In the depths of the castle, in a torch-lit chamber, stood Sir Frederick, a knight of noble heart and bravery. The king and his corrupt cohorts rose to accuse him unjustly of treason. Frederick, clad in his gleaming armor and with a determined gaze, faced his accusers with resolve.
The king, seated on his throne, began the accusations with a cold, firm voice.
—Sir Frederick, we accuse you of treason. You have spoken against our decisions and attempted to revolt.
Frederick stood tall and replied with courage.
—My lord, I do not speak out of disloyalty but out of a sense of justice. I have witnessed the suffering of the poor while corrupt nobles grow rich. My only wish is for our kingdom to be a better place for all. Is that worthy of punishment?
The king's counselor, a greedy man, scoffed at Frederick.
—Empty words, knight! You seek to undermine our authority. What proof do you have for your accusations?
Frederick looked around, seeking the support of other just nobles who watched in silence.
—My evidence is the lives of the oppressed. Witnesses to the injustices I have seen, witnesses who can confirm the truth.
The queen, a wise and compassionate woman, spoke up.
—It's true that Sir Frederick has been fighting for the less fortunate. Shouldn't we consider the needs of our people?
The king frowned, feeling challenged by her words.
—Silence! This council is not for debate. Sir Frederick, you shall be banished from this kingdom, and your lands confiscated.
Frederick, without losing his composure, responded with dignity.
—So be it, my lord. But I will never cease to fight for justice, no matter where destiny takes me.
Despite the king and his cohorts' unjust decision, Sir Frederick remained true to his purpose and set out to find a place where his courage and his sword could serve justice, no matter the obstacles he faced on his path.
Sir Frederick, upon his return home after the events in the king's council, felt the need to share with his beloved wife, Evalaura, everything that had happened. He sat at his desk, pen in hand, parchment before him, and began to write a letter with a heavy heart.
"Dearest Evalaura,
I hope this letter finds you well, along with our precious daughter, Evangeline. I must begin by telling you that I have been unjustly accused and banished from the kingdom by the king's council. In the council, I stood up in defense of justice and spoke out against the injustices I have witnessed. My voice was seen as a threat by those who perpetuate oppression in our kingdom, and I was condemned for treason.
Despite the adversity, I want you to know that my spirit remains unbroken, and my determination to fight for justice burns as strong as ever. My love for you and Evangeline gives me the strength to face these dark times.
The fight for justice is not over, and I am determined to clear my name and return to your side. Your words of support and love are a balm to my soul, and with your support, I will overcome this challenge.
Evangeline is our ray of light in these difficult times. I know that together, we form a strong and united family that can face any adversity. Your words of encouragement are a constant reminder of why I fight for a fairer and more equitable kingdom.
With your support and the promise that we will always be together, no matter the circumstances, I find the strength to move forward. Living in a kingdom filled with injustices, where justice is blind, is not where I want our daughter to grow up.
With all my love, Frederick"
Days after sending the letter, Sir Frederick received a response from Evalaura, reaffirming her unwavering support and the decision to live together, far from a kingdom marked by injustice. Together, they would face the future with determination and love for the sake of their daughter, Evangeline.
—Evangeline, my dear, it's time for us to meet your father. Today is a very special day, and we mustn't be late.
Announced Evalaura with passionate yet serene voice to her daughter.
Evangeline jumped with excitement.
—Yes, Mom! I want to see Dad!
Evalaura nodded affectionately.
—That's right, my love! Your father is a brave knight who fights for justice. He's been on long journeys and has many exciting stories to tell you.
Little Evangeline was eager to see her father and hear his tales.
—Did Dad fight dragons, Mom?
Evalaura laughed tenderly.
—Well, dear, maybe not against dragons, but he has faced many brave adventures. He has helped people and our kingdom in amazing ways.
Mother and daughter held hands and walked toward a carriage that would take them to the borders, Evangeline's dress fluttering with her lively steps. Evalaura continued to share her excitement and admiration for her husband with her daughter.
—Your father is a noble and loving man. I'm sure he'll make you feel very proud and loved when you see him.
Evangeline smiled, excited for the meeting, as her father had only seen her a few times when she was younger, and she couldn't remember him now.
—I'm very proud of Dad, Mom!
The two shared laughter and joy as they headed to the borders to reunite with the knight who filled their lives with love and bravery.
Little did they know that things wouldn't be as bright as they imagined...
On a cold and gloomy day, near the kingdom's border, Evalaura and her young daughter, Evangeline, were relentlessly pursued by a group of knights who blindly obeyed the unjust king. The mother held her daughter tightly, fear reflected in her eyes. Leaves rustled beneath their feet, and the wind blew strongly, carrying with it the lament of a divided kingdom.
Sir Frederick, brave and resolute, stood between his beloved wife and his adored daughter and the knights pursuing them. With his sword drawn, he fought against the king's forces, protecting with his life the two people he loved most in this world. His armor gleamed with determination as he faced his opponents.
