11 : PUNISHMENT FOR TRAITORS

I hope you enjoy reading this. Dedicated to all my wonderful readers. Storygirl and Mandee_prescott thanks for all the comments and powerstones I'm glad you're so much invested in the story. 💜

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Clarissa sighed and gripped the little boy by his arms. " well then your father was definitely not man enough. But you, I'm going to raise you to become just like me. Which means no more crying and whining. Do you understand me? " she asked looking at him pointedly.

He nodded. " but what about my mama and my nanny? " he asked looking like a puppy.

Clarissa drew back and looked at him pointedly. " your mother is dead. " she said shocking him. " and I killed her. "

The boy had tears in his eyes but he dare not shed them. He took two steps back scared of the lady in front of him. " why did you kill my mama? "

" because she was a very bad lady. " she replied. " and just so you know, she wasn't going to come back for you. She never really cared about you. "

The little boy blinked trying to keep the tears from falling. " but you don't care about me either. "

" yes I don't but if you're loyal to me, I would never betray you. " she said drawing closer to him again. " so will you be loyal to me? " she asked placing her hand on his cheek.

The little boy considered all things as he could in his little mind. He didn't want to be alone and even if the lady was mean, she wasn't as mean as his mama. If she became as mean as his mama, he could always run away. So he nodded. " I will be loyal but what is the meaning of loyal? "

Clarissa's eye twitched and she wondered if this child had received any lesson in his life.

Then again he looked quite small to have had a governess for long anyway. That wouldn't matter now that she was here. " what is your name? "

" Dante. "

" you don't look like a Dante. You look too much like a good and innocent child. Don't worry, soon all that will change. Now tell me how old are you? "

" I'm going to be five soon. "

" hmm okay. Did you have a governess? "

" no, nanny taught me sometimes. " the boy replied sniffing.

" well I will be your governess and the first thing I will be teaching you is loyalty. " Clarissa said crossing her legs. " to be loyal means not to betray someone. That is, not to plan evil against someone who trusts you and to help that person at all times. " she stood and bent to see eye to eye with him.

" I have killed your mother and I have ordered your father's execution. It's okay to feel angry, to get upset. You can choose to come after me when you're older but I should warn you that I'm not going to just sit and watch you do that. I might have to kill you. Do you understand? "

He nodded.

" good now I was teaching you about loyalty. When people break our trust we shouldn't cry or whine. No, we come back stronger. Have you ever heard people say an eye for eye? " she asked with a devious smile.

The boy shook his head as if to say no.

" well then that shouldn't matter because it's a wrong saying. It should have been two eyes for one. When someone betrays you by taking something from you, you don't cry, you take twice as much from them. " she stood holding the boy's hand in hers as she walked towards the door. " and now I'm going to teach you to do just that. "

She knocked on the door and in the next second, the wide doors were pulled open. Four guards stood on guard and the nanny stood with a smile on her face wondering what her reward would be.

Maybe lots of gold or a high position which would bring in much money.

She mentally rubbed her hands in glee.

The princess smiled at her. " follow me. " she said and pointed at two of the guards to follow her.

The nanny was beginning to get restless. If the princess was going to give her a reward, why not order someone to bring it and why was she holding onto the little brat's hand.

They walked through the castle until they got to an empty hall. The princess stood before a wall with a frame of the late queen hanging by a nail. The princess knocked by the side three times and the wall moved apart and stairs appeared before them.

The nanny jumped back shocked by the sudden movement of the walls. There was fear in her heart as she stared at the stairs which led to a dark place which could not be seen.

She wanted to go back but she wondered what reward could be awaiting her in a room like this. Could it be a chamber filled with gold?

Her curiosity and greed caused her to follow the princess down the stairs.

Each step they took, lamps became lit by their sides guiding their every step. But those same lights extinguished soon enough, leaving where they had come from, shrouded in darkness.

When they finally descended from the stairs, they found themselves at a pathways which led to two halls with different doors. They took the left path and entered the last room.

The maid hurried in after the princess, in haste to see the gold which awaited her.

But all she saw was a room empty but for a single chair and a trolley which stood off to the side.

The nanny and the little boy looked around confused.

Even the guards wondered as to what room this was.

" Please sit " Clarissa said to the nanny.

A flicker of fear passed through her but she was afraid to disobey the princess and so did as she said. As she sat on the chair, metal clasps immediately bound her hands and legs. She struggled trying to set herself free but her fight only caused more harm to herself as tiny needles appeared from within the metal to poke painful holes into her body.

She screamed unable to bear such excruciating pain.

The little boy was pale wondering why his nanny was screaming. Was the chair hurting her?

" I suggest you stop struggling. The more you do that the more you bleed yourself dry and if you do that. You won't be that much of a tasty meal for the wild dogs in the castle's dungeon. " Clarissa said leaning against the wall.

" but your highness I have done nothing wrong. " she cried out. Her face was scrunched up in pain as the needles were yet to retreat out of her skin although they had stopped moving when she had stopped moving as well.

" nothing wrong you say. But you would betray your king. " Clarissa asked with a smile.

" I would never betray his majesty. I have been loyal to my king and the kingdom. " she looked at Dante wondering if it was the little boy who had spoken against her. " your majesty, I don't know what the child told you but I have been loyal… " she said trying to save herself.

" I hate traitors and I hate liars. Most especially those who would so easily sell out a child. The child never said anything. " the princess said straightening up from the wall and moving towards the nanny. " The sisters of light have watched the Valencio family for a while and saw you interact with the dark witches on your former master and mistress's order. All we needed was proof. Do you still claim loyalty to the throne? " she asked the nanny holding on to the chair.

The nanny was pale, knowing that the end was near for her. " your highness, please, I would do anything. Forgive me. " she pleaded.

" but now it's too late. I'm going to send you on a little trip to go see the wild dogs in the dungeon. Seeing as they haven't had any meal for about a week, they will be very happy to see you. " Clarissa said straightening up.

" your highness, please! Have mercy on me. " she said desperately. She turned to the little boy. " Dante please help me beg her. I took care of you even when your mother didn't want to see you! "

The little boy felt bad and looked at the princess but she didn't pay him any attention instead she smiled at his nanny. " guilt tripping a child. That is quite low of you. "

She kicked the chair and immediately it started moving backwards. The screams of the girl increased but no one did anything to help her. The princess went to a panel by one of the walls and pulled it. Immediately the wall directly behind the maid opened to the snarls and barks of dogs. The last that was heard of the maid was her screams which continued to echo in little Dante's head long after the wall closed back.

Clarissa came to him, where he stood in shock staring at the now closed off wall. She pulled him to face her and said. " you won't shed a tear for her. She wasn't loyal. "

He gulped and nodded.

Author's note

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed it and if you did please show your support. 💜