She glared at him, and Mishak slowly let go of her hand, a bit of a helpless expression on his face.
Layah turned to face Elva and began to walk towards her. She stood in front of her and stared her dead in the eyes with wrath in her orifices. "You haven't had enough, have you? You're such a disgrace!" She spat at her and, angered by this, Elva pushed her and glared at her with hatred in her eyes.
"A disgrace? Go look at yourself in the mirror before you call me a disgrace. You're just like your unfortunate moth-" She had not finished her word yet when Layah slapped her across the cheek and punched her violently on her pampered face. "How dare you?! Don't you ever mention my mother with that filthy mouth of yours or else!" She threatened, and Elva clutched her cheek with shock in her eyes.
"As for you-" she turned to Zahiel and walked to stand in front of him. "-Thank you for doing me such a favor. Now I no longer have to worry about marrying a stinking, horrible person like you. Enjoy your life with her." She smirked and turned around, walking out of the room and straight to her chamber.
Mishak stared at her disappearing back and slightly shook his head. Well... he has done his part. Nothing concerned him anymore. He turned around and walked away, back to the soldiers' yard.
...
Layah shut the door of her room and, without bothering to change her clothing or at least take her shoes off, she jumped into the king-sized bed and spread her arms to either side of her.
She would be lying if she said she wasn't hurt back there. Men are such scum! Someone who was meant to marry her soon, has already gone and had an affair with her sister. They are both just so disgusting!
You know, maybe heaven was trying to help her and keep her from marrying someone she might one day kill with her two hands and then be deemed a murderer. Arrggh!
She shook her head and shut her eyes, then drifted off to sleep.
__________
(early the next morning)
Within the hall, Layyah, clad in a fine blue dress, stood before the emperor, a confused expression on her face.
The emperor had suddenly summoned all of them, including Elva, to the hall for reasons she couldn't tell, and just like her, the others had confused expressions evident on their faces.
The door of the hall was pushed open and the remaining ministers walked in, bowed respectfully to the emperor, and took their seats in their respective chairs.
Seeing that everyone was finally present, the emperor slammed his hand on the armrest of his golden throne, then turned to look at Bronco, who stood beside him with a rigorous expression on his face.
"Announce it!" he said to Bronco with anger in his tone, and Bronco matched forward, his eyes on everyone in the hall.
"Last night, someone broke into the first royal chamber of his majesty and stole the royal seal." The moment the word exited his mouth, everyone, including Layah, stilled in shock, their eyes full of disbelief.
"The royal guards have searched through the entire palace but couldn't find it, so what's remaining now is the rooms of the princesses and her highness. They are the only chambers that the royal guards have yet to search." He announced, and Layah's brows creased as she felt this sudden wave of restlessness surge through her.
"Royal guards, move and search the chambers of the princesses, including my concubine's chamber!" The emperor ordered with a deadly look on his face and fury evident in his eyes. This was pure treason, and whoever is the culprit will suffer nothing but a miserable death.
His clenched fist tightened and he shut his eyes, awaiting the report of the royal guards.