Sebastian took his seat on the throne, and his eyebrows knitted the minute he was done reading the letter Valda had given him. He couldn't believe she'd been punished without his consent, and what's more shocking was the letter he just finished reading.
"You said your uncle wrote this?"
"His daughter did." Valda corrected, "see when my uncle's family needed urgent money, they'd write me a letter just like this one. I had to do it because I was forced to take that route, and I feared punishment if I said no. My refusal often meant I'd end up sleeping outside in the cold, it gets worse during the winter season, and other times, I'm faced with a whip, where I get beaten till he's satisfied." she suddenly paused, as though the reminder of what she had to endure so far was causing her extreme anxiety.
Nevertheless, she sucked in a deep breath and continued, "though I understood a nobler path existed, I hesitated to risk my life, cause if I didn't do what was I asked, they would see no use of my existence. I didn't have much of a choice but to abide by their tyrannical rules."
"What about the gambling?" Sebastian questioned, "my subjects come to me with daily catastrophes surrounding their neighborhood, and it has reached a point where I can no longer maintain my silence. They speak of gamblers ravaging homes for money in order to fuel their addiction, and there are more than a few gamblers who plead guilty to the accusation. Such conduct left me with no choice but to take the step I did, to rid them of my kingdom before matters escalated."
"My uncle is also a gambler, I believe he should be rid of the kingdom too." Valda revealed, stepping forward. "I know His Majesty might not believe it, but I speak the truth. The only reason no one knows a whim about it is because he has the connection to silence those who try to uncover it."
"He… took a significant sum from the loan sharks, but lost it all in a bet. I wasn't ready to be rendered homeless overnight, and I couldn't bear the thought of subjecting either of them to hardship. We're supposed to be a family, or so I thought, but I… I was a fool, so I did what I had to do, even though it's not something one should boast about."
Valda saw no merit in advocating for herself in this instance, regardless of whether it was coercion or not. She knew she would face the recommended punishment, but, however, she hoped the King would grasp her predicament and lessen the severity of the accusations leveled against her.
"Wow, you're definitely not winning any awards in the manipulation department." Eryx commented with a judging sneer, "Being all honest and upfront? Not exactly the strategy I had in mind. Try again, because this was definitely not the plan I laid out for you."
The young man came to stand beside her, emitting a weary sigh. She had a splendid chance to throw her ridiculous family under the carriage, and he had given her a solid plan—a favor he wouldn't extend to his underlings in the capital. But nope, here she was, bluntly stating the facts without adding any flavors or spice to the mix.
"You insult me." he grumbled indignantly, shooting her a glare, but the woman dared to ignore his existence. She had her attention unwaveringly fixed upon the king, who was still lost in thought over their recent discussion. Eryx on the other hand could not help but wield onto his patience, but soon, soon enough he would tame this new kitten he successfully owned.
"What about the guards?" Sebastian's voice snapped him out of his evil thoughts, and he had directed the question at his kitten. "Do you plead guilty for their demise just so you can evade justice? I hope you're aware that that's a grave sin in comparison to your gambling habit."
"I'm aware of the accusations laid against me, and I do believe that it would be difficult to prove my innocence with everyone believing the rumors." Valda admitted, brushing off her nerves, "but I only request for His Majesty to grant me until tomorrow night, at the royal ball. I assure you, everything will be revealed then."
"Everything?"
"If His Majesty chooses to cooperate with me, then I can vindicate myself in front of all. However, should I falter, I'm prepared to accept the death penalty."
A moment of immense silence hung heavily in the air, and Valda struggled to steady her trembling feet. Her strength was waning, and she could hardly support herself for much longer. Hopefully, they end this discussion quickly before the urge to collapse takes over her body.
"This isn't my usual approach, but I'm willing to grant you a chance, a final opportunity, Valda Griggs." he agreed, to Valda's surprise, and he raised his index finger for emphasis. "Prove your innocence. I want to believe you are, as I'm certain your late father would have instilled his goodwill in you. But if you fail, my hands are tied."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I shall honor this opportunity." she said, bowing her head in gratitude.
