CHAPTER 57: ENCOUNTER WITH THE QUEEN

WARNING ‼️‼️

Lumina walked slowly toward her chamber doors, one hand clutching the side of her robe. Her back still ached from earlier, her palm throbbed from Aurelia’s boot, but she kept her head high. Stella walked beside her, worried, her eyes watching every movement.

Just as Lumina reached for the handle, a palace guard stepped forward and bowed low.

"My lady," he said quietly, "Her Highness is already inside your room."

Stella tensed at this, why go into her lady’s room just like that without giving her any damn face?

"Let me go in with you..."

"No," Lumina interrupted gently, placing a hand over hers.

"Wait outside and no matter what you hear... don’t come in."

"My lady..."

"That’s an order, Stella."

Stella stepped back reluctantly, bowing low as Lumina walked inside.

She could sense the stress the moment the door shut behind her.

Lumina could feel the presence and perceive the scent of Queen Sephora.

She stepped forward slowly and curtsied deeply. "Welcome, Your Highness."

Before she could rise, a sudden hand slapped across her face and the sound rang loudly.

Lumina lost her balance and fell to her knees. Her face stung as her fingers touched her cheek in shock.

"What..."

Before she could finish, lightning from Queen Sephora slammed into her chest. She was knocked backward, landing hard on the floor.

"You shameful girl," Queen Sephora spat. "You have broken the sacred customs and laid with Prince Ashen, haven’t you?"

Lumina struggled to sit up, her hands shaking more horrified than getting a news even herself is aware of nothing about.

"I haven’t... I would never.."

"Lies!" the queen shouted, interrupting her. "You pretend to be gentle, but all I see is a snake in a gown."

"I swear to you, Your Highness"

"I will see for myself." Queen Sephora turned toward her waiting maids.

"Check if she is still pure." Lumina’s heart dropped. Her breath caught in her throat.

"No," she whispered. "Please... no."

Two tall women stepped forward, their both hands cold and firm as they grabbed her arms.

Lumina began to panic, hoping it wasn’t what she was thinking they were planning to do.

"Don’t touch me! I am still pure!" she shouted, trying to pull away.

But they forced her toward the edge of the bed. Her gown was yanked roughly to her hips. She could hear the queen’s footsteps circling the room as she was pinned down.

"I haven’t done anything," she cried, struggling. "Please, Your Highness.. this is not right..."

Her legs were spread, her lower gown removed. She felt the cold sting of oiled fingers against her most private place.

It hurt like shit and her body resisted. Their intrusion was not gentle; they were so rough, as if they wanted to punish her while checking her. She gritted her teeth and fought back sobs.

"She is untouched, Your Highness. She is still pure."

"What?" Sephora snapped.

"She is clean. Her body has not been defiled."

"Check again." Queen Sephora ordered not believing it since Lady Freya had sent the news to her.

The second maid checked her once more, and Lumina screamed softly, her hands gripping the bedsheets. The pain was real. It felt kike her dignity was being strip of us.

"She’s pure," the maid repeated firmly.

Lumina lay there, shaking, as they pulled her gown back down and stepped away.

Queen Sephora stood still now her silence was louder than shouting.

"I told you the truth," Lumina whispered.

"You dare speak back to me?" Queen Sephora hissed, turning back to her.

"You are nothing but a clever actress." she added.

"I have done nothing wrong," Lumina said weakly. "But if you still want me punished... then go ahead." Her words only made Queen Sephora furious..

"You are trying to challenge me in my court?" Sephora snapped. "Strip her back and strike her twenty lashes. Do it now!"

"No!" Lumina tried to stand, but her limbs gave out beneath her.

Two more maids came forward and they pulled the upper part of her gown down to her waist. Her back was bare. The bruises from earlier were still fresh.

Then came the cane.

Crack!

The first hit made her bite her lip.

Crack!

The second cut into her skin.

Crack!

She squeezed her eyes shut beneath the blindfold, her fingers gripping the bedsheets again.

Crack!

Tears slipped silently from the corners of her eyes, but her lips never opened.

Each strike opened her skin, blood rising slowly to the surface.

Sephora watched in silence as she keenly observed Lumina Ho refused to break in front of them.

By the time the twentieth lash struck, Lumina was barely holding herself up.

Her back bled with gervbreath was shallow and gown was soaked in sweat.

"That is enough for today," Queen Sephora finally let out. "Next time you dare speak back to me, I will double it."

She stepped closer and leaned down.

"And if you breathe a word of this to Prince Ashen... I will make sure you’re dragged back to the Celestial Realm in chains."

Then, she turned and walked out without another word. As soon as the door clicked shut, Stella rushed in.

She gasped when she saw Lumina.

"My lady!"

She dropped to her knees, eyes wide in horror. Lumina’s back was torn and bloody. Her gown was half off her body, her face streaked with tears.

"Why did she do this?" Stella’s voice broke. She ran to shut the door and then wrapped her arms gently around her lady.

Lumina stood slowly, her body shaking. She didn’t look at Stella’s way.

"Take me to the spring."

"My lady..."

"Now."

Stella obeyed without asking again to help her to the spring room. The moment they arrived, Lumina stepped into the water fully clothed.

The warm water reached her waist, soaking her bruises. She closed her eyes, her blindfold now soaked. Her lips trembled.

Stella stood at the edge, trembling.

"My lady... let’s tell Prince Ashen. You can’t bear this alone."

"No one must tell him nor Ero. He is busy tonight, and wouldn’t want a distraction."

"But..."

Lumina turned her face slightly, her voice giving no room for familiarity.

"I said no one should alert him."

Stella bowed quickly without any more argument as she had never heard her lady speak that way before.