Chapter 11

When she ran it through her head, it was a great idea.

Despite her shaky voice, she had confidence this would be the best answer given the circumstances.

She still held onto that confidence.

Maybe not.

From what she could collect, the most ideal answer would have been to say that Lady Rosaline pushed her into the lagoon, lake- whatever. But that would have resulted in a beheading, which if you thought, was quite cruel compared to the threatening words Lady Rosaline had thrown her way a few days back.

She didn't like the bitch but she didn't want her killed.

Then there was the easy way out by saying truthfully that she didn't know. But that would have led her nowhere and she was certain of severe backlash from the lu Pavel Pack, in the form of an argument saying she was inadequate for the Crown.

So she thought, if no one knew what really happened that night, she could turn this in her favor. By saying it was an attempted suicide, Lady Rosaline's head would be safe, her mate would be a mere spectator in all of this, and the lu Pavel Pack would hopefully have pity on her and stand back.

Well, keyword being hopeful.

The atmosphere dropped a few degrees just as the words left her, and panic settled as she sensed the lu Pavel Pack turning dark and hostile. She risked a glance at Lord Alexander and his Beta Christian and breathed in relief when only confusion and worry splayed their features.

With newfound confidence, she unsuccessfully went to elaborate her cause when Lady Rosaline decided she hadn't gotten enough spotlight.

Chester, who was introduced as the Royal Beta a few days back by Trenton, held Lady Rosaline's body to support her weight as shouts erupted within the ba Ruslan Pack. The majority of the rest gaped dreadfully at the Lady who fainted.

The sight of the Royal Beta shielding Lady Rosaline with his body reminded her of the way he looked at her when they were first introduced. A look of disdain and a lack of trust. She sighed. It would take a long time before she could convince them she did not share the same ambitions the lu Pavel had.

Her heart soared when the Prince's scorching gaze landed on hers shortly after her statement but stuttered in disappointment when he moved back to stand by Lady Rosaline's fallen form. He gently parted the Lady's auburn hair and to her surprise, proceeded to pull her in his arms with abundant care.

She turned her back to him after that.

Don't be petty. He's your mate, but he doesn't care for you like that. Right now, he thinks of you as his enemy.

She involuntarily looked to where Lord Alexander was, and to put it shortly, his claws were drawing blood as he kept his arms crossed and molten black took place in his usual cerulean orbs. A hand tightly gripped his shoulders to keep the furious lord back. Her eyes flitted to Christian but he looked no less dangerous as Alexander had. (at the prince's actions)

"If you will excuse us to take the Lady back to her chambers, your Majesty." The Prince continued breezily as if nothing bothered him, "I think our matters are finished here."

She never knew that King Trenton had his heart for another woman. History books didn't tell you that.

"You are further splitting the crevices between the lu Pavel and ba Ruslan Pack, Prince Trenton. I hope you know your consequences with this, as a man who will become King." The Queen Mother who was no short to furious with the Prince's act did not hesitate to condemn him.

Silence fell upon the court, and she assumed the Prince and his company bowed curtly when the click of their shoes and the thud of heavy doors rang through the half-empty room.

Her heart strained a little.

Most were befuddled by the turn of events and stayed still, but the Queen Mother spared no time to rain her unleashed wrath on the new, disturbing participant of their meeting.

"Lady Elise." Her tone chilled her to the bone. "You are aware that your words also hold weight in them as well?"

She swallowed a ball of fear. "Of course, your Majesty."

"You have degraded the Royal family and humiliated the noblest Pack in our kingdom with your foolish actions. Not only that, but you have mocked the Crown by proving yourself to be incapable of controlling your actions."

Okay. I expected some of this.

She cleared her throat to defend her case but the Queen Mother gave her no chance and raved on.

"Therefore I see fit that you get the predicament of what Lady Rosaline had in her hands." Her jaws dropped and in a peripheral vision, she could see Lord Alexander surging towards her but again being pulled back by Christian.

Ho-ly shit.

"Unfortunately," The Queen Mother's voice hinted at everything but disappointment, "You are a Royal, and even I am not over the law to prosecute you with the same regulations as I did with Lady Rosaline." She sighed, "It seems I will have to settle with simple discipline."

