By a thread!

King Roderick studied Eveline for a few more moments, evaluating her carefully. Finally, he sighed and shook his head.

"You are an intriguing woman, Eveline," he said, his voice serious. "But I will give you the benefit of the doubt. Still, be on your guard, because the slightest suspicion against you could be fatal."

Eveline breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that she had managed to get out of that situation unscathed. However, she knew she needed to be more careful from now on. Somehow, she had caught the king's attention, she didn't know how, but he was definitely suspicious of something.

Eveline could no longer afford to trust anyone within the palace, not even her closest friends. She didn't know who had delivered her on a platter to the king, and she knew that only a few rumors had reached his ears. If he had been certain of any betrayal, her head would no longer be on her shoulders.

As Eveline walked away from the royal hall, her mind was working overtime. She knew she needed to find a way to undermine the king's power, to overthrow him from the throne and free the people from his tyranny. The idea of challenging someone so powerful and dangerous required courage and determination, and Eveline was willing to fight to the end.

Lost in her thoughts, she walked with her head down along one of the castle corridors, her feet taking her aimlessly, when she collided with someone. Eveline fell backward, feeling as if she had hit a wall, but when she quickly looked up, she saw legs and a wooden cane. She looked up and saw an unfamiliar face, but the smell was familiar. The person in front of her was definitely Prince Cedric. She could recognize that smell anywhere.

Eveline quickly got up, adjusting her dress as she stared at Cedric. His eyes seemed motionless and lifeless, as if he couldn't see. Eveline realized that besides being lame, the prince was also blind.

"You're blind that you didn't see me pass," Eveline said, forming a thin line on her lips as she dusted off her dress skirt.

Cedric responded with anger, but without expressing much emotion in his voice. Eveline stared at him, forming a wrinkle in the middle of her forehead, realizing how imprudent she had been in her speech. She felt a mixture of regret and sadness, knowing that she had hurt the prince's feelings.

Bringing her hands to her mouth, she felt the weight of guilt and shame. She had been insensitive when she spoke to Cedric that way, and it bothered her deeply. She realized that her words had been cruel and thoughtless, and that she needed to be more careful in her interactions with others.

"I'm sorry, Prince Cedric," she said, sincerity in her voice. "I didn't know you were blind. I was imprudent in my words."

Cedric didn't respond immediately, standing still as if staring into nothingness. Eveline felt a chill down her spine, realizing that her presence there might not be welcome.

"What are you doing here?" he said. "I rejected you, you were supposed to have left."

Eveline felt a pang in her heart at Cedric's words. How could he be so beautiful and yet so contemptible? She couldn't say another word and ran away from his presence, feeling humiliated and ashamed.

As Eveline walked away, Cedric allowed himself to watch her disappear down the corridors with a sneering smile on his lips. He felt powerful and in control of the situation, knowing that he had the power to hurt people with his sharp tongue.

Eveline ran through the corridors, feeling tears streaming down her face. She wondered if she had made a mistake in challenging the king, if she was putting her life in danger for a cause that she might not be able to win. She felt alone and helpless, not knowing where to find the strength to continue fighting.

This brief interaction with Cedric had left Eveline shaken, but she knew she couldn't give up. She needed to find allies and prepare a plan to undermine the king's power. Eveline knew that the fight would be arduous and dangerous, but she was determined to fight for what she believed was just, even if it meant putting her life at risk.

Determined, Eveline wiped away her tears and walked toward the royal kitchen. Upon arriving, she saw the royal cook whispering with one of his assistants. Intrigued, Eveline hid behind one of the shelves, trying to listen to what the two men were saying.

"But who would have imagined that they would have the courage to attack here inside the castle!" one of the men said, surprised.

"The king has sworn to cut their throats one by one. It was a great blow..." the royal cook whispered, with a malicious gleam in his eye.

Eveline feels her heart racing. What do they know? She needs to find out. But as she moves, she accidentally knocks over some pots, making a loud noise. The two men turn around, eyeing Eveline with suspicion.

"What are you doing here?" the royal cook asks, with a threatening tone.

Eveline swallows hard, but remains firm. "I...I was just looking for something to eat."

The two men exchange a suspicious look, making Eveline even more nervous. She holds her breath, imagining the worst, but to her surprise, the men start whispering again as if she wasn't there. Eveline can't understand what they're saying, but she feels that something very serious is happening. Her thoughts go straight to the king.

Finally, the men separate and Eveline takes the opportunity to quietly move away, feeling a mix of relief and curiosity. She needs to find out what those men know, and if they're the ones who blabbed to the king. Eveline walks through the castle corridors, her heart still racing from the tension of that moment in the kitchen. She puts her hand to her chest as she breathes a sigh of relief, but knows she needs to stay alert and find out what's going on, as everything seems very suspicious.

As Eveline distances herself from the kitchen, she walks through the castle corridors with a constant feeling of being followed. She looks back several times, but sees no one. Eveline knows she can't let her guard down and be caught by someone, especially after hearing what she heard in the kitchen. She needs to be cautious and avoid any suspicion.

Finally, Eveline arrives in her room and slams the door shut, feeling relieved to be in a safe place. She walks to the edge of the bed and sits down, feeling her heart beating hard in her chest. Memories of the unexpected encounter with Prince Cedric fill her thoughts once again, making Eveline feel even more tense.

Eveline sighs, feeling helpless and frustrated. She looks around the room, searching for inspiration, but all she sees are old furniture and an unmade bed.

Eveline gets up and walks to the window, observing the castle courtyard. She knows she needs to keep a cool head and come up with a plan before it's too late. Eveline closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, trying to clear her mind and find a solution to the problem that lies before her. She knows she can't fail.