From chains to crown

eaning in that

e longer. My back burned, my body shook, and my lips were cracked from thir

eard the door c

n't l

o finish me off, I didn't think I

spoke was low, no

enti

she said

rred slowly, every muscle screaming in protest as I tried to sit. She

ad, stale and hard as stone, a

red a

food?" I

better than most get

dn't complain. Hunger won. I sipped the soup, salty and bitter, probably made from ol

na didn

ossed, watching me with

," she said a

p, confuse

still br

luck, I don't want to know

harp tongue. You need to kill th

ll s

cell, slowly, as if

an, her voice colder now. "Not

aighter,

less spoken to. You

odd

, the moment you're told.

ightened aro

e royal family. Especially Prince Dami

dn't f

dn't h

ttention. Never make yourself known. In this palac

again. "Why are you telling me t

he wall. "Because you haven't died ye

now what I did

his kingdom thrives on fear. You don't need

ds chil

e dirty. My wrists still bruised from t

rk for them?"

ecause freedom is a myth. At least

struck me

ow what to

and opened a small crate,

she said, tos

the same revealing uniform-b

ed. "Do I

a brow. "You wa

eeks burning, and

r back, this time giving me

d, she turned

aken out aga

ask something but r

"Good. You'

ft, she pause

rince... he asked to be informed when you're stable enough

ath hi

n that day comes... don't try to charm him. It won

she

d again, but so

he sounds of the kingdom around me - the distant clanging of chains,

how long I cou

, I was sti

his cursed pla

day crying, and my

hey gave me as food didn

, it grew darker as the hours passed,

sleep but

he door

" Valentina said, stepping inside and dropping a long red dress at my feet.