It was midday.
The sun stood high in the sky, and the heat reached deep into the inner walls of the palace.
In one of the lower corridors, a maid walked calmly, carrying a tray of food in her hands, heading toward the Queen's prison.
She reached the iron gate of the cell and paused for a moment.
"My lady… I brought you your meal."
There was no reply.
She peeked through the bars…
Her eyes widened.
The tray slipped from her hands, crashing to the floor, the plate shattering.
"Aaaah!!"
She screamed and dropped to her knees, clutching her head with both hands, screaming uncontrollably:
"My lady!!!"
The screams reached the ears of the guards stationed near the prison.
Two soldiers rushed toward the sound, entered through the outer door, and found the maid on the ground crying, trembling.
One of them shouted:
"What's going on here?!"
The maid slowly raised her hand, trembling, and pointed toward the cell.
The soldier turned slowly…