"I shall send a servant to help you tidy up, and give you some clean clothes to wear. It is the least I can do, since you were whipped for no accorded reason."
As promised, Sebastian consulted the chief butler who issued a servant to lead Valda to a different quarters, but upon arriving there, she noticed there were two hefty guards stationed at the entrance. Valda understood their presence was to thwart any attempt at escape, but fleeing from here was way far from her intention.
Infact, this was to her own advantage, cause she was sure her uncle wouldn't try anything precarious now that she, unexpectedly, has the King on her side now.
When she stepped inside with the servant, Valda noticed a small bed positioned at the far end of the room. The space wasn't particularly vast, but it reminded her of the inn where she slept the previous night.
"Is this their idea of torture?" Eryx inquired, appearing somewhat taken aback by the modest proportion of the room. "Are we meant to survive without fainting from lack of air? I mean, there's scarcely enough oxygen for a single soul, let alone two!"
"Stop talking…" Valda said through her clenched teeth, feigning interest in the servant's instruction regarding bathing and other necessities.
"Cramped quarters, simply dreadful!" Eryx grumbled, casting a disdainful glance at the wall, "it's like my endurance is being tested."
"For the sake of my sanity, why don't you just make your departure!" Valda exclaimed, gesturing emphatically towards the exit. However, her expression quickly shifted to one of horror when she noticed the servant staring at her, utterly taken aback by her outburst. Valda soon found herself stumbling over words in order to clarify and explain herself.
"I wasn't talking to you, I was…I didn't mean…it wasn't inten–"
"Ah, the signs of a deranged mind! It appears you're adding quite the effort to the betterment of your appearance." Remarked Eryx, and Valda promptly abandoned her attempt at explanation.
What was the point? She was the only one unfortunate enough to be tormented by the devilish figure in front of her, and sadly, there was no explaining it in a way that would make sense!
Eryx could envision her cat ears sagging in mild irritation, a sight he couldn't help but find utterly endearing.
The puzzled servant immediately handed Valda the plain clothes before leaving, and the silver-haired woman waited for the servant to disappear completely before furrowing her brows at the young man encroaching upon her space in the room.
"You should leave too." She said, breezing past the frustrating fox Lord, "I need to get busy, and your lingering presence will only make me want to smash my head against a wall."
"I'll be back by morning." He assured, placing his hand gently on her shoulder and stooping to her level, "no need to stay awake for my return."
Valda's spine performed a polka at their uncomfortably close proximity, and she immediately recoiled from his touch as if his hand was made from ice. He flashed her an innocent smile, one capable of sending both genders to their knees, but to Valda, it only made her shrink away, creating as much distance as she can from the creepy man.
To her unexpected bewilderment, the very same butterfly she had encountered in the dreary chamber manifested in his palm, and her eyes instantly went round at another voodoo he was portraying.
"Keep this with you." He instructed, and about ten more butterflies materialized around him. They gracefully flew into a transparent jar which he promptly sealed with the cover, and he handed the jar of fluttering insects to the bewildered Valda.
"If you need me, just release one of these butterflies through your window, and I'll be here."
"Why would I summon you? I do not need gifts from you."
"You really are a rare breed." He chuckled, looking rather amused than offended, "I want you to keep it anyway. Whether or not you choose to employ it matters little, but it may prove useful in dire circumstances."
Valda observed as he extended his hands forward to hand her the transparent jar, gently clasping hers in his. There was a curious warmth in his eyes when he stared at their joined hands, and that look captivated her senses for some seconds.
However, upon meeting his gaze, she immediately diverted her eyes elsewhere, clearing her throat, and she slipped her hand from his, holding the small jar he gave her.
"Don't die, I'll be back for you." And with smiling eyes, he vanished.
Valda simply stared at the jar in her hand in silence. She was intrigued by the fact that they were his creation, but she would never openly acknowledge it. Her countenance remained impassive as she continued to study the jar.
"Weird fox man."
She carefully placed the jar on the table and glanced at where the bathing chamber was located.
For now, her task was to tidy herself and begin preparation. Her only wish was for Nelson to fulfil his role effectively tomorrow.