chapter 6
623 Words
Chapter 6: The Princess's Wrath
The next morning, Nyra woke up sore.
Every muscle in her body ached from pulling the cart.
For several minutes, she lay motionless on her bed.
Then she groaned.
"He's definitely a demon."
A maid nearby nearly dropped a basket.
"Y-You mean His Highness?"
"Who else?"
The maid immediately looked around in panic.
Fortunately, Prince Zarek was nowhere nearby.
Nyra dragged herself out of bed.
Only to discover her breakfast was missing.
She frowned.
"My food."
The maid looked away.
"What about it?"
"It was here."
The maid shrugged.
"Maybe someone took it."
Nyra narrowed her eyes.
The woman was a terrible liar.
Hours later, things only got worse.
Her laundry vanished.
Someone poured dirty water onto her freshly cleaned sheets.
A servant "accidentally" tripped and spilled soup all over her dress.
By noon, Nyra had reached a conclusion.
Someone wanted her miserable.
By evening, she discovered exactly who.
Princess Velora Nightbane.
The princess stood in the palace garden surrounded by noble ladies.
The moment she spotted Nyra, a smile appeared.
A cruel smile.
"How is palace life treating you, slave?"
Nyra glanced at the ruined dress she was wearing.
"Wonderful."
Velora laughed.
The noble ladies joined her.
"I heard you spent all day yesterday dragging a cart."
"I heard you're still annoying."
The laughter vanished.
One noblewoman gasped.
Velora's face darkened.
"You never learn."
"Neither do you."
The princess stepped closer.
"You should be grateful."
"For what?"
"For being allowed to breathe the same air as royalty."
Nyra looked around thoughtfully.
Then nodded.
"You're right."
Velora smirked.
Until Nyra added—
"It's a shame you're wasting all the air."
Several noble ladies choked.
One servant nearly fell into a fountain.
Velora's face turned bright red.
"How dare you!"
Before anyone could react—
SLAP!
The princess struck Nyra across the face.
The garden fell silent.
Nyra slowly turned back.
A red mark appeared on her cheek.
The noble ladies smiled.
Surely the slave would finally learn her lesson.
Instead—
Nyra smiled.
"Still hits like an old woman."
Velora looked ready to explode.
"Guards!"
Several guards rushed forward.
"Lock her in the storage cellar!"
The guards hesitated.
Normally they would obey immediately.
But Nyra technically belonged to the Crown Prince.
The situation was complicated.
"Do it!"
The guards exchanged nervous looks.
Finally, they grabbed Nyra's arms.
"Hey!"
She struggled.
"This is ridiculous!"
Velora smiled coldly.
"Perhaps a night in darkness will teach you respect."
Nyra glared.
"If it hasn't taught your brother, it won't teach me."
The guards immediately dragged her away before she could say anything else.
An hour later...
Nyra sat alone in a dark storage cellar.
The door slammed shut.
Silence followed.
Dust filled the air.
Wooden crates surrounded her.
She leaned against a wall and sighed.
"What a wonderful kingdom."
Above her, the palace continued as normal.
But far away, from a high balcony...
Prince Zarek Nightbane watched the cellar entrance.
A guard approached.
"Your Highness."
"What?"
"The princess locked the slave in the cellar."
Silence.
The guard swallowed.
Most people knew better than to disturb the Crown Prince.
Especially at night.
Finally, Zarek spoke.
"Did she cry?"
The guard blinked.
"No, Your Highness."
"Did she beg?"
"No."
A faint shadow crossed the prince's face.
Not disappointment.
Not satisfaction.
Something closer to curiosity.
As though he were studying a puzzle.
"Interesting."
The guard hesitated.
"Should we release her?"
Zarek looked toward the darkening sky.
"No."
His voice was cold.
"Leave her there."
The guard bowed.
"As you command."
Yet after the guard left, Zarek remained standing on the balcony.
Watching.
Waiting.
And for reasons he could not explain...
He found himself wondering whether the stubborn slave girl below was afraid of the dark.
- Writer