Eli let out a loose breath. That had to be better than being killed, right?

"Ten lashes or banishment from the Royal Family."

"Your Majesty!" This time, Christian was not so successful in reigning Lord Alexander.

"Your- your Majesty," If the Queen Mother was surprised at how swiftly Lord Alexander came to her side, she didn't show. Rather, her caramel eyes glinted with amusement. "Lady Elise may have fallen to the lagoon herself, but it doesn't change the fact that she was propelled to do such an act." The borderline frantic Alpha pushed her behind him, out of the Queen Mother's sight.

"It could have been anyone- anyone might have threatened her of her life, or- or the Crown in a bargain of her life. Lady Elise is selfless enough to take her own life to protect the kingdom."

"Lord Alexander, move out of the way." The Queen Mother was getting exasperated as she motioned the Warriors to get ready for prosecution. Two of the Royal Warriors were closing in on the pair, and it was then when the slimy hands of fear gripped her heart. She hadn't expected punishment as far as this.

Alexander, the one she had so coldly pushed out of the way was now gripping her hands firmly. His fangs were bared at the other two Warriors, the dark green general suit contrasting sharply with his golden locks. At his protective stance, she was reminded of his parting words.

I will always keep you safe. Remember that.

Ironic, how it should've been her mate to say this instead of her childhood lover. But alas, her mate was tending another woman while her protector was the antagonist in all the history texts she studied.

If Alexander refused to give her up in this fight, she knew what the Queen Mother would demand.

Lashes for the Alpha who dared to disobey her orders.

She knew for certain that the Queen Mother would not relent on the punishment just because she favored his Pack. It was very obvious when even his father, Augustus lu Pavel, didn't spare him a glance of worry his way.

As the Warriors stepped closer she was compelled to make a rash decision. The real Lady Elise needed her throne once she came back, so banishment from the Crown was a definite no-no. That only left her with one choice, and she wasn't ecstatic about it, but it was her best option at the moment.

When the Queen Mother said lashes, she knew whips were involved. The only experience she had with whips were the movie, The Hunger Games, and her five-year-old cousin's Indiana Jones leather whip which wasn't very pleasant, nevertheless bearable enough to not hiss a single curse word out loud.

So why not? She knew films never did justice to the real world and her cousin's toy was barely an acceptable model for a real one, but how bad could it be?

Any longer, and Lord Alexander would be at gunpoint as well.

As she gently pulled away from Alexander's grasp, she wished Lord Alexander would understand what she's achieving by pushing him away. She only did more harm to him than any good. Christian, reading her like a book, quickly came over to tear Lord Alexander away as she flashed a warning gaze at the latter to stay still.

Lord Alexander, who she worried would put up more a fight much like at the Gardens, was enraged and resigned as he fiercely ripped off his Beta's caging arms. He made his way out of the Throne Room but halted next to Lord Augustus before he could storm the rest of the way out.

"I'll take the lashes, your Majesty." After witnessing Alpha Alexander's dramatic exit, she felt a tad better to be unburdened by his presence. She knew her act was like a foolish martyr, but she didn't really have a choice. You would think one would at least feel more courageous by doing so. Dread pooled her stomach.

When the first Warrior tied her wrists to the main pillar of the room, she could see with closer inspection, scratches above scratches carved into the sides, evidence of the prior lashings in the Throne room. Reality punched hard to her guts at seeing the prominent carvings, and the sudden awareness that she was about to get lashed, hit her stronger than before.

She braced herself for the impact when the sharp, readying sounds of the whip rattled her insides, jumbling the panic coiled tensions residing in her stomach.

A thought occurred the moment the Warrior roared one, that she should have taken off the back strip of her clothes, but it was already too late.

Hot, searing pain? That didn't even cover it.

As the Warrior roared two, she was numb to the point she was delirious in pain, but the lashes kept adding up.

The count was five when her cousin's Indiana Jone's leather whip popped into her mind.

She laughed cynically at her own naivety as she plunged into the dark. 

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