Chapter 24

The cell walls seemed to close in around me, their cold stone edges biting into my soul. Days turned into nights with an agonizing slowness, and hope, that fragile bird, was losing its wings. My throat was parched, every breath scraping like sandpaper against my raw vocal cords. I could hear the steady footsteps of the guard outside, a reminder that my captivity was both real and unyielding.

"Please," I croaked, my voice barely rising above a whisper. "Please, I need some water."

The guard did not respond. He had grown immune to my pleas, hardened by duty or perhaps indifference. Tears welled up in my eyes, hot and unwelcome. I was too weak to brush them away, and they trailed down my dirty cheeks, leaving streaks in the grime.

I buried my face in my hands, feeling the roughness of my own skin. How long had it been since I had seen my reflection? Since I had been free to move beyond these cursed walls? I couldn't remember. Time was a blur of hunger, fear, and darkness.

Then, amid the sound of my own sobs, I heard it—soft footsteps approaching, different from the guard's measured pace. I looked up, my vision blurry with tears, and saw Rowan standing outside my cell. His face, as always, bore an expression of determination, but today there was something else—a spark of hope, a glimmer of a plan.

He turned to the guard, his expression hard and serious.

"Leave us."

He simply said. And with that, the guard left, without any questions.

"Ariadne," he said, his voice urgent yet gentle, "I have found a way to get you out of here."

I stared at him, not daring to believe. "Rowan, please, I can't take any false hope. I'm so tired. If this is to be the end for me, then so be it. Let me live out my days like this."

He knelt down so that our eyes were level, his gaze piercing mine with an intensity that almost hurt. "Listen to me. The Carstairs once had an elder daughter, Cressida. She died shortly after they left the castle. They never speak of her because she was always so sickly. Her death was expected, and it was never recorded in the castle records."

His words hung in the air, and I struggled to understand the significance. "What does that have to do with me?"

"You," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "could pretend to be Cressida."

I pulled back, shaking my head. "No, that's impossible. They'll never believe it."

Rowan grabbed the bars of my cell, his knuckles turning white. "Ariadne, you match Cressida's description in the family registry. Your hair, her eyes were light brown.... We can make this work."

I wanted to believe him, but doubt gnawed at me. "And what happens when they realize I'm not her? When they find out it's a lie?"

"They won't," he insisted. "The Carstairs will never be allowed into the castle walls because of Jude Carstairs betrayal, and Cressida's death was never officially recorded. You just need to convince them long enough for us to get you out of here. It's the only way."

I was silent, the enormity of his plan weighing heavily on my mind. "I'm so tired of lying, Rowan. Every lie just leads to another, and it never ends."

He reached through the bars, his hand clasping mine. "I promise you, this will be the last lie. After this, after I take back my throne, you can live your life as you choose, without fear."

I searched his electric blue eyes, looking for any sign of deception or doubt. But all I saw was sincerity, a burning desire to save me from this wretched place. "And you really think this will work?"

He nodded. "Yes. But you have to believe it too. You have to become Cressida, at least for a little while."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. If this was my last chance, my final hope, then I had to take it. "Alright. I'll do it. I'll be Cressida."

.........

The cold stone of the trial room chilled me to the bone. The Wise Seven sat in their high-backed chairs, draped in solemn robes, their faces stern and unyielding. I stood at the center of the room, surrounded by the flickering shadows cast by the torches on the walls. My hands trembled slightly, though I did my best to steady them, clasping them tightly together. It was my trial and I had been summoned. It was finally time to know my fate. Rowan had begged me to stay calm and to not forget my lines. I was Cressida Carstairs now, I could not forget that.

Bort, fixed me with a penetrating stare. His eyes were like daggers, seeking to pierce through my very soul. "State your name," he commanded, his voice echoing in the vast chamber.

"Your real name."

"Cressida," I replied, my voice barely a whisper. "Cressida Carstairs."

Bort's eyes narrowed. I could tell he didn't believe me. He didn't believe a word I was saying. "And what is your relation to Isabelle Carstairs?"

