The King Regrets His Actions?

From the moment Beth had let her eyes fall on Ezekiel and had recognized him from earlier as someone who stayed by the King's side, she became troubled in her mind.

What does he want? Had his so-called king not wrongly metted out judgement on her? What more did he want?

During these times, Elizabeth did not spare a minute to consider if Zeke had actually come underground to the Dordragon prison to question her about her missing jewellery. Why would she? Beth, by now had already concluded a lot of things in her mind about the Castle and those in it. Perhaps if it had been that kind court lady from before, Lady Sigrid who had showed up instead of this man before her, she would have felt more at ease.

Once Ezekiel had gotten to the entrance of the mythical prison with some two knights beside him( not the ones who had escorted Beth to the prison in the first place), he had had them open the monstrous gate to allow him to enter to have a talk with the maiden.

However, once he had seen her as he walked deeper into the pithole, his eyes nearly divorced their sockets.

Gasping in disbelief, Zeke opened his mouth to speak…

"What outrageous nonsense is this?" asked Ezekiel questioning in his mind if this maiden had any sanity left inside her.

Elizabeth was taken by surprise and did not expect what the man had just said.

But she managed to let out some words.

"What do you mean, mister? What offence have I committed this time?" asked Beth refusing to cower into her inner tension.

"What do you mean by that? Have you no knowledge of the word 'decency'? Why then are you with little or no clothing?"

Oh, that was it? Thought Beth within herself.

"Only now you ask me this…" said Beth and she poked out her index in the direction of the remaining pieces of fabric the feisty rodents had spared her mercifully.

She watched as Zeke followed her hand with his eyes darting in the direction where she wanted to have him see things for himself.

Then…

"There! That is what those ruthless creatures did to my garment," cried Elizabeth.

Understanding the situation and perfectly too, Ezekiel quickly ordered the guards that accompanied his side to look away from the maiden and he himself did likewise. Next, he had someone go get Elizabeth a cloak with which she was told to use in wrapping herself before Ezekiel turned back around to look at her.

During those times, Beth had understood the reason to feel ashamed and as though she had just regained her thinking faculty, she loathed the prison rodents even more.

Now that she was properly covered and the king's man had once more turned about to look at her, she felt more confident and eager to find out what this man's purpose was. From his actions just now, Elizabeth had concluded him to be a gentleman and for that sole reason, she was determined to give him her audience.

Finally, Zeke spoke…

"Don't be afraid… I am not here to harm you but to ask you some questions. If you please," said Zeke in a very calm and relaxed tone that further strengthened Beth's resolve to give him her complete attention.

Thus she nodded lightly for him to proceed.

"What is your name and to whose family do you belong?" asked Zeke.

'That is easy to answer. Why did anyone not attempt to ask me this question earlier?' Thought Elizabeth.

Letting her beautiful velvet lips come apart, she was prepared to cure the kind gentleman of his curiosities.

"My name is Elizabeth Blythe… The second daughter of the Blythe's household in far away Griffinwald," answered Beth.

But something did not add up yet in Zeke's mind.

So…

"That should mean then that your family got invited to the king's inauguration ceremony. Am I correct?"

"You are correct, kind sir."

At this point, Beth was hoping that the conversation would not tow in the direction that she was already suspecting that it would. She didn't want to reveal too much details so she prayed silently in her heart.

But her fears materialized and instantly too…

"If that were true, why has no one come to look for you after so many hours has past since the time of the ILL OCCURRENCE?" asked Zeke taking care to watch his words.

Elizabeth swallowed hard as she internalized the question that had just been directed at her. How to answer it without revealing too much about her family was what bothered her by now.

Besides why was this man suddenly becoming so inquisitive? Was he sent here by the king? Could it possibly be then that the king regrets his actions?

Just as Beth continued to ponder on her thoughts, Ezekiel observed the change in her countenance and was even more inquisitive to figure out what was the reason for that expression she now wore unceremoniously on her face.

Even though Zeke had come to question her solely about the jewellery, he had decided on this approach instead of just going directly to ask her about the item.

Besides it wouldn't hurt to dig deeper about the maiden whose name he had now been accustomed to believe by her own words to be Elizabeth. Thought Zeke.

"Why won't you answer my question? Did you not come here with your family?" asked Zeke, feeling impatient at this time.