THE SHIELD THAT HURTS

CHAPTER. 11.1

The beautiful morning dawned with an air of sadness and bitterness. The palace activities had already begun, and everything was in order. It was time for the king to take his breakfast when the shocking news broke.

A flurry of activity erupted, with the sound of rushing feet and unpleasant noises filling the air. The commotion was so intense that it reached the palace, leaving everyone in a state of confusion.

Just as the king was about to inquire about the disturbance, a maid burst in without any formal announcement. Maid Anta was breathing heavily, her face flushed with sweat. She tried to speak, but her words were choked back by tears.

The king, the maids, and the guards were shocked and taken aback by Maid Anta's sudden arrival. Head Maid Nahum stepped forward, her voice calm and reassuring.

"Maid Anta, you have to be calm and narrate what happened. Please, calm down and talk to us."

Maid Anta took a deep breath, composing herself slightly. "Greetings to the king, my king. I'm Anta from Prince Zemha's quarter. This morning, I prepared the bath water for Prince Zemha, and I made sure to test the water because I knew he couldn't bathe with just any water due to his health condition."

Maid Anta's voice trembled as she continued. "After he finished bathing, I was about to dress him when I discovered that he had a high temperature. I hurriedly went out to get some ointment to rub on his body, but, my king...before I could return...my king..."

Maid Anta's words trailed off, and she burst into tears once more. Lady Nahum's voice was firm but gentle.

"Anta, you have to talk. What happened to Prince Zemha?"

Maid Anta's head bowed, her face pressed against the floor. "My king...I discovered that Prince Zemha is...dead."

A stunned silence fell over the room, with everyone struggling to process the shocking news. Lady Nahum's voice broke the silence.

"Maid Anta, what do you mean? Prince Zemha is dead?"

As Lady Nahum questioned Maid Anta, four guards entered with Prime Minister Asah. The prime minister bowed low and began to speak.

"Greetings to the king. The news of Prince Zemha's death has reached all the ministers and ambassadors, and we're all present to offer our condolences."

The king, still reeling from the shock, nodded in agreement with Prime Minister Asah. Together, they walked into the palace court, accompanied by the maids and guards.

As the king took his seat, the ministers bowed their heads in unison. "The mighty Adzeba kingdom king, we're so sorry, but we've lost Prince Zemha. He's no longer with us in this world."

Ambassador Boa stepped forward, his voice filled with gravity. "The king, please, you have to be strong. You have to forget this. Remember, a king must not show tears, and you must not see the corpse of your son. From this moment on, you have to forget Prince Zemha and focus on other things, my king."

The ambassador's words were followed by a chorus of agreements from the other ministers. Suddenly, the arrival of Queen Ghoifaes was announced in the palace court.

The ministers and ambassadors bowed down in unison as Queen Ghoifaes made her majestic entrance, her mighty robe commanding attention. She walked toward the king, her head held high, and bowed down before him. The king nodded slightly, his expression unreadable.

Queen Ghoifaes began her speech, her voice clear and confident. "Greetings to the king. I have brought you the culprit's evidence, the one who killed Prince Zemha and the one who instructed the culprit."

The court erupted into a cacophony of shocked gasps and murmurs. Minister of Justice Boa stepped forward, his eyes fixed intently on Queen Ghoifaes. "Queen Ghoifaes, please, spit it out. Let's hear what you have to say. Who is the culprit?"

Queen Ghoifaes smiled, her eyes glinting with triumph. She paused for a moment, savoring the tension in the air. "Everyone, it's a maid from Prince Zoe's quarter."

The court fell silent, with every pair of eyes fixed on Queen Ghoifaes in amazement. The air was thick with anticipation, and Queen Ghoifaes reveled in the attention.

She continued, her voice dripping with malice. "And that maid is...Naehi."

The court erupted into a chorus of shocked gasps and murmurs once more. Lady Nahum's head jerked up, her face twisted in anger and shock. Her eyes widened in horror, and her mouth dropped open. She took a step forward, her hands clenched into fists.

"Queen Ghoifaes, please, you have to be sure before you say anything in the open court," Lady Nahum said, her voice trembling with rage. "I know Naehi very well, and I know she can't do such things."

Queen Ghoifaes' face turned red with anger as she faced Lady Nahum. Her eyes flashed with fury, and her voice rose to a shrill. "How dare you, Head Maid, question my words? How dare you imply that I'm lying?"

The king intervened, his voice firm. "Queen Ghoifaes, ignore what Lady Nahum said and continue with what you were saying."

Queen Ghoifaes composed herself, her voice taking on a tone of superiority. "According to what I heard, Prince Zemha died after his morning bath. Is that right, Maid Anta?"

Maid Anta nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes."

Queen Ghoifaes continued, her words dripping with accusation. "And there has been a report that Naehi has been secretly delivering soap to Prince Zemha under Prince Zoe's command. And according to what I heard, the bath water was tested, but the soap was not tested until he finished bathing and exhausted the soap for one bathing."

Lady Nahum's body began to shiver, her heart racing with fear. She thought to herself, "Naehi has implicated herself. How could she do such a thing without telling me? How dare she? I'm not sure she can escape death, and Prince Zoe will have to be pardoned. I warned her, but she didn't listen. Ahhhh, my poor girl, my dear Naehi."

