“I’ll accept the punishment,” Alora declared, stunning Magnus with her unexpected decision.
“We will leave Velaris,” Magnus intervened, “and will never return.”
“Prince Magnus, don’t say that!” Queen Margaret objected to his decision. “You aren’t allowed to leave the capital,” she stated.
“Why? My family doesn’t care for true justice. How is it Alora’s fault? Punish Venus for involving Alora in her matter. As a sister, Alora wished to protect Venus. I’ll not let the King punish my wife,” Magnus said adamantly. He had yet to confront his father, who intentionally wanted all this to happen. However, he wanted Byron to leave first.
King Esmond glanced at Byron. “You should leave. The matter is already solved,” he instructed.
Byron bowed and left the court while now, only the royal family was left behind.
“Father, there is no need to punish Alora. She only wanted to protect her younger sister. Please forgive her this time,” Alaric humbly requested this time.
Margaret looked at the King and then at Magnus. She didn’t wish her son to leave again for years.
“Father, since only the family members are here, why don’t you tell me why Father gave out the order to Eugene?” Magnus queried. “I’m aware of my father’s thoughts. So, he should refrain from lying,” Magnus confronted his father directly.
“Magnus, don’t speak like this with your father,” Queen Margaret reprimanded him.
“Fine. I won’t if Father let Alora go without any punishment,” Magnus stated.
King Esmond clenched his fists while keeping his eyes straight on Alora.
“Leave. If I find you involved in any matter the next time, I will give you a death sentence, Alora. You aren’t allowed to speak with either Izaak or Alaric or Lillian. You cannot meet your family either. Magnus cannot take you out and close markets for you. If I find any kind of disruptions, I won’t give a second thought in punishing you both!” King Esmond announced his decision.
“Izaak, return to the palace. You’re no longer to reside in their home,” he added, cementing his decision.
Alora bowed her head, silently accepting the King’s decree. Her eyes glistened with tears, feeling as though her small glimmer of independence had been extinguished.
“Alora will not comply with those orders,” Magnus declared firmly. “Why should she be condemned to such a life?” His brow furrowed in frustration and determination.
“Magnus, I told you to stay silent!” Margaret admonished her son, but he refused to heed her words.
“Why should I stay silent? I despise the laws you both have imposed. Have either of you bothered to try to understand me? Alora will do as she pleases and no one can stop her, not even the King.”
Alora was taken aback by the realization that even in her darkest time, only Magnus stood by her, ready to fight for her. In a world trying to drag her down, Magnus was the one extending a hand to lift her up.
“Bring Norman in. Let’s hear what he has to say on this,” King Esmond wasn’t ready to bend either. He thought Norman would not be needed, but it seemed Magnus would not stay quiet until Alora was pressed down.
Norman walked into the court and bowed to the King. Along with him was present Venus too.
“Greetings to Your Majesty,” Norman bowed to the King and the Queen while Venus curtsied them.
“Norman, do you think Alora should remain in the open? Prince Magnus claims that she should freely do everything she desires. What does a father say on this? A father who took care of Alora since the time of her birth, despite her strange eyes,” King Esmond demanded answers from Norman.
Alora hoped that her father would stand for her since was no longer a burden to him. She was even married now.
“Because of her, Venus is now a widow. I don’t think Alora, who is now a Princess, should be allowed to freely roam. The reason why I kept her inside the four walls was because she always used to bring trouble for me and my family! Your Majesty, she’s not born to have everything she desires. The cursed eyes of hers have always been a trouble for everyone and until she is alive, they will bring trouble,” Norman proclaimed.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her father didn’t understand her even after she got married and tried being a good daughter.
King Esmond’s smile slightly as he listened to Norman’s response. He knew that Norman had never regarded Alora as a daughter, which explained his lack of support for her. To Norman, Alora had always been a burden.
With vampire speed, Magnus swiftly closed the distance between himself and Norman, gripping him tightly by the collar. “You are undeserving of a daughter like Alora. I should have ended you last night as well,” Magnus growled through gritted teeth, his grip on Norman’s coat tightening.
“Prince Magnus, please release him,” Alora pleaded softly.
Magnus shoved Norman away, causing him to tumble to the ground from the force of the vampiric strength exerted upon him. “Alora, he doesn’t deserve to live. He’s the one responsible for all your suffering,” Magnus reminded her, his tone filled with conviction. Alora’s command was all it took for Magnus to subject Norman to the pain he had inflicted upon her.
“Venus, do you have the same thoughts as our Father?” Alora inquired, her voice tinged with uncertainty, seeking to ascertain if Venus had once again toyed with her emotions.
“Sister Alora should not have commanded Prince Magnus to kill Eugene,” Venus said while helping Norman stand up.
Izaak chuckled bitterly at Venus’s response. Just as he had foreseen in his vision, Venus had betrayed Alora. It was the first time in his long existence as a vampire that Izaak felt genuine sympathy for someone. Alora was truly alone. Apart from Magnus, there seemed to be no one else who cared for her.
“Do you honestly believe I would ever ask Prince Magnus to do such a thing? He was trying to help you. He saved you from Eugene last night,” Alora stated, her voice laced with disappointment. She now understood that Venus had never regarded her as an elder sister.
“Father instructed Prince Magnus not to interfere. Yet, it appears he was determined to eliminate Eugene because of you,” Venus remarked coldly.
“Is it so wrong for Prince Magnus to defend me? My own family despises me. If there’s one person who loves me, you all are determined to paint him as guilty,” Alora exclaimed, her voice cracking as she broke down. She reached for her blindfold, sending a wave of fear through everyone present in the court.
“Alora, do not remove the blindfold,” King Esmond ordered firmly. When she persisted, two soldiers swiftly moved to restrain her on the King’s orders.
However, before the soldiers could reach her, they were forcefully repelled by an unseen energy emanating from Alora. The blindfold slipped from her hand, and as she opened her eyes, a brilliant blue shimmer enveloped them.
That scene was enough to bring shock to everyone’s face. How could Alora possess such a power?
“I have never used the power of my eyes on anyone, and I never will. But as for this blindfold, I refuse to wear it any longer. I expect all of you to lower your gaze in my presence,” Alora declared boldly, then turned to face Venus.
Venus was visibly frightened and quickly lowered her eyes. “Sister Alora, you shouldn’t-“
“I am no longer your sister, nor do I belong to the Wilson Family,” Alora interrupted, her voice resonating with her anguish. “Don’t ever come to me. As for the Mother, she is free to see me and I’ll also see my mother whenever I please,” Alora stated.
“Are you trying to threaten us now?” King Esmond growled. He wanted to show his supreme authority and a human could not challenge him like this.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.