Chapter 20
1035 Words
"Thank you, father; I promise to be the next prime king that this kingdom has ever known. You people won't have to suffer from the hands of your cruel queen and princess. They are murderers!" Prince Demetrius strongly emphasized with an intimidating look on his face as he scanned the crowd for the girl who shouted.
"If you don't want your head to end up like this..." the king said while pointing at the queen's head, "All of you, better be on our side and do what we say! We have made it perfectly clear that your queen and princess are the real enemies that have been manipulating you all these years, making you all believe that they are good people. They have done terrible things on your kingdom!! Understood?!" the king exclaimed on the verge of his anger.
The crowd murmured words of agreement to the king's orders. Majority of them were strongly convinced that Scarlet and his mother are the enemies of the kingdom while few still stands with what they believe are the truth.
"Anyone who doesn't agree with us should show their faces upfront now!" Demetrius bawled out.
A moment of pure silence resonated to the whole palace. King Darius is someone who no one would dare mess with. He's one of the most powerful kings that have existed among many kingdoms. He has a mighty, countless groups of army consisting of the most formidable, dominant soldiers that there is. Various kingdoms has always paved way for him because they know that it might be the end of their reign or lives if they would dare deny the king's power.
SCARLET'S POV
Few days before the announcement
"Tucky! Titia! Tait! Please let me in!" I softly shouted as I knock on the little window of their hut situated in a secluded part of the forest. Fortunately, Tait, the son of my halfling friend, Tucky heard and saw me.
"Scarlet! What's wrong?? What happened to you?" Tait instantly asked with much concern.
"Tait, who is it? Is something wrong?" I heard Tucky say while he approaches the door. "Scarlet?? Oh Scarlet, whatever happened to you? Why do you look so worried and scared? What happened to your dress??" Tucky uttered upon seeing me.
"Can I please stay here?? Please, I really need your help." I uttered helpless.
"Oh of course, come in now, hurry up!" Tucky worriedly ushered me into their home.
"Is that Scarlet you were talking to?" Titia, Tucky's wife came out of their bedroom. "Oh, darling, you're knee's bleeding! Oh you poor thing, what happened?" she added, her expression dulled.
"I ran, I..." I started whilst fighting back my tears. "I ran as soon as I had the chance to. I ran away from all of them. I ran from those Creagan soldiers who were ready to capture me. Demetrius told everyone that I killed my father. He set me up to prove to everyone that I killed him! They already arranged my execution the day after tomorrow. The soldiers locked me up and Demetrius brainwashed many servants in the castle into thinking that I really killed my own father. The servants who protested were also locked up in another cell. They took away anything that I could use for my magic and the only magic I could do with only my hands wasn't helpful enough that time. Fortunately, a loyal servant who was afraid enough to protest, secretly helped me out of the cage. That was when I was able to run fast. I was nearly out of the gates of the castle when the Creagan soldiers almost caught up with me and thank goodness the long days of learning how to ride a horse paid off. I was able to ran far." I lengthily explained to them.
"What?! Oh that scoundrel! He probably killed your father himself!!" Tucky scowled, turning red with anger.
"I know! That's what I'm off to find out. I want to prove to everyone that I didn't do anything and that they are the real enemies of this kingdom! I know some people still have faith in me."
"We belong to that people, almost all the halflings are with you all the way, princess." Tucky warmly declared. Tait and Titia ardently smiled and agreed.
"But what happened to your knee and your dress that's been ragged?" Titia worriedly asked.
"I was almost attacked by a wolf and I think it was not an ordinary wolf. The moon outside is in its full form and I felt that the one that chased me was a werewolf. He was ready to devour me and I felt helpless without my magic and with the state I am in. At first, I tried to throw plenty of rocks at it but it was so aggressive so all I did was run as fast as I could in search of your dwelling. Fortunately, something out of my consciousness distracted him away from me so I was able to run. I tripped many times as I was breaking down while running which explains why I look like this."
"We're glad you're safe now, princess. You should rest for now and we'll figure things out tomorrow." Titia suggested.
"I don't think, I will be able to sleep tonight. I ran very far away leaving my mother at their hands and I can't help but worry so much. I couldn't bear it if they did anything to her!" I uttered with a choking voice until tears eventually fell down on my cheeks.
"Princess, you have gone to great measures to help us before and now it is time to do likewise for you. Try your best to rest for now because you really need it. You can hide here for as long as you need. We'll be with you all the way." Tucky said in his gentle, soothing voice.
After the announcement
"Oh relax father! We'll find her soon it's going to be 'off with her head' as soon as we did, just like how her mother's head easily fell into our hands. We'll flip the whole kingdom upside down if needed, just so we could find her." Demetrius wickedly schemed.
- Writer
