“Your Highness?”
I groaned as someone knocked on my door.
The knock persisted. “Your Highness? It’s time to wake up.” It was Marcus.
Slowly, I sat up on my bed with one eye open. I looked around and saw that only a little amount of light entered my room. I squinted as I grew confused. I didn’t put the curtains down last night. Was someone here whilst I was asleep?
“Your Highness?” Marcus knocked once again.
I cleared my throat as I turned to the door’s direction. “Come in, please.”
The door creaked open and Marcus entered with my breakfast on a tray. “Good morning, Your Highness,” he bowed before he continued to approach me. “Were you able to sleep well?”
I rubbed my eyes as I replied, “It was fine. Truth be told, I would like to sleep more. However, James said he needs my assistance today.” He carefully placed the tray on my lap and prepared everything for me. “Were you here last night?” I asked as he stepped away. “The curtains are drawn,” I pointed to the window. “I didn’t do that before I went to bed last night.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” he nodded. “I was told to make a quick round last night. I decided to put the curtains down because it does get too bright in the morning. Would you like for me to pull them up?”
I nodded after a sip of tea. “Yes, please.”
He bowed and rushed towards my window. He pushed the curtain out of the way and immediately, the sun entered the entire room. My eyes squinted even more as it adjusted to the sudden brightness.
“Is it too bright, Your Highness?” Marcus asked as he froze.
I shook my head and replied, “Not to worry, my eyes will get used to it.” I turned to my food and started eating. “Is His Majesty already looking for me?”
“No, Your Highness. He simply instructed me to make sure you ate properly before the verdict,” he replied. “Should I draw the bath for you, Your Highness?”
I nodded as I took another bite.
“I’ll return with everything, Your Highness. Enjoy your breakfast.” He bowed and left.
James was unexpectedly attentive to me today. I didn’t expect that he would give me time to prepare. According to him, he hated it when I took too much time to prepare for anything. But with this sudden shift in his attitude, I would be very thankful if it was for the rest of our lives.
Perhaps, slowly, he has changed his outlook on everything.
♔♔♔
The skies were such a beauty to look at. I watched the clouds glide across the skies as I waited in the throne room. After my preparations, I decided to head straight here and waited for James to arrive. At least, for quite some time, I had a moment of silence before the chaos resumed. Ever since this whole matter began, I never believed that I would have a peaceful day for myself.
Moments later, the doors opened. I looked in its direction and saw the captain with some of the guards and servants. The guards assisted the servants as they took their seats. Meanwhile, the captain approached me. I looked over to them and noticed that Marcus was amongst them.
My eyes widened in horror as we shared glances with one another.
The captain bowed as he reached me. “Your Highness,” he greeted.
“Good morning, Captain,” I returned a bow. “Why are the servants here?”
“His Majesty ordered that they be brought here as the audience. As well as the witnesses against the duchess’ crimes,” he replied.
I stepped closer to him and whispered, “But why is Marcus included? We can’t risk his life. He’s the only one who confessed to all the crimes against Bethilda.”
“There’s no need to worry, Your Highness. We made sure that the duchess won’t learn of his confession. Every confession is kept with His Majesty’s belongings. And we placed our men to guard his room at all times,” he explained. “We also told Marcus that he will still be protected after today’s verdict.”
“Announcing, His Royal Majesty, King James Dex of Western Wind.”
The servants stood as the doors opened upon James’ introduction. He then entered with a group of guards. As he walked past the servants, they and the guards gave their respectful bows.
James searched the room for me. Once he caught sight of me and the captain, he headed directly towards us whilst his guards headed straight for the throne.
“Your Majesty,” the captain bowed as we greeted James together.
“Good morning, Captain,” James replied with a smile. “Is everything ready for today?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I only await your command,” the captain said.
“Well done. You may escort the duchess and her ladies here,” James answered.
The captain bowed and took some of the guards with him as they left.
James then stepped closer to me. “How are you feeling today?”
