The Debt Of Fate-Chapter 308: Blame her

The bells rang at dawn.

Their sound spread across the royal city, slow and heavy, calling everyone to pray. People came out of their houses and filled the streets. Some held prayer beads. Others held their children close, fear clear on their faces.

The churches filled quickly. Many could not enter and had to stand outside. The priests spoke loudly so all could hear.

"Our Lord is rich in mercy. We cannot be moved by words from the altar of false gods. Take away the false gods, and our Savior will deliver you and restore peace to the kingdom."

The priest paused and lowered his head, muttering to himself.

Queen Elizabeth was seated in the front row. Other nobles were present to show their support.

"Pray for mercy," the priest said.

Everyone present went on their knees and began to pray. As time went on, the priest spoke in between.

"Turn away from false gods."

"Stay faithful, and the Lord will protect the kingdom."

At first, the prayers were calm. People knelt. Heads were bowed as quiet prayers filled the air.

But outside the churches, peace did not last.

Arguments started in the streets. Neighbors pointed at one another.

"Your family still keeps idols," someone shouted, pointing at his neighbor.

"So? The late king gave us all freedom."

"What freedom? It is your false gods that have brought doom to our kingdom," the person argued.

"How can you say that? It’s obvious that the late king is the one who committed such sacrilege," the accused person replied. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"That is a lie," another said. "You are part of those spreading rumors!"

"What rumors? Everyone knows it is a fact," the man argued, ready to fight.

Some people supported him, others condemned him, and just like that, a fight started.

The city guards tried to stop the fights, but there were too many people. Fear made tempers rise.

"Let’s go and burn down every shrine or house that holds false gods, so that our land can be cleansed," someone shouted.

Others agreed, and just like that, people began to move in different directions.

Even those inside could hear the chaos. To protect the nobles and others in the church, the building was immediately surrounded by guards.

By midday, chaos had begun.

A small shrine was pulled down in the street and broken.

Shouts filled the air.

Prayers turned into anger.

General Ernest’s soldiers moved through the city in groups. They guarded churches, markets, and crossroads. Anyone causing trouble was arrested and taken away.

Even so, the unrest continued.

By evening, smoke rose from different parts of the city. No one knew who started the fires. At first, it was the shrines and houses of those who worshipped the old gods, but soon those whose houses caught fire sought revenge and set fire to other houses.

Lord William, hearing the report, was shocked. He did not expect that a prayer meant to restore peace would lead to more chaos. Left with no choice, he gave Ernest instructions to do whatever it took to restore peace.

Ernest took the order and moved quickly. By nightfall, most of the fires were put out, and calm returned to the city.

Elizabeth and the other nobles had been forced to remain inside the church for fear of falling into the chaos. Elizabeth’s face was pale with fear, but when she noticed Dorothy whispering with a few ladies, ideas began to spin through her mind.

Soon, news came that calm had been restored and they could all return home.

"Take care of yourself. If nothing happens, do not come out of the palace," Duchess Anita warned her daughter, the queen, as they got ready to climb into their carriage.

"I know," Elizabeth said. She was really scared now. After all, she had heard a few people cursing the king and the royal family for their misfortune.

...

Dorothy’s carriage left the church shortly after the nobles were dismissed.

The streets were quieter than before, but they were far from peaceful. Burned wood still smoked. Broken shrines lay in pieces by the roadside. Soldiers stood at corners, watching the people closely.

Dorothy held her son tightly inside the carriage. He was still shaking, his small fingers gripping her sleeve.

"It’s over now," she whispered, though her own voice trembled.

The carriage had not gone far when it slowed.

A group of people stood ahead, blocking the road. Some were arguing with guards. Others simply stared at the passing carriage, their eyes full of anger and suspicion.

"Move along," the driver said, urging the horses forward.

Then someone shouted.

"That carriage—stop it!"

The horses slowed again.

A man stepped closer, his clothes dirty with ash. His eyes fixed on the curtain of Dorothy’s carriage.

"I know that crest," he said loudly. "That belongs to the palace."

Another voice joined in.

"Is that the queen?" someone asked.

"No, the queen’s carriage has more guards."

"Then who is she?" They seemed to move closer. The palace guards stood to block their way.

"How dare you disrespect the royal family," one of the guards asked.

"Royal family? The entire kingdom is almost doomed because of them," someone shouted.

"She’s the king’s woman. I recognize her," someone from the small crowd said.

The words spread quickly.

"The mistress!"

"That’s her!"

"The one who sleeps with the king!"

Dorothy’s face drained of color. She pulled her son closer, trying to shield him. Once, this identity had made others respect her, but now it had gotten her into trouble.

The crowd gathered fast, anger rising like fire.

"Because of people like her, the gods are angry!" someone shouted.

"She lives in comfort while our homes burn!" another yelled.

A stone hit the side of the carriage.

Dorothy gasped. Her son began to cry.

"Protect the child!" she cried out, her voice breaking. "He has done nothing wrong!"

The four palace guards moved to stop the people, but they were no match for the angry crowd.

"That’s the bastard prince!" someone shouted.

More stones flew. The driver tried to turn the horses, but people grabbed the reins. The guards escorting the carriage were too few. They drew their swords, shouting for the crowd to step back.

Chaos returned in an instant.

People pushed. Someone tried to open the carriage door.

Dorothy screamed.

A guard immediately attacked with his sword, but the man’s movements were fast. He managed to open the door and retreat unharmed, like someone trained.

The others did not come closer for fear of the swords, but they threw more stones at the carriage.

Dorothy’s maid tried to close the door and shield her mistress inside.

Dorothy tried her best to use her body to shield her son, but somehow he still got hit by a stone and started bleeding.

Dorothy screamed in horror. She regretted her decision to take the prince with her to the church.

At that moment, soldiers rushed in from the far end of the street. Ernest’s men moved fast and without mercy. They forced the crowd back, striking shields together, shouting orders.

"Back!"

"Move away now!"

The crowd scattered as soon as they saw the soldiers.

The carriage was quickly surrounded and pulled free. The horses ran, not stopping until the palace gates were in sight.

Inside the carriage, Dorothy held her son and wept. Her hands would not stop shaking.

"The young prince has been injured. Summon the royal physician," Dorothy’s maid screamed as soon as they entered the palace.

The carriage hurried to the prince’s quarters. A physician was already waiting. The prince’s injury was not serious, but the incident had frightened the young child into a coma.

"When will he wake up?" Dorothy asked once the physician came out.

"I don’t know. I have sent a message for Physician Nathan to check on the child."

"No," Dorothy immediately refused. She still remembered how he had joined the former queen to frame her. Moreover, he had been taking care of her husband for months. If he treated her son now, he might die.

"Listen, Physician Nathan is very loyal to the royal family. He is the only one who can help," the physician said.

"I don’t care. I will care for my son myself," Dorothy said as she entered the bedchamber. But when she saw her son’s pale face, she felt helpless.

If even the royal physician could not help him, she had no hope.

Soon, Physician Nathan arrived, but Dorothy refused to let him see the prince.

Fearing that something would happen to the prince with so much time passing, someone sent a message to the queen.

Elizabeth was feeling very tired after the day’s events and did not want to get involved.

"Tell them to listen to the boy’s mother," Elizabeth said, but the nanny by her side stopped her.

"Your Majesty, if something happens to the prince and you remain neutral, it might not be good for your reputation," the nanny reminded her.

Elizabeth frowned. There was really nothing she wanted more than for the child to die, but she understood that her nanny was right. Even if she wanted the boy dead, she could never allow others to have a reason to blame her.