"No, leave me alone, mother!!" Ophelia screamed as two guards dragged her roughly across the hall.
Queen Faeloria and King Edward rushed forward and immediately knelt before Malum.
"Please forgive my daughter, Your Majesty. She does not know what she is doing," Queen Faeloria cried.
"Please spare her, Your Majesty," King Edward pleaded as well.
Celeste panicked when she saw how serious everything had become. Without thinking, she dropped to her knees.
"Please, Your Royal Highness… spare the princess," she begged softly.
Her voice trembled. She was still confused about what had happened, but she knew one thing
If Ophelia suffered because of her, her family could be in danger.
"You plead for them, Celeste?" Malum asked, his voice calmer than expected.
With a flick of his fingers, he signaled the guards to release Ophelia.
Ophelia yanked her arms away and glared furiously, her face red with humiliation.
"Thank you, Your Highness," the kneeling royals said and hurriedly rose to their feet.
Then, without warning, Malum pulled Celeste to his side.
Her back softly landed against his tall, warm, muscular chest.
Celeste gasped, frozen.
Ophelia's eyes widened in fury and walked towards them again.
"So this is who you are, Celeste?!" she shrieked. "Acting innocent just to seduce the king!"
The entire hall gasped.
"Everyone look!" Ophelia yelled. "This is my maid's true face! She pretends to be pure, but she's a slut!"
Celeste's eyes filled instantly with tears.
Everyone was staring at her, some in disbelief, some in disgust.
She slowly stepped away from Malum, shaking.
"Princess Ophelia… I swear, I don't know anything abou..."
SLAP!
The loud, sharp sound echoed across the entire hall as Ophelia's hand struck her face.
Celeste stumbled, holding her cheek.
Malum's expression turned deadly.
In one swift motion, he pulled Celeste tightly into his arms.
She could feel he was really angry and protective.
His arm wrapped around her waist as if shielding her from the world.
The guards instantly seized Ophelia again.
Everyone in the hall knew she had gone too far.
Even those who disliked Celeste lowered their heads, they would never dare provoke Malum.
Queen Faeloria and King Edward collapsed to their knees again, crying harder.
"Take her to the dungeon," Malum said coldly.
"She will face divine punishment for disrespecting the king"
Gasps. Panic. Whispering everywhere.
Malum didn't care.
He gently lifted Celeste's chin so he could see her face.
Her cheek was already turning red.
Without a word, he pulled her closer and guided her toward the stairs.
Celeste couldn't even resist. She was trembling too much...
from fear, from shock…
and from the strange warmth of his arms wrapped around her.
The hall erupted into chaos as they disappeared from view.
Queen Ravenna stormed toward Viktor.
"You, explain to me what just happened!!" she snapped.
Ophelia was dragged out, screaming and thrashing.
"Mother! Father! Don't let them take me!! Mother, please!!"
Alina stood frozen, still processing the chaos.
A part of her was secretly pleased to see Ophelia fall…
but another part was unsettled by how the king had suddenly chosen a maid.