CHAPTER 4
1000 Words
Three months.
Three painful months had passed since Pearl married Charles.
And every single day, the distance between them grew worse.
Charles still treated her kindly in public. He still stood beside her during royal gatherings and spoke to her with respect whenever others watched.
But once the palace doors closed—
He became cold again.
Distant.
Untouchable.
Pearl tried everything to fix it.
She tried conversations.
Patience.
Understanding.
But nothing changed.
And the worst part was Ella.
Charles and Ella spent more time together than ever now. They laughed together openly, disappeared together for hours, and exchanged glances Pearl could no longer ignore.
Something was happening.
Pearl felt it deep inside her heart.
But she kept convincing herself she was imagining things.
Until the night she discovered the truth.
The palace was unusually quiet that evening. Most servants had already retired to their quarters while the glowing palace lanterns dimmed softly beneath the water.
Pearl sat alone inside her chamber waiting for Charles once again.
He had promised he would return early tonight.
But hours passed.
And he never came.
Pearl finally stood up with a sigh.
Maybe he had fallen asleep inside the library again.
That happened often lately.
She slowly swam through the silent palace hallways, her white sleeping robe flowing behind her. The farther she moved through the palace, the heavier her chest began to feel.
Then she noticed something strange.
Light.
Coming from Ella’s chambers.
Pearl frowned slightly.
At this hour?
As she approached the door, soft laughter echoed faintly from inside.
Pearl froze.
Charles’ voice.
Her heartbeat quickened painfully.
No.
No, it couldn’t be.
Pearl slowly pushed the chamber doors open.
And her entire world shattered.
Charles and Ella were in bed together.
Pearl stopped breathing.
For a moment, everything around her became silent.
The water.
The palace.
Even her own thoughts.
Ella’s hair spilled across the silk sheets while Charles sat beside her shirtless, his arm still around her waist.
Neither of them looked surprised to see Pearl.
And somehow—
That hurt the most.
Pearl stared at them with wide, broken eyes.
Her voice barely came out.
“What…”
Silence.
Then Ella slowly pulled the blanket around herself without a single ounce of shame.
Charles stood up immediately.
“Pearl—”
The slap echoed loudly through the room.
Pearl’s trembling hand struck his face hard enough to turn his head sideways.
Her chest rose violently as tears filled her eyes.
“How could you?” she whispered painfully.
Charles looked at her silently.
No guilt.
No regret.
And that broke her even more.
Pearl turned toward Ella.
“You too?”
Ella simply stared back calmly.
Another slap.
Pearl hit her so hard that Ella’s face turned slightly, but even then—
Ella only laughed softly.
Actually laughed.
Pearl stepped backwards in horror.
“You’re both disgusting.”
Charles finally spoke.
“It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.”
Pearl laughed bitterly through tears.
“So there was supposed to be a better way for you to betray me?”
“Pearl—”
“No!”
Her voice cracked loudly through the chamber.
“I trusted both of you!”
Ella crossed her arms slowly.
“You were blind, Pearl.”
Pearl stared at her sister in disbelief.
“Excuse me?”
“You always acted like everything belonged to you.”
Pearl shook her head violently.
“I never took anything from you!”
Ella’s eyes darkened.
“You took everything.”
The room became silent again.
Pearl looked toward Charles desperately.
As if hoping he would deny it.
Explain it.
Fix it.
But he only lowered his gaze quietly.
And that silence told her everything.
Pearl backed away slowly, tears streaming down her face.
Then she turned—
And fled from the room.
—
The royal throne hall was nearly empty when Pearl arrived.
King Thalor sat beside Queen Seraphine discussing palace matters quietly before both immediately stood at the sight of their daughter.
“Pearl?” the queen gasped.
Pearl looked destroyed.
Tears stained her face while her body trembled violently with heartbreak and rage.
King Thalor rushed toward her immediately.
“What happened?”
Pearl could barely speak.
“Charles…” she whispered painfully.
The queen quickly held her shoulders gently.
“What about him?”
Pearl looked up at both of them with shattered eyes.
“He’s sleeping with Ella.”
Silence crashed through the throne room instantly.
Queen Seraphine froze completely.
King Thalor’s expression darkened with fury.
“What?”
Pearl broke down crying.
“I saw them together.”
The king clenched his fists violently.
“That traitorous boy—”
“I don’t want this marriage anymore,” Pearl cried desperately. “Please, Father… I can’t do this anymore.”
Pain filled the queen’s face as she held her daughter tightly.
King Thalor looked torn apart himself.
But then—
His expression slowly changed.
Heavy.
Burdened.
And Pearl immediately noticed it.
“What?” she whispered fearfully.
The king looked away briefly before finally speaking.
“There is something you must understand.”
Pearl’s chest tightened.
“According to the ancient laws of Azurith…”
He hesitated painfully.
“Charles cannot marry Ella while you still live.”
Pearl froze completely.
The queen closed her eyes sadly.
“The royal bond can only be broken by death.”
Silence filled the throne room.
Pearl stared at them in horror.
“No…”
King Thalor stepped closer quickly.
“No one would ever harm you for this. I would never allow it.”
But fear had already entered Pearl’s heart.
Because suddenly—
Everything made sense.
The distance.
The lies.
The betrayal.
And outside the throne room doors—
Ella stood silently in the shadows.
Listening.
Her expression remained emotionless as every word echoed inside her mind.
Then slowly—
A smile appeared on her lips.
Small.
Cold.
Dangerous.
And in that exact moment—
The real plot against Pearl began.
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