Chapter 11: Soiled
Chapter 11
"Faelyn!"
Faelyn's head tilts up when Amiral walks into the rotting room - the tiny, cramped storage space where her mother used to live.
Amiral stops at the doorway, the stench of decay and moldy herbs too strong for her to step closer. Sickness rises in her throat as she stares in disgust at how Faelyn can sit so comfortably on the damp, moldy floor.
'Well, she's just as filthy as this wretched place. This dump suits a mongrel perfectly,' she thinks with cruel satisfaction, covering her nose while staying safely by the door.
"You shouldn't have challenged Father so openly. What were you thinking, speaking so disrespectfully?"
Faelyn doesn't respond. Several ribs are cracked, and her arms hang strangely from Prince Orden's brutal beating. Oddly, it doesn't hurt as much as it should. She wonders if the dragon mark on her neck has something to do with it.
"Disrespectful? My mother died because of them. You want me to stay silent?"
"You could have been killed! I barely managed to save you last time!"
Faelyn turns away bitterly. First Juta with his false concern, now Amiral. She no longer cares what happens to her. Her eyes are raw from crying. She just wants to waste away in this misery.
"Your mother would want you to live," Amiral says, as if reading her thoughts.
"Like this? I don't think so."
'If your pathetic life is so unbearable, then just die already and spare us all!' Amiral thinks with savage joy. She's punished both Faelyn and Juta perfectly for their betrayal, and seeing them both destroyed fills her heart with satisfaction.
Now she just wants to get rid of this worthless creature. Once Faelyn dies, Juta will forget about the mongrel completely and focus on what matters - building a future with his princess.
Their wedding is in three days.
Faelyn buries her face in her knees. No matter how much pain she endures, she cannot die… not yet.
Her only friend, Daela, is still locked away, and despite trying desperately, Faelyn hasn't been allowed to see her. Daela suffers because of her, because of the choice she made. How can she die peacefully knowing this?
Faelyn knows Amiral isn't entirely to blame - her help had seemed real - but she deeply regrets trusting her. The regret eats at her heart like acid, remembering how she'd convinced her mother to believe in escape, only to lead her to such a lonely death.
She wants everyone involved to pay for what her mother suffered, but revenge is impossible for a weak half-blood slave. Pure-bloods are untouchable. Their kingdom follows strength, not justice.
"I need your help with this," Faelyn says quietly, her fingers shaking around a small jar containing her mother's ashes.
"Can you scatter her by the sea? She always dreamed of seeing the ocean just once… You know I can't leave this place. Will you do this one thing for me?" She struggles to her feet. Scattering ashes should be done by family, but since she's forbidden to leave, she prays her mother's spirit will forgive her.
"I will make sure your mother finds eternal peace," Amiral whispers with false gentleness, her voice sweet as honey hiding venom.
Faelyn holds the jar to her heart one last time, fresh tears flowing down her bruised face.
'I'm sorry, Mother. I should never have convinced you to try running away. I'm so sorry. A good daughter shouldn't cause her mother's death. I hope your soul finds the freedom I couldn't give you,' she weeps, placing the jar in Amiral's waiting hands.
"You're so strong, Faelyn. If I were you, I would just choose to die rather than suffer like this." Faelyn's tear-filled eyes meet Amiral's seemingly caring gaze, her words cutting into her broken soul like sharpened blades.
"You'll just be a pathetic slave for the rest of your life. Don't suffer like your mother did. I'm saying this because I truly worry about you… So if you ever want to end it all, just tell me. I'll give you an easy way out."
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Amiral sits like a queen in her chambers while servants work on her appearance. She's tried on her wedding dress countless times - not even the smallest flaw can be allowed on her special day.
"If your mother were alive today, she would be so proud. You look absolutely beautiful," one servant says adoringly.
Amiral smiles, gazing lovingly at her reflection. She looks perfect… almost.
"I got a new cosmetic today. I'm so excited to try it," Amiral brings out the small jar with dramatic flair.
"It's incredibly rare. I heard that ash made from human bones creates the most beautiful, long-lasting eye color. Something about their pure heritage makes it… special."
The servant goes pale, unsure if Amiral is serious. She herself has some human blood and feels sick.
"Take it and apply it carefully," Amiral commands. The servant's hands shake as she takes the brush, clearly terrified.
"A perfect mix of my enemy's tears, bones, and flesh. Now I'll be the most beautiful princess in the entire kingdom," Amiral purrs with twisted pleasure as the smoky ash darkens her eyes.
Suddenly, Juta storms in and Amiral waves the servants away. Her radiant smile turns cold when she sees the murderous fury in his eyes.
SLAP!
The sharp sound of his hand hitting her face echoes through the room like thunder. Amiral's eyes flash with shock, then burning shame, then explosive rage. He's never dared strike her before. Has he forgotten who she is?!
"HOW DARE YOU!" she screams like a wild animal.
"Prince Mordered told me everything! You made me think Faelyn left because of me!" Juta spits with barely controlled fury.
"Ah…" Amiral's beautiful face twists with ugly, demonic rage. "So this is about that worthless mongrel…?"
Why couldn't her stupid brother keep quiet?
"How can you be so cruel? You convinced her to run just to trap her?"
"She's a SLAVE! A mongrel! Why should her pathetic life matter? You hit me - a PRINCESS - because of her! I'm your future wife, your future queen! She's nothing but living garbage! A worthless half-breed!" Amiral screams with volcanic fury, stepping closer aggressively, her eyes showing no remorse or humanity.
"Do you still love that filthy creature? I heard she was used like breeding cattle for nearly a full day!" Amiral throws back her head and laughs like a mad witch when she sees rage flare in Juta's eyes.
"That savage beast filled her so completely that they think his seed might take root in her mongrel belly! Will you still want such a contaminated, disgusting thing?" She cackles madly in his face. Juta's hands clench into fists, ready to hit her again, and Amiral steps even closer boldly, her poisonous words meant to cause maximum pain.
"Will you beat me - a PRINCESS - because your precious little whore was used like the worthless trash she's always been? Now you'll never think of her without remembering how that dragon beast took her like an animal and left that disgusting mark burned on her neck like livestock!"
She's completely lost her mind, Juta realizes with horror, seeing the absolutely crazed, evil glint burning in Amiral's eyes. He wants to destroy everything in sight, but it changes nothing. Amiral is right - when he saw Faelyn earlier, the terrible memories of the dragon's claiming burned in his mind like fire.
With a roar of frustrated rage, Juta sweeps everything from Amiral's dresser to the floor in an explosive crash. His eyes catch the scattered grey ash mixing with broken cosmetics. What is she doing with dirt in her room?
"Everything is YOUR fault! Because you refused to love me, I had to do all that to her! I'm not evil by nature - it's YOU who turned me into this monster!" Amiral screams with unhinged fury.
How can he possibly marry this completely mad, power-crazed princess? Maybe it's not too late. He can still call off the wedding, let them go separate ways. At least his sanity might be saved.
Juta looks up when Amiral suddenly cups his face with false gentleness. She rises on her toes as if to kiss him sweetly, but her eyes burn with pure evil as she leans close to whisper poison in his ear.
"If you don't marry me, you'll become nothing. Everything you've worked for your whole life will crumble to dust. Your rank, your position, your future - all destroyed. Can you really afford to lose everything for a disgusting, used, half-blood slave? Think very carefully before making any decision that will completely destroy your future."
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