Layla's point of view
King David's eyes narrowed as he approached Antonio, tied to the chair.
"So, you're the one who's been spreading dissent and treason within my kingdom." The King was furious at him.
"You have no right to hold me. I'm here for Sheila, my love, my everything. You stole her from me." Antonio's gaze blazed with defiance.
"Sheila is now my queen, Antonio. By her own choice. You have no claim to her; moreover, she didn't even mention your name for once." David's expression remained calm, but his voice took on a hint of irritation.
"No! She was manipulated and deceived. You used your power and wealth to seduce her because you are the king of Moonshine." Antonio's face twisted in anguish.
Gavin Forestheart exchanged uneasy glances, sensing the tension.
"Be careful, Antonio. Your words border on treason. Sheila made her choice freely. She chose me, and I won't let anyone threaten our union." King David stepped closer to Antonio, his voice taking on a warning tone.
"You'll pay for this, David. I'll make sure the whole world knows your deceit. You'll never truly have Sheila's heart." Antonio's eyes flashed with hatred.
"Enough. You'll face trial for your crimes. Take him away." King David's jaw clenched.
As the guards dragged Antonio out to a waiting room, King David turned to me while I was stepping slowly on the floor towards him with my face covered with a mask and walking elegantly in my long gown.
"Where is he, my king?" I asked.
"You need more rest, Layla; he's in the waiting room." He whispered into my ears.
Then we both left the hall to wait, walking side by side.
He ordered Caleb and Gavin to excuse us from the room, and we were left with only scared Antonio; he almost melted when he saw the king again in his front; he thought he was about to shape-shift and consumed his flesh.
"I'm not scared of you; do what you wish to do with me; kill me now or never, you wicked king; just know that many of me will rise against you one day and end your evil reign." He said with his trembling voice.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha, you are such a funny man, Antonio. I could have killed you if I wanted to, but your whole body can't quench my werewolf thirst for hunger." His warm, throaty chuckles.
Then I stepped away behind him in front of Antonio himself, then I gently unmasked my face and walked closer towards him.
He fixed his strange gaze on my face for 20 minutes, and he didn't understand why I was standing before him or what was going on; he didn't even know me as Layla, and he couldn't seem to see Sheila in the flesh.
"Who are you, and what do you want from me, or are you here to finish up his job he couldn't? Go ahead and don't waste my time." He closed his eyes fearfully, waiting for me to strike him.
Instead, I walked up to him slowly, raised his head up, and calmly whispered in his ears.
"Antonio, open your eyes; I am Layla and not Sheila; I've been the one acting as Queen Sheila all this while; your Sheila is safe and sound as we speak." I muttered to him, and a shocking expression filled his eyes.
"What!" he exclaimed.
"Sheila isn't here; she's far from here in a safe place, living a free life as she had wished, apart from being locked up as a maid." I growled at him.
"holy crap! So Sheila isn't here in Moonshine, wait... Wait, are you the same princess Layla of Craftanwood accused of killing your own family?" He asked, and King David charged forward and struck him with a blow on his jaw.
"Don't ever say that again; never utter such words from your stinking mouth again, or else I'll do justice to your flesh and bone and feed your stupid brain to my pet." King David angrily said as he continued to choke his throat with his fist.
"Let him go, my king." I quickly intervened before he killed him.
Then he dropped his neck and stepped back from his spot.
"I'm so sorry, your majesty," he mumbled an apology while trying to catch his breath.
"If you want to see Sheila, you have to journey to Craftanwood with us, and you must never reveal what you have just seen to anyone, including your family, even at the peak of death." I said, and he nodded in acceptance.
King David left the room to give an order to Caleb.
"Prepare a room for our guest and make sure you tend to all his needs and demands," he said.
"Right away, sire." Caleb acknowledged his command.
Antonio was so excited about some point and was so surprised to see me; he stood up and held my hand.
"Thank you," he said with passion.
"You don't need to thank me, but I think I'm in the right position to thank you for loving Sheila; if you hadn't loved Sheila, you wouldn't have traveled all the way from the Nightshade mountains to Moonshine, and I wouldn't have met Sheila with you in the farmstead." My voice barely above whisper.
"If I may ask, What do you mean, my queen?" He asked.
"I eventually met Sheila in the farmstead on the same day you came to visit her in Moonshine, and I overheard your conversation with her about King David's agreement with her; she gave me an opportunity to be alive today and to survive every day." I spelled out everything to him.
He remained speechless and surprised as pleased as he was until King David entered the room again, and he informed me that inspector Asher was outside waiting for me.
We left the room together towards the hall to meet inspector Asher, who was waiting patiently for us.
Inspector Asher's stern expression turned grim as he entered the palace. "Your Majesties, I've come to discuss the upcoming competition."
"Proceed, Inspector." King David's interest piqued.
Asher cleared his throat. "To participate, one must first obtain a royal invitation. I've taken the liberty of registering another name for Queen Sheila, now Nora from Moonshine."
"Okay, that's a good idea; they mustn't know she's the one." My eyes widened.
"Your face looks so familiar, your Majesty." Asher's gaze locked onto mine, his voice hesitant.
The room became silent.
I intentionally left my face open for him to see; if I were working with someone, I needed to trust them all.
"What do you mean she looks familiar? Sheila is my queen." King David's face darkened.
"I apologize for the mistake. I was under the impression of seeing princess Layla of Craftanwood." Asher's eyes darted between the couple.
"I am Sheila, and as for the competition, I am now registered as a Nora fisherman." My voice trembled.
"I received instructions from a mysterious source, ensuring Sheila's participation. I didn't question it, assuming it was a palace matter." Asher's expression turned pale.
The air thickened with tension.
As we prepare for the journey and competition ahead of us will reveal secrets, and the palace will burn.