When the cat has gone, the mice come out to play. Her stepmothers were flirting with the king, so Kira took her free time, leisurely occupying herself at the large fountain, plucking petals and letting them drift away with the wind. She enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere until a stone came hurtling towards her path, hitting her right in the middle of her forehead, catching her off guard. The stone knocked her off the slab into the water, causing a loud splash. Waves of laughter followed as she climbed out, drenched and shivering.
"The cat may be away, but that doesn't mean there won't be kittens to contend with." Kira's stepmothers were cruel, so it was no surprise that their children were wicked too. Matthew was arrogant and greedy, Latino was selfish and prideful, and Alec was self-absorbed. "It's nice to see you, stepsister," Matthew said with an evil grin. "Didn't my mother tell you to stay hidden?" Latino added smugly. "You only came out because our mothers aren't here. Now, you'll have to obey our every word like a slave."
Kira's anger rose, but she knew she was too weak to fight back. She stood up meekly and tried to pass by them, but Matthew grabbed her from behind and pulled her back. "Where do you think you're going?" he sneered. Kira struggled and cried out, "Let me go!" But Matthew and Latino dragged her to the horse field, while Alec watched with a smug expression. "You should have listened to us," Matthew taunted. "Now, you'll stay where the mess is."
Just as all hope seemed lost, a familiar voice called out in horror, "Princess! Aunt Karen, please help me!" But Latino sneered, "Mind your own business, lowly maid." Karen, however, didn't listen to the princes. She only answered to the queen.
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Karen pushed the princes away, making them lose their grip on Kira and fall into the compost. "Aaah! I'll be sure to tell my mother what you did, you'll pay!" Matthew threatened. "Yeah, same goes for me," Latino added.
Karen carried Kira away, hiding her from the royal concubines until sunset. In her chamber, Kira broke down in tears. "I'm sorry, Aunt Karen. I didn't mean to put you in trouble." Karen comforted her, "It's okay, I'm not in trouble. Don't worry about me." Karen sang a lullaby, and Kira drifted asleep.
But their peace was short-lived. Lydia, the first royal concubine, appeared with her knights and another man. "You're the Queen's maid, aren't you?" she asked. Karen nodded. Lydia smiled menacingly. "Then we shall begin."
Kira woke up to the sound of an object shattering on the floor. She saw Karen on her knees, with a royal knight behind her and Lydia in front. A man held a small bottle of purple liquid, which he poured into a cup. Kira dashed out, hitting the cup away from Karen's hand. "Kira, what are you doing here? You can't be here!" Karen cried.
Lydia gave a menacing look. "Well, well, looks like we have another guest. Prepare the wine for two." Karen begged, "No, please, don't do this. She's the queen's child." But Lydia slapped her. "How dare you speak to me?"
The scene unfolded with increasing horror. Karen drank the poisoned wine, and Kira was forced to do the same. With her last strength, Karen ran to Kira, but a sword pierced her neck, and a fountain of blood erupted, splattering Kira's face with warm, sticky droplets. The metallic scent filled her nostrils, and the sight of her aunt's life force draining away made her eyes widen in horror. The blood splattered across her cheeks, forehead, and lips, as if painting her face with a gruesome mask. Kira's mind froze, unable to comprehend the brutality unfolding before her.
Aunt Karen's eyes, once full of warmth and love, now glazed over, staring into the distance as her body slumped to the ground. The sound of her aunt's lifeless thud echoed through the room, making Kira's heart shatter into a million pieces. The sword, still lodged in Aunt Karen's neck, seemed to mock Kira, its presence a cruel reminder of the evil that had destroyed her beloved aunt.
Kira's scream was trapped in her throat, unable to escape as her eyes remained fixed on Aunt Karen's lifeless body. Her mind reeled, struggling to process the trauma she had just witnessed. The room spun around her, and her legs trembled beneath her, as if they might collapse at any moment. The blood on her face seemed to burn, a constant reminder of the horror she had endured.
Lydia ordered her knights, "Dispose of the maid's body. You know what to do with the princess's body." The man released Kira, who was weak and spiritless, her eyes still fixed on Aunt Karen's lifeless form.