“I feel much better today. Thank you for asking,” I said as I put my hands behind me. “Why did you have to include Marcus with the audience? If Bethilda finds out that it was him who admitted everything, she will have him hanged.”
“Calm down, Robert,” he said as he put a hand on my shoulder. “I already made sure that those who know about his confession will not say anything. They will risk losing their lives, should they open their mouths,” he continued.
I winced as I heard the method that he used. “And how certain are you that threatening them will do the trick?” I asked.
“They have two choices: either they will be banished to the Mortal Realm or be hanged. Nobody wanted both. And if they even attempt to break such an oath, each and every one of them will be tortured until death,” he explained with a blank expression. And I hated it when he never showed any care once he gave his threats. It was as if threats of torture and death were a part of his daily conversations with other people.
I was in shock, appalled as I pictured what he said very clearly in my mind. My brows furrowed and eyes wild as I stepped back. “Don’t you think that’s a bit too cruel for them?” I asked.
“Well, we have to make sure that Marcus is safe from any sort of harm. Also, I already planned to send him to our castle. There, he can work safely and comfortably for the rest of his life,” he added. “His confession is such a big help to our case. To repay him with gold isn’t enough.”
I nodded. “Now, that, I can agree on.”
A guard entered the room and ran up to us. He bowed right after and said, “Your Majesty, the captain is on his way back with the duchess.”
“Thank you,” James replied. He turned to me and gestured to the throne. “Shall we?”
I nodded. I followed right behind James as we made our way to the raised platform. James took the seat whilst I stood closely behind him. The guard returned to the door and held onto the door handle.
James nudged at the guards and they stomped thrice, which silenced the room. James cleared his throat and all eyes landed on us. He started, “Good morning to each and everyone of us. Today, a verdict shall be passed down on the guilty. All because of two grave crimes committed against the crown.” He directly looked at the servants, “All of you shall serve as witnesses for what will transpire today. I pray that you will stay true to yourselves and to whatever it is that you admitted.
“You can lie to me. You can lie to yourselves, even,” he continued. “But you can never hide nor lie from our gods and ancestors. For they see everything. To defend what is guilty, to justify what is wrong shall bring misfortune to you and to those around you. I hope that we all understand that.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” they answered and bowed in unison.
“Now, with all that said and done,” James faced the doors once again, “Bring in the accused.”
The guards nodded and slowly, they opened the door. Right away, Bethilda and her ladies proceeded into the room. The captain walked ahead of Bethilda whilst her ladies followed right behind her. A group of guards surrounded them as they made their way towards us. Bethilda held her head up high. But her ladies kept theirs as low as possible. Carefully, they followed the slow footsteps that their mistress took.
The audience remained silent as they watched Bethilda make her procession towards the pedestal.
When they finally arrived before us, the captain and the guards stepped aside. Bethilda and her ladies went down onto their knees and spoke, “Greetings to His Royal Majesty, King James and His Royal Highness, Prince Robert.”
James looked over to the captain and he immediately stepped forward. The captain opened a scroll and began to read for the whole room to hear. He said, “Duchess Bethilda, after your trial, a thorough investigation and multiple confessions, you are found guilty of all charges against you. You are found to be at fault in abducting an innocent mortal being. And most importantly, the concoction of murder towards a ruling monarch. You are hereby sentenced to death for treason.” The captain then closed the scroll but remained where he stood.
Bethilda’s ladies wept faintly as they heard James’ verdict. But Bethilda remained emotionless. She proceeded to ask, “And what about my ladies? They shouldn’t suffer the same punishment as mine. They are innocent of my crimes.” She looked to James and added, “I beg of you, spare my ladies. They didn’t do anything wrong. It was all my doing.”
James replied, “Your ladies, though innocent, were still aware of your actions. And they lied about not having any knowledge of it. And because of that, they are sentenced to life in the dungeons.”
The ladies cried louder as they held onto each other. Bethilda stood frozen from where she knelt. Then, the ladies slowly held onto their mistress and cried out her name.
James sighed deeply before he continued, “However, the verdict is still incomplete.”