CHAPTER 19 : THE FORSAKEN OFFERING

As the bodyguards stood at a distance, the prince ignited the sacrificial site, setting Clint ablaze. The scorching flames licked at Clint's flesh, causing him to cry out in agony. "Oh, dear sister!" he pleaded desperately, his voice consumed by the roaring inferno. Bridget, upon hearing her brother's anguished cries, wasted no time and sprinted towards the altar, determined to rescue him from the clutches of the devouring fire. With outstretched arm, she reached for her brother, hoping to pull him to safety. However, one of the prince's burliest henchmen forcefully shoved her aside, gripping her tightly to prevent any interference in her brother's impending demise. Forced to stand motionless, Bridget could only watch in horror as her beloved brother was reduced to mere ashes before her tear-filled eyes.Clint's body smoldered until the fiery inferno dwindled, and in that moment, Bridget's anguished screams and ceaseless tears erupted, "No! Brother..." Despite being held captive by the formidable man, she persisted in her desperate struggle to break free from his iron grip. The formidable man bellowed with a sinister, enigmatic laughter that grated on her nerves. Filled with bitterness, she hurled her words at the prince, but it was futile, for her brother was now forever lost, unable to be resurrected. Following Clint's sacrificial offering, Bridget's beloved brother, Prince Kingsley commanded his loyal entourage and bodyguards to escort her away from the site of the ritual. True to their reputation for unwavering obedience, they dutifully carried out their orders.

As the sun began its descent, Bridget found herself escorted to the majestic palace, where her fate awaited. The grandeur of the setting matched the gravity of her transgressions - a brazen display of disrespect and vexation towards the esteemed and cherished prince of the celestial realm, Pluto. As the verdict was pronounced, a demand was made for her to present the twenty shimmering stars she had once possessed. Yet, with defiance in her eyes, she adamantly refused to comply.

In the midst of it all, the elderly gentleman accompanying Bridget on her journey to Pluto, hailing from the distant realm of Uranus, had cunningly sought refuge in a place far removed from danger's clutches. Sensing the escalating peril, he wisely retreated to a sanctuary of safety. However, as the fateful moment of judgement loomed over Bridget, he returned, not venturing into the opulent palace, but instead lingering outside its towering walls. Eavesdropping on the whispers that reverberated through the grand halls, he gleaned fragments of vital information. So engrossed did he become in this clandestine act that he momentarily forgot his covert existence, unwittingly exposing himself to the vigilant guards who promptly apprehended him, delivering him to the awaiting prince.As they crossed the threshold of the grand palace, they callously hauled him into the presence of the esteemed prince, Mr. Kingsley. With a piercing gaze, the prince demanded, "Pray tell, who dares trespass upon these sacred grounds? Why do you skulk about like a cunning spy?" The elderly man remained eerily silent, as though deaf to Mr. Kingsley's words. "You imbecile!" roared the prince, his fury igniting like a blazing inferno. "If you refuse to answer me, I shall escort you to the sacrificial grounds and reduce your body to mere ashes with my own hands! Speak now, intruder! What is your purpose here?"

Bridget interjected, her voice cutting through the air like a sharp blade, informing Mr. Kingsley that the weathered old man by her side hailed from the distant planet of Uranus. Together, they had embarked on a noble quest to rescue her beloved brother. A flicker of intrigue danced in Mr. Kingsley's eyes as he processed this revelation. "Ah, I see," he murmured, his voice dripping with curiosity. "This wretched, yet intriguing, old soul is your comrade. Perhaps he possesses the very treasures that elude your grasp." Without a moment's hesitation, Mr. Kingsley commanded one of his loyal henchmen to guide the enigmatic old man to a chamber of secrets, where his true intentions would be unraveled. And so, like a shadow trailing behind, the prince trailed in their wake, eager to uncover the mysteries that lay ahead.

In the grand chamber, Mr. Kingsley embarked on a persuasive quest, urging the elderly gentleman to divulge the whereabouts of the elusive 20 stars. With honeyed words and unwavering promises, he dangled the enticing prospect of an esteemed position as his most trusted emissary. The aged sage, in turn, disclosed to the prince that the sought-after stars resided within the enigmatic Bridget. Alas, this revelation incensed the king, for he had previously implored Bridget, who had chosen to remain tight-lipped. Desperate, the prince implored the elderly man to beseech Bridget to restore the 20 stars, to which he reluctantly agreed. Bewildered, Mr. Kingsley exited the board room, his mind racing, to summon Bridget, who was bound by a coarse, earth-toned rope, constricting her arms.