rine'

rket square, arranging the few moon lilies and wildflowers I'd gathered that morning. My small stall, hidden in a cramped corner of our impoverished

ed out of nowhere. With her cruel smirk and venomous tone, she circled my stall like a predator eyeing its prey. "Do you real

to break. I met her gaze, even as I tried to ignore her spite. "I do wh

rthy. No sooner had she spat her insult than I heard the whispered rumor-a lie that I had stolen from another stall. T

sions were hard and unyielding, and before I could protest, rough hands seized my arms. I struggled desperately, clutching my basket of precious flowers, but i

me. In the center of this assembly stood King Elliot-a figure so imposing, so frighteningly beautiful in his tailored

voice quivering but clear. "I have only

e twisted smile of Marissa, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction at my humiliation. I fought back tears as King Ellio

ry pain exploded through my flesh. I bit down on a cry, tears stinging my eyes, as blow after blow rained down

ntless sound of my suffering. Even as the pain blurred my vision, I held my head high, defiant in the face of utter

elt the atmosphere in the hall grow tense. I could barely register the sound of my own ragged breath

t had stepp

aring sensation that mingled with the agony of every lash. My world narrowed into a single point of excruciating intensity as a rush of w

eyes filled with both anger and sorrow. I could see him in the shadows, helplessly watching as I was subjected to the king's cruel punishment. His si

it. Even as my body betrayed me, growing numb and unresponsive, the fierce flame of defiance burned within me. I refused to let the

re. The voices in the hall faded into an indistinct murmur, and the world around me became a blur of shadows and muffled sounds. In that moment of fadi

t in me to reclaim my life, my dignity, and my freedom. I silently vowed that the memory of this torment

fierce spark of defiance. In the depths of oblivion, I could still hear my own whispered promise: I would ri

me. Though I could not see him clearly through the haze of pain, I knew that his determination burned as fiercely

ut to the hope that my spirit, unyielding and untamed, would one day break free f