Chapter Three
1176 Words
Radna had been dragged into the palace in chains, though he hadn’t resisted. He hadn't struggled, hadn’t fought, yet they still bound him as if to reassure themselves that he was powerless. The chains made it clear: he was a prisoner, and prisoners were meant to be executed.
So why had Queen Marissa called him a guest?
Lady Saphina remained frozen, the Queen’s words echoing in her mind. The damp cold of the Eldribu Cave clung to her skin, but a different kind of chill, one of unease, coiled in her chest.
Her gaze met Radna’s.
Something stirred within her. A sharp, inexplicable pull, as if the air between them had become charged. The flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows across his face, making it impossible to read his expression. Then, just as suddenly, he scoffed and looked away.
Saphina flinched.
"Your Majesty… I don’t understand," she finally said, her voice hesitant.
Queen Marissa turned to her, smiling, but it was not a smile of warmth. There was something else behind it. Something unsettling.
"What is there to understand?" the Queen asked, tilting her head slightly.
Saphina’s pulse quickened.
"I don’t understand why I need to say hello to a serpent. It’s dangerous, Your Majesty."
Queen Marissa’s smile widened slightly, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
"Is it?" she mused.
Then, without another word, she turned to her Queen’s Guard and gave a slight nod. The signal was subtle, but the meaning was clear.
Saphina stiffened.
"I should leave now," she said quickly, sensing that whatever game the Queen was playing, she wanted no part of it.
But Queen Marissa’s grip was already on her wrist. Cold. Firm. Unyielding.
"You have to learn to have a brave spirit Saphy darling. You'll run this kingdom someday and maybe then you'll understand some of the decisions your father and I make. Come, my child," she said. "Let’s not bore our guest."
She led Saphina out of the cave, though with every step, Saphina could feel Radna’s gaze burning into her back. The feeling didn’t fade, even as they stepped into the open air.
Saphina exhaled sharply, trying to steady herself.
"I don’t understand," she murmured. "What are you going to do with him?"
Queen Marissa let out a soft hum. "I don’t know yet," she admitted. Then, after a pause, she added, "But I am not executing him."
Saphina’s chest tightened.
She should have felt relief. But she didn't. Something about all of this felt wrong.
"You can’t be serious," she said, turning to face the Queen. "Why?"
Queen Marissa’s expression darkened.
"You know why," she said coolly. "If we execute him, his people will come for us. Thousands of serpents in hundreds, I can imagine the blood shed, the serpents will not fight us head on, they're only going to turn us against each other with mere words. Talcuta cannot afford to risk that. You understand, don’t you?"
Saphina swallowed hard.
It was logical. A war with Guzanda would mean death and destruction for all of Talcuta. But something still felt off.
"Does His Majesty know about this?" Saphina asked cautiously.
Queen Marissa stopped.
Saphina immediately regretted asking.
The Queen turned to her slowly. The flickering torchlight cast deep shadows across her face.
"Does he know Radna is my prisoner? Yes. But what I do with my prisoner…" She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping into something almost conspiratorial. "That is none of his concern."
A beat of silence passed.
"Understood, Your Majesty," Saphina murmured, lowering her gaze.
Queen Marissa smiled.
"Good."
Saphina took her leave, Yotta falling into step beside her.
"About Queen Marissa back there..." Yotta began.
"I noticed," Saphina said quickly. "But do you know what intrigues me the most?"
Yotta frowned. "What?"
"The serpent lord," Saphina murmured. "Radna. There’s something about him. Something I can’t quite place my finger on."
Yotta immediately stiffened.
"Discard whatever thoughts you’re having," she warned. "Radna only breathes trouble, Saphy."
"You never know," Saphina countered. Her lips curled slightly. "If that were true, why would Mother bring him here?"
Yotta exhaled sharply.
"Your mother is a difficult woman to figure out," she admitted.
Saphina let out a soft chuckle, but it faded quickly.
"She’s up to something." she said.
"I know," Yotta agreed. "Let’s just keep our fingers crossed, my lady."
Later at night, Inside the royal court, King Nero was furious.
"His presence in this palace is a danger to us all!" he thundered. "We cannot ignore that!"
"My King," Queen Marissa said smoothly, "you underestimate the power of the Eldribu Cave. Radna is bound. He cannot harm us."
King Nero narrowed his eyes.
"I heard you were there this morning," he said.
"Yes."
Something about the way she answered unnerved him.
His gaze lingered on her for a moment before he finally spoke again.
"He will be executed at dusk," he announced. "Prepare the weapons."
The Queen’s Guard bowed and exited.
Queen Marissa, however, remained standing.
"Your Majesty…" she began carefully.
King Nero raised a hand to silence her.
Then, after a brief pause, he gestured for his guards to leave them.
Once the doors shut, he turned to her.
"Go on," he said.
Queen Marissa took a slow step forward.
"Executing Radna is a mistake," she said plainly.
King Nero clenched his jaw.
"And why is that?"
"He is the King of Guzanda, the dreaded land of the serpents." Queen Marissa said. "If he dies here, his people will retaliate. Talcuta is not strong enough to withstand an invasion from over ten thousand serpents. Think, Nero. Think."
A heavy silence filled the room.
King Nero examined her carefully.
He had never known his wife to care about prisoners before. Why now?
He exhaled sharply.
"Then what do you propose we do with him?" he asked at last.
A slow smile curled across Queen Marissa’s lips.
But just as she was about to answer, the warning bells erupted.
The sound was deafening.
King Nero immediately shot to his feet.
"What is happening?" he demanded.
Queen Marissa’s smile vanished.
"I don’t know," she murmured.
The two of them rushed out of the chamber in attempt to find out what the problem could be.
Yotta, who had been carrying a basket of robes, froze as the bells rang.
She caught sight of a palace guard sprinting past and quickly grabbed his arm.
"What’s happening?!" she demanded.
The guard shoved her off. "Stay inside! Lock your doors!"
Panic spread through the palace like wildfire. Servants rushed to their quarters. Guards hurried toward the court.
And then a knight bowed before King Nero.
"Sir Eliot," the King barked. "What is the meaning of this?"
The knight hesitated.
"What is causing this chaos, speak now!" King Nero growled.
Then, in a grim voice, he said:
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty… but... Radna is gone."
Silence followed as if something tragic had befallen the kingdom.
Queen Marissa’s face paled.
"What?" Queen Marissa finally broke the silence.
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Her hands clenched into fists.
How? How could this have happened?...
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