Chapter 30

I sit on the cold cot pressed against the wall while protectively covering my stomach. It's been a day since waking up locked in the cell with no food or water. I worry for the unborn baby inside me, knowing I will need to eat soon for both of our sakes. I think about how months ago, I wanted to leave this Palace and regain my freedom as a citizen, and now I want to leave this cell to protect my home, my friends inside it, and the family I have with Alekai and Arabess.

The crisp sounds of heels clacking alert me to my visitor, the one bitch I want to kill. But I sigh, knowing that the baby inside her is also innocent. She can die after birthing the little royal, as I am positive Arabess would love to play it off as her own with the King as a miracle baby if the idea is suggested to her. Soon Linnate is standing at the door to the cell, her smug look just needing a good slap to wipe it off her face.

“Hello, Bitch.” She calls out, and I chuckle.

“Linnate, we’ve been through this. Shouldn’t I be calling you that?” I ask, looking defiantly at my captor.

“Don’t be so smug. I am only here to tell you that fucking Joseph lied to me. He did have an arranged marriage contract ready to be signed, but Alekai never signed it, and I won't be Queen. Keeping you alive won’t matter anymore as I plan to kill you after the coronation tomorrow.” I chuckle, happy to know that Alekai defied his father at every turn, remembering how the contract had been snuck into his work to sign but promptly shredded before a pen could ever touch the dotted line. It seems like even forging the signature did not work either, as Alekai has a specific way he does it.

“Why don’t you just find some other Noble to force into being the baby's father?” I ask, enjoying her temper tantrum. I watch as she takes the cushioned chair she sat on yesterday and throws it against the wall, breaking the front legs off it. Her lackey stands to the side, eyes shifting between us with worry.

“I refuse to marry just anyone. I will be Queen.” She growls after a moment, chest heaving for air. I once more roll my eyes at her, getting comfortable in my spot, only for my stomach to growl loudly.

“Is someone hungry?” Linnate asks tauntingly.

“Nope.” I lie, but my stomach protests again, and I frown. I am starving to be honest.

“Oh well, hopefully starving you will cause your death faster.” She chuckles before leaving with her lackey, their footsteps echoing down the hall. I sigh, closing my eyes in hopes of preserving as much energy as possible while waiting for a chance to escape.

“Are… Are you hungry, Miss?” A small voice calls out sometime later, and I look to see the lackey standing by the door, eyes darting about as if watching for someone.

“Why would I take anything from you?! You helped that bitch abduct me!” I state, letting my anger seep out. I watch as the man flinches, a look of guilt taking over his features. Interesting.

“Truth be told Ma’am, I was the cleaner for the King’s room. I watched the affair and was sworn to secrecy or risk my only daughter being taken as the King’s slave like you,” The man starts, placing the tray down under the bars and sliding it towards me.

“I thought that with his death, I could leave this Palace and protect my poor daughter, but Linnate captured her. She has been holding my poor Alice captive for the last month, threatening to kill her if I don’t help.” I watch tears slowly fall down his face, my heart breaking for this man. He had no say in helping the King and Linnate. Everything he has done was to protect his child, and as a mother-to-be myself, I can empathize with him.

“Will Linnate release your daughter?” I ask, scooting forward and taking in the man’s appearance.

“Yes, tomorrow before the coronation. She plans to poison you and have me bring your body out and throw you into a pond.” I nod, accepting his information while looking at the food on the ground.

“When will she poison me?” I ask, debating on eating the offered food or not.

“She will bring you a bottle of water with the poison inside it. What she does not know is I have switched the bottles already. I don’t want you to die. I need your help in getting my Alice back and bringing this bitch to her death.” He answers, and I believe him. This man has been seen around the Palace before, always loyal to the King and sometimes helping Arabess when needed.

“So, what do I do?” I see a loon of relief on his face as the man collapses onto the ground, a sigh escaping his lips.

“As stated, I have switched the bottles out. All you need to do is drink the contents and react as if you can’t breathe. From there, Linnate will want me to verify that you are dead, and I will. Knowing that conceited bitch, she will bring Alice with her to witness the murder and hold it above my head.” He pauses, and I wait, allowing the man some time to think his words carefully.

“She will leave for the coronation, leaving Alice and I to clean up. From there, we can help you to the coronation and set you free. I know that chain is a fake, but Linnate doesn’t. That’s why we are in the Palace catacombs. So that the function of alerting the guards to your position doesn’t go off.”

“How do you know this is a fake?” I ask.

“Because I am the one who made these collars for the Royals. Prince Alekai asked for this specific necklace for you.” I smile, feeling that Linnate’s days are numbered.

“So basically, I pretend to be dead in order to expose this bitch.” I summarize, seeing his face light up.

“Yes.” I nod, looking towards the food and questioning if I can eat it.

“I swear it's safe, I assume that the babe inside you is the Prince’s, and the thought of killing an innocent child is something I do not want to live with.” I wait for a moment before getting up and picking up the tray of food. The smell of chicken noodle soup and fresh bread causes my stomach to growl again. There is even a bottle of cold water beside the bowl of soup, the condensation exciting me as I slide back on the hard cot and dig into my meal. I learn the lackey’s name is Alister, a simple man who lost his wife to cancer three years ago when his daughter was twelve. He never remarried, instead devoting his time to raising Alice and working so she could go to a good school and make something of her life.

“So she wants to be a farmer?” I ask, shocked at this news.

“Yes, my Alice loves working with her hands and even has a garden in our backyard. I wanted her to do more but accepted that a farming life suits her the most.” I smile and explain to Alister the school Alekai and Uncle Elyse opened up, that after I am free, I will put in a good word to get Alice into the farming program as long as I am alive and safe. This suggestion solidifies our alliance against Linnate, and with the food done and Alister needing to go back to work, I lay in the bed happily, a plan set in motion to return to Alekai and give Linnate her destruction.