Part 2 â The Words That Broke the King
Percival pulled the girl harder toward the doors.
The nobles laughed quietly while Duchess Marcelline covered her nose with a silk cloth.
âShe smells like the streets,â she mocked.
The girl tried not to cry.
Then she looked at the king and whispered:
âAm I in trouble?â
The words hit King Aldric like a blade.
Years earlier, his daughter Princess Elara had once asked him the exact same question after sneaking into the stables during a storm.
For the first time in years, the king felt his heart break open again.
Slowly, he stood from his throne.
The entire hall froze.
âLet go of her,â he ordered calmly.
Percival released the girl immediately.
The king stepped down from the royal platform and stopped in front of the child.
Up close, she looked even smaller.
Hungry.
Cold.
Terrified.
âWhat is your name?â he asked gently.
âLina,â she whispered.
âAnd when was the last time you ate?â
The little girl looked down.
May you like
âI donât remember.â
