The King Must Die

Elim tore through the entire inn, hunting for Ada's parents. He cornered the wife just as she tried to lock herself in a room. With a firm grip, he dragged her out before she could secure the door.

"Where's your husband? Where's Asha?" he thundered with rage.

"I-I don't know, please! Don't hurt me, don't hurt us. We've suffered enough," she pleaded.

"Your suffering will only grow if you don't reveal where your husband is and what happened to Asha! Where is she?" he growled.

"She's not here! We tried to keep her safe as promised, but we couldn't," she insisted.

"Don't toy with me! You should know I don't play games," he snarled, gripping her neck and pressing his knife against her throat. "I won't hesitate to end you if your husband doesn't show himself and disclose Asha's whereabouts," he yelled, knowing Ada's father could hear him somewhere within the house.

"I'll start by carving out your eyes, then I'll cut your fingers before slitting your throat. I'm a killer, and no one crosses me! Do you hear me?" Ada's mother began screaming, drawing Ada's father out of hiding.

"Please, don't harm her. I beg you!" Ada's father pleaded as he emerged.

Elim shoved Ada's mother aside and swiftly approached Ada's father, raining punches upon his face until he collapsed onto the floor. Elim then grabbed him by the neck.

"I trusted you to protect her! Didn't I pay you handsomely to keep her safe?" he seethed, his face contorted with rage, nostrils flaring.

"We tried to keep her safe, but she fled from us!"

"You're lying! She knows no one here, nowhere to go. If you had treated her right, she wouldn't have left. So, tell me what really happened and where is your worthless daughter?"

"Please, I'm sorry," Ada's father pleaded through bloody lips and a bleeding nose. "Asha left because she knew we were going to hand her over to Odmudo, the assassin. He came searching for her, but when he couldn't find Asha as promised, he took Ada instead."

Elim's eyes widened at the revelation, his heart pounding loudly. "Why did you have to tell me that? Now he'll come for us!" his wife scolded from a distance.

"Shut up, you wicked woman! You greedy traitors! Why did you betray our agreement? Where do you think Asha might have gone?" Elim demanded.

"She left with a stranger from a wealthy village known for their commercial strength. That's all we know!" Ada's mother revealed.

After learning about Asha's destination, Elim shoved Ada's father aside. He was determined to find her and rescue her before Odmudo could reach her. As he moved to leave the corridor where he had been interrogating Ada's parents, Ada's mother rushed to kneel at his feet.

"Please, my daughter! Odmudo took her as ransom because we couldn't hand Asha over to him. I know we've wronged you, but please help us and bring her back to us!" she pleaded.

"Get out of my way, you snake!" Elim barked, shoving her aside as he rushed out. Wasting no time, he mounted his horse and embarked on a rigorous journey to find Asha. A wealthy town renowned for its commercial strength, he repeated to himself. There was the only place he knew to be so industrious – Aku village. Taking a gulp of water, he spurred his horse onward, determined to locate Asha before Odmudo could. He vowed to protect her better than before.

"You don't understand what you're asking of me! You don't!" Nena retorted after Zeep revealed her intention to poison the prince, just a week after their wedding.

"I have to! I can't endure this any longer! The way he treats me, no one deserves it! No one! Tell me, what have I done to deserve such hate from him?" Zeep replied, her voice laden with pain.

"What does he do to you?" Nena asked before shaking her head. "Don't tell me. I can't bear to hear more horrors on top of the nightmares I already endure. But poisoning him is a terrible idea. You've only been married to him for a week. If anything happens to him, suspicion will fall squarely on you," Nena advised.

"What am I supposed to do then? What's a woman to do when she's trapped with a monster? My body is covered in scars. How much longer must I endure this agony?" she asked, glancing around where they stood behind the palace, hoping no one was eavesdropping.

"I don't know, dear sister. I wish I could offer comfort or assure you that everything will improve, but I can't be certain of that. Advising you to endure would be cruel on my part, but I'm at a loss for words," Nena replied.

"I refuse to endure it, Nena. I won't. I don't care about the consequences, but Prince Mayo must pay for the harm he's inflicted on my body and soul. The queen is skilled with medicines. Surely, she can assist you in finding one to poison the prince!" Zeep suggested.

"The prince, her own son?"

Before Zeep could respond, Soma interrupted them. Nena pretended to be on an errand while Zeep turned away angrily. Living with Prince Mayo was a nightmare. She was determined to find a way to end his life. Though wishing someone dead was not in her nature, it seemed to be her only means of breaking free from her chains. Would she become a servant again? Or will the king marry her off to someone else? She didn't care for now. All she wanted was for Mayo to cease breathing. 

"After everything our husband did to you last night, one would think you'd need a week in bed! What are you plotting with your sister?" Soma's voice came from behind Zeep.

"Get out of my sight!" Zeep retorted.

"We may be co-wives, but we are not equals," Soma replied, blocking her path.

"Step away from me now, or you'll lose a couple of teeth. Don't dare me!" Zeep warned, her fists clenched tightly.

"Our husband will hear of this!" Soma threatened as Zeep forcefully nudged her aside.

While her sisters struggled to survive in Maribah, Asha was living her best life in Aku village. Amidst all the joy and happiness, she never abandoned her longing for her family or her desire to reunite with Elim and find her way back home after the king's death. Elim was right; it was the only way for her to return home.