CHAPTER 10
968 Words
The palace was drowning in panic.
Royal healers rushed endlessly through the halls carrying glowing herbs, crystal bottles, and ancient healing stones while servants whispered fearfully among themselves.
Nobody understood what had happened to Pearl.
One moment she had been smiling happily during the celebration.
The next—
She was lying unconscious inside the royal healing chamber.
Queen Seraphine sat beside Pearl’s bed with tears constantly falling down her face while King Thalor paced furiously across the room.
“Why hasn’t she woken up yet?” the king demanded.
The chief healer looked shaken.
“We’re trying, Your Majesty.”
Pearl lay motionless beneath layers of glowing healing cloth while several healers performed ancient ocean rituals around her.
Blue smoke drifted softly through the chamber as they burned sacred sea herbs to restore consciousness.
One healer pressed glowing pearls against Pearl’s chest.
Another carefully poured healing water between her lips.
Still—
Nothing happened.
Pearl remained completely still.
Queen Seraphine held her daughter’s cold hand tightly.
“Please wake up,” she whispered brokenly.
King Thalor clenched his fists.
Something about this felt wrong.
Terribly wrong.
Meanwhile, Charles stood near the chamber doors unable to breathe properly.
The sight of Pearl lying there shattered something inside him.
This was never supposed to happen like this.
Fear consumed him completely now.
Not only fear for Pearl—
But fear of what they had done.
Charles turned away suddenly and left the chamber before guilt suffocated him entirely.
He moved quickly through the palace corridors searching desperately for Ella.
And when he finally found her—
She was standing calmly near one of the dark coral balconies overlooking the ocean.
As if nothing had happened.
Charles stormed toward her immediately.
“What have you done?” he demanded harshly.
Ella slowly turned toward him.
Her expression remained calm.
Cold.
“What do you think I’ve done?” she replied softly.
Charles stared at her in disbelief.
“She could die!”
Ella crossed her arms slowly.
“That was the point.”
Charles ran a hand through his hair angrily.
“You poisoned her in front of the entire kingdom!”
Ella laughed quietly.
“And yet nobody suspects me.”
Charles lowered his voice sharply.
“You’ve gone too far.”
Ella’s eyes darkened instantly.
“Too far?”
She stepped closer toward him.
“She was carrying your child.”
Pain flashed across Charles’ face immediately.
Ella noticed it.
And hatred twisted inside her chest again.
“Oh,” she whispered mockingly. “Now you care?”
Charles looked away.
“I didn’t want this.”
“But you agreed to it.”
Silence.
Charles clenched his jaw tightly because he knew she was right.
Ella moved toward the balcony slowly.
“I really hope she dies all at once,” she said coldly.
The words sent fear crawling through Charles’ body.
“Stop talking like that.”
Ella turned toward him sharply.
“Why? Does hearing the truth scare you now?”
Charles stepped closer immediately.
“Didn’t you hear what I told you about killing royalty?”
Ella rolled her eyes dramatically.
“Oh please.”
Charles lowered his voice urgently.
“The myths aren’t just stories.”
Ella laughed loudly this time.
“Blah blah.”
She waved her hand mockingly.
“Myth. Curse. Sea punishment.”
Charles grabbed her arm suddenly.
“I’m serious!”
For the first time, genuine fear filled his voice.
“When royal blood is spilled unnaturally, terrible things happen.”
Ella yanked her arm away from him.
“And yet people still kill each other every day.”
“This is different.”
Ella stared at him coldly.
“No. What’s different is that you’re becoming weak.”
Charles looked exhausted.
“Ella, listen to me carefully.”
His voice dropped lower.
“If Pearl dies…”
He hesitated briefly.
“We may never survive what comes after.”
Ella shook her head impatiently.
“You’re afraid of children’s stories.”
Charles suddenly stepped away from her.
“No.”
His expression hardened painfully.
“I’m afraid of you.”
The words hung heavily between them.
For a moment, Ella actually looked hurt.
But then bitterness quickly replaced it.
“Leave me out of this if you suddenly don’t want her dead,” Charles muttered angrily.
Ella smiled slowly.
A dangerous smile.
“Oh, okay.”
She folded her arms calmly.
“As long as you’d love to become the gossip of the entire kingdom.”
Charles froze instantly.
Ella moved closer.
“I wonder what Father would do if the whole kingdom discovered the future king betrayed his wife with her own sister.”
Charles clenched his fists.
Ella tilted her head slightly.
“Do you think they’d forgive you?”
Silence.
Because they wouldn’t.
Charles knew that.
Ella’s voice softened mockingly.
“So don’t act innocent now.”
“You’re already part of this.”
Charles looked completely trapped.
And for the first time—
He realized there was no escaping Ella anymore.
Meanwhile, inside the healing chamber, the healers suddenly noticed something strange.
Pearl’s breathing had become weaker.
One healer looked alarmed.
“Your Majesty…”
Queen Seraphine immediately stood up.
“What is it?”
The healer swallowed nervously.
“The poison is spreading faster than expected.”
King Thalor’s face darkened instantly.
“Poison?”
The room fell silent.
Queen Seraphine stared in horror.
“Someone poisoned my daughter?”
The healers exchanged fearful glances.
The chief healer nodded slowly.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Rage exploded inside the king’s eyes immediately.
“FIND WHO DID THIS!”
His voice thundered through the palace.
And somewhere else inside the kingdom—
Ella smiled quietly to herself.
Because the real destruction had only just begun.
- Writer
