Then continue whipping

Sounds of a whip crackling in the air followed by loud cries filled the courtyard as several men were whipped in front of a crowd of people.

Crown Prince Roan was sitting in the shade covering his eyes with his fingers like he was exhausted.

He wasn't feeling well but his resentment towards his father and Queen Rhea drove him to sit here and watch this punishment executed to the very end.

He wanted to see Queen Rhea suffer as she watched her only surviving family member whipped. After what she did to Freya this should be punishment enough.

As expected Queen Rhea was anxiously clutching her handkerchief at the edge of her seat. When her niece's dress was soaked in blood she couldn't help turning to Roan her voice brittle.

"Crown Prince Roan please stop. This is inhumane. This law is barbaric," she said having forgotten that she was the one who used the same law to punish Freya for something she didn't do.

"It was humane when you used the same law to punish one of the contenders, wasn't it?" answered Roan in a sarcastic tone.

"How is this punishment equivalent? I made her kneel a little yet you whipped my niece till she is bloodied," she said her eyes as red as blood. She looked like a beast ready to tear him up.

Roan rubbed his temple while saying, "How many men are your dearest niece involved with? How could it compare?"

Queen Rhea's body was trembling in anger as she glared at him angrily.

"Your Highness, have mercy."

"Your Highness, mercy please."

The sounds of plea filled the air as some of the elders bowed. They were afraid that if Roan went too far one of the nobles may die and rumours of him being a tyrant would only be solidified.

"Son," called out King Kian and Roan raised his hand. An eerie silence ensued as Roan opened his eyes.

"How about this? Shave her head and sent her off to the convent up in the mountains for the next ten years. One year for each family she ruined. As for the nobles they should walk around with plaques around their necks for the next ten years stating their lustful deeds. Aren't I benevolent?"

Chaos ensued as the nobles voiced their refusal. Roan didn't need to discuss anything with anyone thus he said, "Then continue whipping."

"We accept, we accept."

"W-we accept."

Roan stood up and walked towards the woman who was bowling her eyes in pain. He stretched out his hand and one of his men handed him a dagger.

When she saw this, Queen Rhea tried to get up but King Kian grabbed her arm and stopped her.

Roan grabbed her long hair and cut it with one swoosh. He handed the dagger back while saying, "Cut the rest of it off. She should remain bald for the next ten years."

The man nodded his head and proceeded to cut her hair off. Her tear-stained face looked hideous but she garnered no sympathy from anyone.

Ten minutes later, Queen Rhea was throwing things in anger. Her husband who was having a headache couldn't help but say, "Calm down."

"Calm down? You favour him so much and let him do as he pleases. If the nobles decide to revolt then what? He is unhinged and should be stripped of his title as crown prince!"

King Kian grabbed her arm and pulled her close before saying, "You don't understand. It isn't that simple. He is the one keeping our enemies and the bandits at bay. The moment he is stripped of his title what would stop them from coming into plunder?"

It seemed he realised the value of Roan. Without his ruthless reputation, they might have already lost a huge chunk of the borderlands.

As to why it wasn't him that they feared it was because of the prophecy spread over their borders which was that the one who kills the King of Odasal and drinks his blood will gain immense power.

This rumour led some of their enemies to risk everything to cross their borders and kill him. How this rumour started was a mystery to him but not to Queen Rhea. It had something to do with the mysterious old lady she had dealings with. Why she would spread such a rumour was unbeknownst to her.

"My son can take his place. I can mould him to be a great crown prince. Just give him a chance," she said caressing his cheek but even she knew Kian the second was far from replacing Roan.

"He isn't ready," said King Kian while closing his eyes enjoying her touch.

Roan on the other side of the palace bumped into the door and almost fell to the ground. The Keres guard behind him reached over to help him up but he refused.

"Close my chambers to the public and call the doctor," he said before stumbling onto his bed. His entire body was covered in cold sweat and he could barely breathe. He was like a fish with half its body in a small puddle of water barely enough to survive. His torment had just begun and who knows how long it would last this time.

***

Freya slowly blinked her eyes open, feeling groggy and disoriented. She tried to sit up, but a surge of pain shot through her knees, causing her to gasp and fall back onto the pillows.

It took a moment for her to remember where she was and how she had gotten there. Two days ago, she had been forced to kneel on rice grains for hours under the scorching sun. The grains tore through her skin. The result was an infection and a high fever.

She looked around the room and saw that it was lit by candles, which cast a warm glow over the stone walls and wooden furniture. She was alone, and the silence of the room was only broken by the occasional crackle of the candles.

Freya sighed, feeling a sense of loneliness and isolation wash over her. She was always used to having her cousin around and even when she felt sick he would treat her like his guinea pig to try out new cures. Now, she was confined to her bed, unable to move without pain and no one to keep her company.

She closed her eyes and tried to remember happier times. She thought of her uncle, her aunt, her late parents and her younger cousin, and smiled at the memories of their boisterous meals and lively conversations. She would never admit to their faces that she missed them so much.