CHAPTER THIRTY–FIVE: Dorah, Don't Die!
"I don't care what you think! I'm here to tell everyone that my uncle, Prince Dasya didn't..." She wasn't able to finish what she was saying when she felt something hit her chest.
"Dorah!" Chila, who saw the arrow which just pierced through her daughter's chest, screamed out her name as she rushed up to her.
She was closer to Dorah when the next arrow hit her chest. Dorah fell weakly to the ground as she coughed out blood, her chest bleeding.
Amongst the ministers who graced the incident, Mirrun instructed his guards as his voice echoed loudly. "Find who shot the arrow!"
"Who do you think will have the audacity to shoot the arrow?" Dasya who walked up to Mirrun, and the other minister, asked loudly.
"Dasya, what are you trying to do?" Dryan asked loudly, fuming madly at Dasya's reaction.
He would rather have all his children die for the throne that he so much desired instead of giving up on the throne for their sake, or having them get in his way.
Not even the person he loves the most!
Dryan knew Dasya would never turn blind eyes at the death of the girl who knew everything about what happened. He knew Dasya was unstoppable!
Meanwhile, when the two brothers were busy arguing over what just happened to Dorah, Chila was over there with her child in her hand.
"Please don't die! Dorah, I apologise for letting you get hurt. I'm sorry for not stopping you. I'm sorry for allowing you to grow this way without enjoying every privilege other girls enjoy. Please pour all your resentment on me, and don't die". As Chila echoed those lamenting words, hot tears ran down her reddened cheeks, her hand placed on her daughter's pale face.
As Dorah heard her mother's voice, she smiled cutely.
Even at the edge of death, the little girl still smiled. She gently raised her hand above her face as she placed it on her mother's face. "Mother, I always wanted this. I'm tired of hearing you cry because of me, fight father because of me, always sad just for me. At last, it will be even. Dorah is no more, and your pain is no more. Chila, I love you". Even though that was her last statement, she was graceful. She could say those words to her mother, and smile as she watched her desperate wish get granted.
Chila's heart broke into pieces as she felt her daughter's hand fall off her face.
She consistently shook her daughter as she wished she could see her daughter open her eyes, she wished to wake up only to find out this was a bad dream.
"Dorah, please wake up! Dorah. I promise to give you all you want, I promise to make you live as the other girls". She shook Dorah continuously as more tears ran down her cheeks.
The death of her daughter was all her fault, she hated herself for what she did, and how she turned blind eyes to her daughter's suffering all because she was scared.
"Dorah, I promise to punish the people who kill you! I promise to hurt those who hurt us! I don't care who they are! I am not afraid of them any longer! I'm not afraid of dying! The reason I'm living is no more there". Her daughter's death did not only give her courage to whisper those words, but gave her the reassurance that she could.
"Is she dead?" Zale, who was lost in his stare, asked loudly. He was carried away by Dryan and Dasya's argument that he forgot about the dying girl.
"She is. My poor girl who lived in darkness and pain was killed! What crime did she commit?" Chila asked Zale who patted her back softly.
He knew how it felt to see his loved ones die right before his eyes, and how it felt to be the cause of their downfall.
"The deed is done, you don't have to be too hard on yourself. Dorah might not resent or hate you, she might resent the person who doesn't show her true love. You show her true love even at the edge of death". Zale mustered the courage to comfort her, even though he was in no position to do so.
Chila cleaned her eyes with her sleeve as she smiled at Zale words. At least, she has someone in the palace who gave her reason to live on after she lost the only person that made her want to live, and do Dryan bidding.
She didn't intend to stay by Dryan's side. After what happened to her parents and villagers, she vowed never to give or render help to the cruel prince, but does she have a choice when she had to do it for the sake of her daughter?
"Thank you for your heartwarming words". She managed to stand up as more tears streamed down from her eyes, even though she did not want to cry.
She wants to smile, she wants to keep on loving Dorah, she wants to keep on being the loving mother just as Dorah wanted her to be, and for her to do that, she has to smile for Dorah sake.
A faint smile made its way to her lip as she watched Zale who was obviously short of words.
"Zale, you don't have to say more. I appreciate what you said. I have no right to cry. Yes, she would feel bad if she sees me crying bitterly". She muttered before she walked up to the ministers, who were busy staring at her. Some stared at her disgustingly, while some stared at her with spite.
Who wouldn't do the same when they are made to believe an ordinary girl was a brilliant boy. The future crown prince, and a grand master!
Maybe she did it for money, fame, attention, material gains—that was the thought of the ministers who were present with others.
"I will make sure you pay for all the atrocities you, and your mother have caused!" After the long argument between the two brothers, it ended with a threat from Dasya.
"Are you threatening me when you will soon lose your throat? Aren't you aware that it's another crime framing the crown prince?" After asking those tons of questions, he walked out on Dasya.
"I see the people who shoot the arrow! I saw the person!" A voice from the middle of everyone screamed out.
"Which way did the person take, and who was it?" Minister Mirrun asked.
"It is a lady. She is dressed in a black gown with a black veil covering her face. She is either a maid or a concubine". The lady said.
"Guards! Get her!"