Matter of Honour (Slow Updates)

Chapter 1

Dark... 

That's the only think I can see. And it makes the whole situation ten times scarier for me. The only thing I can hear is the heavy sound of the royal guards' boots roaming around the house and the beats of my racing heart. I'm so careful not to make a sound as I try to curl more into my hiding spot.

"Come out you paltry woman" I heard one of them shouting with pure anger and disgust in his voice. They're getting closer. Maybe the laundry closet wasn't the ideal place to hide.

I heard them opening cabinets and breaking stuff in an effort to find me. The sound of heavy steps and voices grew louder, until I knew they were here. Only a thin door separating us. My heart was pounding so hard in my chest, that even the guards could hear it if they were more quiet.

Suddenly the small door bursts open and two guards are facing me. Having no other solution I wrap my hands around my body and try to control my tears.

"Please. Please don't hurt me" I cried as they grab my elbows and drag me towards the front door.

I kept yelling, begging them to stop but that only made them angrier.

"Shut your mouth you bloody murderer" And then I felt the guard's hand slapping me hard enough for me to momentarily lose my balance.

Some passersby had already stopped to see what's going on and most of the neighbors were gossiping. Some of them were shamelessly reproaching me, while some of the women I knew were spitting on me.

I tried to ask for help but no matter how much I pleaded, I only faced their hate and insulting comments.

"Bloody murderer" "Witch" "You deserve to be hanged"

Those cruel words came from people I knew, and that made the tears run down my face like waterfalls.

The walk from the house to the vehicle was short, though with the crowd around me yelling it seemed like an eternity. The guards pushed me inside the carriage and locked the door. When I felt the vehicle moving, a sigh of relief left my lips, for I didn't have to face the hell outside; it didn't take long for me to start sobbing again.

The ride to our destination was short. It was the first time that I got this close to the palace.

I know the procedure for the criminals. First, they are kept in the palace's jail until the litigation and if they are found guilty they spend the rest of their time in prison until their execution or until the sentence is served. And unfortunately in my case I believe it's the first option.

We pass the main gate and albeit I can't see much from the small carriage window, I am aware that we're passing through the royal garden. For all I can see, the jail is placed on the backside of the castle. One thing I can say for sure; this place is massive.

When the ride comes to an end, one of the guards takes me to the entrance where another one, dark haired around my age, awaits. The new guard leads me inside the castle. The interior of the building is impressive, though the way that leads to the cells is not as trim and fancy as the rest of the palace might be. I cannot observe much though, I keep my head down in fear of what's to come. We take some turns and wander around some corridors and I can't help feeling terrified as we're getting close to the cells. There are only two of them, one opposite from the other and they are big enough to fit seven people each.

The guard pushes me in and locks the gate behind me. I raise my head for the first time since we entered the building only to see two men looking at me. The one is in his mid-fifties while the other is – to my surprise – a teenager. I try to ignore their stares and take a seat near the door.

"She's here for a day or so. I want you two to behave. I'll be standing right there" said the dark haired guard and at the last part he was looking at me. Possibly he noticed how scared I look and said this to reassure me. He seems more understanding than the others who arrested me.

"Did you steal?" the boy asks me.

In my condition I can't form a word. I just stare up at him. When I don't answer he continues, "because I did. That's why I'm here" I do nothing, just nod my head slightly. He takes that as a clue that I'm not willing to talk and leaves me alone.

Having nothing else to do, I lay down on the bench I'm sitting, resting my head on my hands. I wish all of this madness was just a dream, a nightmare from where I could wake up from and continue my life like every other girl my age. But I guess that's the price of protecting yourself.

And with thoughts like that I fell fast asleep, praying for the time I'll spend here to be as uneventful as it can be.

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A/n

|Hi guys. So that's my new story. Thank you for checking it out ♡|