Evangeline’s head throbbed like an open wound as she slowly regained consciousness, her senses crawling back to painful life.

The air surrounding her was stale and fetid, reeking of decay and dried blood, making her stomach lurch violently.

As she struggled to force her eyes open, the oppressive darkness seemed to pulse with malevolent energy, as though it were alive and watching her with invisible eyes.

She released a soft moan, her voice barely audible in the stone chamber, as she blinked away the blurry haze clouding her vision.

Her gaze fell upon her precious sons, Marcus and Adrian, shackled to the damp wall beside her with heavy iron chains.

Her heart wrenched painfully in her chest, seeing their small bodies bound like common criminals.

Marcus’s eyes were red-rimmed from endless crying, his little hands tugging futilely at the metal restraints, while Adrian’s innocent face was smeared with dirt and tears.

Evangeline’s throat constricted as she forced words past the enormous lump threatening to choke her.

“I am here, my darlings. Mama is here with you.”

Marcus nodded quickly, his young face displaying a mixture of relief and terror, as Adrian whimpered desperately, “Mama, you are awake!”

The memory of Lady Cordelia’s vicious blow to her skull came flooding back with devastating clarity, and Evangeline’s jaw clenched against the throbbing pain.

She swallowed the rising panic threatening to overwhelm her chest, steeling herself to focus on what mattered most.

She had to escape this accursed dungeon. She had to remain strong for her children’s sake. The damp cold seeped into her very bones, making her shiver uncontrollably, as she waited for what felt like an eternity.

Marcus and Adrian huddled together pathetically, their small bodies trembling from exhaustion and fear.

The oppressive silence was shattered by the sound of heavy boots echoing outside the chamber door.

Evangeline’s head snapped up alertly, her pulse racing like a terrified animal. T

he massive door swung open with a resounding creak, casting harsh torchlight into the dark room. She squinted against the sudden brightness, her breath catching as

Prince Maximilian stepped inside. Her heart leaped with desperate hope, believing he had finally come to rescue them.

“Thank God, Maximilian, you found us!” she cried out, her eyes burning with frantic desperation.

She struggled violently against her iron chains, her delicate wrists aching from the metal’s bite.

“Please! I am bound—help us immediately!” Marcus and Adrian looked up at Prince Maximilian with their innocent eyes filled with hope, as they whispered urgently, “Uncle Maximilian! Please help us!”

But Prince Maximilian simply stood there motionless, his aristocratic face an emotionless mask, his dark eyes cold and utterly unyielding.

Evangeline’s stomach twisted into a painful knot as he spoke a single, devastating word: “No.”

The sound of his rejection struck her like a physical blow, leaving her breathless and reeling.

As she stared at Prince Maximilian in growing horror, her mind screaming for him to deny this nightmare, another set of footsteps echoed through the chamber, accompanied by slow, mocking applause.

Evangeline’s blood ran cold as Lady Cordelia stepped into view, her crimson lips curled into a satisfied smirk.

“How touching, dear Evangeline,” she cooed, her voice dripping with pure malice.

Evangeline’s vision blurred with rage as Lady Cordelia gloated, her eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.

“Did you truly believe Prince Maximilian would help you?” The question was like a dagger thrust directly into her heart, as she looked back at Prince Maximilian, her mind screaming for him to tell her this was all some terrible lie.

But he remained standing there, silent and expressionless, as Lady Cordelia reveled in Evangeline’s suffering. “Prince Maximilian serves me,” she declared, her voice dripping with triumph.

Evangeline felt as though the floor had been ripped from beneath her, her vision swaying with horror. This could not be real.

Prince Maximilian, her protector, her friend, the man who had promised to keep them safe, could not be working against her.

Lady Cordelia’s laughter echoed through the chamber, her voice filled with pure delight at Evangeline’s anguish.

“You stole Sebastian from me. You took everything I desired. Now I claim what is rightfully mine,” she spat venomously, her eyes gleaming with malice.

Evangeline’s teeth clenched, her royal spirit snarling inside her, as she hissed, “You will never possess my sons.”

But Lady Cordelia merely smirked, her eyes glinting with victory. “I already do.”

Evangeline’s stomach churned violently, her eyes snapping back to Prince Maximilian, as she whispered brokenly, “Maximilian, please.”

But he remained silent, his golden eyes flickering, yet completely unyielding.

As the silence stretched endlessly, Evangeline’s heart shattered completely, her breath shaking violently, anger and despair clawing at her throat.

Lady Cordelia’s smug laughter echoed around her, her victory absolute, as Prince Maximilian turned his back on them, his expression unreadable.

And Evangeline’s world was destroyed.

****

Evangeline had lost all sense of time, trapped in the dark, fetid chamber. The hours blurred into days, each one an endless nightmare.

Her body ached with constant dull pain. Her stomach growled with hunger, and her head spun with dizziness.

The iron shackles binding her wrists and ankles drained her strength, leaving her arms and legs weak and trembling.

The cold, damp air clung to her skin, making her shiver with every labored breath.

But it was the boys, Marcus and Adrian, who suffered most terribly. Their small faces were pale and gaunt. They shivered constantly from the cold.

Their eyes appear sunken from starvation. They spoke very little, their voices barely whispering. Their movements were slow and labored. Evangeline’s heart broke with every glance, her maternal instincts screaming to protect them.

Since Prince Maximilian’s betrayal, Evangeline had convinced herself it was some mistake. That he was not truly a traitor. That he would return for them.

But with each passing day, her hope dwindled, replaced by crushing despair. The thought of Prince Maximilian’s treachery stung like a festering wound in her heart.

As she sat against the stone wall, her arms wrapped tightly around her boys to share what little warmth remained, Adrian’s small voice broke the silence.

“Mama?” The innocence in his voice shattered her completely, and tears welled in her eyes, burning hot and painful.

Then, she burst into tears, deep, painful sobs wracking her body, shaking her to her very core.

As Evangeline’s exhaustion returned, a distant scream echoed in the chamber. It was followed by a vicious battle cry that chilled her soul.

The walls shook violently, and pained cries filled the air. Evangeline’s breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding frantically.

What was happening?

The heavy chamber doors burst open, shaking the very ground. A tall, familiar figure stepped inside—Sebastian. His eyes were wild with fury, his fists clenched, dripping with blood.

His chest heaved, his knuckles bruised, and his piercing blue eyes scanned the room until they landed on her. Evangeline’s heart lurched, her lips parting in pure shock.

“Sebastian…” she whispered, barely believing what she was seeing.

He stood before her, his eyes locked on hers, his face etched with concern. Evangeline’s body gave out, and she collapsed forward, sobbing against his chest.

The dam broke. She wept, clutching him as if he were the only solid thing in the world.

After several moments, Evangeline pulled back, her face still wet with tears, but her voice was steady now.

“How… how did you find us?” she asked, her hands gripping his bloodstained doublet.

Sebastian stared at her, something unreadable in his eyes.

Then, he exhaled, his grip on her tightening.

“Prince Maximilian.”

The name hung in the air, a poisonous cloud that threatened to choke her.

“Prince Maximilian led me here.”

Evangeline’s stomach twisted painfully, her breath catching.

“What?!”