Lumina got to the realm and barely slipped back into her chamber before the door burst open.
With fast speed, she climbed into bed, draping the covers over her damp clothes just as hurried footsteps filled the hall outside.
Water still clung to her skin, her hair dripping cold trails along her spine. She tried to steady her breathing.
Then the door flung open.
"Lumina?" The voice was familiar shrill and sweetened with poison. It was the Queen, Rhynera’s mother.
Lumina turned her head toward the voice, blinking slowly as if she had just woken. "My Queen... to what do I owe the honor of your visit?" Her voice was steady, and calm.
The Queen’s eyes narrowed. In one swift gesture, she strode toward the bed and yanked Lumina forward by the wrist, flinging her to the cold marble floor.
The impact jarred her spine, but Lumina made no sound. She merely reached a hand out to the ground, her fingers brushing along the stone as if searching for her cane anything to support her balance.
"My Queen," Lumina whispered, her tone still gentle, "I don’t understand... what have I done to deserve this kind of cruelty?"
"Cruelty?" the Queen snapped, her voice sharp as glass. "You dare speak of cruelty when you have let the King imprison my daughter, his real heir!"
Lumina’s lips parted slightly. "Rhynera was placed under house arrest because she disrespected the King. It had nothing to do with me."
"Lies." The Queen’s voice trembled with fury. "Her birthday is days away, and now she’s caged like a criminal. You think I won’t tear this place apart to set her free?"
"I never wanted her harmed. I will do everything I can to convince the King to release her. I promise she will have the birthday celebration she deserves."
The Queen stood there, glaring, until her voice dropped into a chilling whisper. "You have four hours. If my daughter isn’t out by then... I will make you regret ever drawing breath in this palace even after your cursed mother died."
With that, she turned and stormed out, leaving the door wide open and a trail of rage behind her.
Stella rushed in just seconds later, pale and breathless. "My lady! Are you alright?" she asked in relief seeing Lumina in the room.
Luminal only nodded her head nonchalantly of which Stella wasn’t having it.
"You were gone for two whole days!"
"Two days?" Lumina’s brows furrowed. "I thought it was just a few minutes..."
Stella closed the door, panic still on her face. "Time moves differently beyond the realm’s borders, especially at the edge of the territory. You frightened me. If the King had found out..."
"He didn’t." Lumina cut in firmly.
Stella bit her lip "Still... I pray no one noticed." she said in relief which was short-lived the moment she stared at Lumina’s hand.
"My lady.... Did you... exchange your bracelet?" Lumina froze, upon hearing this.
"The bracelet," Stella whispered. "The one the King gave you and Princess Rhynera to mark your presence in the realm. It’s not on your wrist."
Lumina’s stomach dropped and her hand flew to her wrist bare.
"No, no..." she whispered, terror coating her voice. "How did I not notice...?"
"If that bracelet is found outside the borders.." Stella was almost breathless just thinking about it.
"They will know someone has left the realm." Lumina finished, dread sinking into her bones.
Just then a deep, pulsing alarm rang across the realm a shrill, ancient warning bell that hadn’t been sounded in over a decade.
It means they know someone has crossed the sacred border. Stella’s face was drained of color. "My lady... what do we do?"
Lumina pushed herself to her feet, panic clawing through her ribs. She barely had time to form a plan before heavy boots echoed down the corridor. The door opened again, this time more calmly, but no less threatening.
It was the King’s aide and he bowed slightly. "Princess Lumina...The King requests your presence. Immediately."
Lumina turned her face toward him, her heart hammering in her chest.
The King’s aide hesitated, his eyes briefly flickering with something concerning.
"My Princess, it’s urgent. The King has summoned you... and it’s of grave importance."
Lumina stilled, her heart skipped once... twice. Whatever it was, it wasn’t something she couldn’t delay. She took a quiet breath, nodding.
"Then I will go. Lead the way."Stella reached for her arm, but Lumina gently shook her head with a soft smile, stepping forward.
She walked with steady poise beside the King’s aide, her steps familiar with every crack and groove of the palace floor. Yet her mind was racing.
By the time they reached the throne hall, anxiety already coiled in the air.
She could feel it on her skin, the murmurs, the presence of council members standing stiff in formation, and above all... the fury radiating from the throne.
"My King," the aide announced, "Princess Lumina is here."
Lumina bowed low, hands at her side, her face serene. Her lack of sight didn’t make her unaware, she heard the faint clap of thunder rolling in the distance and the subtle shuffling of bodies in the throne room.
Then a scent hit her next. Rose oil and burnt perfume. "Rhynera." she thought with a smile.
Without hesitation, Lumina stepped subtly to her left timing her movement
Lumina tilted her weight and let her foot slide across the polished floor, catching the hem of Rhynera’s dress and tripping her.
Rhynera yelped as both of them fell, Lumina landing softly, while Rhynera sprawled gracelessly beside her.
"RHYNERA!" the King’s voice boomed.
Lumina swiftly picked herself up, reaching for the cane she had dropped, her face laced with a touch of concern... but just a touch.
"Sister," she said sweetly, "forgive me. I didn’t see you there."
A hush fell over the hall until Rhynera hissed, shoving Lumina’s hand away.
"You didn’t see me? Of course, you didn’t...you are a cursed, blind little bitch!"
"RHYNERA!" her mother, the Queen, gasped but it was too late. The entire council had heard and that is when regret hit her.
"D-Dad!" Rhynera stammered, eyes wide. But the King’s face darkened.
"Use the title. We are in court!"
Lumina lowered her head, masking her smirk as she curtsied.
"My King, she didn’t mean it. I am sure it was just the heat of the moment. It won’t happen again."
The King stood up in anger, "Why can’t you be more like your sister, Rhynera? She shows respect. Grace. Where are your manners?"
"The title," he thundered.
Rhynera ground her teeth, trembling. "Why am I here?"
"You tell me," King Ryker replied, his voice ice. "I never summoned you, yet you left your room during a punishment I assigned."
"I... no... I thought..." Rhynera stumbled over her words.
"My King... please forgive her. She shouldn’t have done that," Lumina added, stepping forward with just enough innocence to make it sting.
Rhynera’s fury flared, she raised her hand, prepared to strike only for the King to backhand her first. She collapsed to the floor in shock.
"You dare defy my command?" Ryker’s voice tumbled, making Rhynera shake her head in fear.
"Were you the one who left the realm?" Ryker asked.
"No! My King, I didn’t..." But Ryker’s gaze dropped to her wrist and his anger infuriated.
"Do I look like a joke to you? Where is your bracelet?"
She looked down. Her wrist was bare. "I...it must have fallen when I... fell." Everyone looked down but nothing lay on the floor.
This made Ryker so mad, "I, the King of the Celestial Realm, gave a command," Ryker said slowly, each word thunderous. "And you ignored it and disgraced me in this hall."
"No... Father, please..." she tried to plead.
"Seventy lashes." His words cut through her like steel. "Go Now!"
Gasps echoed through the court. Lumina froze, heart, hammering, but his next words shackled the room.
"And should anyone...family or not... speak for her, they shall receive triple." Lumina looked down not moving, aware that Ryker was talking to her:
Guards seized Rhynera as she screamed. "Please! I didn’t do it! You are punishing me wrongly! FATHER!"
But he didn’t care. He turned his back on her, angry. Lumina stood silently, her hands folded in front of her. Her expression was unreadable.
Yet beneath the sleeve of her gown, her fingers grazed the bracelet now hidden on her wrist, the one she had slipped from Rhynera’s arm during their fall.