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CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
As I stood in front of the King and all the guests, I repeated what I had just said, loud and clear, “Your Highness, I am the rightful heir to the Lost Kingdom. And my parents were murdered by you.” The room was filled with silence, and I could feel the weight of all the eyes on me.
Suddenly, Prince Edward appeared in front of me. He looked at me with a mixture of shock and confusion, and asked, “Alice, what’s going on? Why are you saying these things?”
I looked into his eyes and repeated my words once more, “Edward, I am the Lost Kingdom’s rightful heir. And my parents were murdered by the King.”
I repeated the accusation, Prince Edward stepped forward, his eyes filled with confusion, fear, and determination.
He grabbed my arm and spoke in a low voice, “Alice, what are you doing? This is crazy talk. You’re not yourself. Let’s go back to my room and talk about this.”
I shook my head, tears streaming down my face, “I can’t. I have to do this. I have proof.”
Edward’s grip tightened, “Proof? What proof? Alice, tell me what’s going on.”
“I can’t explain it now. Just trust me, Edward. I need to do this.”
The King’s voice boomed across the room, “Arrest her! She’s making false accusations against the crown.”
Edward released me and stepped in front of me, shielding me from the guards. “No. I won’t let you arrest her. She’s not well. I’ll take her back to her room.”
The King’s face turned red with anger, “Edward, step aside. You’re not thinking clearly. This woman is a criminal.”
Edward stood his ground, “I won’t let you hurt her. I need to find out what’s going on.”
The King gestured to the guards, “Take her into custody.”
Edward turned to me, his eyes filled with concern and determination, “Don’t worry, Alice. I’ll find out what’s going on. I promise.” I smiled at him, I walked away with the guards and I knew that the rumors surrounding the Lost Kingdom were about to soar higher with someone who claimed to be the rightful heir merging and being thrown into prison for treason.
The dungeon was a dark, damp, and musty place that reeked of decay and neglect. The walls were made of stone and the floor was cold and hard, with moldy straw serving as my bed. The only source of light came from the small barred window high above my head.
I was in a small, cramped cell that felt like a cage, with heavy iron bars blocking my way out. The silence was eerie, with the only sounds being the echoes of my own footsteps and the occasional drip of water from the walls.
As I sat in the dark and damp dungeon, I couldn’t help but feel hopeless. The walls were made of rough stone, and the only source of light came from a small, barred window high above me. The floor was cold and hard, and I shivered in my ragged dress.
Suddenly, I heard the sound of footsteps, and a figure appeared in the doorway. It was Prince Edward. I stood up, my heart pounding in my chest, as he approached me.
“Alice, I’ve come to see you,” he said, his voice soft.
“What do you want?” I asked, anger boiling inside of me.
“I want you to recant your story,” he replied. “To say that it was all a lie.”
“A lie? How dare you,” I said, my voice shaking with anger. “My parents were murdered by your father, the King. You are just as much a murderer as he is.”Original content from NôvelDrama.Org.
Edward’s face fell, and I could see the sadness in his eyes. He turned to leave, but before he did, he spoke. “I promise you, Alice. I will find a way to help you escape. I won’t let you die like this.” And with that, he was gone.
Days blended in the dungeon. Time had no meaning in this dark and damp place. I lost track of how long I had been there. The only thing that kept me going was my determination to clear my parents’ name and reclaim my rightful place as the heir to the Lost Kingdom.
Every day felt like an eternity. I was constantly cold and hungry, and I had no idea if anyone was trying to help me. I tried to stay strong and not let the despair take over, but it was a constant battle.
I tried to keep myself occupied by replaying past events in my mind and thinking of ways to escape. But it was a futile effort, and I was trapped in that dungeon with no hope of escape.
Every once in a while, I would hear the sound of footsteps approaching, and I would hold my breath, hoping that it was someone who was coming to rescue me. But more often than not, it was just the guard, bringing me another meager meal or taking me to the king for questioning.
It was a never-ending cycle of despair, and I was starting to lose hope. But I refused to give up, and I promised myself that I would find a way out of that dungeon and clear my parents’ name, no matter what it took.
Today Meredith came to visit me after she had managed to bribe the guards for a little time so she could see me.
Meredith was shocked and saddened by the news. She had always been a loyal servant to the kingdom and the King, but she could not ignore the truth that was standing right in front of her. She asked me how she could help, and I told her that I needed her to find a way to get me out of there.
“Alice, I will do everything in my power to help you,” Meredith said, her voice shaking. “But it will not be easy. The King has ordered for extra guards to be placed here, and they are watching me closely.”
“I understand,” I replied. “But I have to try. My parents deserve justice, and the kingdom needs to know the truth. Will you help me?”
Meredith nodded tears in her eyes. “I will. I will find a way to get you out of here, I promise.”
Days passed, and I started to lose hope. I had no idea how Meredith was going to get me out of there, and I was running out of time. But then, one night, I heard a soft scraping at my cell door. I got up, my heart racing, and saw that the door was slightly ajar.
I cautiously approached the door and peered out. It was Meredith, along with a couple of other maids, Roxane and Angela. They had brought me some food and water, and more importantly, a plan.
“We’ve been working on a way to get you out of here,” Meredith whispered. “It’s risky, but it’s the best we could come up with. Have patience okay?”
I nodded, ready to do whatever it took to reclaim my rightful place and clear my parents’ name.
As I sat in my cell, the days blended again and I have no idea how long it had passed, each one feeling like an eternity. I was determined to clear my parents’ name and reclaim my rightful place as the heir to the Lost Kingdom. But I felt like I was running out of time.
Then, one day, Meredith visited me again. This time, she had a different story to tell. “Alice,” she said, “I have something important to tell you. I was with the Monarchs when they ran away from the Kingdom.”
I was shocked as Meredith told me about her past. I had no idea she was with the Monarchs when they ran away from the Kingdom. It was even more surprising to know that she entered the palace after some time and became a maid after her parents passed away, to keep her identity hidden.
“Alice,” Meredith said, tears streaming down her face. “I was one of the Lady in Waiting chosen for the Princess. I was there on the night the Monarchs fled the Kingdom with their child. I was meant to protect the Princess, but we got separated in the chaos.”
“I had no idea what had happened to the Princess and the Monarchs. I searched for them for years but to no avail. Eventually, I had to start a new life and I entered the Palace as a maid, to keep my identity hidden.”
“But now, seeing you here, I know that you are the Princess. And I will do everything in my power to help you.”
I was overcome with emotions as Meredith told me her story. It was a shocking revelation, and it filled me with hope to know that I had someone on my side who was willing to help me.
“Thank you, Meredith,” I said, tears streaming down my face. “I appreciate your support more than words can express. I won’t give up, no matter what happens.”
I had listened intently as she spoke, realizing that I had been so focused on my pain that I hadn’t even considered the pain of others.
I was grateful for her visit and for her bravery in telling me her story. It gave me a glimmer of hope in my otherwise bleak situation. I was determined to keep fighting, no matter what it took.