Chapter 47
would be easy to pin this all on me.
Titus remained unconscious, lying on the ground. I was panicking, with no idea what to do, when I heard footsteps approaching. Weighing the situation as I looked at the unconscious body of the Lycan king, it didn't look good at all. I had no witnesses to prove my claim. It So, I I had no choice but to flee the scene. I tried to shift into my wolf form to hide my identity, but to my surprise, I couldn't shift anymore. The red wolf had fulfilled its purpose and disappeared along with the leviathan. Now, I was back to being that wolfless orphan once again. Though I I felt disappointed, I was quite relieved knowing we were now far from imminent danger. Titus had been freed from his curse.
I had no idea where I was going. All I knew was that eded to get out of there before anyone could see me. Heart pounding, I darted through the corridors, avoiding the main paths and sticking to the shadows.
I traced the wall, taking a dark path with no idea where it led. After what seemed like forever, I stumbled into one of the doors. Blinking against the sudden brightness, I stepped out of the tunnel into the chaos of the palace under attack by rogues. "My lady, what are you still doing here?" Elara shouted, her eyes wide with fear, as she spotted me.
I to open my mouth to explain, but I didn't know what to say. How could I tell her that I had just saved the king and the entire world from complete abomination? Before I could even begin, she quickly cut me off. "You know what? It doesn't matter. We need to leave while we still can." She grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the throng of people fleeing the palace's
chaos. chaos.
The air was thick with smoke and panic; the cries of the injured and the clash of steel were echoing all around us. I could see the fear in everyone's eyes as they scrambled to escape. Elara's grip on my wrist was firm, and her determination to get us to safety was evident in her every step.
As we moved through the frantic crowd, I glanced back, a part of me yearning to return to Titus. I hoped he would wake up soon and understand why I had to leave. But right now, survival is paramount. The rogues' attack was relentless, and the palace walls felt like they were closing in on us. We reached a side gate, where a group of palace guards were holding back the attackers. Elara and I slipped through the narrow opening, emerging into the forest beyond. The cold night air was a stark contrast to the heat and smoke of the palace. We kept running, the sounds of battle fading behind us.
Eventually, we reached a clearing and paused to catch our breath. Elara looked at me, concern etched on her face. "Are you alright, my lady?"
I nodded, though my heart was still racing. "Thank you, Elara. I don't know what I would have done without you. 北
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Chapter 47 053%
"We need to keep moving," she said. "We'll find a safe place to hide and figure out our next steps."
With a final glance back toward the palace, I turned and followed Elara into the depths of the forest. The night was dark and full of uncertainty, but I knew we had to keep going. For now, survival is the only goal. But deep inside, a small flame of hope burned. I had saved Titus, and I would find a way back to him, no matter what it took.
We pressed on through the dense forest, the sounds of the battle fading into the distance. The night was silent except for the crunch of leaves beneath our feet and the occasional call of a nocturnal creature. Elara led the way, her determination unwavering as we navigated through the trees. After what felt like hours, we stumbled upon a small, abandoned cottage nestled in a clearing. Its wooden walls were weathered, and ivy climbed over the roof, but it looked like a haven compared to the chaos we had left behind.
"We can rest here for the night," Elara said, pushing open the creaky door.
Inside, the air was musty and cobwebs hung in the corners, but it was dry and safe. We found some old blankets and made a makeshift bed on the floor. Exhaustion weighed heavily on us, but the adrenaline still pumped through my veins, making it hard to relax. As I lay there, staring at t at the ceiling, thoughts of Titus consumed me. Was he awake? Had he figured out what happened? And more importantly, was he safe? The uncertainty gnawed at me, but I knew I couldn't dwell on it. We had to stay focused on surviving and finding a way back to the the palace.
Elara must have sensed my unease because she turned to me and said, "We'll figure this out, my lady. I promise. But for now, we need to rest."
I nodded, grateful for her presence and support. Closing my eyes, I tried to calm my racing thoughts. Sleep came slowly, but eventually, exhaustion overtook me.
When I woke the next morning, the first light of dawn filtered through the small, grimy windows. Elara was already awake, tending to a small fire she had managed to start in the old fireplace. "Good morning," she said softly, handing me a piece of bread she had found in one of the cupboards.
"Good morning," I replied, taking the bread and nibbling on it. "Thank you, Elara, for everything."
She gave me a reassuring smile. "We'll get through this. We'll find a way to contact His Majesty and let him know we're safe. But for now, we need to stay hidden and plan our next move."