The king, ministers, and ambassadors considered Queen Ghoifaes' words, their faces set in determination. The king spoke, his voice firm. "Now, go and bring that witch Naehi to the palace for questioning."

The guards moved to obey the king's command, their faces stern and unyielding. Naehi's fate seemed all but sealed, and the court waited with bated breath to see what would happen next.

Naehi was roughly dragged away from Prince Zoe's side by the king's guards, her arms twisted behind her back. Prince Zoe's face darkened with anger, his eyes blazing with fury.

"How dare you lay your hands on her?" Prince Zoe thundered, his voice echoing through the palace.

One of the guards, still holding Naehi, bowed down, his head trembling. "My lord, Prince Zoe, the king has given an order that Maid Naehi should be brought before him in the palace court."

Prince Zoe's expression was one of shock and concern, his brow furrowed in worry. "For what? Why did he ask for her?" he demanded, his voice firm.

The guard replied, his voice shaking, "I didn't have any idea, my lord, but you can also follow us."

Prince Zoe's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in anger. He walked into the palace court alongside the guards, with Naehi being dragged and chained between them. She was forcefully pushed to her knees in the midst of the court.

As Prince Zoe was about to speak, the king interrupted him, his voice firm. "Prince Zoe, please, I beg your pardon. Do not interfere in Maid Naehi's interrogation and questioning."

Naehi looked up, her eyes flashing with defiance, her face set in determination. "Interrogation? What for?" she demanded, her voice firm.

Minister Boa, the minister of investigation and justice, stepped forward, his eyes cold and calculating. "Maid Naehi from Prince Zoe's quarter, there was a report that you secretly delivered soap to Prince Zemha under Prince Zoe's command."

Naehi's heart beat heavily as she thought to herself, "How did they find out? Who could have reported this? Can it be Anne or Phei? I trust them both, but they're the only ones who know about the soap."

Naehi's thoughts were interrupted by Minister Boa's stern voice. "Maid Naehi, answer us! Did you deliver soap to Prince Zemha under Prince Zoe's command?"

Naehi hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting around the court, before responding, "Yes."

Minister Boa's expression turned accusatory, his eyes blazing with anger. "Maid Naehi, there was a report that Prince Zemha died after his bath, and the bath water was tested, but the soap was not. Definitely, you must have mixed some poisonous substance with the soap you delivered to Prince Zemha. There's no doubt that you killed him with soap poisoning."

Prince Zoe's face turned red with anger, his eyes blazing with fury. "How dare you accuse her in such a manner? Are you as foolish as the person who reported to you? How could you accuse her without evidence?" he thundered, his voice echoing through the court.

The king's voice boomed through the court, silencing Prince Zoe. "Enough, Prince Zoe! You will not interfere in this matter!"

Minister Boa continued, his voice dripping with malice. "I've just provided the evidence that Naehi killed Prince Zemha. Now, with your own mouth, confess to the open court why and who ordered you to kill Prince Zemha."

Naehi's face twisted in anger and defiance. "This is nonsense! I didn't know anything! You're talking about something I didn't do! Yes, I delivered soap to Prince Zemha under Prince Zoe's command, but I didn't do any of these things you've said earlier!"

The king's face turned red with rage, his eyes blazing with fury. "Shut up! How dare you, useless maid! Kill my son, whom I wanted to make the king of this nation, my only first son!" Tears rolled down the king's face, his body shaking with sobs.

Naehi bowed her face down, her voice trembling with fear. "My king, Naehi burst into tears. My king, Prince Zemha is like a brother to me, and he likes me, and I like him too. I swear, I didn't know any of these things. My king, Naehi burst out heavily."

The king's face contorted in grief, his voice shaking with sobs. "And then, if not you, who would have killed my dear son?" Tears rolled down Lady Nahum's face, pitifully, as well as Prince Zoe's.

The king continued, his voice firm. "Now, I order that two guards should take Naehi to the market square, announce her crime to them, and execute her right in the midst of the market by beheading."

As the king finished declaring his order, Naehi closed her eyes, her face contorted in anguish, as tears rushed out from her eyes like a torrent. Prince Zoe also burst into tears in the open court, his body shaking with sobs, as well as Lady Nahum, who was overcome with grief.

Lady Nahum said to herself, her voice barely above a whisper, "Finally, I lose you, Naehi. You're predestined to suffer for the rest of your life." Her eyes welled up with tears as she thought about Naehi's fate.

Queen Ghoifaes smiled to herself, a sly and triumphant smile, as she thought to herself, "Finally, I've accomplished my mission. Naehi will pay for her meddling."

Just as two guards were about to chain Naehi for her execution, a loud voice boomed from the entrance of the palace court. "The arrival of Queen Khieyan has been announced!" The guards paused, looking at each other uncertainly.

The court erupted into a flurry of activity as the news spread. Prince Zoe's head jerked up, hope flickering in his eyes. Lady Nahum's face lit up with a glimmer of hope. Naehi, still on her knees, looked up, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and hope.

Story continues.......