Chapter 68: Chapter 68

Beta Federico looked at his brother and laughed. Nobleman Adolphus did not take that so likely. He frowned and exhaled hot air.

“You want me to clear you out of the mess you created?” Federico finally asked after that long, dry laughter.

“What do you mean?” Adolphus questioned. Federico drew nearer and glared at his brother.

“I know what you did with Ñiraka. I know all the things you've been putting her through. The blackmail, the threats, the evil fruits you've been feeding that timid child right from when she couldn't even speak. You've ruin her life completely, Adolphus! And now you want me to come to your rescue all of a sudden? I thought you always had it figured out on what to do with your own daughter?”

Adolphus smiled warily and ran a finger through his hair frantically.

“I knew it. I just knew you would use this medium to give me another ‘big brother’ lecture about how carnal you think I am. That's what you always do.”

“You have always been narrow-minded, Adolphus. And I honestly doubt you would ever change.”

Adolphus gritted his teeth and glared daggers at his brother. The same was returned to him from Federico. But, if they continued to argue then he wouldn't get what he wanted. He closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.

“Look, brother. This isn't time for us to argue about things that happened before. Ñiraka's life is at stake. If...if Prince Dakar sentence's her to death, then I'm doomed. I can't...I can't afford to lose my daughter,” he pleaded and made sure he appeared to really care about her. Well, he cared a lot about his daughter. Which was why he wanted her to become the first woman of the kingdom. And he deserved to be the father-in-law to the throne. He was long past overdue staying as a mere nobleman who wasn't even a high ranking one. And what he hated most...was being referred to as Beta Federico's brother. He was even hardly seen as himself.

“I will not help you in this, Adolphus. Get yourself out of it,” Federico said with conviction, turned around and walked towards the door. He had pulled the doorknob and opened it when Adolphus ran to him and grabbed his arm.

“Please, Federico. Ñiraka could die. Prince Dakar is vicious. He can do anything and not feel terrible for it. Please, save her. Please,” he pleaded and his brother looked back at him.

“And what makes you think the Prince would listen to...me? Who do you think I am to change his mind when even his father cannot?”

“I don't have an answer to either questions. But I do know you're a wise man. And have a way of doing things that could yield positive results. Please, save your niece. That's all I'm asking.”

“And what do I have in this?”

“Name anything. I'll do it if I can.”

Federico sighed and turned around to face his brother.

“I want you to let go of your obsession of the throne for Ñiraka. Let her be free from that vain desire. Or better still, hand her custody to me. I believe I could be a better father to her.”

Adolphus couldn't believe that Federico had just insulted him to his face...again. He scoffed unbelievably and make moved back.

“I would give you a few days to think about it. Then I would take action to get Ñiraka out. If you don't give me a positive answer, then I guess you'll have to get her out yourself,” Federico spelled out and gave his brother one nod before backing out the door. Adolphus watched his receding back and his hands curled into a fist.

Federico entered his car, drove to the Palace and did not go to his quarters immediately. He lived in the castle with the King, but had his own quarters at a particular section of the huge castle. He took a turn in his Bentley and kept driving until he got to a very quiet area, dark and isolated. There was a big building there that looked so dark and desolate. He parked in front of it, looked around and sighed. He entered in and a guard looked through the bars in the metal door. He recognized the Beta immediately and opened the door.

“Good evening, sir,” he greeted for it was night time.

“Evening,” the Beta replied and took another cautious look around. A few dim lights lit the corridors. The air was putrid, dusty and had a bit of smoke lingering in the air.

“What brings you here, sire?” the guard inquired.

“I believe my niece, Ñiraka Verdi, was put in here yesterday morning. I want to see her,” he stated and the guard gulped down. He stepped back from the Beta and looked away.

“What is it?” Federico asked with anxiety.

“What happened to her?” he further inquired, his heart suddenly racing.

“She's... she's fine. Just that...the Prince gave special orders that no one should see her until he comes,” the guard stuttered. He felt caged, telling the entire Beta of the pack that he could not be allowed access to a place he could go because of his authority.

“The Prince? When did he say this?”

“Just this morning, Sire.”

Federico smiled and put his hand in his pocket. He pulled out an envelope and stuck it in the guard's hand.

“Would he know that I came here tonight?” he asked.

“Ss-sir.”

