Betrayal For Survival

On the high stage, there were four to five chairs. It was the stage where all the princes were seated.

"F**k, who had ever thought that she would know how to open the gate?"

The second prince, Prince Richard cursed and at the same time, he laughed in amazement.

He turned slightly to look toward the third prince.

Grinning widely, as he remembered how arrogant Rafael looked a few moments ago, he said

"Third Brother, I am sure you also had never expected this."

Prince Rafael turned to glare at Richard.

The sharp glare made Richard shut his mouth. In fact, he felt that this game was such a waste of these slaves.

He didn't understand Rafael's sadistic pleasure in seeing people struggling for their lives. According to Richard, his brother simply was not aware of the other kind of pleasure these slaves could provide.

He felt disappointed seeing how slaves were being torn down by the lions. Some of them did look decent.

He could use them for so many other things.

But Rafael's eyes were filled with something as he looked at the large arena.

A few moments ago, when they had seen two maids running towards the door, Rafael was mocking them saying that the slaves were looking out for death.

Because Rafael was sure that they would not know how to open the door.

However, when they saw one of the slaves rotating the lock, Rafael immediately shouted for the servants to go and lock the door again to make sure that the slaves can't escape.

The servant hurried but a slave was still able to get out.

Rafael smirked as he looked at his servant and said

"Bring that slave here."

The servant left and Rafael looked towards the most silent prince amongst them with a cold pair of eyes.

It was none other than the Fourth Prince.

The left side of his face was covered with a silver and gold colored mask and his red eyes were cold and indifferent.

Rafael's eyes were filled with envy when he saw the giant creature standing beside the fourth prince very obediently.

Only God knew from where did he get it. But he wanted that creature on his side.

When he looked at the silent man again, he saw him looking toward the arena silently.

Rafael raised his eyebrows and asked with a smile on his lips

"Does Fourth Brother like any one of them? I can ask my servant to have that slave taken out for Third Brother."

He offered generously as he looked at the masked face of his Fourth Brother mockingly.

The subject of his mocking, The Fourth prince, however, never looked back at Rafael as if he never heard him.

Rafael felt very angry at such behavior. Seeing this, the first prince sighed and spoke before Rafael could say anything.

"You better not create any drama, Rafael because you should be aware of the consequences."

Rafael's anger increased at these words but he knew that he couldn't say anything. After all, it was not he who had gone to the border to fight with enemies and defeat Zamorin.

Richard grinned seeing this.

Ignoring him, Rafael focused on the servant who was dragging inside the slave girl.

Peri couldn't stand up and kneeled down. Her eyes were teary as she was thinking of Evelyn who was still inside the arena.

"I am very happy with the courage and bravery showed by you and another slave with you. Whose idea it was to run towards the door?"

Rafael asked Peri with a smile on his lips, bringing her out of her trance.

Peri looked at him in confusion until Rafael's servant slapped her harshly and said

"Lower your eyes and answer His Highness, Slave."

Peri's cheek throbbed as well as her mind.

He was a prince. A Royal Prince.

The wheels of her mind turned faster and she said in a low voice

"It was my idea, Your Highness."

The Fourth Prince who had been looking towards the arena turned to look at Peri when he heard this.

His cold red eyes looked at her for a few moments before he looked towards the arena again.

"That was a very good idea."

Rafael praised Peri as he sat royally in his seat.

Richard rolled his eyes as he wondered what was wise in it.

The thing he didn't understand was that Rafael praised the calmness of thinking of such a way when all the other slaves in the arena were busy running around thinking stupidly that they could save themselves like this.

Such calmness was what Rafael needed in his people. He needed people beside him who will be able to stay calm in the most difficult situation and still stay loyal to him.

"If it was your idea then why did you not open the door?"

Peri's mind went blank for a moment. Only one thing came to his mind.

She couldn't miss this chance.

As if she was afraid that the prince would doubt her, Peri said immediately.

"Your Highness, this slave's wrists were aching so I could only tell my friend how to open the lock."

Rafael nodded his head in approval and looked at Peri again.

"From this moment on, you will stay by this prince's side."

Peri couldn't believe what she had heard. Was not this what she wanted?

A moment later, she spoke again in a hope-filled voice

"Your Highness…that my friend, could Your Highness…"

Without even letting her finish her words, Rafael chuckled dryly.

"What is your name?"

He asked her in almost a gentle voice.

"Peri…"

"Peri…"

Rafael called her name gently but the words that came out of his mouth were the cruelest Peri had ever heard.

"You are wise and saved your life using your brain. If your friend is wise like you, she will also find some way…and if she is not…then she deserves to be dead because I don't want stupid people in my palace. Do you understand, Peri?"

Rafael spat out the last few words in a cold voice making Peri flinch.

Her eyes were teary as she nodded her head vigorously indicating that she understands.

She really wanted to save Evelyn. But for that, she would have to tell the truth…the truth which could risk her life.

Peri dug her nails into her palm and apologized to Evelyn silently inside her heart.

Amidst all this, the fourth prince's eyes never moved away from the huge arena again.

And the mystical creature beside him was also looking in the same direction as his master.

.

.

.

On the other hand, Evelyn was shocked to see the closed door.

She banged on the iron door for some time shouting Peri's name but the door never opened.

A heavy sigh escaped her lips and she closed her eyes as her head rested on the door. When she opened her eyes again, they were calm.

She turned around and looked at the huge arena.

She realized that the alive slaves inside the arena were now very less.

Even less than the number of lions left in the ground.

A lion suddenly looked towards her.

Though Evelyn looked calm, her body was stiff. Her eyes widened slightly when the lion came running towards her.

When it lunged at her, she moved her body aside and it collided with the iron door making a loud sound.

But the sound attracted the attention of other lions.

Evelyn exhaled sharply as she tried to think of some way out.

But what could be done now?

Only five slaves seemed to be left inside the ground in such a short amount of time.

Soon, she was cornered by not one, not two but five lions.

The five lions walked towards her slowly and she backed away with the same speed as she looked at them one by one.

Her breathing was heavy and her lips were dry. The sweat rolled down her neck disappearing into her white filthy dress stained with mud.

'Evelyn, I want you to live a long life.'

The words sounded in her ears.

And then she saw two lions together lunging towards her.