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Veiled Manipulations: Unraveling Deceit in the Court

Cedric remained with his head bowed, as always, his cold and disdainful nature fully on display. King Roderick turned to Eveline and spoke calmly.

“Tell me, what could be more important than being here with your king?”

Eveline felt a shiver run down her spine. She had said something she shouldn't have, and now she was in a complicated situation. Her eyes widened as she tried to come up with a plausible excuse to undo the misunderstanding. Cedric's lips curled into a cynical smile as he continued to eat, his head still lowered.

“I am going to the garden, Your Majesty,” Eveline said, hoping the king would believe her. “I want to learn to tend to it properly.”

Roderick looked at Eveline suspiciously, a furrow forming between his brows. “What do you mean, do you want to become a gardener?”

“I heard that you spend a lot of time in the garden, Your Majesty,” Eveline said, increasing the tension. “I thought I could learn to take care of it and make it even more beautiful for you.”

Roderick fell silent, considering her words. Then he burst into laughter. “See, this is what it means to be devoted to your king!”

Eveline breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that her excuse had worked. But she also felt a sense of disgust and anger at the king's words. She knew he was merely using her, manipulating her for his own benefit.

Suddenly, the doors of the royal hall swung open, and the smell of blood and carnage filled the air. Roderick stood up, and the others followed suit. The king's soldiers dragged in some of the rebels, their bodies beaten and bloody, tied with ropes. Eveline felt a chill run down her spine, her thoughts racing. Had her identity been discovered by the king? Would she soon join the rebels on the ground? Her eyes caught sight of the brutalized bodies, and her heart raced as she recognized Rudolf fallen on the floor, his wounds seemingly unable to heal. Cedric remained motionless, head still bowed, the spoon in his hand frozen in the air. Gideon looked dazed, his eyes frantically scanning the room. The scent of fear was heavy in the air. Eveline brought her hand to her mouth, utterly terrified by the situation. She wanted to rush to the rebels on the ground, but a reproachful glance from Rudolf stopped her in her tracks.

Roderick clapped his hands as if watching a spectacle, his eyes now even more demonic. “Did you really think we wouldn't find you?” he sneered.

Eveline felt a wave of disgust and anger wash over her. She couldn't believe the king was taking pleasure in the destruction and suffering of others. She wondered what kind of monster he truly was, and what fate awaited her and her companions.

As the soldiers dragged the rebels away, Eveline felt a sense of desperation engulf her. She knew they were in grave danger and had to find a way to escape before it was too late. She wondered if she had made a mistake, if she had put herself and her friends in danger.

“I won't let him escape unpunished,” she thought to herself, fists clenched by her side.

“Don't think you'll die quickly,” Roderick laughed. Seeing Rudolf and the other wolves writhing in pain, he said, “I will torture you until I find your leader.”

Eveline was so furious that she ended up vomiting right there. Roderick observed Eveline and approached slowly. “The young she-wolf here has a weak stomach!” he laughed. “My allies must witness the king's strength. In no time, I've captured all those who dared challenge me.”

Eveline trembled, knowing that what he said wasn't true. She was still standing, and seeing her friends suffer like that was too cruel for her.

“I... I'm sorry, Your Majesty,” Eveline replied, keeping her head low. She couldn't look at the king at that moment. All she wanted to do was transform and rip his throat out.

The soldiers kicked the bodies on the ground, blood dribbling from their mouths. Roderick approached Rudolf. “Get up, you cursed wolf!” Rudolf remained on the ground. “That's an order!” Roderick bellowed, asserting his power as an alpha.

Despite being gravely wounded, Rudolf stood up, even with his hands bound. He looked at the king, and the sound of tearing fabric echoed through the royal hall, signaling the king's transformation into his most bestial form. His claws tore into Rudolf's chest, making him cry out in agony. Cedric raised his head, gazing at his uncle, and a flashback flooded his mind. Before him stood the same black-furred wolf from over a decade ago. Cedric was now convinced that his uncle Roderick was behind the death of his parents.

As Roderick continued to torture Rudolf, Cedric's behavior changed. His usual cold and disdainful expression was replaced by one of intense anger and hatred. He clenched his fists tightly, his claws digging into his palms. He knew he had to act, to avenge his parents and end his uncle's tyranny once and for all.

Gideon looked horrified, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. He had heard of Roderick's capability for such brutality and savagery, but he had never witnessed it. He glanced at Cedric quickly; he needed to restrain his prince and friend, it wasn't yet time to reveal his true self.

As the situation grew increasingly dire, Eveline felt a sense of urgency take hold of her. She knew they had to find a way out of there, to escape the clutches of the mad king and his soldiers. She wondered if they had any chance of survival, any hope of making it out alive. Gideon positioned himself in front of Cedric, trying to persuade him not to attack.

Eveline was ecstatic, a fury coursing through her body. Her wolf, Arya, was equally furious, and Eveline dug her claws into her flesh, trying to calm herself. Roderick seemed insane, his eyes filled with a manic gleam as if he wanted to tear Rudolf apart.

“Take them to the dungeon and begin interrogating them. Keep using silver, I don't want their wounds to heal. They must experience a great deal of pain,” he delivered the final blow.

Eveline gritted her teeth, feeling a wave of anger and frustration. She knew she had to remain calm and composed, that losing control would only make things worse. But it was difficult to keep her emotions in check when she saw her friends' suffering.

When the soldiers dragged Rudolf and the other rebels away, Eveline felt a sense of despair wash over her. She wondered if they would manage to survive, if they would be able to escape the torture and suffering awaiting them in the dungeon.

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