Chapter 4

The king's smile widened as he gazed at Luna. "I must say, I'm impressed by your beauty and bravery, Jade. I promise you, as my queen, you will be treated like royalty."

Luna's forced smile began to ache, but she maintained it, aware of the eyes watching her. She couldn't let her true feelings show, not yet.

The king's gaze drifted to Jade, who stood silently, her mask glinting in the light. "And your sister, Luna, is she not lovely as well?" he asked, his tone dripping with insincerity.

Don Ferrer cleared his throat, intervening before Luna could respond. "Yes, Your Majesty. Both my daughters are precious to me."

The king's eyes lingered on Jade before returning to Luna. "I'm glad to hear that. Now, let us proceed with the arrangements for our wedding. I have much to discuss with your father."

Luna's heart sank as the king's words sealed her fate. She felt trapped, with no escape from the prison that awaited her.

As the king and Don Ferrer began discussing the wedding arrangements, Luna's mind wandered to her secret lover, Zeeb. She wondered if she would ever see him again, or if their love would be doomed forever.

Jade, sensing her sister's distress, subtly shifted her position to be closer to Luna. Her masked face was a constant reminder of the sacrifice she had made to avoid marrying the king.

Meanwhile, Lady Roma, the palace maid, watched the scene unfold with interest. She had been serving the royal family for decades and had witnessed many arranged marriages. But there was something about this situation that didn't sit well with her.

As the king and Don Ferrer continued their discussion, Agustin, the lawyer, slipped into the room unnoticed. He had been a close friend of Don Ferrer's for years and had been keeping a watchful eye on the situation.

Agustin's eyes scanned the room, taking in the tense atmosphere. He noticed Luna's forced smile and Jade's masked face. He also caught Lady Roma's eye, and she subtly nodded in his direction.

Just then, the king's personal assistant, Valir, approached the group. "Your Majesty, I have some urgent news. Rigador, the second-richest man in the kingdom, has requested an audience with you."

The king's expression turned thoughtful. "Very well, Valir. Send him in."

As Valir departed to fetch Rigador, Don Ferrer's eyes met Agustin's. The two men exchanged a brief, knowing glance.

Rigador entered the room, his eyes scanning the space until they landed on Luna. A sly smile spread across his face. "Ah, the beautiful Jade. I see you're as lovely as ever."

Luna's smile faltered for a moment before she regained her composure. "Thank you, Rigador."

Rigador's gaze shifted to the king. "Your Majesty, I see you're making arrangements for your wedding. I must say, I'm a bit surprised. I thought perhaps my daughter, Veronica, might have been a more suitable match for you."

The king's expression turned cold. "I'm afraid I've already made my choice, Rigador. Jade will make a fine queen."

Rigador's face fell, but he quickly recovered. "Of course, Your Majesty. I wouldn't dream of questioning your decision."

As the conversation continued, Luna's thoughts drifted back to Zeeb. She wondered if he was thinking of her, and if he would find a way to rescue her from this arranged marriage.

Jade, sensing her sister's distraction, subtly nudged her. Luna's eyes snapped back into focus, and she forced a smile onto her face.

The king, oblivious to the undercurrents, continued to discuss the wedding arrangements with Don Ferrer. Lady Roma watched with a keen eye, her mind working overtime to unravel the complexities of the situation.

Agustin, meanwhile, slipped out of the room unnoticed, his mind racing with plans to help Luna escape her fate.

As the meeting drew to a close, the king turned to Luna. "I'm glad we could discuss the arrangements, Jade. I look forward to our wedding day."

Luna's smile felt like it was going to crack. "As do I, Your Majesty."

The king's eyes lingered on hers, and for a moment, Luna thought she saw a glimmer of something more than just royal duty. But it was quickly extinguished, leaving her wondering if she had imagined it.

As the group began to disperse, Luna felt a sense of desperation wash over her. She was trapped, with no clear escape in sight. But she refused to give up hope. She would find a way to be with Zeeb, no matter the cost.

As the days passed, Luna found herself trapped in a never-ending cycle of wedding preparations and royal duties. She was forced to endure endless fittings for her wedding gown, etiquette lessons, and meetings with the king's advisors.

Despite her growing desperation, Luna refused to give up hope. She knew that she had to find a way to escape the palace and be with Zeeb, no matter the cost.

One night, as she was walking in the palace gardens, Luna stumbled upon Agustin, who was hiding in the shadows. He grasped her arm and pulled her into a nearby alcove.

"Luna, I've been trying to find a way to help you," he whispered urgently. "But it's not going to be easy. The king has increased the guards and the palace is on high alert."

Luna's heart sank, but she refused to give up. "There has to be a way," she insisted. "I'll do whatever it takes to be with Zeeb."

Agustin's eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, Luna thought she saw a glimmer of understanding. "I'll help you," he said finally. "But you have to be careful. The king is not a man to be trifled with."

Luna nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. She knew that she had to be careful, but she was willing to risk everything to be with Zeeb.

As she made her way back to her chambers, Luna couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. She glanced over her shoulder, but there was no one there.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Lady Roma, her eyes glinting with a knowing light.

"Luna, I know what you're planning," she said, her voice low and urgent. "And I'm here to help you."

Luna's eyes widened in surprise, but Lady Roma just smiled. "I've been watching you, child," she said. "And I know that you're not like the other girls in the palace. You have spirit and fire in your belly. And I'm willing to help you use that to your advantage."