"She is my sister," I said, feeling a knot form in my stomach. "My younger sister."

A murmur ran through the chamber, the Wise Seven exchanging glances. Bort leaned forward, his face coming into the light. "If you are really Cressida Carstairs, then where is Isabelle? Why did you pretend to be her?"

"I never pretended to be who I wasn't," I insisted, my voice gaining strength. "I am Cressida Carstairs, and I know nothing of Isabelle's disappearance."

Before Bort could respond, the heavy doors at the back of the room burst open with a resounding crash. All heads turned to see Prince Rowan storming into the trial room, his face flushed with urgency. He held a large, leather-bound book in his hands and I didn't know what it was but I knew that it would save me. He marched up to Bort's desk and slammed the book down, making everyone jump.

"I have evidence declaring the lady Cressida's innocence in this matter," Rowan declared, his voice ringing with authority. "This book will prove Cressida's innocence."

Bort looked skeptical and turned to the Wise Seven, they motioned for the Prince to continue. The prince flipped through the pages until he found what he was looking for. He pointed to an entry in the register, showing it to Bort first. Then a guard took it to the Wise Seven who passed it around.

"Here," he said, "is Cressida Carstairs' name, listed clearly in the Carstairs family registry. She is Cressida Carstairs"

The Wise Seven leaned forward, peering at the book. Bort remained skeptical, his eyes darting between the registry and me. "This doesn't answer my question your highness. If this is true, then why was she pretending to be Isabelle Carstairs?"

Rowan took a deep breath, glancing at me briefly before addressing the Wise Seven. "I am sure you all remember Jude Carstairs, even though he has been exiled years after his betrayal. Isabelle Carstairs was the only daughter the royal family knew. She was the only daughter any of us knew. When the Crown requested her hand in marriage for me, Isabelle refused. And, her elder sister, Cressida, chose to come in her stead."

A gasp rippled through the room. The Wise Seven exchanged looks of surprise and confusion. Bort frowned deeply, clearly trying to piece together the information.

Rowan continued, his voice steady. "Cressida has done nothing wrong. She came to fulfill her family's duty and obey the orders of the Crown. Her sister Isabelle was never missing in the first place. Isabelle is alive and well in Boz. Here is a letter from her, with the Carstairs family seal."

He handed the letter to Bort, who opened it and began to read aloud. The letter confirmed Rowan's words, explaining that Isabelle had refused to marry Prince Rowan because it was customary for the eldest daughter to marry first in their family. Isabelle had asked her elder sister, me, to go in her stead.

The Wise Seven listened intently, nodding as they took in the contents of the letter. When Bort finished reading, Rowan stepped forward, his eyes pleading. "Cressida told me the truth from the start. I tried to inform the royal family, but no one cared enough about me in the first place to listen. Cressida here is the woman I love, she was the one who nursed me back to good health, she is the reason I can walk again and to see her accused of such baseless accusations pains me. I love her, and I just want to live out the rest of my days with her."

The room was silent, the weight of Rowan's words hanging in the air. I stood there, my heart pounding in my chest, waiting for the Wise Seven to make their decision.

One of the Wise Seven, an elderly man with a long white beard, cleared his throat. "According to our laws, Cressida Carstairs has done nothing wrong in taking her sister's place. From your words, it can also be seen that she has only fulfilled her duty and took care of the Prince Rowan as she was meant to."

"The letter also shows that Isabelle Carstairs is alive and well, meaning there is no disappearance and so far, no case."

A wave of relief washed over me, my knees nearly giving way. I felt Rowan's hand on my shoulder, steadying me. The Wise Seven murmured amongst themselves, and finally, their leader spoke.

"We hereby declare Cressida Carstairs innocent of all charges. She is free to go."

Tears welled up in my eyes as the weight of the ordeal lifted from my shoulders. Rowan pulled me into an embrace, whispering words of comfort in my ear. The trial room buzzed with the sounds of people talking, but all I could focus on was the warmth of Rowan's arms around me.