Benjamin Carter, who had been watching the exchange with sharp eyes, leaned forward. "It is strange, is it not?" he mused. "The Royal Commander has always defended those creatures. Perhaps too much." His words dripped with suspicion. "What if he is hiding something?"
The accusations lingered in the air, thick with tension. Then, a voice cut through them like a blade.
"Enough!"
The king's thunderous command silenced the chamber instantly. His piercing gaze swept across the gathered ministers, fury crackling beneath his regal composure. Rising from his throne, he looked upon them with disappointment and anger.
"Do not cast blame so carelessly," he warned, his voice as sharp as tempered steel. "You have always sought to vilify magical creatures, even when they have done no harm. But I will not allow you to twist this tragedy into an excuse for your hatred." His gaze darkened. "And now you dare to question my Royal Commander?"
The weight of his words settled over the court like an oppressive storm cloud. Ministers shifted uncomfortably, some looking away, others bowing their heads.
"Royal Commander Zechariah has served this kingdom with unwavering loyalty," the king continued, his tone resolute. "He would lay down his life for the princesses, for this throne, and for our people. I will not stand for baseless accusations against the very man I have entrusted with their safe return."
Silence followed, heavy and unyielding. No one dared to challenge him further.
The king exhaled sharply, his voice quieter but no less firm. "If you truly care about the princesses, then cease this foolishness. Let Zechariah do his duty, and let us pray that he finds them before it is too late."
With that, he turned away, leaving the ministers to sit in uneasy silence, the weight of their king's words pressing upon them like a judgment they could not escape.
At the same time in Luminarin,
Determined to learn more, Starlet and Alexandra cautiously crept closer to the chaos, their hearts pounding with every step. They hid behind the thick trunk of a towering enchanted tree, its shimmering leaves offering scant cover from the witch's dark presence.
The air was thick with fear, crackling with the remnants of the witch's vile magic.
Hovering ominously above the frightened villagers, the witch's cloak billowed in the wind, shadows swirling around her like a living nightmare. Her sharp, cruel voice cut through the trembling silence.
"No one can save you from me! You are all my slaves!" she declared, her words dripping with malice.
The villagers huddled together, their faces etched with terror. Mothers clutched their children tightly, while elders bowed their heads in despair. The vibrant joy that once filled Luminarin had been drained, replaced by hopelessness.
The witch's sinister laugh echoed across the land.
"Even your two princesses," she sneered, "the ones destined to save you, cannot stop me. I will find them… and I will *kill* them."
Starlet's breath hitched, and Alexandra's hand instinctively found her sister's, their fingers trembling.
A cold dread settled in their chests, heavy and suffocating.
"She's talking about us," Alexandra whispered, her voice barely audible.
"The book... it *knew* this would happen," Starlet said, her voice shaky yet determined. "That's why it brought us here."
Their images had appeared in the enchanted book for a reason—Luminarin had called upon them. And now, the witch knew of their existence.
Starlet's mind raced. "We can't let her find us. Not yet."
Alexandra nodded, though fear flickered in her eyes. "But how do we stop someone like *her*?"
"We'll figure it out," Starlet said, determination hardening her voice. "We have to."
The witch's gaze swept across the terrified crowd, but fortunately, she had not yet noticed the sisters hidden in the shadows.
Starlet gripped Alexandra's hand tightly. "We need to get to safety and find help."
"And fast," Alexandra agreed.
As the witch unleashed another wave of dark magic, the sisters crept away, hearts racing but resolve building.
The path ahead was uncertain, fraught with danger.
But Starlet and Alexandra knew one thing for sure—
They were no longer just princesses of Andrellinia.
They were the kingdom's only hope.
The thought always troubled them - what is the connection between Andrellinia and Luminarin?!!