"What?!" Elara finds herself speaking up. Madam Tilda hisses under her breath as a warning.
"I think my ears got blocked" she swallowed before closing their distance, she gazes into his cold eyes for two beats.
"Did you say execute her?" The king's gaze stayed unwavering. "Execute who?"
Madam Tilda drags Elara back by the shoulders. "Don't talk back"
"No no, let her. She won't live to see tomorrow" Elara bit into her mouth so hard she tasted blood.
"You know it's not like I chose this fate for myself" she speaks softly pointing at the ground.
Elara wanted to scream everything out about how she got sold and was never treated like a daughter at home.
The king folded his arms waiting for her to continue talking because that's how women are; so emotional with their tears but all he got was a single nod and a few seconds of silence.
"If I'm to die tomorrow. At least let me have a taste of luxury" she kept her gaze steady on his mask then his eyes.
He give a very small nod before looking to Madame Tilda. "Make her bed chamber in the house of petals since it's only for one day"
Madame Tilda although with the hunch back, she still Bowed for the king. After that he left the palace interiors their shoulders grazing.
The moment they were out Madame Tilda glared at her. Elara shrugs with a small smile.
"What? You said I should talk back"
"To maidens not the king" Elara finally let's go of her restraints and jumps to the sofa with a sigh.
"Same difference" she mumbles as her lids starts getting heavy. Madame Tilda picks u a blanket covering her as a sad smile spreads on her face.
"Life has been cruel to you my dear" she whispers before turning to fix up her room.
•••
Even with the impending doom awaiting Elara. She woke up like she's been sleeping for five years and she feels refreshed.
"Ahhh, what a sleep" she yawns loudly she could be heard across the ocean. After the sleep was gone did everything register in her brain.
She's to die today, by fire. Elara quickly hid herself under the blanket like it could protect her.
What does she do? Can she escape? No escaping won't be easy since the outer realm is fully guarded.
Oh chim this is really a bad way to start mornings.
Immediately, Madame Tilda opens the door with her stern expression. "Get dressed. You'll be having a visitor" visitor? Who could it be?
Could it be mum and dad heard about it and are coming to beg for her mercy.
A sardonic laugh escapes her, even the thought is enough for her to know her parents could never.
"Go take shower"
"What's the point" Elara interrupted. "I'm to be executed later on"
If she's to die what's the point of anything really? She sighs getting up. She brushes her hair so that it looks presentable.
"Where's the visitor?" Madame Tilda just started walking ahead without an answer.
Elara wondered who brought her to her chamber since she clearly slept yesterday in the palace interiors.
The pass through a beautiful bridge with soft streams and pink petals gently falling.
"What is this place?" She asks utterly mesmerized by it's glory.
"The silk bridge" Tilda rumbled as she led them to the palace interiors.
The first thing Elara noticed was a beautiful girl sitting on the soft sofa and sipping tea eloquently. The only word that comes to mind is peaceful.
The girl had an air of peace around her. She drops her cup gently upon noticing Elara and Madame Tilda.
"Thank you Ma, if you'll excuse us" she spoke to both her court maid and Madame Tilda.
Elara wondered why the girl called Madame Tilda 'Ma'. Are they close? They must be since Madame Tilda call his majesty 'my lord' not your majesty.
"Please sit, be comfortable" Elara wavered before sitting opposite from the girl. "I'm Selene. I got here as fast as I could when I heard the news"
Just great, another girl to gloat on Elara. And here she thought this girl was different.
Selene gently grabs Elara's hands with a warm smile. "Don't worry, I'll talk to brother to have mercy on you"
Elara was taken a back, so she's the arrogant asshole's sister. She could see that Selene has the same golden eyes like the king.
The only distinctive quality between them is that Selene has brown hair with blue strips and the king has complete black hair.
"I don't mean to be rude but how can you convince him to let me go?" Selene bites her lip in contemplation.
"It's fine really. I mean besides the fact that he's my brother and he hardly says no to anything I want"
Elara wanted to believe her but after all those years that has passed she learned that hope is a dangerous thing so she simply nods her head in order to not offend the princess.
Just then the king comes in with his brooding personality and cold gaze, he still wore the same mask like yesterday. Elara wondered if it's because he's ugly.
The king's gaze was lazer-ly focused on Elara's who's looking at her tea with interest. He noticed her wearing the same dress as yesterday.
"Brother." He snaps his attention to his sister with a set jaw.
"When did you return?" Selene smiles softly before looking down.
"Not long ago. I came here to see if I can make you reconsider"
"My words stand Selene. You've wasted your time coming here" he glances to Elara who's sipping her tea oblivious.
"Besides, the person you're supporting isn't even the least interested" Elara looks up to him with no respect or bow before speaking.
"What's the point of making a deal with a snake if it'll bite you in the end?" She then stands up walking towards the king with fear and bravery in her chest.
"I decide my fate" she whispered inches close to his face. The king finds himself at a loss for words.
He grounds his jaw before turning to leave. But Selene's words cut so deep he had to stop.
"Don't be like the mad king" he grounds his jaw so hard it could break but didn't say a thing. Just waited a beat before leaving.
Elara look to Selene. What happened to the mad king and why is Selene shaking like she's been reminded of a past pain.
Immediately, Elara grabs Selene's hands then placed them on her chest.
"Breathe with me" she whispers and they work it out until everything was fine.
"Thank you." Elara nods before sitting down to finish her first and last breakfast in the palace.
Selene sat back down gazing at Elara with a new light. She's classy and always truthful. There's a sense of self importance and self respect around her.
A gong sounded the whole outer realm and a deep feeling of dread settles on Elara's shoulders but nonetheless she rose with confidence.
It's fine. She's strong, she was strong enough to survive three weeks before, she can handle death.
Her breath was clipped, her hand cold, her heart erratic but her face and posture? It showed unbothered.
Elara glances at the raging fire in front of her. Glances at all the faces that are trying to suppress their happiness.
"By the order of the decree by the king of Arameor, keeper of the eternal flame, sovereign of the outer and inner realm. Elara Morgin is to be executed by fire this afternoon" The announcer declares before stepping aside.
Seraphine had a cruel smile on her face, she knew it. The king would never stay with a lowlife like. Even if the gods chose her.
The soft hearted princess Selene excused herself for she cannot bear to see death on her friend.
Even though they knew each other for an hour, Selene felt closer to Elara than most people. And she felt like being real.
The guards forcibly grabs Elara by the arm and she shrugs them off. "No need. I'll gladly go there by myself"
Lani was amongst the crowd and the moment she heard her friend, a small beam of pride filled her.
She remembered when she told Elara that if she were to die, she would die with dignity not shame.
Who would've thought it was Elara and not Lani being the first.
As Elara walks to the fire she swore not to scream. Not to give them the satisfaction.
The moment her legs entire the fire, a disruptive scream escapes her as she can feel the fire scalding her skin and her cloth.
In a flash, the event twisted. The fire separated leaving Elara in the middle and they bowed to her.