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Chapter 7
When Elvira awoke from her unconscious state, the pain from her back was unbearable.
Lord Chamberlain was standing by her bed, holding a bowl of medicine. Seeing her awake, he hurried to assist her.
“You’ve finally woken up.” He sighed, handing Iser the bowl “Why must you provoke the Kirip? After all these years serving him, I’ve never seen him stay outside the palace for so long after punishing someone.
Elvira took the bowl, the bitter medicine sliding down her throat. It was no match for the hitremness in her heart.
“Do not worry, my lord,” she replied softly. “I would never dare provolo His Majesty,”
Lord Chamberlain shook his head. “Please don’t be upset. The King may have been harsh, but after every punishment, he always….”
He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “Your father may have chosen the wrong side back then, and it’s only natural that you would suffer the consequences. When the duchess becomes queen, comply and-
Elvira silenced him with a heavy purse. “For your kindness.”
Lord Chamberlain weighed it in his hands, surpised “What is this?”
“A small token of my gratitude,” she forced a smile “Please, accept it.!
Although Lord Chamberlain felr something was amiss, he nonetheless accepted it.
That night, Alistair soddenly summoned her to his chambers.
Elvira knelt before the royal bed, her voice trembling. “Your Majesty, my wounds have not yet healed. I fear I might offend your eyes..”
“Undress,” Alistair interrupted coldly, his gaze dark and menacing
Elvira bit her lip.
Tomorrow she would leave. She didn’t want to endure his torment on this last night.
But it she disobeyed, things could get even worse.
With trembling hands, she began to untie her gown, ready to shed it. But just as she was about to disrobe, hurried footsteps rang out from outside the
“Your Majesty! The duchess is poisoned Only the mandrake in the royal vault can save her!”
Alister leaped to his feet, panic flashing in his eyes,
He instinctively glanced at Elvira’s wounded back before ordering, “Go and recover, heal, and come back tomorrow.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Elvira responded, relief flooding her chest.
That night, she quickly packed her belongings.
At the break of dawn, there was a soft knock on her window.
“It’s time,” Vesper’s voice came from outside
Elvira donned a plain dress and opened the window. Vesper, agile as a shadow, climbed in, handing her a leather mask. “Wear this.”
The mask bred to her da
dace, transforming her into a peasant woman.
Vesper wrapped an arm around her waist and whispered, “Hold on tight.
They flew over the place walls like plantorns..
Behind them, a fire raged in the courtyard where Elvira had once stayed, the flames swallowing the house. Inside, a body–one that resembled Elvira’s – lay lifeless
The flames ill up the sky, and as Elvira cast a final glance at the palace that had contined her for three long years, she turned away without a second look, – vanishing into the morning mist
From that moment on, the royal court would never again her of Elvira
