The Queen's Punishment

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CHAPTER 23 - The Queen's Punishment

Azadel's heart thudded wildly but she could not answer.

The Queen had already figured she lied. Adding more to it would mean death but whether or not she lied, she was in for some punishment. At best she could try to distort the truth.

Without waiting for her answer, Queen Diamonique averted her eyes towards the bed and noticed the rickety arrangement before looking at Azadel.

"She did not sleep here yesterday, did she?"

"Your Majesty, that is not it. She did. She stepped out without telling me anything this morning."

Her lowered lashes fluttered at the lies she just heard. She was no fool.

As soon as the king instructed for her not to disturb his precious daughter, she had one of her maid spies keep an eye on the Princess'chambers.

And what good news got to her this morning when she made her way here? Scarlet had not left her room all through.

That simply meant her daughter must be inside the room. Now, she was told a different tale. Wasn't that interesting?

"Lies." Azadel's eyes widened the more with her chest visibly rising and falling.

"I will give you one last chance, Azadel. Lie to me again and I will cut your tongue. Where is the Princess?"

Her feet gave way instantly and she fell to her knees.

At this point, she felt she should stick to the words she had just uttered as that would spell less trouble for Scarlet.

Should the queen find out she had spent the night outside the palace, then both of them would suffer.

Ever since she was brought into her service, the young princess had been nice to her.

Left to her, she owed Scarlet this favour knowing exactly why she needed the freedom. Forced marriages were a pain in the neck.

"Your Majesty, forgive me, but I do not lie. I do not know where Her Royal Highness is."

"That was not also my question. Did Scarlet sleep in her chambers yesterday?"

"Forgive me, Your Majesty," Azadel pleaded once more.

"Wrong answer." Her eyes darkened further as a devilish aura enshrouded her suddenly.

Everyone knew what that meant when her chilly gaze landed on you.

Punishment or death.

"Drag her to the torture room. I need answers and I must find them."

Scoffing out loud, she stormed out of the room, leaving her maids to do her bidding.

Seeing them close in on her with their menacing stare, Azadel pleaded while she could.

"No. Please. Your Majesty. No. Please forgive me. I do not know. Please. No..."

POW!

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In the dark room, a deep agonizing sound echoed deeply, rendering the air with its sound.

"Aahhh!!"

The shrieking sound reverberating in the environment sent a chill down the hearts of many who heard and told of the intensifying pain the person was suffering.

Regardless, it continued.

Her screams echoed once more as the burning iron was pressed against her skin at the side of her stomach.

"No!!"

Still, the one carrying out the dangerous act never stopped even as the smell of burnt flesh filled the air.

"Please!!"

Her voice quaked. Her throat was sore from screaming continuously while the smell of her blood filled the air.

She withdrew the iron rod from her flesh and looked to the side where the one who had been offended stood, watching the show.

Ever since Queen Diamonique found out Scarlet was missing, her rage had been kindled.

To crown it all, Azadel lied repeatedly to her.

It only made her see she was not feared and her daughter had a more authoritative hold on the maid than she who gave her the maid, did.

Stepping out from the dark, her tall frame slowly made its way close to the centre of the room where the table housing several pieces of torture equipment was laid out and past that to the side while watching the sorry state of Azadel through her lashes.

While the punishment had paused for a little while, Azadel inhaled deeply, taking quick successive breaths, ignoring the smell of her flesh and blood that assaulted her nostrils.

Beads of sweat trickled down the side of her face but nothing mattered at this point.

Not even the blur in her eyes.

She looked up when she saw Queen Diamonique's shadow close by and her gown.

If one could classify the queen, she was a walking, living, breathing devil in the guise of a woman.

Her fury red eyes shone underneath the poor light as her stoic expression echoed her indifferent nature towards the suffering of those beneath her.

The Queen was rumoured to be a true beauty with the heart of a stone as cold as ice.

"I do not like to see you suffer, my dear Azadel," Queen Diamonique's soft voice uttered.

Even with the tone she used, her expression never mimicked that.

"So, let's try this again, shall we?"

Fear and terror could be seen written clearly on Azadel's face.

At this point, she cared for nothing and only wished to be spared but then no matter what she told the queen, the result remained the same.

She had her clothes ripped off at the side, exposing her now flawed skin where several brutal activities had been dealt with.

Whipped. Slapped. Burnt. Beaten and now this.

"Did Scarlet sleep in the palace yesterday? And if no, where did she go to?"

Shaking her head, she pressed the sound that earnestly wished it could come out as tears rolled down her face ceaselessly.

"No. No. No. No tears dear. Tell me the truth and this will all end."

"M-my," she sniffed. "My Queen. I do not know anything."

"Okay. I am not kind. Burn her chest."

"No. Please. Wait, wait, please."

"Now!"

Having her stare deadly at her menacing assaulter, the lady in question took a step forward with the hot rod in her hand and swept her gaze at the female two guards in front of her.

As if on cue, they both held on to her gown and pulled it down to her cleavage, exposing the top part of her chest to the assaulter.

Azadel's eyes widened in horror, seeing her life flash before her eyes with every step the lady took towards her and had both hands held at her side.

"No. Please. I don't know where she is. Please."

"Then speak what you know."

"She…" she gulped but when the rod came close to her face she shied away and spoke up.

"She left for the village yesterday. That is all I know. Nothing more. She refused to tell me anything. She said she needed fresh air and I must obey and cover up for her. Forgive me, Your Majesty."

"Hmm," her voice trailed off thoughtfully.

Scarlet could be extremely stubborn and she was well aware of that. But she did not know if she should trust the words of Azadel.

"Okay. I believe you." Azadel let out an exasperated sigh.

To her, she had just scaled through the worst and would be free. Little did she know she had jubilated so soon.

"Now, you shall tell me just how many times my daughter has snuck out of the palace and when. Failure to do so and I am sure Calista will be happy to continue your punishment."

She trembled at the sound of continuing her punishment but she knew the Queen. Every word would be gotten out and she was determined to do so through blood.