Luna's heart swelled with gratitude, and she knew that she had found an unlikely ally in Lady Roma.

Together, the two women began to formulate a plan to help Luna escape the palace and be with Zeeb. It was a risky and daring plan, but Luna was willing to do whatever it took to be with the man she loved.

As the days passed, Luna found herself growing more and more desperate. The wedding was looming closer, and she knew that she had to act soon.

One night, as she was walking in the palace gardens, Luna stumbled upon Jade, who was sitting on a bench, staring at the moon.

"Jade, I need to talk to you," Luna said, her voice low and urgent.

Jade turned to her, her masked face glinting in the moonlight. "What is it, Luna?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Luna took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "I'm going to escape the palace," she said, her voice firm and resolute. "And I need your help."

Jade's eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't say a word. Instead, she just nodded, her masked face glinting with a knowing light.

Together, the two sisters began to formulate a plan to help Luna escape the palace and be with Zeeb. It was a risky and daring plan, but Luna was willing to do whatever it took to be with the man she loved.

As the night wore on, Luna found herself growing more and more anxious. She knew that she had to act soon, or risk being trapped in the palace forever.

Suddenly, a loud noise echoed through the gardens, making Luna jump. She turned to Jade, her heart pounding in her chest.

"What was that?" she whispered, her eyes scanning the darkness.

Jade's masked face glinted with a knowing light. "I think it's time for us to leave," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Luna nodded, her heart racing with excitement. She knew that this was it – this was her chance to escape the palace and be with Zeeb.

Together, the two sisters slipped out of the gardens, into the darkness of the night. They knew that they had to be careful, that the king's guards were everywhere, waiting to catch them.

But Luna was determined. She was willing to risk everything to be with the man she loved.

As they made their way through the palace, Luna's heart pounded in her chest. She knew that they were taking a huge risk, that they could be caught at any moment.

But she refused to give up. She knew that she had to keep moving forward, no matter what.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of footsteps echoing through the corridors. Luna's heart skipped a beat as she turned to Jade.

"What do we do?" Luna whispered, her eyes wide with fear.

Jade's masked face glinted with a calm determination. "We keep moving," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We can't let them catch us now."

Luna nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that they had to keep moving, no matter what.

As they turned a corner, they saw a group of guards standing in front of a door. Luna's heart sank, but Jade just grabbed her arm and pulled her in the opposite direction.

"Come on," Jade whispered, her voice urgent. "We have to find another way out."

Luna nodded, her mind racing. She knew that they had to be careful, that the guards were everywhere.

As they made their way through the winding corridors, Luna stumbled upon a small door hidden behind a tapestry. She turned to Jade, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Look," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Jade's masked face glinted with a nod. "That's our way out," she said, her voice firm.

Luna nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that this was it – this was their chance to escape.

As they slipped through the door, Luna found herself in a narrow, dimly lit passageway. She could hear the sound of guards shouting and footsteps echoing through the corridors, but she knew that they had to keep moving.

Jade grabbed her arm, pulling her forward. "Come on," she whispered, her voice urgent. "We have to get out of here before they catch us."

Luna nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that they had to be careful, that the guards were closing in.

As they made their way through the passageway, Luna stumbled upon a small door that led to the outside. She turned to Jade, her eyes wide with excitement.

"We did it," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Jade's masked face glinted with a nod. "We're not out of here yet," she said, her voice firm. "We have to get to the stables and get horses. We can't let them catch us now."

Luna nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that they had to keep moving, no matter what.

As they slipped out of the palace, Luna felt a rush of excitement. She knew that they had made it out alive, and that they were one step closer to being with Zeeb.

But as they made their way to the stables, Luna couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She glanced over her shoulder, but there was no one there.

Jade noticed her concern and grabbed her arm. "What's wrong?" she whispered, her voice urgent.

Luna hesitated, unsure of what to say. But before she could respond, a figure emerged from the shadows.

It was Agustin, his eyes gleaming with a knowing light. "I've been waiting for you," he said, his voice low and urgent. "We have to get out of here, now."

Luna's heart skipped a beat as she turned to Jade. "What's going on?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Jade's masked face glinted with a nod. "We have to trust him," she said, her voice firm. "He's our only hope."

Luna nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that they had to keep moving, no matter what.

As they followed Agustin through the winding streets, Luna couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She glanced over her shoulder, but there was no one there.

Suddenly, Agustin stopped in front of a large stone building. "This is the place," he said, his voice low and urgent. "We have to be careful. The king's guards are everywhere."

Luna's heart skipped a beat as she turned to Jade. "What's going on?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Jade's masked face glinted with a nod. "We're going to meet Zeeb," she said, her voice firm. "He's been waiting for us."

Luna's heart soared as she followed Agustin into the building. She knew that she was one step closer to being with Zeeb, and that nothing was going to stop her now.

As they made their way through the dark and dusty corridors, Luna's heart pounded in her chest. She knew that they were taking a huge risk, but she was willing to do whatever it took to be with Zeeb.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of footsteps echoing through the corridors. Luna's heart skipped a beat as she turned to Jade.

"What's going on?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Jade's masked face glinted with a nod. "It's Zeeb," she said, her voice firm. "He's come for us."