The dark Knight turned to me and replied with an indifferent tone, “To be honest I don’t care if you live or die, what I do care about is testing if your moon goddess really wants you dead or not.
The forest of the Damned is only a few kilometres due east.
It’s still within the territory of Andreia, and is a place crawling with all kinds of demons, beasts and horrors beyond human imagination.
Celene shall be cast into that forest without food or water for three days, if she comes out alive, she gets to live, and if doesn’t, her execution is complete.”
”Wouldn’t it be easier to just swing a sword to see if my head will be cut off?” I asked, sounding a little bit puzzled.
“Yes, it most definitely would be, but your death should be in the most painful way possible.
As the murderer of your queen, you do not deserve a quick and easy death.
I would have suggested burning you alive, but burning people is against the laws of Andreia,” he replied.
This man was truly merciless.
I gulped in some saliva at the sound of being burnt alive, and quickly agreed to being thrown in the forest of the Damned.
Although my chances pf surviving would be slim, I at least had those chance.
“The decision has been made, by dawn Celene will be cast into the forest of the damned for three days.
A few soldiers will wait at the forest’s edge to see if she makes it out alive or not,” The priestess concluded, slamming the bottom of her staff on the ground again.
“I’m deeply sorry about what happened at the wedding party.
That Valtorian knight had no right to speak to you the way he did,” I spoke with traces of sympathy in my voice.
I and Sir Steven sat in a royal coach, heading to the edge of the forest where I would be sent into for the next three days; the forest of the damned.
Our coach was surrounded by a few others that were there to not only prevent me from escaping, but also wait in front of the forest’s entrance for three days to see if I would come out alive.
The Dark knight and his father had returned to their kingdom, but a few of their soldiers remained to make sure my execution went as planned.
“It’s completely fine, princess Celene.
I’m sure what happened yesterday at the wedding party was to the goddess’s liking.
My only hope is that you make it out of the forest alive for the sake of all of Andreia.
Many other kings want our kingdom, they only wait for the demise of the entire royal family,” Sir Steven replied.
He sounded genuinely worried about my survival.
I could tell from his face that he wasn’t at all comfortable with what he was ab out to do to me.
“Princess,” I scoffed and smirked, looking outside the carriage.
“Am I still deserving of that title after what I’ve done.
I soiled my hands with the queen’s blood and became the first royalty to commit murder outside the battle field.
I’m a shame to my family. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
A shame to my father,” I said softly, closing my eyes to let those words sink in.
“That is not true.
The moon goddess had already passed her judgement on the queen, she only used you to enact it.
The priestess said so herself.
If anything, you should be celebrated for finally getting rid of that good for nothing woman.
I’m almost certainly sure she was the one who murdered the king,” Steven affirmed sternly, trying to comfort me.
“She did,” I replied.
His eyes widened the moment he heard this.
“You heard me correctly.
Queen Sylvania murdered our beloved king; she told me herself.
Her plan was to kill me as well and marry King Japhet so he would take possession of the kingdom.
That’s why I had to end her life.
No one has the right to throw away everything my father has built,” I continued.
“What?!
That crazy woman.
So, her plan was to plunge our kingdom into the dark age all along.
If I had found out about this sooner, I would have been the one to remove her head,” sir Steven vented angrily, tightening his fist and gritting his teeth.
“Even in light of this, I’m still a criminal, aren’t I?” I asked, turning back to the road outside the coach.
“Unfortunately, you still are in the eyes of the public.
If I try to defend you, they’ll use it against me and still end up executing you.
I wish I could do more for you my princess, but my hands are tied,” Steven uttered regretfully with a downcast expression.
“It’s fine, Steven, you’ve already done enough for me; far more than I can repay.
If this will be my end, then so be it.
I do not have the power to go against the goddess’s will,” I replied, letting out a sigh.
Something else still bothered me though; What exactly did the moon goddess have in mind when she gave the dark knight authority over my fate? This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
or was the priestess only saying that because she believed I could escape the forest on my own?
No, there’s no way she could have known that the dark knight would suggest the forest.
“Why did you call Prince Rowan a traitor?” Sir Steven asked suddenly.
“Rowan?
Who’s Rowan?” I asked, a little confused.
“Prince Rowan is the third son of King Japhet.
He was the one who suggested that you were to be thrown into the forest of the damned,” Steven replied.
“Oh, So that’s his name.
Rowan…” I muttered to myself.
I turned to Steven and answered his question.
“My step mother locked me in a secret room in the mansion.
The guards she asked to watch the room raped me and left me there in the dirt.
Rowan suddenly appeared a few hours later with the head of one of those soldiers in his left hand.
He left the doors open so I could escape, and before vanishing, asked me to pledge allegiance to him,” I said softly.
“Allegiance?
What does that mean?” Steven asked.
“I don’t know, but he vanished without a trace after those words, and we only met again at the wedding party,” I answered.
“Hmm, you shouldn’t read into it too much.
He was probably just messing with you.
After all he’s the reason you’re on your way to an uncertain doom.
I wouldn’t trust a single word he says,” Steven warned.
He had really grown to hate The Dark knight after their encounter at the wedding party.
“Yeah,” I agreed softly.
Although, my mind was conflicted; I didn’t know what to believe anymore.
That day Rowan arrived in that room; he was like an angel sent from the goddess herself.
The way he walked and the way he spoke: it was all so comforting.
All of a sudden, his attitude toward me changed like he never really cared if I lived or died in that room, like he had some other motive in mind; a motive different from his father’s, one that possibly had something to do with me.