CHAPTER 17: Shantal Return!
1461 Words
Ysha took the medicine without waiting for Lota to inform her. That will end up there too.
Lota will manage her wounds and bruises that resulted from being taken by the king during the night.
Following the treatment of her injuries, she will obtain medication that aims to enhance her recovery and lessen the pain that she is presently enduring.
What's new besides that? For almost four weeks now, she has been living in the palace, where the king has continuously imposed his torment on her, forcing her to relive his cruelty over and over. By imposing a penalty for her deceit.
The king doubted her claim of being in love with him, and as the king repeatedly heard her response regarding her deceit, his anger towards her intensified.
To keep her father safe from the king's displeasure, she held back the truth about her real intentions.
Ysha aims to prevent the king from discovering her twins' pregnancy, so she steps in; her father will face blame for failing to manage what should have been presented to the king.
He breathed out violently.
"How have you been, Shantal?" That was the question that slipped from her lips as she thought of her twin. “I can bear it until the king's wrath diminishes. Make sure he doesn't catch you.” She whispered that only she could hear.
"Luna Ysha."
She cast her gaze towards Lota, who was making her way over while holding an exquisitely designed silver abaya that radiated elegance.
“What is that for, Lota?” She asked, since the king had confined her to his room, leaving her dressed only in a robe. She only left the room a single time when she last talked to her father. It has been a month since she last heard from her father.
“The king mentioned that a guest is arriving, Luna Ysha. Put this on, and in fifteen minutes, the king will come back for you.”
She didn't ask again.
Lota gave her everything that she can wear before putting on the abaya. She took it from her before the lota turned around from her to change on.
"I'm done, Lota."
The lota looked at her again right after she put them on. As she drew closer, she offered her the abaya, allowing her to cover her entire body and remain unseen by anyone around.
Ysha dressed herself in no time.
Lota took the time to carefully brush through her long, soft curls, ensuring that each strand was smooth and well-groomed. She carefully arranged her hair and allowed it to cascade down naturally.
Ysha stared at her reflection in the mirror. Fortunately, she was able to recall and see the version of herself that existed before the king decided to confine her in his room.
"Thank you, Lota." She will be grateful for the lota.
Lota continued to hold her hair as the king walked in.
"Lota."
The king's booming voice resonated throughout the room, prompting Lota to instantly release her grip on her hair and drop the comb, which clattered to the floor.
“Please pardon me, your majesty. I have just finished doing Luna Ysha's hair.”
The Lota gave an explanation while obviously trembling from the king's loud shouting.
She lowered herself to pick up the comb that had dropped. The lota hurriedly asked to take her leave to go outdoors.
She noticed anger in the king's eyes, which appeared to ignite when their eyes met.
The lota quickly turned her gaze away. She stands and follows with a bow.
"Your Majesty."
The king silently turned his back on her, not saying anything, as he made his way out again.
Ysha has just started following the king.
As they made their way quietly down the corridor, they eventually arrived at the large salon where their guest patiently awaited them.
But..
.....
Ysha's eyes grew large with surprise as she caught sight of the person who was patiently waiting for them.
She halted at the entrance, remaining in place as though something had physically pinned her down.
With a slight shake of her head, it seemed as though she was about to burst into tears again.
"Ysha."
The moment Shantal utters her name, it triggers an overwhelming wave of emotions that leads to her tears streaming down her face.
"W-why?"
That was the only thing Ysha said to Shantal when she called her.
Her lips, slightly open and quivering, seemed eager to express something, yet no sound emerged from her mouth.
"Forgive me, Ysha."
"Your majesty."
Her father showed respect to the king.
"Your highness." Shantal, her twin, faced the king and showed her respect as well.
Ysha noticed that Shantal and the king shared an intense look, entirely focused on one another's eyes.
Particularly Shantal seemed captivated as she stared at the King, her eyes locked on him as if enchanted.
“Are you not planning to spend some time with your family?”
The king directed his gaze towards her and asked a question.
Ysha moved. As she walked closer to her twin, she felt the increasing weight of every step she took.
She found herself at a loss for words when her twin unexpectedly appeared after nearly a month of enduring hardship from the king.
If she actually wanted to keep her distance from the king, she wouldn't be here right now. But...
"S-shantal." Ysha barely whispered her twin's name, with hardly any sound escaping her lips.
Shantal greeted her right away and wrapped her in a hug.
She was in tears, with soreness spreading across her body due to the king's aggressive actions from the night before. Her back bears several bruises.
On almost every inch of her body, she experienced a deep reluctance towards being touched by anyone.
"I miss you, Ysha."
Happiness filled her twin's voice. Shantal feels joy about their meeting, but what about her?
"I-I miss you too, Shan." She replied even though she hesitated, as her sacrifice held no significance for her. She found her efforts to be in vain.
"Your majesty."
Their father could direct his gaze towards both of them.
Their father rose upright in front of the king, who was now seated with elegance.
“Beta, take Luna and Ms. Safar to the other salon.”
The king instructed Beta, who then took them and moved them to the other Salon.
Their father remained with the king, expecting that they would talk about the arrangements he devised to return her twins to the palace.
At this moment, Ysha does not prioritize anything else; however, she is eager to understand the sudden reappearance of her twin sister, Shantal.
"Why?"
Ysha inquired of Shantal about the moment when the beta exited, leaving just the two of them alone in the salon.
"I'm here to take you out."
"No! Your response does not match what I was looking forward to hearing from you. What are you doing here? You know your preg..."
"I lost my child, Ysha."
Shantal answered even though she hadn't finished what she was saying.
"W-what?"
Ysha stared at her twin for a moment, stunned by what she had just heard.
However, she noticed that the loss of her child appeared to leave her unaffected. Where is the Shantal that got emotional during their conversation about responsibility?
She passionately expresses her deep love for the father of her child, fighting fiercely to demonstrate just how much he means to her.
“What about your child's father?”
“He has left. And take along a different Omega.”
"What? I assumed your love for each other led you to go with him.”
"No!"
"What is your point?”
"I love him, that's the reason I chose to go with him. But he only brought me along because I was carrying his child. But then.. after losing our baby. He abandoned me. So, I chose to go back and fulfill my responsibilities to our family.”
“So, just like that?”
Ysha shook her head, feeling an increased burden with Shantal's presence, realizing that her suffering at the hands of the king was now completely in vain.
“I'm aware that I am to blame for everything Ysha. I'm sorry about that. Baba informed me about everything that happened to you, so I came to rescue you.”
She didn't know how to react to what Shantal had said. She is unsure about how to explain to Shantal that living in the king palm feels more like a nightmare than the good life she might expect.
“I intend to plead with the king for your release, taking on the role of a sacrifice for him myself.”
Shantal assured him without hesitation.
- Writer
