Snow White's Crown

Chapter 09 Kiera

I watched intently, my eyes narrowed as my food taster brought the small morsel to his mouth. The room was heavy with silence, my pulse quickening with the tension that lingered in the air. Every single meal, no matter how insignificant, was now a matter of life or death. And yet, here I was, relying on someone else to test it for me, trusting that the precautions in place were enough.

He chewed slowly, his eyes darting nervously as he swallowed. The seconds ticked by like an eternity. Finally, he wiped his mouth and handed my plate back to me with a small bowl, his face carefully neutral. "There is nothing wrong with it, your highness," he said, his voice steady, but I could sense the unease beneath his calm exterior.

I released a breath I didn't realize I had been holding and sank back into the soft cushions of my bed, the weight of constant suspicion still heavy on my shoulders. "Take him away," | ordered Jude, my tone clipped.

She bowed gracefully, her usual composed demeanour never wavering. Her small frame moved across the room, gently guiding the taster out. The door clicked shut behind them, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the food that sat waiting on the wooden makeshift bed table.

I wanted to feel at ease, but I couldn't shake the sense of dread that had settled over me like a cloud ever since that physician had spoken the words "poisoned." I had been careful, so careful, taking the antidote religiously, having every meal tested, scrutinizing every face that entered my chambers. And yet, no one had uncovered the culprit. No one had found a single clue. That nagging question haunted me-who had dared to poison me, the heir to Verdentia? Whoever it was, they had managed to slip through the cracks of my meticulous defences, and that thought infuriated me.

I sighed heavily, picking up the silver fork and knife, cutting into the meal before me. My eyes flickered to the plate, a perfectly roasted piece of chicken that smelled tantalizingly delicious, paired with a crisp salad and fresh apple juice to wash it down. I had been so cautious, so careful. Surely, there was nothing to worry about now. led survived the worst, hadn't l?

I took a sip of the juice, the tart sweetness filling my mouth, and then speared a piece of chicken with my fork.

As I raised it to my lips, a nagging thought crept into my mind-a reminder that I couldn't truly trust anyone, not fully. Not even Jude. But I pushed it aside, determined to regain some semblance of normalcy.

The chicken tasted as good as it smelled-juicy and well-seasoned, the Flavors dancing on my tongue. I chewed slowly, savouring it. But as I swallowed, something caught in my throat. I coughed once, lightly at first, but then harder, more violently. My hand flew to my mouth, my lungs burning as I tried to clear whatever was lodged in my throat.

When I finally pulled my hand away from my mouth, my breath caught in my chest.

Blood.

Bright, vivid red blood stained my palm, stark against my pale skin. For a moment, I was frozen, staring in disbelief. The air seemed to grow colder, the room spinning ever so slightly as panic began to swell in my chest.

No. No, this couldn't be happening. I had taken the antidote. I had been careful-so careful. How could this be happening again?

I tried to cough again, but more blood bubbled up, spilling from my lips. My vision blurred at the edges, a sudden wave of dizziness overtaking me. The plate of food clattered to the floor as my hands trembled uncontrollably. I couldn't breathe properly; each cough brought up more blood, staining the pristine white sheets with splatters of crimson.

My heart pounded wildly, fear seeping into every corner of my mind. Someone had poisoned me again, and this time, it felt worse, much worse.

I clutched at the bedpost, struggling to stay upright, the coppery taste of blood filling my mouth. My breaths came in ragged gasps, my body trembling as I tried to make sense of what was happening. Who did this? The question screamed in my mind, but there was no time to think.