Chapter 28

“Is she awake, My Lady?” A voice calls out, and the harsh light of the room is turned on, waking me from my sleep to full alertness as I bolt awake.

“Shut up, you moron.” A familiar voice seethes. I frown, instantly going on alert while trying to find the emergency button normally kept by my bedside table.

“But for your information, I watched as Prince Alekai carried the whore into the Palace while Father and I pleaded our case to be able to enter freely.” My hand touches a folded piece of paper in the dark. Not wanting Linnate to find it, I carefully slip it into my pocket, slowly sliding towards Alekai’s side of the bed in hopes of escaping from the room and locking myself in the closet. At least from there, I can slip into the hidden staircase and run to the study, where I can either find Alekai working or call for the guards. Before I can slip off the bed, the lights are switched on, causing me to hiss as I close my eyes from the sudden change. Forcing my eyes open after cursing at myself for my reaction, I come face to face with Linnate, who stands before me, a smirk on her smug face.

“Hello, Bitch.” She sneers, glaring at me as I look at her appearance. A simple pastel pink dress hangs off her body, giving the appearance of an innocent young woman, but I knew better.

“Shouldn’t I be the one calling you that?” I ask, getting into a sitting position while looking at the angry-looking female. This remark earns me a hard slap across the face, my head being forced to the right from the momentum while my left cheek stings from the contact. I glare at her, refusing to look weak in front of this mentally unstable person.

“That is no way to speak to your future Queen.” Linnate huffs, and I chuckle, getting on my feet and pushing the woman away from me, watching her stumble to regain her balance.

“Again, Linnate, shouldn’t I be the one saying that!” I retort, crossing my arms over my chest while trying to for her back enough so I can run to safety. She screams in anger, her arm raised once again to hit me, but her accomplice holds her back, the man glaring at me as well.

“My Lady, you can’t hit her. Her necklace is recording still.” The mysterious man warns, and my smirk grows. I noticed earlier a familiar weight around my neck, realizing Alekai had placed another necklace on me. I pray that it is the original necklace, hoping that whatever Linnate has planned for me will be foiled with the safety this necklace brings.

“You’re right, drug her, and let's finish what we came for.” Linnate easily agrees, surprisingly. But I am already climbing back over the bed, Linnate screaming for the man to grab me as I take whatever I can grab and throw it at him. Vases, pillows, books, and anything I can reach are thrown at Linnate and her accomplice as I run towards the closet, knowing that once I get inside, I have a chance to escape these two. But something hits me in the back, causing me to trip and fall onto the floor, where Linnate’s accomplice quickly holds me down. I feel a prick on my neck and something being injected into me, whatever drug quickly taking effect as my body becomes weak and my vision blurry.

“My Lady, please ensure the coast is clear so we can leave.” The man requests, releasing me from his hold. The door to the bedroom opens, and I try to think of a way to leave a message, spotting a red lipstick just in reach. Elisa will kill me for this, but I struggle until the lipstick cap is off and look for something to write on, spying a book that must have ended up under the table beside me. With the little strength I have left, I use the lipstick and write one message before my consciousness slips away – SAVE ME!