CHAPTER 18: The king gifted Shantal a bracelet!
1574 Words
“Shantal, you have no idea what you're about to face. The King is a beast.” She barely uttered a word to Shantal.
Ysha stood up and removed her abaya, uncovering what she had underneath. She laid bare the marks of her pain—bruises, wounds, and scars—that she had sustained from the king's cruel treatment.
"He's punishing me, Shantal."
“Oh my goodness, Ysha.” She noticed her twin's worry as she examined her wounds.
“He is a beast. That's why returning isn't a good idea.” Ysha said while she was putting her Abaya back on.
“It might not be the case, Ysha. Perhaps the king felt truly furious about your facade. Maybe the king would have accepted it if we had discussed it with him then.”
“What did you say?”
But when her twin brought that up, it appears as if she is still the one who should take the blame for what happened.
“It would have been better if you had just let me go, but pursuing your plan wasn't right if I was responsible. Perhaps the king's punishment won't be as harsh as we fear.”
Shantal looks as if she is still accusing her for what took place.
"Why?" She asked in a low voice.
Her smile turned crooked, resembling someone on the verge of tears as she gazed at her twin.
“Shantal, you brought that up once as well. Each royal is just like the others. Why now? It appears that your viewpoint has also changed?”
“However, you mentioned it before as well. Not every noble is alike. And I shouldn't judge them unless I've proven it.”
What Shantal said still makes sense.
“Shantal, don't you think it's obvious that the bruises and wounds visible on my body serve as undeniable proof of what I've been through? Weren't you aware of what the pain I was experiencing? You know that when I feel pain, you feel it too, even if it's not as intense for you. Yet, you can feel it.”
“It was you who misled the King, Ysha.”
Shantal brought up again that it looked as though no one noticed her suffering, making her feel like she was the only one at fault.
“If you had been honest with the king, he wouldn't be expressing such anger towards you now. Earlier, you witnessed the way he interacted with both Baba and me. The king has never shown anger towards me.”
Ysha shook herself again.
As she stepped back, she found it hard to accept that all the blame fell on her. It was her actions that led them to treat her unfairly, as she supported her twin and aimed to protect their father's dignity.
"I can't believe it." Ysha said one word and looked away.
"Ysha, where are you going?"
Shantal stopped her by catching her arm.
Just as she was about to respond, Beta opened the door and summoned them to the saloon where their father and the King awaited.
Ysha chose to end her discussions with Shantal entirely.
She completely ignored her presence and didn't cast a glance in her direction. She began to make her way out of the room.
"Baba."
Ysha approached her father as soon as she saw him again. She didn't utter any additional words; instead, she moved between them and embraced her father tightly.
"Ysha."
“Can I return home now?” Ysha, still in her father's embrace, asked faintly.
She noticed the rise and fall of her father's chest as he took deep breaths. Her father shook his head, feeling a deeper sense of compassion for her.
"Forgive me, Ysha. I cannot bring you home until the king grants you forgiveness.”
Her response lacked strength.
She found herself at a loss for words. Her mind felt nearly empty, refusing to operate any longer after her conversation with Shantal.
“What about Shantal?”
“She is to marry the king.” Her father answered with a word that emerged almost at a slow pace.
Withdrawn from her father's hug.
She turned sharply towards the King, who was calmly observing their interaction.
With a smirk that conveyed mockery, he directed his sharp, observant eyes towards her.
“Prime Minister, you have the option to take your leave now. You can go ahead and leave your daughters here within the palace grounds.”
The words and directives from the king deepened her compassion.
…..
"Ysha."
Following their discussion yesterday, Shantal went to see Ysha in the king's room and joyfully greeted her on that sunny morning.
Lota had just completed her treatment again since the king had taken her almost overnight.
“What brings you here?”
Ysha felt completely drained and lacked the motivation to engage with Shantal or even glance in her direction.
Shantal continues to wear her Abaya, Niqab, and jilbab since it keeps her hidden from others. Even the king will not see her until after their marriage.
"Are you okay?"
Shantal asked her regardless of understanding what her condition was. Shantal raised her clothes after the lota had finished applying treatment to her bruises.
Lota stepped outside, leaving the two of them in the room.
“I feel fine, Shantal. But this is not the right place for you. What happens if someone spots you and the king could be…”
“Not at all.”
Ysha shook her head as Shantal took off her niqab.
“No need to worry, Ysha. I reached out to the King and sought his approval to meet with you. The King agreed.”
Her face beamed with happiness as she maintained her smile while saying that.
Ysha furrowed her brow and looked at Shantal, trying to determine if the king really permitted her to visit so freely.
“I feel sorry about that, Ysha.” She remarked while glancing at the chain on her feet and then shifted a bit away from her.
“Listen up, Ysha. The king isn't the monster you described. You tricked him, and now you're facing the consequences.”
"Huh." Ysha’s mouth formed a smile laced with sarcasm. “What about you, Shantal?” She sarcastically questioned her.
“I was just being honest with myself, Ysha. I did not mislead the King. I am here now to plead with him to grant you your freedom.”
Ysha shook her head, not out of a desire to remain bound to the king, but because she truly wished for freedom. Her head shook in disbelief as she listened to Shantal's words.
“I will look for a way to rescue you, Ysha.”
Ysha perceived the honesty reflected in the twinkle of Shantal's eyes during her words.
“Endure everything for the time being. Once I marry the king, I can request him to release you.”
“You bet!”
Ysha chose to respond with minimal words in order to halt their conversation, as she feared that if they kept talking, her anger would escalate over the realization that her pain served no purpose.
“By the way, I wanted to show something important. Take a look at this.”
The conversation took a different turn, clearly indicating that she did not wish to continue the initial discussion.
Ysha glanced at what Shantal presented.
“The king presented me with a gift.”
Shantal shook her hand, showcasing the glittering bracelet she wore.
“You see, Ysha, the King is not a beast as you claimed. I have a feeling that the king enjoys having me around.”
She appeared to be excited as she gazed at the bracelet the king gifted her.
“That's great for you, Shantal.”
Ysha's words no longer carry any sound.
"Come on, Ysha. Don't you feel happy for me? Even though I lost the child I was expecting and the man I initially loved, that can be replaced if the king truly desires me, right? Ysha?"
Ysha simply nodded. Shantal expresses much more. Ysha absorbed several narratives, but none took root in her thoughts.
"Okay! But please, Shantal."
She softly interrupted Shantal to prevent her from sharing more stories.
“Are you alright?”
"Yeah! Would you mind going back to your room at this time? I feel kind of tired, you know.”
She managed to drive away her twin.
“I need to take a short break. Perhaps we can chat again next time. But as of now... I need a break.” Ysha clarifies things for her twin.
Shantal smiled. Although Shantal desired to touch her, she refrained from doing so due to the chain on her leg.
“Alright, Ysha. Rest will."
She brought her hand up again. She extended her arm a bit, and just the tips of their fingers made contact.
Ysha gave a nod.
Shantal also nodded.
They locked eyes for a few seconds before Shantal eventually exited the room.
When her twin was no longer there, she took a deep and heavy breath.
Once more, tears welled up in her eyes, yet she made a conscious effort to hold them back and prevent them from spilling down her cheeks.
It seems as though she is losing her mind over the events that are unfolding in her life.
Her misery.
Her twin returned unexpectedly, ignoring the sacrifices she endured.
- Writer