The sound of clashing swords, flying arrows, and shouts echoed in the air, creating a deafening cacophony. Evalaura kept Evangeline safe, whispering words of love and courage while watching with anguish the fierce battle unfolding before her eyes.
The fight was fierce and ruthless, but unfortunately, Sir Frederick, gravely wounded, finally fell. Desperation crossed Evalaura's face as she saw her beloved fall. But she knew her only hope of saving her daughter was to continue fleeing.
With tears in her eyes and a broken heart, Evalaura kissed Sir Frederick's forehead and took her daughter's hand. She rose, looking resolutely toward the horizon. With no other option, she continued running with Evangeline, without looking back. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but her determination remained unshaken.
Despite Sir Frederick's sacrifice, his love and bravery had given his wife and daughter a chance to escape. However, fate had a cruel twist in store for them. Before they could reach the border, an arrow pierced Evalaura's heart, killing her instantly. Evangeline, traumatized by the event, could do nothing but collapse, and luckily, she did, or her head would have rolled off.
After that tragic
event, Evangeline's life took an even darker turn. She was kidnapped and enslaved, torn from her home and everything she loved. But in the midst of darkness, there was a glimmer of hope. The queen took her under her wing. However, this apparent protection came at a price. Evangeline found herself compelled to perform cleaning tasks in the castle, a menial occupation that only served to maintain appearances for the king. The king, distrusting the queen, imposed a particular restriction on the young girl: she was forbidden from leaving the north wing of the castle, and if she did, her body would magically collapse. After all, in this world of magic and fantasy, distrust and control were mercilessly imposed.
But even in adversity, there was a glimmer of hope. Evangeline underwent an aptitude test that revealed her class as a "Photographer," one of the humblest and most despised classes. This allowed her to take photographs and develop them, provided there was enough paper available, which compelled her to become the "Pig King's" photographer, a nickname she liked to call the king, although always in secret. Despite the restrictions, she found solace in her love for photography and the images she could capture, many of which were of the queen, although these images were not entirely flattering.
Her life of servitude continued, but Evangeline held onto the hope that somehow, she could find her way to freedom. Until one fateful day, she received news that would change her destiny once again. The king announced that she would be sent into the abyss with other soldiers to "gather information." The queen, as benevolent as ever, tried to stop this decision, but this time, there was no success. Evangeline's fate was sealed.
With a heavy heart, the queen bid farewell to Evangeline, a girl she had come to love as a daughter. Amidst the sadness that enveloped everyone, the queen couldn't help but despise the world they lived in. It was a cruel and ruthless world, a world about to snatch away a girl as bright as Evangeline.
The queen, with a voice broken by emotion and sorrow, spoke her last words: "Dear Evangeline, I deeply apologize for not saving you until the end. Forgive this useless queen who couldn't protect a sweet girl like you, only..." Here, tears began to flow down her cheeks as a lump formed in her throat, preventing her from continuing.
Evangeline, with a strength that only a person of her caliber could possess, responded with a trembling yet grateful voice: "Thank you very much, Your Majesty, for taking me in all these years. Thank you for bestowing your grace upon me, even when I was just a mere slave. I will be eternally grateful for everything you did for someone like me. Thank you so much..." With those words, Evangeline took a step forward to join the soldiers who would lead her into the abyss, knights who waited outside the door.
As she moved away, the queen watched the young girl with eyes filled with sorrow, her silent tears expressing the deep pain she felt. She knew there was nothing more she could do to protect Evangeline, but her heart would continue to weep for this brave girl embarking on an uncertain destiny. However, before Evangeline opened the enormous door that separated her from the knights, she ran to the queen and in an unrestrained impulse, she hugged her, with her last words, "Thank you very much, Aunt...." after these words, both Evangeline and the queen started crying, how much time passed, fifteen seconds, one minute, five minutes? In that endless sea of tears, time seemed to stop, but the knights outside had no empathy, and they simply called for the door violently, almost as if that door was going to break, but neither of them cared.
After a brief moment, Evangeline bid farewell to the queen, still with tears in her eyes. As she left, she noticed the discomfort in the atmosphere among the soldiers surrounding her. The faces of the twelve soldiers present, thirteen if we counted Evangeline, were marked by expressions of disgust. It was evident that her delay was causing their discomfort. The reason was simple: the squad was ready to venture into the abyss, but they were waiting for the last member, who was Evangeline.
The young girl wondered in silence, "Are they fools? Why are they so eager to go into the abyss?" For her, the idea of venturing into the depths of the abyss was madness. Wasn't that the opposite of prudence? But what Evangeline didn't know at that moment was that each member of that squad, all apparently soldiers, were actually warrior slaves. These slaves had been lucky enough to survive the coliseum, or at least that's what they had been told. Their supposed "luck" would be guaranteed if they returned from the abyss with the photographs that Evangeline had been assigned to take. However, the soldiers were unaware of the hardships and difficulties awaiting them in the depths of the abyss. They were simply naive, unaware of the reality of their mission. Soon, they would beg to return to the coliseum.