Chaos

Zulin raised an eyebrow. "I will need my strength? What for? I thought you were already going to beat me to death. I thought I was going to die here, or have you changed your mind?"

The man gave her a lazy look, his response a low, throatless chuckle. "You are not allowed to die until it's decided," he replied. "Now, eat, and be fast about it. My patience is very limited."

Zulin hesitated, unsure if she should trust the man or the food he brought. But it's not like she had a choice.

Whether or not the food was poisoned, it wouldn't stop the man from killing her off immediately if he wanted to anyway.

And she was not even alive at the moment; this couldn't be called life. What she was living now was not life.

Her gaze darted briefly to the cell door which was left open and an escape thought flashed her mind.

But the man noticed what she was thinking and gave her a very hard glare.

Who was she kidding? it's not like she could actually even free herself from the iron chair before thinking of escaping.

She stared back at the food, her hunger was too much to put anything into consideration, so she digged in immediately. She began to eat, savoring the taste.

She was quite surprised that the man had at least brought decent food to her. Even the maid at the palace wouldn't be given this to eat.

But considering her situation right now, this food was already the best for her.

When she was almost done eating, the man tossed a jar of water to her side.

She was glad that he didn't force it into her mouth like before, or make her drink it forcefully without even breathing properly.

She opened the water, gulped down a mouthful, and proceeded to continue eating. In a matter of time, she was done, and she gulped down the rest of the water.

After she was done eating, she felt a little replenished, rejuvenized. She took in a deep breath, and for the first time in days, she felt like a human being.

She felt some traits of life in her, and to her surprise and joy, she found out that after eating, the strange urges she was feeling earlier had kind of reduced.

That only confirmed her theory that she was only feeling like that probably because she hadn't eaten or drunk anything.

After she had relaxed for a little while, the man suddenly stood up, and her heart skipped a bit. Her heart fell into her stomach, and she tensed up.

He gave her the coldest smirk. "Now it is going to be a very long night," he said.

And it indeed was a very long night for Zulin, as the night was filled with series of even more intense pains and tortures than before as it wore on.

Zulin's body screamed in agony. The man's torture seemed to know no bounds, and she wondered how she was still alive.

The food he had given her earlier now seemed like a cruel joke, a mere sustenance to prolong her suffering.

She couldn't help but think that the man had fed her just to keep her alive, to keep her viable for further torture.

The thought sent a chill down her spine, and she realized that her captors wanted her to suffer, to break her spirit.

Despite the unbearable pain, Zulin's mind remained lucid, and she marveled at her own resilience.

How was she still alive? What kind of person could endure such suffering and still draw breath?

The questions swirled in her mind like a maelstrom, but she knew she had to hold on. She had to survive, no matter what.

For what felt like an eternity, Zulin endured the torture, her body screaming in agony, her mind racing with thoughts of a survival which seemed impossible.

******************

In the heart of Azuraea, the noble palace, the prestigious heritage of the royal family, was in a state of pandemonium, its normally quite long halls with guards standing at each end, now abuzz with frantic activity.

The past few days had been nothing like the usual tranquil routine of the palace.

Servants scurried about, their faces etched with worry, as they hastened to fulfill the urgent summons of the king and queen.

The grand throne room, once a symbol of majestic power and serenity, now resembled a war room, with maps and documents scattered across the ornate tables.

The king's advisors, governors, chancellors and commanders who were normally composed and collected, were now engaged in heated debates, their voices raised in urgent discussion.

Some opposing, some supporting but however, it seemed like the opposing side was winning.

Guards marched swiftly in the corridors, their armor glinting in the flickering torchlight.

The air was thick with tension, as if the very fate of the kingdom hung in the balance. This was after all, concerning Princess Zulin, the king's beloved and able daughter who was to become the Azurelle of Azuraea.

She wasn't only loved in the royal family, both the servants, people, and literally almost everyone who knew her.

Amidst the chaos, Princess Astrid, the younger sister of Princess Zulin, walked with a quiet urgency, her eyes dim with worry.

Her hair was a rich, silvery lavender color, styled in an intricate updo and adorned with a delicate silver crown. Her indigo eyes, sparkled with unshed tears as she thought about her sister.

Her slender figure was draped in a flowing gown of pale blue silk, embroidered with intricate silver patterns that seemed to shimmer in the dim light.

Despite her youthful appearance, Astrid's dignified demeanor and regal bearing left no doubt that she was a true princess of Azuraea.

She had always looked up to her sister, and the thought of losing her was unbearable, all this can't be true, she knows her sister is nothing but a sweet and gentle soul.

Astrid's usual bright smile was now a faint, concerned line, as she navigated the slightly crowded corridors, searching for any news of her sister's fate.

The king and queen weren't looking their best as well, it was almost as if they've aged five years more since Zulin was detained and they knew what she could be possibly passing through current.

They retired to their private chambers, after an unproductive day, their faces drawn with worry and fatigue.

They still pored over documents, not willing to give up, seeking any glimmer of hope, any shred of evidence to prove their daughter Zulin's innocence, to refute the accusations that threatened to destroy their family's reputation and Zulin's future.

They desperately sought a way to save their daughter from the cruel fate that awaited her, should the accusations prove true.

A faint knock sounded on the door of the private chamber, and Astrid entered after a gentle bid to come in.

She curtsied before her parents, the king and queen, who sat amidst piles of documents and parchments.

The soft glow of candles cast a warm light on the room, illuminating the king's strong jawline and piercing blue eyes, which seemed to bore into the papers before him.

His dark hair, flecked with threads of silver, was trimmed short, framing his majestic face.

Beside him, the queen's porcelain skin and raven-black hair seemed almost ethereal in the light.

Her golden eyes, similar to that of Zulin, sparkled with warmth and intelligence as she looked up from the papers.

"Mother, Father," Astrid greeted, taking a seat beside them.

The queen smiled warmly, her eyes tired but full of love. "Astrid, dear, we were just discussing Zulin's case."

Astrid's gaze drifted to the documents scattered before them. "Any progress?"

The king's expression turned somber. "Not yet, but we won't give up. We'll prove Zulin's innocence, no matter what, these are documents about her birth."

Astrid nodded, her eyes scanning the room. Her gaze settled on an old portrait of the royal family, and a faint smile crossed her lips.

"You know, Mother, Father, I was looking at this portrait earlier, and I couldn't help but notice how much Zulin and I resemble you both. It's as if our features blend together in perfect balance."

The queen's eyes softened, and she reached out to stroke Astrid's hair.

"You and Zulin are our precious daughters, Astrid. We'll do everything in our power to protect and clear Zulin's name."

The king's jaw clenched, determination etched on his face. "We'll get to the bottom of this. Someone is behind these rumors, and we'll find out who."

Astrid's brow furrowed. "Do you think it's just Prince Ryker, or is someone else involved?"

The queen's eyes narrowed. "We're not sure yet, but we'll investigate every possibility. These rumors spread like wildfire, it's as if someone is fueling the flames."

The king's voice turned resolute. "We'll find the truth, Astrid. And when we do, we'll make sure justice is served."

Astrid nodded, her eyes locked on her parents'. "I know you will, Mother, Father. I have faith in you both."