The verdict

Rhea's POV

“My Queen” Alysia turned to me.

Her cold palm brushed against my skin, making goosebumps appear.

“Someone is at the door” I breathed heavily.

“No one is there. You must be hearing things. Please go to bed; you need to wake up early tomorrow so you can leave,” she advised, and I nodded my head.

I laid flat on the bed, facing the ceiling, my eyes fixed nowhere in particular.

I could barely sleep that day. I turned and tossed on the bed, begging for the smallest ounce of sleep but I didn't get any.

Tears ran down my cheeks as I remembered that my father was the reason was in so much pain. And he is probably enjoying his life. I just wish I had ran away while I could. I miss you so much, Mum.

If you were here, then none of this would have happened in the first place.

The sun's rays pierced my eyes the following morning, forcing me to get out of bed.

“You have to hurry up and leave now my queen; the council is already in the throne room,” Alysia hastily ran to me.

I flung the duvet over my body, as I hurriedly walked towards the door.

My eyes carefully watched out, so no one would see me.

I didn't want Alysia to get into any kind of trouble just because she was trying to be of help to me.

Alysia walked me to the throne room, where a circle of elderly were present.

They all sat down comfortably, watching me walk in their middle.

Alysia left me almost immediately, as her head hung low on the floor.

I looked around, trying to recognize any of them. The only person I could recognise was Kayden who seemed to have divided the men of seven.

“I hope you know why you have been called here?” One of the men stopped, staring at me.

“Yes,” I swallowed hard, pinching the hem of my dress.

“We do not have much time, as the king has already been confirmed dead. All we need from you now is the truth” the man spoke again, this time in a more commanding voice

The room fell silent as everyone's gaze was fixed on me.

“Okay,” I said almost in a whisper.

I dared not to look at them, as their eyes emitted fiery glares. I was too scared to get burnt by them.

“We already know you killed the king. What we want to know is your intentions for killing him” he spoke, slamming his fist against the rectangular table.

“I didn't kill the king!” I had an outburst.

A tear ran down my cheeks as those words fell from my mouth.

Of everything to be accused of, I had just been called a murderer.

“Shut up!” He ordered.

“Do you know the gravity of the offense you have committed? Do you know that the punishment for this is instant death?” he asked me.

“I swear I didn't do it” I cried, going on my knees to plead for mercy.

I looked at everyone in the room, hoping that one person would stand up for me. But, nobody dared to speak against this man.

They all seemed to be convinced that I had murdered their king.

“But, you also have immunity as the king's wife. And this has put us in a difficult position” he continued.

He looked at everyone in the room, as though seeking their permission to talk. They all nodded their heads in unison for some reason.

“Rhea, we have decided that you will spend the rest of your life in the dungeon, where all the enemies are kept. You will remain there, until the day you die!!” He gave his verdict.

What type of court is this? What type of decision is this?

I didn't even get the opportunity to defend myself or prove myself innocent.

Suddenly a cold sensation poured down on me.

I swear I saw the room spinning, and the floor became my only resolve.

Before I could take two deep breaths, two hefty warriors arrived and lifted me off the floor.

“No, wait! I am innocent!” I remember myself crying out before I was knocked down to the floor.

Blood gushed out of my mouth, as tears streamed down my cheeks.

“You dare not counter the decision of the council,” one of them said.

Everyone watched like nothing was happening. They all stared down at me like a criminal, who was getting what she deserved.

I guess they were right after all, I was being accused of murder. I wish they had just allowed me to prove myself as innocent.

As I was being dragged away from that place, I prayed silently to the moon goddess for a savior. But no one spoke up for me.

At some point, I stopped struggling with the warriors and immediately accepted my fate. I was dragged to an underground place, as dark as night.

They tossed me into the room and climbed back up the steep stairs.

The only sound I could hear was dripping water, which I couldn't tell where it came from.

I could hardly tell if it was day or night, as the only source of oxygen was a small hole in the wall.

My feet brushed against something, and I screamed in fright.

It took me some time, but I got to realize that what I had brushed against were the bones of a deceased person.

Sweat immediately gathered on my forehead, as I went to sit at a corner.

Tears could only run down my cheeks while I rested my head on my folded knees.

I felt shocked, coupled with the hunger that I felt inside of me. I suddenly began to wonder if this was the way my life would continue. These people were indeed very smart. It's true what they say if you can't break the law, then you bend it

Their laws forbade them from killing their queen, so they threw me in here hoping I would die on my own.