The Palace Beast
Chapter 21 - Traitor

At the Palace in the Kingdom of Maxis As Princess Bonnie was seated beside the palace pool, two imperial guards led the healer to the princess. On seeing the imperial guards approach, Princess Bonnie stood to her feet. Walking to meet them, she stared down at the healer, "What happened?" she asked with a frown face.

The healer could tell that the Princess was feeling upset as he opened his mouth to speak. "Forgive me, my princess, I was attacked on my way back." The healer lowered his head.

"Attacked by what?" the Princess asked without hesitation.

"I wouldn't say what my Lady but whom," the healer replied. "I was attacked by your father's best friend Drew. He was riding with unknown men who were armed. From the look of things my princess, those men are not from Maxis. He attacked me and destroyed the spirit's herb. I escaped death, my princess," he narrates.

Enraged, the Princess was so spellbound that she couldn't say any other word to the healer or the imperial guards who brought him. She angrily walked out on them and headed straight into the palace.

Slamming the door of her mother's chamber open, the Queen was startled as she turned in haste. "Where are your manners, child?" she yelled at Princess Bonnie.

"I left it the day I started hating you for your evil ways."

Bonnie's response was harsh and she's done trying to behave well and not to crash with her mother. But seems like things are getting out of hand and she can't help herself anymore. She wants to set things straight and not let her mother or Drew ruin the kingdom for the lust they have for power.

"Watch your tongue!" Queen Afi said lifting her hand to strike Princess Bonnie.

Bonnie waged the Queen's hand from striking her as she glared at her, "You dare not!" Pushing off her mother's hand after the wage, she boldly brought her face closer to her mother's saying, "When next you attempt this, I will stake you with a dagger!"

"I will not have you in my chamber!"

"Your whore of a person in the name of Drew attacked the healer on his way to us to help revive your son. And if by nightfall, you do not address the issue and my brother returns to me in good health, the entire kingdom will know of your evil ways in this kingdom!"

Walking towards the door, the Princess turned and faced her mother one more time. "And one more thing, it will please the king if he has the head of the traitor, Drew, on a platter. So make it happen before he returns."

Maxis' Cave "We have you surrounded and we have your men here. Just come out with your hands above your head and you will live!" Drew yelled from the outside of the cave. He has disarmed the rest of Gerald's men who were waiting for the king outside and forced them on their knees.

"I recognize that voice."

King Afa moved closer to the entrance of the cave. Hiding by its edge, he leaned on it and peeped. "Drew, why are you doing this? You are my father's best friend," King Afa echoed.

"Past tense! I was but not anymore." Drew steadies his horse as he continues, "All you have to do is to surrender and all this will go away but if you don't, I will start killing these men one after another. And afterward, I will walk into that cave and drag you out like a dead dog."

"You swore to protect the throne, why are you doing this?"

Every noble swore an oath for the good of Maxis. Drew was one of those who made sure any noble that went against their oat would fall by his sword. He did this in this service to the late king to protect his reign when King Charles was raising a conspiracy inside Maxis and having some nobles from Maxis spy on the late king. King Afa was still leaning on the edge of the entrance of the cave.

"That's right! I swore to protect the throne and Maxis, that's exactly what I am doing. Getting rid of someone with no experience of leading the kingdom of Maxis into a bright future." Drew echoed from outside the cave.

"This isn't working my king," Gerald said drawing close to the king. "We have to replace another way out of here," he added.

"This is a cave, there is no other way out," King Afa replied.

"Perhaps there is," Eva cuts in. "Follow me," she added.

Eva and her father used to have some lessons about the spirits' herbs inside Maxis' cave when she was a child. She often runs to Maxis' cave to hide whenever she's being chased by bullies. To her and her father, the Maxis' cave is considered a sacred place to connect with the spirits' world.

"What about your men out there?" King Afa asked glancing at Gerald.

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Clearing his throat, Gerald replied, "I am sorry my king, there is nothing we can do. They swore to die for you and the sake of the kingdom. Your safety now is my top priority." "This way," Eva cuts in leading them into the deep part of the cave.

"It's dark in here, how do we even see our way through?"

As one born and raised in the palace, the king is not used to being in darkness. But if the only way out here is through the dark, he has no problem going into the deep dark part of the cave. "I am tired of waiting, kill them all," Drew said instructing the soldiers of Wex.

Hastily they placed their sword on their captives' throats and slew them all. And after they had done this, they tossed their corpses to the oak trees.

"Follow me," Drew said mounting down from his horse. Leading them into the cave, he unsheathed his sword.

At the Kingdom of Wex "My king," said Leo as he approached the king. "The rumor is true. We have confirmed from our men with Drew," Leo added. "Do we strike now?" the king asked with his eyes on Leo. He has no idea what to do. He feels lost and no senses of right call since the death of his sons. "It will be of..."

"My King," one of the guards interrupted Leo as he ran into the throne hall. He took a longbow before the king.

"What is the matter?" King Charles asked expressing curiosity.

Just a heads up: Narugi.com is the only place to read the complete version of this book for free. Don't miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! "The new king of Maxis has been confirmed well and sound. But Drew and our men have him surrounded," he narrates.

On hearing this, the king exclaimed in total disappointment. "What!" Casting a haughty gaze on Leo he continued in a raging tone. "You told me Dybbuk has him, didn't you?"

This is not the news the king wants to hear about Maxis or King Afa. He wanted something positive, perhaps a reason to celebrate and not a reason to be angry. Even though he was a ruthless king, he preferred not to pour his wrath on his subjects but on his enemies.

"I am not aware of the new changes my king. Forgive me," Leo said as he quickly lowered his head in shame and fear.

Everyone fears King Charles including his general. He had killed two generals before Commander Leo for failing to accomplish a given task. Leo is likely to be the next if the king so desires. He is a king who does not tolerate failures. After the last battle with Wex and Maxis, he slew his armies that fled from the battlefield and tossed their corpses into the river.

"This is no way to go. We can't just cross their territory with our troops in search of their king. Call back your men, right away," King Charles yelled at Leo.

"But my king, it pleases you to strike him down," Leo argued.

Walking down from the stairs that lead to his throne; King Charles stood in front of Leo, looking him dead in the eye, "There is a way to war and there are ways amateurs venture into war. Call back your men now or your head will roll," King Charles said.

Maixs' Cave Climbing out from a hole at the top of the cave, King Afa reaches out to Eva to pull her up. "We need to go now," said the king.

"No one is going anywhere," said a soldier from Wex with his sword pointed at the king's throat.