A maid hummed happily, carrying a tray that contained food while walking. She was so carried away by happiness that she mistakenly bumped into Jacinta, causing the food she held to spill on Jacinta’s beautiful floral green gown. Jacinta screamed down the whole building with a terrified look on her face. Jacinta slapped the maid hard. She held the maid’s dress tightly and pushed her to the floor. The maid knelt down and held Jacinta’s leg pleading, the maid knew Jacinta was from one of the prestigious family in the kingdom, so ending her life was a simple thing to do. Jacinta kicked the maid’s hands away, she felt disgusted by the maid touching her.
“Guards! Guards!!” Jacinta screamed and almost half of the guards came running. “I want her thoroughly flogged.”
“Ah! Please!” The maid screamed and begged. The guards hesitated, they were astonished at Jacinta’s request. “What are you still waiting for?” Jacinta roared when she saw their hesitation. The guards immediately dragged her away.
The maid cried loudly as she was being dragged away. She wished Jacinta would change her mind and have mercy on her. What she did wasn’t an intentional act; she just got news about her carrying a baby after three years of marriage, that was why she was so happy. For three solid years, she tried all she could to concieve but couldn’t. She drank all kinds of herbs but all to no avail. Now that the heavens have answered her prayers, she landed into trouble that would kill her and her baby.
The maid prayed within her for a miracle to happen, but none happened. The husband of the woman, who was also a guard at the palace, had gone out to carry out an order given to him by her Majesty. He heard the news of what had happened and ran with speed to the execution quarter, where all who had punishment pronouncement were brought to and punished.
The young man knelt down and begged the guards that were meant to carry out the order. He couldn’t lose his wife and his unborn child. It was better for him to be hanged to death than for that to happen.
“Flog me instead please, I am ready to serve double portion of the punishment,” He pleaded with the guards. The guards were moved with compassion, they were unable to bring themselves to hurt someone who had been good to them for years,
Jacinta who was sitted in the living room, anticipated screams of pain but heard none. What was happening? Did the guard dare defy her orders. She stood up angrily and marched to the execution center. When she got there, she saw all the guards standing with tender looks in their eyes, and her anger intensified.
“What are you all doing? Why are you not carrying out my orders?” Jacinta roared, startling the guards that hadn’t noticed when she came there. “Now! Do what I asked you to do.”
None of the guards moved. They stood still and watched her in silence. “You all want to die, right?” She threatened.
“You are not our boss, and we cannot take orders from you,” The chief guard himself finally spoke, surprising Jacinta.
“Yes!” All the guards agreed in unison, surprising her further. Jacinta laughed loudly in a creepy way. She went to where the punishment equipment was kept and picked a strong whip. The whip was filled with thorns, just one whip was capable of making one go crazy from pains. Since the guards were bold enough to counter her orders, she was going to carry it out herself.
She went to the maid who was already tied to a chair waiting for the execution was and proceeded to carry out the execution. However, before the whip could touch her body, her husband shielded her and the whip landed on his body, piercing into his skin deeply. When Jacinta saw the action of the young man and instantly knew he had a special relationship with the maid, but she couldn’t tell what kind of relationship was between them.
She laughed inwardly and continued flogging. She will see if the man could endure such pains for a woman. She flogged him mercilessly. The maid who her husband shielded cried in pain when she saw how her husband’s skin tore one after the other.
The guards who stood there were amazed at how inconsiderate and unforgiving Jacinta was. They felt sad seeing how their colleague’s body with wounds and blood flowing like a river. They prayed within themselves, asking the creator to prevent Jason from ever marrying her.
****
Isabella and her son had gone out very early in the morning, but they both went out to different places. While Isabella went to see some of her friends, Jason went to the little girl’s tomb he had recently lost to the cold hands of death. He left the place in disguise, he never wanted any of the guards to follow or trail him. His mother had given orders to the guard to always follow him, no matter how much he resisted. So he disguised himself and left the house without anyone knowing it was him who left. He wanted to spend quality time at the little girl’s tomb as a respect to her.
Jason just stepped in but noticed most of the guards weren’t on their duty posts and the one’s around gathered together and were busy gossiping about something. Jason sensed the sadness in their tone while they gossiped, and he panicked. Has something wrong happened?
Since the way he disguised himself was by wearing a guard’s costume, he entered the midst of the guards who were gossiping. Since none of the guard knew it was him, they nonchalantly continued their gossip.
Jason was shocked to the bones when he heard what the guards were discussing. Why was Jacinta this heartless and wicked towards her fellow woman? How much was the dress compared to a life? He could pay her times ten and even more of what she had spent on that dress. He hasn’t married Jacinta yet, and she was already mistreating his workers, it definitely would be worse if he ended up marrying her. Jason wished his mother were around to see the kind of wickedness the woman she wanted for him was exhibiting.
Jason went to the execution center and the sight he was met with broke him further. The body of his favorite and most loyal guard was badly bruised, with blood gushing out from his wounds uncontrollably. Jason realized the man was shielding his newly pregnant wife. Yes, he knew because they told him the good news when they heard it. Although, Jason was ferocious, he had a good relationship with his workers, just that when it was time for seriousness, he was serious and when it was time for niceness he was nice.
Jacinta was about to give the man another stroke when she felt a strong hand halting her. Who dared to stop her?
All the people watching, including the guards and other workers, gasped in astonishment at what had just happened. Who was bold enough to stop Jacinta? They couldn’t wait to see the face of the savior.
Jacinta forcefully snatched her hand from the grip of the person who held her. He was definitely one of the guards because he wore the costume including the helmet of guard, so she couldn’t see his face. Who was he?
As though Jason read Jacinta’s mind, he removed the helmet, revealing his face and suddenly everywhere fell silent.