AMELIA’S POV
“I’m sorry, Queen Mother.” I apologized quickly, knowing the gravity of what I had done. Under no
condition was I to attack someone else or draw my weapon in her presence without her order. Not even
when it was someone as important as Varef.
Doing that was tantamount to staging a rebellion and the punishment could be death sometimes. Right
then, I knew that I had overstepped my bounds, sumbing to the heat of the moment and allowing
my emotions to cloud my judgment.
However, in my case, I knew my punishment was not up to that given the cause if the situation.
“Ah, Da mn you Varef!” I cursed inwardly.
Canthra Minerva was silent as she exchanged nces between I and Varef. The only thing I could do
to ease my nervousness right then was to say something appealing to her.
“I’m sorry, Queen Mother,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper as I bowed my head in
shame. “I know that I have acted in defiance of the rules, and for that, I am truly sorry.”
The Queen Mother regarded me with a steady gaze, her expression unreadable as she weighed my
words with careful consideration. I could feel the weight of her judgment bearing down upon me as
each moment stretched out into eternity as I waited for her response.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she spoke, her voice grave but not unkind.
“Your actions were reckless, Amanda,” she said. “But I understand that acting out of a desire to protect
yourself.”
you were
I felt a surge of relief wash over me at her words, grateful for her understanding and forgiveness. But
even as I breathed a sigh of relief, I knew that I could not afford to repeat my mistake in the future.
“I will ept whatever punishment you deem fit, Queen Mother,” I said. “I know that I must be held
ountable for my actions, and I am prepared to face the
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consequences.”
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The Queen Mother nodded, her expression softening withpassion.
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“That’s a good one, Amanda,” he said, her tone gentle but firm. “Your punishment will be decided in
due time. Or, why don’t you go the punishment of seven
tak strikes.”
Wait, what? My eyes widened but I quicklyposed myself. Who was I to say a word against her?
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“What do you think Varef?” She directed her gaze to him. Varef might not want me to have peace of
mind, but he definitely didn’t want the punishment of seven strikes for me. Here I was thinking that I
had being pardoned for my misdeed. Never in my wildest imagination did I ever think of Canthra
Minerva suggesting that.
“Isn’t that a bit too much?” Varef responded with a shaky voice, his head lowered.
“Is it, Amanda?” Canthra Minerva asked and I knew I had no choice but to answer positively.
“No, Queen mother. It isn’t. Your decisions are worthy and right” I answered.
“Exactly! You see, Varef, I doubt if the punishment is really one. It should be a stepping stone for her to
aplish her mission. Don’t you think?”
Then, I raised my head to nce at her and so did Varef. What was she talking about? What did she
mean?
“In life, there are two emotions that could easily get to a being, that could make them easily
approachable and vulnerable. Fear and empathy. It now depends on how you use them.” She said and
I nodded even though I wasn’t sure if her intent was whay I was thinking about.
“Fix the puzzles. Now, get ready for the punishment.” She ordered.
Oh, goddess! What have I gotten into? Why does it have to be me?
As I made my way to the punishment grounds, a sense of dread settled over me like a heavy cloak,
weighing me down with its suffocating presence. The punishment of seven strikes was one of the most
feared and dreaded punishments among the Canthrastras, reserved for only the most serious crimes.N?velDrama.Org owns this text.
“Though, we’re not on good terms, I never wished this for you. I never wanted to see you hurt this way.
I’m sorry.” Varef uttered as he walked past me in a jiffy. That was the sincerest word I heard from him in
a while.
As I arrived at the punishment area, I was met with a solemn silence that hung thick in the air, broken
only by the sound of my own footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The punishment ground was a
terrible ce, with rows of wooden posts lining the perimeter, each one with different punishing
instrument used to inflict pain specifically on our species.
I stood at the center of the grounds, my heart pounding in my chest as I awaited the arrival of the
executioner. The punishment of seven strikes was a brutal and merciless ordeal, designed to inflict
maximum pain and suffering upon the offender as a deterrent to future misconduct. I would be struck
seven times with a metal chain made of special materials that couldbat our tough spirit.
Soon, the executioner appeared, a grim-faced Canthrastra with a heavy metal chain in his hand. His
eyes bore into mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine and his expression was devoid
of mercy orpassion.
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Without a word, he approached me. His footsteps echoed ominously in the silence as he raised the
chain high above his head. And then, with a swift and brutal motion, he brought it down upon my
exposed back, the force of the blow sending a searing jolt of pain coursing through my body.
I bit back a cry of agony as the first strikended, my muscles tensing in anticipation of the next blow.
Again and again, the chain descended upon me with unrelenting force, each strike sending waves of
pain radiating through every fiber of my being.
By the time the seventh and final strike fell, I was gasping for breath, my body wracked with pain and
exhaustion. I copsed to the ground, my limbs trembling with the effort of holding myself upright as I
struggled to regain myposure.
As Iy there, battered, bloodied and bruised, I couldn’t help but wonder what the queen mother had in
mind to punish me this way.
“Oh no! Amelia! This can’t be.” I heard K’s voice before I sumbed to darkness. At least, I had
someone that cared about me.