Dydra paced back and forth in Leonard's bedroom. Her hands were in her hair, as she kept wondering why Oryen will set something so bad for her. The sun was just rising, which means Oryen would just be arriving at the castle. She wanted to go find her real badly and confront her, but she doesn't know her way around. Coupled with her fit people will quick to notice her, thereby bring bad rumours.
A light knock on the door was quick to catch her attention. She froze. Who was there? Does the person know she is there or was the person there for the nobleman? She wondered what to do. Her ocean blue eyes searched around the room for somewhere she could hide, but that thought flew when she heard her name from the other end of the door.
"Dydra," the voice came as a whisper. "He sent me here to assist you."
Dydra didn't move. Her heart pounced against her chest as she wondered if the "he" the person was referring to was the nice elite.
Her body immediately jerked, when she heard the doorknob twist. Before she could lunch forward to shut the door, it opened and she saw a farmilar face step in, with a dress in her arm. The person was none other than Megan.
Leonard had compelled a random maid, which happened to be Megan, to not ask any questions, and to go to his room, with a maid's uniform and to hand it to the girl that was there. Claiming "he" told her to do so. He compelled her to give the red-haired girl a tour and to stay with her until she was very familiar with the castle settings.
Leonard didn't want Dydra to know who he was, at least not yet. He wanted to study her, to see the type of person she is.
"Hello, Dydra." Megan greeted with a soft smile on her lips.
Dydra's eyes widened in pure panic and she locked the door. Locking eyes with Megan, she asked.
"What are your doing here?" Her eyes were widened, as she wondered if her cover was blown.
"Didn't you hear me the first time, silly? He sent me here." She answered, still maintaining the smile on her face.
Dydra had heard it the first time, but she just wanted to confirm if what she heard was correct.
"Who is this "he" you're referring to?" She narrowed her eyes at Megan.
"The tall handsome dark-skinned Lord. He said to give this to the little fox in his room." Magan stated. When the young witch heard "little fox" she knew it was Leonard and breath a sigh of relief.
"Here." Megan handed the red-haired girl the maid's uniform, before informing. "He said you should change into this."
Dydra took it and Megan immediately turned around, giving Dydra privacy to change.
After Dydra changed to the maid's dress, she transferred the heart-shaped locket and the hummingbird seal into the pocket, before following Megan out. They immediately headed to the kitchen and began their work.
Dydra kept looking around, checking if she could spot Oryen anywhere, but she didn't. It made her wonder if the woman was avoiding her on purpose.
Sandra walked in and sent both she, Megan, and another maid to the town square to get, Princess Naiya, a few things. They went to retrieve a pair of shoes for the princess. Dydra and Megan stood outside the shop, as the other maid went to get it, as the shop owners said she doesn't want lowly maids entering her shop, as it would drive out the elite customers.
They both stood outside in silence, with their heads down, so as not to make eye contact with any elite, as most were there.
There was a sudden roar of cheers that caught both girls attention. They saw a crowd of people behind three guards. Two were holding up a chained man, while the other was leading the way. She saw them stop at a giant oak tree. The two guards tied the man to the tree, in a way that his face was pressed against the tree bark, with his limbs tied around. They ripped his shirt open revealing his bare back. A rope was tied in around his mouth, preventing him from making a sound.
The first guard held up a scroll stamped with the royal seal, and read the words out loud for the people.
"This man has been subjected to a hundred lashes for accusing our Crown Prince Leonard of treason without evidence. This punishment was ordered by the Prince himself!"
Murmurs immediately filled the crowd. "How dare he accuse our Crown Prince?! Make it a thousand lashes!" A man from the crowd yelled, earning cheers from his fellow people.
A small frown formed on Dydra's face as she has never experienced a thing like this. Isn't it in the rule book of Weathbrow to have freedom of speech? Why was the prince so cruel?! She saw the first guard pull out a whip from his waist, and raised it up, with a huge smile on his face. His actions earned a loud cheer from the audience. He held the whip tight, and lashed it on the man's back.
"One!" The crowd screamed with excitement. Benedict eyes were filled with tears, as he bit tightly on the thick rope around his mouth. His back stung, as the guard continued to whip him. He cursed the crown prince in his heart along with the guards and the people cheering.
Dydra stood stiff as her eyes were fixed on the bloody back of the man. How can humanity be so cruel cheering on such a thing.
"I hope he survives." She unconsciously said. Megan, whose attention was on the man getting punishment, heard this and turned to Dydra.
"He cannot survive. No one has ever survived a hundred lashes. That's the consequences of speaking against the Crown Prince." She said as she glared at the man.
Dydra shook her head in disagreement. "Don't we have freedom of speech? Isn't the Crown Prince doing too much? Is the King aware of this?" Her heart ached, and she turned her blue eyes away from Benedict. She couldn't take it.
Megan's eyes widened and she looked around to make sure no one heard what the red-head said.
"Don't say that, you'd get into trouble." She said with alot of worry in her eyes. Dydra didn't respond, her eyes going back to the man. Both she and Benedict's eyes locked, and she could see the pain in his eyes.
If Benedict was not human—perhaps a vampire or werewolf, the whip would've contained wooden properties or wolfsbane.