Chapter 8 Flames of Desperation
609 Words
Joshua clenched his fists and slammed them against the intricately carved rosewood armrest of his chair. He glared coldly at the wizard in blue robes and said with contempt, "That's—"
On the floor, Charlotte lay slumped, a faint glimmer of hope flickering in her eyes. Perhaps there was still hope.
At that moment, Jane's tearful voice came from the doorway. "Your Highness, Her Highness has awakened, but she can't keep any food down. What are we going to do?"
Joshua swallowed the rest of his words. He glanced briefly at the pale Charlotte, hesitation flickering across his face.
The wizard continued solemnly, "Your Highness, the right timing, the right place, and the harmony of people are all essential. Today is the Ghost Month Festival, when yin energy is at its peak. If you hesitate any longer, I'm afraid Princess Lotty may not survive the night."
Joshua stood abruptly and hurried toward the bedchamber.
Charlotte raised a trembling hand and clutched the hem of his robe—her final chance.
He stopped.
Their eyes met. For a moment he seemed lost in the starlike reflection within Charlotte's gaze.
Then he spoke to Mary.
"Escort him out. I never believed in such superstition."
With that, he turned and left.
Relief flooded Charlotte. She knew she could not remain here any longer. Every extra day meant greater danger. Struggling to her feet, she staggered toward the estate gate, only to be stopped by the guards.
Mary looked at Charlotte's frail figure, grit tightening her jaw as she stepped forward.
"She is no longer a servant of Prince Joshua's mansion. Let her go."
Charlotte cast Mary a grateful glance before finally stepping beyond the gates.
She limped forward without once looking back.
Behind her, the enormous mansion loomed like a monstrous beast with its jaws wide open.
The gate slammed shut.
Before Charlotte could take another step, darkness swallowed her vision and she collapsed.
When she regained consciousness, she found herself in a forest outside the city.
Her hands were tied. Her body had been stuffed into a bamboo basket and dumped into a muddy pit.
Jane stood nearby, sneering.
"Trying to escape? Princess Lotty planned this trap carefully. Since Prince Joshua couldn't bear to do it himself, I'll be the one to finish you."
Charlotte watched helplessly as the wizard directed several servants to prepare a furnace. A rag stuffed in her mouth left her unable to speak.
Dragged along in the basket, her clothes were already torn and her wounds had reopened, blood mixing with mud until they were indistinguishable.
Several guards pulled her out of the basket.
"One, two, three!"
They heaved her toward the massive iron cauldron.
But Charlotte was so thin and weak that she was tossed aside like a withered leaf.
Weeks of torture had left her skeletal and barely recognizable.
A fierce fire soon roared beneath the cauldron. The water inside slowly heated—from icy cold to bubbling, raging boil.
In the freezing wind, the wizard spoke to Jane, who was rubbing her hands for warmth.
"It'll probably burn for another hour or two. It's freezing out here. You should head back. I'll handle the rest."
Jane waved dismissively.
"She's stubborn. Princess Lotty won't feel reassured unless she sees the body."
The wizard nodded.
"Then let's increase the fire."
With a flick of his whisk, the flames surged higher, swallowing the cauldron in blazing heat.
The servants watched from a distance, none daring to approach, until the fire finally died down and everything turned to ash.
The howling wind swallowed Charlotte's final whisper.
"If there is another life… no… I'd rather there wasn't."
- Writer
