Nyssa felt herself being thrown into the cell and Oren turned, alerted at the noise. When the guards left the vicinity, he hurried over to her, as she seemed motionless.
"Princess, Princess," he turned her over to see tears streaking down her widened eyes.
Oren brows raised. She was in a state of shock.
"Princess," he tapped her repeatedly until her eyes snapped to him.
"O..Oren?" Her voice was cracked.
"Princess," he exhaled as he felt a sense of relief. "What happened?"
Her eyes stayed on his for a while before she burst into tears again.
"Princess," he took her in his arms as she cried loudly. He held her tight, feeling her body tremors. His eyes softened as he watched her crumble in his arms. What had Damon done to her?
He didn't probe further, though. He just let her cry. When she was more relaxed, he would approach the topic, though he knew something terrible had occurred.
…
Damon walked to the palace courtyard with his family, after the public address. He plunged into one of the chairs, with a deep exhale.
"My Lord, here is your drink to cool you down," Euphemia said, pouring him a glass of juice. Sibyl eyed her, knowing she would always do more than she was asked.
Damon murmured a thank you and downed the glass of juice in one go. Everything had gone well...hm. And after Nyssa's execution, a great feast would be held. A wide grin stretched across his lips at the thought.
Euphemia smiled, pleased that she knew what he wanted. Clearing her throat, she faced her twin children, "Diana, Edgar, go play in the garden. Be careful."
"Yes, Mother!" They chorused and ran excitedly in the hallways.
"Your Highnesses, please stop running!" Their assigned maid ran after their little legs.
Euphemia's attention went back to her husband again, while Sibyl watched her quietly.
"You both are aware of my first wife's predicament, right?" Damon began and Euphemia shifted in her seat, obviously trying to resist rolling her eyes.
Sibyl looked back at Damon. "Yes, Your Majesty. The Physician came last night and administered some medicine to her."
Damon nodded. "That's not what I'm asking about, though."
Sibyl gave him a knowing look, while Euphemia's brows furrowed.
"What are you asking about then, My Lord?" Damon's blue eyes went to Euphemia's brown ones.
"Allegedly…. Ingrid tapped into forbidden magic."
Euphemia gasped in shock. "W-what?"
"Exactly my reaction. Unbelievable."
Euphemia shook her head in disbelief. "How? Magic is forbidden in Askye. She's not even a magic wielder." It didn't make sense.
Damon took a deep breath. "Ingrid actually…had a parent that wielded magic. Her late mother."
Euphemia's brows raised. "How is that possible? That means she wasn't Askyean then."
"She came from a small Kingdom, Lore. The story isn't really clear though. But, unfortunately she died."
Sibyl glanced at her husband briefly. Why did she feel there was more to her death that met the eye?
Euphemia laughed and Sibyl's gaze went to her once more. "Does that mean Queen Ingrid has possessed magical abilities all this while?" Oh, that really meant Ingrid had put herself in a tight corner - death penalty. She inwardly chuckled.
But, Damon shook his head. "Ingrid didn't possess any ability. But, her mother's blood still runs in her. So if…she decided to start the practice of magic, it wouldn't be a problem for her."
Euphemia covered her mouth with her hand, feigning sadness, but within, she was leaping for joy. The Almighty really loved her, for he was paving ways for her enemies to be cleared from her path.
Sibyl could see through her and scoffed.
"Your Majesty," Sibyl said to the Emperor, "According to our kingdom's laws, wielding magic is punishable…by death."
Euphemia took in a sharp breath, Sibyl cast a pointed look at her, before looking back at Damon, "But, would you consider the fact that she's your wife?"
Euphemia sent her a glare. What did she think she was doing?! Sibyl eyed her in response.
Damon sent her a side glance. "Nyssa is my wife, and her execution is in two days." He replied to her and color rose to her cheeks in embarrassment.
"Pardon my ignorance, My Lord."
Damon clicked his tongue. "But honestly," his two wives stared at him, "it's hard for me to decree judgement on Ingrid…my first love."
Euphemia finally rolled her eyes and Sibyl stifled a laugh.
"Your Majesty ... .yes, I do agree she would be punished. But, death is too extreme." Sibyl said, knowing it would irk Euphemia and the latter was quick to reply.
"But the law was for everyone, Royals aren't exempted." Her tone was clipped and sharp.
"Euphemia," Damon warned and she quickly apologized.
Damon's eyes drifted to the fountain in the middle of the courtyard. He wondered what would really trigger Ingrid to make such drastic action.
Ingrid was the second child of one of the dukes. Damon had met her when he was eighteen years old, at a ball. He had asked for a dance with her, and she politely agreed. It wasn't everyday that one danced with the prince.
Ingrid was the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on. Ingrid was already being swarmed by suitors and it made Damon jealous that other men had eyes on her. And so he told the king, his father, that he wanted her as his wife. The King was shocked.
"Damon, you just became a man not too long ago. You will have enough time to get women. Why rush now?"
"I love Ingrid, Father, and I want her for myself!" And so the king, fulfilling his son's wish, sent proposal offers to the House of Rosfette, the Dukes.
The duke was beyond ecstatic as he revealed the news to his daughter.
"Ingrid! The crown prince has acknowledged his interest in you. He wants you to be his wife! You will be Queen!"
Ingrid frowned, shaking her head in disbelief. "W…what?" That was impossible. They only danced in a ball one time and now suddenly, he wants to marry her?
"I'm sorry, Father. But, no."
The man's smile faltered. "What?"
"Father, I barely know him. I don't even love him!"
"You must be sick!" He spat. "This is such a great opportunity to climb up the power hierarchy and you dare open your mouth and tell me no?!"
Ingrid flinched but still held her resolve. "Father…not everything is about influence and power. My happiness is at stake here too. I don't want to be Queen. I just want to live a simple –"
"You must be stupid! I knew it! Your mother fed you useless lies and now you have grown with them!"
"Father! How dare you speak such of Mother?" Her heart clenched. He couldn't even honor her late memory.
"Shut up! Or I will kill you, like I killed her!"
Ingrid froze. W..what?
Her father realizing the weight of his words, twitched his lips and walked out, not offering any explanation.
Ingrid stood rooted in place, not able to process her father's words.
What did he mean by that?!
Kill her like he killed ….
"Father.." She felt her head spin and then, she blacked out.