CHAP 5

SS2 -

PART 3 â Celesteâs Truth
In the dungeon below the palace, Celeste sat chained but unbroken.
When the guards came, she laughed before they even spoke.
âLet me guess,â she said. âShe cried and now you think Iâm the monster.â
The guard said nothing.
But the king entered behind them.
That silenced her.
Celeste lifted her chin.
âYou always were sentimental,â she said to him. âThatâs why you lost her the first time.â
The kingâs voice was cold.
âTell me everything.â
Celeste smiled faintly.
âYou already know everything that matters.â
He stepped closer.
âI know you started a fire.â
âI corrected a mistake,â she replied. âThat child was never meant to live. The prophecy saidââ
âThe prophecy said she would either save this kingdom,â the king interrupted, âor destroy it depending on how we treated her.â
Celesteâs smile faded.
For the first time, something like uncertainty crossed her face.
âThatâs not how my mother told it.â
The king leaned forward.
âThen your mother lied.â
May you like
Silence.
And in that silence, Celeste finally looked afraid.