Moon of Misfortunes

21

At first, my heart pounded in my chest, the adrenaline still coursing through me despite the hours that had passed. As the tumultuous sounds of yelling gradually faded, the air around me became eerily quiet, almost suffocating. I rested my head against the cool stone wall of the storage nook and let out a long, shuddering sigh. The darkness that surrounded me had become familiar, as had the dusty smell that now seemed to permeate my senses. Despite the passing of time, I found a strange calmness settling over me, a brief respite amid chaos.

Eventually, the heavy silence was broken by the unmistakable sound of the door unlocking and creaking open slowly. Footsteps echoed off the stone walls as they entered the room, each step reverberating in the confined space. They stopped abruptly after a few beats, and then a voice rang out—Rubio's voice.

"Everything is okay, Adaline. You can come out," he said, his tone gentle yet urgent.

I pushed the doorway open with my legs and crawled out, feeling the stiffness in my limbs from being cramped in such a small space for so long. Rising to my feet, I brushed off the dust and cobwebs that clung to my clothes. Rubio and Rosia stood before me, their presence bringing a mixture of relief and uncertainty. I raised an eyebrow at Rosia, still grappling with the revelations and emotions swirling inside me.

"We took care of the Council," Rosia spoke calmly, gesturing between herself and Rubio. "They are no more."

I nodded in appreciation, though questions burned at the forefront of my mind. Rosia eyed me carefully, her gaze searching as if trying to gauge my condition.

"You seem to have healed rather nicely," she remarked, her tone neutral yet observant.

I nodded again, acknowledging the statement. Curiosity surged through me as I studied Rosia's features, her resemblance to me now painfully evident.

"I have questions," I finally said, my voice betraying a mix of hurt and confusion.

"And I have answers," Rosia replied quickly, her demeanor steady but guarded.

I looked to Rubio, seeking reassurance, and found it in his encouraging smile.

"Obviously, we are sisters, but why would you let me face execution for something you did?" I asked, unable to keep the tremor from my voice. Rosia's frown deepened. 

"It wasn't my intention to let you face execution, Adaline. I didn't even know about you being here until after the trial. Rumor had it you were alive, living here in the palace."

I crossed my arms, skepticism etching my face. 

"And the Queen? You attacked her. Your people killed her. How does that fit into your plan?"

Rosia's eyes darkened momentarily. 

"The Queen was part of the corruption. She knew about the Council's plans and did nothing to stop them. Her death was a message to anyone who would abuse their power."

"How?" I pressed.

"I had infiltrated the royal guards, embedding my people deep within their ranks," Rosia explained. "I orchestrated the attack on the Queen to expose her involvement with the corrupt Council. It was meant to provoke a reaction, to force them to reveal themselves."

"But why involve me? Why put me at risk?" I demanded, my voice tinged with anger and betrayal.

Rosia sighed heavily. "I never intended for you to be caught in the crossfire. When I found out you were targeted, it was too late to intervene directly. My plan was to eliminate the Queen and rescue you before the execution."

"But you didn't," I said bitterly.

"I know," Rosia admitted, her voice tinged with regret. "I only learned about your situation when you filed for an appeal and the court summoned the Queen. By then, it was chaos. I couldn't risk exposing myself prematurely."