Chapter 4
My pupils fluttered involuntarily.
Lyra’s voice snapped, filled with rage, “So you think your fate–reading means something? Then I’ll make sure We!”
you never
da
it again–for the rest of your
Suddenly, a baby’s cry echoed from the adjoining room.
The door was flung open. Lord Cedric’s sharp voice cut through the tense air, “His Majesty commands! The prince has been born! Halt the ritual at the Altar immediately!”
Lyra hesitated for a moment–then without a second thought, drove the nail deeper into my body.
When I awoke, only a palace maid was there, crying softly beside me.
She noticed my eyes flutter open and tearfully explained I’d been unconscious for over ten days.
During those ten days, the birth of the prince filled the entire kingdom with joy.
But here in the Moonlight Tower, isolated and filled with an oppressive gloom, only the royal physicians dared to enter.
The maid said the king came by occasionally–not to check on me, but to see if I was dead yet. The palace frowned on the sick lingering too long. If 1 didn’t wake, they’d toss me out to the pauper’s graveyard, feed me to the stray dogs.
“Thank goodness you’re awake!”
Her tears moved me to the point of faint amusement. I lifted a hand to wipe her tears away–but my right arm wouldn’t rise.
Lyra’s words were true: I was now crippled.
The maid realized it too. Helping me sit up, tears she’d just stopped streamed freely again. Then, suddenly, she dropped to her knees “High Priestess, maybe you don’t remember–but you once saved my life here in the palace”
“If you’re leaving, please take me with you. I want to repay you by looking after you.”
I was broken and helpless. She wanted to help me but I couldn’t risk her life for mine.
“No..
-you can’t.”
She was adamant. “If you refuse, I’ll kneel here forever.”
I sighed, defeated. “Alright. I’ll try.”
Her tears turned to smiles as she helped me to
my
At dusk, King Alaric appeared at the Moonlight Tower.
I knelt to greet
“Recovered?”
him. He grasped my chin, inspecting my pallor
I lowered my eyes. “I am no longer a treat, Your Majesty.”
He released me and sat at the table.
I bowed deeply. “Your Majesty, the Blood Hite during the Queen’s labor is complete. I beg mercy–allow Daisy to leave the palace with me.”
His face darkened instantly.
“Leave the palace? You’re this weak, and already itching to go back to the Crimson Pavillon to entertain clients?
His anger made me tremble.
Suddenly he noticed my drooping right arm.
“What’s wrong with your hand —“
“Your Majesty!” L
Lord Cedric hurried in with news. “Lady Evelyne is unwell. You must come at once.”
The king’s face changed. He stood abruptly.
1 lew my time was short
Grupter 4
Panicked, I rose shaklly and lonelt before him again.
the palace with me!”
“Your Majesty! Please have mercy–let Daisy leave the pa
“Pathetic!”
King Alaric snarled and kicked me hard. “You want men that badly? Just one day back, and you’re already begging to return to that den of sin!”
I crashed into the table leg, coughing blood.
My hands were too weak to support me; I curled up and whispered a desperate plea. “I dare not taint the sanctity of the palace… I beg Your Majesty, grant me this mercy…”
Fine very well.”
He clenched his jaw, shadowed with dark intent.
“If you want to leave the palace, your life will belong to the Crimson Pavilion–you’ll serve there ceaselessly, until death.”
Before I could answer, he added coldly, “If you refuse, you may petition to stay in the palace…”
“Your Majesty!” I cut him off, struggling to bow low to the ground. “Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty.”
