Untitled Episode
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CHAPTER 5
SERAFINA’S POV
Shivering from the cold, Serafina looked about her small wooden cage made of straw. This might as well be her actual dying process. Oracle? Her mind was— what?
She listened for a moment before she heard screams. The voice sounds recognizableable. She gripped the bars to observe what was happening. Guards hauled Beatrice away, causing her eyes to widen. Tears trickled down Serafina's cheeks as her entire body shivered.
They should have arrested her. Thinking she was an ally, Beatrice asked Serafina. She sighed severely and raised her head. Not only had she gotten herself into trouble, but now Beatrice was also in trouble.
In front of the cage, someone showed up. She lowered her head, then looked up to see Prince Lorenzo. Her eyes widened. "Your highness."
I was taking a relaxing evening stroll when I heard the king had arrested an oracle. Regretfully, I see you imprisoned here. Would you be the oracle?
She begged, "You have to help me."
He giggled and "why should I?"
"Because I understand your secret."
Lorenzo sneered. "You said the king would not accept a word you would say. The king already considers you a liar; thus, your blackmail is useless. By tomorrow you will be dead. He started to turn to go.
"What if I told others?" asked one. Lorenzo came to a stop. "I told eunuchs, maids, and guards," Lorenzo said.
He turned back to her and said, "You lie!" "Still, those were just dirty lies spun by a servant acting as an oracle meant to ridicule the king."
Serafina started to smile all of a sudden. "Still, the king might start to show mistrust and distance from you. Everyone will be watching you and the queen; the truth will gradually show itself."
"Nonsense!" Lorenzo yelled. "You are a liar, and you will die a liar." He turned away. Serafina lay on the ground useless.
Lorenzo first noticed people staring at him on his way to his room. The maids who passed him glanced at him and started whispering among themselves; the guards bowed to him while giving him side glances. Lorenzo was feeling negative. Was she imparting the truth, or did that simple servant get to him? Still, could he risk it?
_Kin Vittorio had asked the Queen to attend, but once more turned him down. He slowly started to grow used to disappointment. He kept hoping one day she might give it some thought.
Vittorio's eunuch arrived in his room early the next morning. With his head pointing towards the ground, he said, "Sire, you have a visitor."
"Who dares trouble the king early in the morning?"
"Sir, it is the Emperor. Dad of Her Majesty the Queen." The eyes of Vittorio grew wide.
Hey? What did you say?"
"Your sister's father-in-law. Right now he is in the waiting room.
Vittorio sprang to his feet, stretched his hands, and the eunuch put on his royal robe right away.
"There you go, sire."
Vittorio spared time, rushing to the waiting area. As soon as he opened the door, he saw the queen and his father-in-law.
"Your Highness, what brings you here?" To show his father-in-law respect, Vittorio bowed. Tall, white-haired Emperor Alessandro had few wrinkles. He still seemed decent for his age, one could say. "What brings you here unannounced?"
"Is it criminal to check on my daughter?"
Vittoria shook his head. Of course not. It's enjoyment. As Alessandro approached him, he gave him backslap.
He began to spin around Vittorio. "From what my daughter tells me, lad, you are still quite a pushover. In your meetings with ministers, you have no say. Your people love none of you. You have financial difficulties.
"I do try my best to—" Alessandro stopped him right away.
"Your best?" A king doesn't try. He indeed does. Having an heir will help you to earn points with your people. Vittorio discovered that he couldn't find words. Rather, he focused on Isabella, who sidestepped eye contact right away. How could it be that his wife had forbidden him from touching her? "Before I forget, I have brought gifts to lighten the mood." He laughed as his fingers snapped.
Red-clad guards charged in, carrying a box. They downplay them gently.
Vittorio's eyes grew wide at the kind of volume of presents before him. "What is all this?" Vittorio enquired, startled.
"Gifts, largely silk and gold." Vittorio felt his body shiver. This was what was this? Could that servant girl indeed be an oracle?
Vittorio sent Matteo for it straight after Emperor Alessandro left.
"Everything she said the other night comes to pass?" Matteo asked, his voice quiet.
Indeed, even with the gifts—gold and silk—it's still possible.
Indeed, your work is truly remarkable. Please share your next steps. What steps?
Vittorio gave his chin a rub. "I don't know. I have thus sent for you to assist me in determining her fate.
Your majesty, what she still did was cons. We would appreciate it if there was less misleading information and more concise communication. You talk less. What most baffles me is her use of people's circumstances to charge outrageous fees, a practice that mirrors her own. Maids have no pay. Most of them simply traded priceless objects. She may face execution as planned because she committed a serious offense.
A serious offense; thus, she might be executed as scheduled.
Sneaking out of her quarters to see her love, Prince Lorenzo, in the garden, Isabella, the Queen
She watched him poised magnificently under a tree. The wind blowing through his hair and clothes only enhanced his beauty for her to admire.
She went up to him, and he grabbed her hand right away to pull her into his hug. "Thanks, my queen." Thank you.
She kept her distance from him. "Why did you ask me to invite Father and bring such presents? Could I know the reason right now?
Lorenzo grinned fondly at her. "I would rather not see my close friend depressed. I feel awful about removing his only source of pleasure. I understand his loneliness and turmoil during the past few days. I requested that you reach out to your father last night, hoping to use his gifts to improve his mood.
Isabella muttered, "You give me the villainy here." She turned away, folding her arms.
"I did not wish to make you feel that way, my queen. My best experience was with you, and if I could go back in time, I would choose you again."
She faced him, wearing a beaming smile. "That's what I enjoy hearing." I only want your love to continue growing for me.
"Always, your Highness."
Guards unexpectedly unlocked Serafina's cage. They seized her and drove her to the king.
The king brought Serafina into the throne room, where she sat majestically. She bent before him, pushed down to her knees.
Then Beatrice was right next to her. Serafina silently wept after seeing the bruises on Beatrice's face and bit her lips.
Vittorio got up. You came here to face your judgment.
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