I nodded, feeling a surge of determination. We had made it this far, and I wasn't going to give up now. I would find a way back to Titus, and together, we would face whatever challenges lay ahead.
Days passed as we stayed hidden in the cottage, gathering our strength and formulating a plan. Elara ventured out to gather supplies and news, always returning with snippets of information about the state of the palace and the ongoing battle. One evening as the sun set and cast a warm glow over the clearing, Ĕlara returned with urgent news. "My
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contact him and let him know where we are."
"Is that true, Elara? Then, I assume it's safe for us to go back to the palace."
"I believe so, my lady," she replied. "And I heard the royal guards are on their way here to pick us up," she added.
As if on cue, I heard cars arriving outside the cabin. My heart swelled with hope, and I practically ran outside. But my excitement was short-lived when I was greeted by armed men, their guns pointed at me. Standing in front of them was Beta Scott. "Lady Sage, we are here to escort you back to the palace and face the charges against you. You have the right to defend yourself in front of the council," Beta Scott announced, his voice firm and unyielding. "What?" I stammered, my heart pounding in my chest. "What charges?"
"You are hereby
Majesty," he replied.
I felt the ground shcused of treason and murder against His be a mistake! I would never harm Titus! I saved him!"
shift beneath me as panic set tin. "Th "This must
Beta Scott's expression remained stoic. "You can explain that to the council, my lady. For now, you must come with us."
Elara stepped forward,
orward, her face pale with shock. "Beta Scott, please, there must be some misunderstanding. Lady Sage has been loyal to His Majesty. She would never commit such crimes."
"We have our orders," he said, not wavering. "Lady Sage must be brought before the council to answer these charges."
Two guards stepped forward and seized me by the arms, their grips firm but not rough. I struggled against them, my mind racing. "Please, you have to believe me! I did nothing wrong!"
But i
t it was of no use. The guards led me to one of the cars, Elara trailing behind, her face etched with worry and fear. The journey back to the palace was a blur, my thoughts consumed by the impending trial and the potential consequences. Upon arrival, I was taken directly to a dimly lit chamber, the air thick with tension. The council members sat in a semi-circle, their faces grim. Beta Scott stood beside me as I was brought to the center of the room. "Lady Sage, you stand accused of treason and the attempted murder of King Titus," the head councilor intoned, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "How do you plead?"
"I plead not guilty," I declared, my voice steady despite my fear. "I did not attempt to murder the king. I saved him from great evil."
"Then, we will give you enough time to gather all the evidence to prove your innocence. Tomorrow, once the sun sets, we will convene with this hearing."ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
"Then, we will give you enough time to gather all the evidence to prove your innocence. Tomorrow, one
the sun sets, we will reconvene for this hearing," the heat councilorared, his voice leaving no room for
argument.
Beta Scott remained by my side, his expression unreadable. "Lady Sage, if there is anything more you haven't told us, now is the time," he said quietly, "I've told you everything," I replied, my voice filled with desperation. "Please, believe me."
He nodded, though his eyes held a flicker of doubt. "We'll see what the council decides."
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "Scott, please, I would like to request an audience with His Majesty, I don't know where these ridiculous charges originated, but I'm innocent. I need to talk to him." Scott Scoll lew a loud sigh, his shoulders sagging slightly. "I'll see what I can do, Lady Sage," he said, his tone softening. "But I can't make any promises. The king's condition is still uncertain, and the council's orders are strict." Please, Scott," !
"I implored, my eyes pleading. "If there's even a chance he can hear me, I have to take it."
t looked at me for a long moment, his gaze searching mine. Finally, he nodded. "I'll do my best. For now, you need to rest and gather your thoughts. You'll need all your strength for tomorrow's hearing."
He turned to the guards. "Escort Lady Sage to her quarters and ensure she is not disturbed," he instructed. The guards nodded and led me away, their grips firm but not unkind.
As I walked through the familiar halls of the palace, my mind raced with thoughts of Titus. I prayed that he was strong enough to come to my aid. The future felt precarious, and the weight of the accusations pressed heavily on my shoulders. in my quarters, I paced the room, my mind a whirlwind of fear and determination. I had to find a way to clear my name. Elara entered, her face lined with worry. "My lady, what happened?"
Back i
I explained everything to her, my voice trembling. She listened intently, her expression growing more concerned with each word.
"We'll figure this out," she said firmly. "We have to. There's no way you did what they accused you of. The truth will come out."
"I hope so," I whispered, sinking into a chair. "For now, we need to prepare. I need to find any piece of evidence that can prove my innocence."
Elara nodded. "I'll help you. We'll go through everything. Speak to everyone who might know something."