The way he looked at her had been unsettling, almost like he could see through every lie she had ever told.
But fear never stayed inside Ella for long.
Hatred always returned stronger.
And soon, her thoughts drifted back to the one person she blamed for everything—
Pearl.
Pearl was still alive.
Still loved by everyone.
Still protected.
Ella sat alone inside her chambers while soft ocean currents moved through the dark room.
Her expression slowly hardened.
“She survives everything,” Ella muttered bitterly.
The poison should have worked.
Pearl should have died during the celebration.
Instead, she woke up again while the entire kingdom gathered around her with sympathy and love.
Even after losing her child—
People still adored her.
The thought burned inside Ella like fire.
Then slowly—
An idea formed inside her mind.
Dangerous.
Careful.
Perfect.
A slow smile spread across her lips.
“This time,” she whispered softly, “you’ll help me destroy yourself.”
Meanwhile, inside another part of the palace, Pearl slowly walked through the royal gardens alone.
The glowing coral trees swayed gently around her while tiny silver fish moved peacefully through the water nearby.
Pearl still looked weak from the poisoning.
But at least she could finally leave her chambers again.
As she walked quietly, she suddenly noticed someone approaching her.
Ella.
Pearl immediately slowed slightly.
Things between the sisters had been distant for a long time now.
Awkward.
Cold.
But today, Ella’s expression seemed strangely calm.
“Pearl,” Ella said softly.
Pearl looked surprised.
“You came to see me?”
Ella nodded slowly.
“I wanted to know how you were feeling.”
Pearl studied her carefully.
Part of her still remembered the betrayal between Ella and Charles.
But another part of her desperately wanted peace again.
“I’m getting better,” Pearl answered quietly.
Ella gave a faint smile.
“That’s good.”
An uncomfortable silence settled briefly between them.
Then Ella spoke again.
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
Pearl frowned slightly.
“What is it?”
Ella glanced around carefully before lowering her voice.
“There’s a strange man inside the palace.”
Pearl blinked in confusion.
“A man?”
Ella nodded.
“He has white skin. Silver hair. Strange markings.”
Immediately, Pearl remembered hearing servants whispering about a mysterious stranger arriving at the palace gates.
“What about him?”
Ella hesitated slightly, pretending uncertainty.
“I saw him speaking privately with Mother.”
Pearl’s expression changed instantly.
“What?”
Ella slowly nodded again.
“And the way they looked at each other…”
She paused carefully.
“It seemed like they already knew each other.”
Pearl stared at her in disbelief.
“That can’t be true.”
“That’s exactly what I thought,” Ella replied quietly.
“But I saw it myself.”
Pearl looked confused now.
“Mother would have told us if she knew someone like that.”
Ella shrugged softly.
“Maybe.”
Then she added carefully—
“Or maybe she’s hiding something.”
Pearl immediately shook her head.
“No. Mother wouldn’t hide dangerous secrets from us.”
But despite her words—
Doubt quietly entered her mind.
Because Queen Queen Seraphine had seemed strange lately.
Distracted.
Nervous.
Even King Thalor noticed it.
Ella stepped closer toward Pearl.
“You’re the one Father and Mother trust most.”
Pearl frowned slightly at those words.
Ella noticed.
And inwardly smiled.
“If anyone can get answers from her, it’s you.”
Pearl remained silent.
Ella softened her voice.
“Don’t you think it’s strange?”
Pearl looked away thoughtfully.
A mysterious man appears at the palace right after she’s poisoned.
And somehow Mother already knows him.
None of it made sense.
Ella carefully hid the satisfaction growing inside her.
Everything was unfolding exactly the way she wanted.
Because curiosity could be just as dangerous as poison.
Finally, Pearl sighed softly.
“I’ll ask her.”
Ella’s eyes flashed briefly.
“Good.”
As Pearl turned slightly, Ella quietly moved closer and gently touched Pearl’s silver hair as though fixing one of the strands.
Pearl smiled faintly.
“Thank you.”
But what Pearl didn’t notice—
Was the tiny enchanted water pearl Ella secretly tucked between the strands of her hair.
The small glowing pearl was almost invisible beneath Pearl’s silver curls.
An ancient listening charm.
Anything spoken near it would travel directly back to Ella.
Ella slowly stepped away, hiding her satisfaction perfectly.
“Go speak to Mother,” she said softly.
“I’m sure she’ll tell you the truth.”
Pearl looked uncertain now.
“I’m sure there’s an explanation.”
But deep down—
Even she no longer fully believed that.
Later that evening, Pearl stood outside Queen Seraphine’s private chambers.
Her heart felt strangely nervous.
Why had her mother hidden the pale stranger?
And why did Ella seem so certain something was wrong?
Pearl slowly raised her hand and knocked gently on the chamber doors.
Inside the room, Queen Seraphine looked up immediately.
And somehow—
The moment she heard Pearl’s voice outside—
Fear crossed her face.
- Writer
