Chapter 116: help help help
It doesn’t take a fool to see what the king was doing, he was cornering her, stripping her of any defense. By framing the situation the way he had, everyone present would inevitably believe that she had been the one to demand punishment for the maids.
Arabella noticed it too. Her jaw tightened, and she gritted her teeth before replying, her voice controlled but firm.
"My king, I don’t think this lowly servant of yours could make you do anything."
"Oh?" the king replied, his tone laced with amusement. "But you did, yesterday, when you were crying and telling me the names they called you. Have you forgotten so soon?"
This time, there was no hiding it, he was clearly enjoying how helpless she looked.
His beta simply shook his head in quiet disbelief, while Lord Septimus stood by, a faint, entertained smile playing on his lips.
Arabella stood speechless for a moment. She knew exactly what the king had just done, he had publicly tied her to this punishment in the strongest possible way.
She had tried to shift the narrative, to avoid becoming the subject of whispers and resentment, but since the king refused to back down, then neither would she.
Drawing in a steady breath, she lifted her chin.
"Well, I’m not impressed with the punishment," she said boldly. "Because they did not offend me. They lied using your name. And from what I’ve heard, your reputation precedes you."
The king’s eyes darkened slightly.
"Perhaps you’ve gone soft," Arabella continued, her voice gaining strength. "Because I heard you behead people for less. So how come they are only being flogged?"
A wave of shock rippled through the training ground. Murmurs spread like wildfire as people whispered among themselves, their eyes darting between Arabella and the king.
The king’s smile vanished completely.
Now, he looked at her with nothing but cold anger.
Lucien stifled a laugh and turned away, clearly entertained by the unfolding drama. Even Lord Septimus couldn’t hold back a quiet chuckle.
"Know this," the king said softly, his voice dangerously calm, "that when you force my hand, you will pay for it."
He turned slightly and gave a subtle signal with his eyes to the guards carrying out the punishment.
They understood immediately.
Within moments, the atmosphere shifted. The guards acted without hesitation, and before anyone could fully process what was happening, a blade flashed.
A sickening silence fell.
Then..
The severed heads of the maids rolled onto the ground.
A collective gasp echoed across the training field.
My breath caught in my throat.
And I knew, that was my cue to leave.
The look the king gave me was anything but good.
Slowly, I began to move backward, my steps cautious and unsteady, until my back collided with
Lily. Without thinking, I grabbed her hand tightly as the king began to walk toward me.
Each step he took was slow. Deliberate.
Terrifying.
Panic surged through me, and in that moment, instinct took over.
I bolted.
I ran faster than I ever had in my life, my feet barely touching the ground. I didn’t care who was watching or what I looked like, I just needed to get away.
I glanced back.
The king wasn’t running.
He was simply walking, Slowly and Calmly.
Yet still coming after me, or at least, that’s what it felt like.
Everyone he passed immediately bowed, lowering their heads in reverence as he moved through them like a shadow. My heart pounded violently in my chest, and then...
He smiled.
His eyes locked onto mine, even from that distance, and as he lifted a hand slightly, and touched his chest, I felt it, like an invisible grip tightening around my heart.
A silent message.
He could hear it.
My heartbeat, how loudly it was beating
Fear shot through me, and I pushed myself to run even faster, not even knowing where I was going anymore.
And then...
I crashed into someone.
"Oow....!"
We both fell to the ground.
"Hey, Bella! What is wrong with you?" Sophie exclaimed, her voice filled with concern. "Why are you running?"
I scrambled up slightly, breathless, and pointed behind me toward where I had last seen the king.
But when Sophie followed my gaze....
There was no one there.
I blinked, confused, squinting my eyes as I scanned the area again.
He was gone.
Completely gone.
The only person rushing toward me now was Lily.
"Who was chasing you, Bella?" Sophie asked again, her brows furrowed.
I hesitated, then let out a shaky breath.
"No one," I replied.
Then my eyes fell on her outfit.
The uniform.
The same one worn by the palace maids.
My heart dropped.
"Oh my God!" I exclaimed. "Did he make you a maid? Did you become a maid because of me?"
Tears began to gather in my eyes as guilt clawed at my chest.
