CHAPTER 6
1023 Words
The palace of Azurith had not felt peaceful since the night Pearl discovered Charles and Ella together.
Whispers now moved quietly through the royal halls. Servants avoided eye contact whenever Pearl passed by, and tension hung heavily inside the palace like a storm waiting to break.
King Thalor knew everything.
And although he had not publicly punished Charles or Ella yet, his disappointment had become impossible to ignore.
He barely spoke to Charles during royal meetings anymore.
And Ella—
Ella could feel the growing distance between herself and her father every single day.
Which only made her bitterness worse.
Inside her chambers, Ella paced restlessly while anger burned through her chest.
“She turned him against me,” Ella muttered bitterly.
Charles stood nearby, already exhausted by her constant rage.
“Pearl didn’t turn anyone against you,” he replied quietly. “Father is angry because of what we did.”
Ella stopped walking instantly.
“What we did?” she repeated coldly.
Charles sighed heavily.
“Yes, Ella. We betrayed her.”
Ella laughed bitterly.
“She still wins even after being humiliated.”
Charles rubbed his forehead tiredly.
“This needs to stop.”
“No,” Ella snapped sharply. “I’m tired of stopping.”
Charles looked at her carefully now.
Something about her felt different lately.
Darker.
Dangerous.
Ella moved closer toward him slowly.
“She told Father she wants to leave the marriage.”
Charles remained silent.
“But because of the laws, she can’t.”
Charles looked away immediately.
The ancient law still haunted him.
Charles could only marry Ella if Pearl died.
The very thought made guilt crawl through his chest.
Ella lowered her voice softly.
“There’s only one way for us to be together.”
Charles froze.
“No.”
Ella’s eyes narrowed.
“No?”
“She’s still your sister.”
“And you’re still her husband,” Ella shot back instantly. “Did that stop you from sleeping with me?”
Charles clenched his jaw painfully.
“Ella…”
But Ella refused to stop.
“You already destroyed the marriage.”
“You already betrayed her.”
“So don’t stand there pretending you suddenly care about morality.”
Charles looked trapped.
Because deep down—
He knew she was right.
Ella crossed her arms.
“If the people of this kingdom and the next finds out everything that happened between us…”
Charles’ expression darkened immediately.
Ella stepped closer.
“What do you think he’ll do to you?”
Charles stayed silent.
Ella answered for him.
“He’ll strip you of everything.”
The room became quiet.
Then Ella spoke the words that changed everything.
“If you refuse to help me… I’ll tell everyone everything myself.”
Charles’ eyes widened instantly.
“You’re threatening me?”
Ella tilted her head slightly.
“I’m surviving.”
Charles stared at her in disbelief.
He barely recognized the girl he once loved anymore.
Ella’s face softened slightly.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“Then stop this,” Charles said quietly.
Pain flashed across her face.
“I can’t.”
Silence stretched heavily between them.
Then slowly—
Charles looked away.
Defeated.
“What do you want me to do?”
A small smile appeared on Ella’s lips.
“You need to go back to Pearl.”
Charles frowned immediately.
“What?”
“She doesn’t trust you anymore.”
“And?”
“And that’s dangerous.”
Charles immediately understood her meaning.
Ella continued calmly.
“You need to fix things between you.”
Charles shook his head.
“You want me to manipulate her.”
Ella’s expression remained emotionless.
“You already lied to her for months. Don’t act guilty now.”
The truth silenced him completely.
Ella moved closer.
“Apologize.”
“Earn her trust again.”
“Make her believe the marriage still has hope.”
Charles felt sick listening to it.
But he also knew Ella would expose everything if he refused.
And if King Thalor learned the full truth,that this is not the first time—
Charles’ life inside the kingdom would be over.
Later that evening, Charles stood outside Pearl’s chambers.
For the first time in his life—
He felt ashamed to face her.
He slowly opened the doors.
Pearl sat quietly near the balcony while soft ocean currents drifted around her silver hair.
She looked calm.
But sadness lingered heavily in her eyes.
The moment she saw him, her expression changed instantly.
Cold.
Guarded.
“What do you want?” she asked quietly.
Charles swallowed heavily.
“I came to talk.”
Pearl laughed bitterly.
“About what? My sister or your guilt?”
Charles looked down.
“You didn’t deserve what happened.”
Pearl stared at him silently.
“No,” she whispered. “I didn’t.”
Silence filled the room.
Charles slowly moved closer toward her.
“I know I hurt you.”
“Hurt me?” Pearl repeated painfully. “You humiliated me.”
Charles closed his eyes briefly.
“I know.”
Pearl looked away before tears could fall again.
“And Father knows too,” she whispered quietly. “Do you understand how ashamed I feel?”
Guilt struck Charles instantly.
Because King Thalor’s disappointment had already become unbearable.
The king no longer trusted him.
And Charles knew he deserved it.
“I never wanted this,” he admitted softly.
Pearl looked at him with disbelief.
“Then why did you do it?”
Charles opened his mouth—
But no answer came.
Because there was no excuse.
Only betrayal.
Pearl wiped her tears quickly.
“I loved both of you.”
Her voice cracked painfully.
“And somehow both of you destroyed me together.”
The words hit Charles harder than anything else that night.
Because for the first time—
He truly understood the damage he had caused.
And as Pearl quietly cried beside the balcony—
Charles felt something dangerous begin growing inside him.
Not love.
Not desire.
Fear.
Because Ella’s hatred was becoming uncontrollable.
And he was now trapped inside her plan.
- Writer