“He could only know if you and the other guards tell him. And he certainly wouldn't even kill me if he finds out. Take that and buy some nice drink for you and your colleagues when your shifts are over.”

The guard looked at his hand, then back at the Beta's face.

“Yes...yes, sir,” he stuttered and pocketed the envelope.

“Right this way, sir,” he directed towards a corridor. Beta nodded and followed him. They kept walking, and passing metallic doors with small windows in them and covered with iron bars.

They got to a trapdoor in the ground and the guard opened it. Beta couldn't believe they kept his niece underground. Was her sin that grave?

They slowly went down the stairs with the lamp the guard was holding lighting the way. After they reached the ground, the guard took a bunch of keys hanging from a nail and selected the right one. The cells in this underground section did not have metallic doors but iron bars from the beginning to the end of it. No privacy and everything was quite open for anyone to see. He and the Beta walked past several cells until they reached one where a lady was lying down on the cold floor, curled up in the ball and fast asleep. Federico felt his heart constrict as he saw the dried and fresh tears on Ñiraka's face. As the guard was opening the cell door, she stirred and opened her eyes.

“Ñiraka,” he muttered and she sat up. The guard left the lamb in the cell and went to stand a few metres away. Ñiraka blinked and saw her uncle.

“Uncle Federico?” she asked in disbelief. He entered the cell and walked to her on the floor. She was not wearing anything but a white undergarment made of linen.

“Ñiraka,” he called again and hugged her. She began to cry.

“I swear, Uncle. I didn't...I didn't do it. I didn't try to murder Fiorella,” she cried and tears poured. It was like her tear tank had been saving her tears for this point of her life. They fell so easily like rain. To think that she was the type that consider people who cried freely as weak and vulnerable.

“It's okay, dear. It's okay. I know,” he comforted her and gently stroked the back of her hair.

“The Prince, he's going to have my head. He will kill me. He would have even killed me yesterday,” she stated and he unlocked from her.

“Ñiraka, what do you want the most right now?” he asked while staring at her wet eyes.

“I don't want anything anymore. I don't want the fame. I don't want the power. I don't want to have anything to do with this life of striving to be on the top while kicking others down.”

She sniffed, hiccupped and tried to catch her rising breath.

“I just...I just want to leave this dungeon and hide. I just want to be free, Uncle. I don't want to die.”

Federico smiled and took out stray hair from her face.

“I understand. Your father, my brother has made you do a lot of awful things. He has a perverse mentality and he made you grow up in it.”

Federico sighed then held her hands.

“I swear I'll help you come out of this. But that Adolphus would never have anything to do with you anymore. All these years he had created an enmity between him and my family. He stopped you from seeing that you can be loved by us too. And guess what? That is ending today. I would help you get out of this place, out of this life and become who would be a betterment to this pack,” he expelled sincerely from his heart. Ñiraka's tears flowed with no words coming out of her mouth. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

“Tell me one thing, dear. Are you in love with Prince Dakar?” Federico inquired. Ñiraka exhaled and shook her head.

“I might have been once, before he went on exile. But not anymore. I lost my feelings for him a long time ago. And I hated the way he had turned into something else than the man I knew. When Fiorella came in the picture, I felt so jealous of her and hated her because she easily got what I wanted. It made me hate the Prince more because he chose her over me. I never regained my feelings for him.”

“Perhaps it was because you never truly loved him. You loved him because he was the Prince who were supposed to marry. Would you have loved Prince Dakar if he was a street begger?”

Ñiraka chuckled and wiped her tears. Of course not. She was too proud and haughty to even look at a street begger.

“I would get you out of here, Ñiraka. But you have to promise me you would never return to this life again. This life of bitterness and prejudice.”

“I promise you, Uncle. I would turn a new leaf. Just... please don't let me die here. Please,” she pleaded and he nodded.

“I'll try my best. Until then, I'll visit you everyday by this time. Don't let your father know I've been visiting. This is between you and me.”

Ñiraka nodded frantically and he smiled.

“What have you eaten?” he asked and she laughed.

“Pudding. Cold, three-day old pudding,” she said and they both laughed.

“Did it taste good?” he inquired.

“No,” she replied and laughed even more. Federico laughed with her then hugged her again.

“Don't worry. You won't have to eat it tomorrow,” he muttered and smoothened her hair.