"Come on, Bella," Sophie said gently. "You know the king showed me mercy for what I did. Just imagine, if not because of you, what would have become of me? Maybe my head would have rolled like those maids today."
"Don’t say that," Arabella said quickly, her voice trembling as the reality of everything sank in. "He wouldn’t dare."
Sophie gave a small, knowing smile.
"Why wouldn’t he? He’s the king. And you know we’ve faced worse. Back in the Silver Moon Pack, we were practically slaves to Celine and her mother. Here, I’m free. I work, and I get paid."
Her smile widened, filled with determination.
"I even intend to become a royal guard one day. That way, I can protect you, and no one will ever bully us again. I’ll work my way up. So don’t worry about me. I’m fine."
Arabella forced a smile, blinking rapidly to keep her tears from spilling.
"Look at you," Sophie teased lightly. "All beautiful and everything. Now come, tell me everything that has happened between you and the king. I’m done with my duties for today anyway."
"But this is barely morning," Bella said in surprise.
"I woke up early so I could finish on time," Sophie replied with a grin. "I wanted to spend time with you. And also..." she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice, "use the remaining time to hide around the training ground and learn how to fight."
Arabella couldn’t help but smile at that.
Sophie had always been a survivor, someone who could adapt and thrive no matter the situation.
Lily soon joined them, greeting Sophie politely before turning to Arabella with a more serious expression.
"Lady Arabella, I think what the king did has already spread throughout the palace," she said.
"The maids are currently against you, and some people are saying that you haven’t even settled in, yet you’re already asking the king to behead people. They fear that if this continues, the king will begin executing his subjects at your command."
"What?" Arabella exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock.
"What is going on?" Sophie asked, confused, her gaze darting between Bella and Lily.
"The king did it intentionally," Arabella said, frustration rising in her voice. "Why did he have to mention that I was the one who asked him? And then go on to behead them, claiming I forced his hand? He set me up from the very beginning. What is he playing at?"
Her chest rose and fell with anger.
"Is this part of his punishment? Or is he doing this because I ran? I thought we were past that... very petty," she muttered bitterly.
Without waiting for a response, she turned and stormed off toward her room.
Sophie and Lily quickly followed behind her.
As they walked through the palace corridors, the atmosphere had already shifted. Wherever Arabella passed, whispers followed.
Some maids snickered openly.
Others muttered insults under their breath.
The weight of their judgment pressed heavily against her, but she kept walking, her expression blank, her steps mechanical.
When they reached the main hallway, a sudden contrast greeted them.
People were gathered, fawning over a woman walking gracefully through the corridor.
"Lady Aurora!"
"Greetings, my lady!"
"Future Luna!"
Voices overlapped as admiration poured toward her.
She looked ethereal, almost otherworldly.
Dressed in a perfectly fitted purple corset gown, her figure appeared slender and elegant. Her movements were poised, every step deliberate and regal.
She didn’t even spare Arabella a glance.
To her, Arabella, and everyone with her, were
beneath notice.
Lily and Sophie quickly bowed in greeting as she passed.
A guard walking behind her, acting as her personal bodyguard, roughly shoved Arabella aside to clear the path.
Arabella stumbled slightly but said nothing.
She simply watched as the woman disappeared down the hallway, surrounded by admiration.
"Who is that?" she asked once they had passed.
"That is Lady Aurora," Lily replied.
"The king’s favorite," Arabella said softly, her heart twisting unexpectedly.
Lily nodded.
Arabella turned on her heel and began walking faster than before.
She was tired.
So tired.
The king had already turned her into the enemy of the entire palace. And now she had learned that not only did he have three breeders, but also a favorite, the very woman he had spent the night with... while refusing to even touch her.
Her chest felt heavy.
Her body felt drained, she doesn’t even know why she care so much if the king touches her.
By the time they reached her room, she could barely hold herself together.
Lily stepped forward and pushed the door open.
Arabella walked in without a word, Sophie trailing behind her, still trying to piece everything together.
"I’ll get your breakfast, my lady," Lily said softly before leaving. "I’ll bring extra for Sophie."
Arabella didn’t respond.
She simply stood there, lost in her thoughts.
Unaware
That someone had been watching them.
Silently.
