Chapter 5: Her Promise
Vishiea’s POV
My father placed his arm on my back and pulled me close. Today is my mother’s burial, and my father managed to attend, but the royal warriors surrounded him. This is the first time I have seen him since he got arrested a few days ago.
The sky is dark and gloomy. It looks like it will rain. And I was not mistaken; the heavy rain poured after loud lightning and thunder. Tears kept falling as I looked down at my mother’s grave. Even on her last day, Darius did not show up.
I wanted him to come and ask forgiveness for my mother. But I’m just hoping that something will never come true. He’s not even guilty at all for hurting me, cheating on me on the day of our anniversary. Another sigh escapes from my lips.
After this, my father will return to the palace for his last trial. If he were proven guilty, the king would give his punishment. If not, he’ll remain as the Lycan beta of the kingdom.
They will compensate him for the damage and ensure everyone knows he’s innocent. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
“Can I have a moment with my daughter? I promise I won’t escape,” Mr. Yuan hesitated at first but slowly nodded. I guess he understood my father. They all left us alone. My father made me look at him.
“I don’t want to say this, but if something bad happens today, I want you to know I love you. I always do,” I only stare at him. Why is he telling me this?
He smiled sadly and sighed, “When your mother passed away, she whispered your name like she was telling me to look after you. But… It seems I can’t do that either now,” I don’t understand. My brow furrowed in confusion.
“Dad…” he shook his head. “Whatever my fate today, I’ll accept it. If I was proven guilty, I might die.” No one is going to die.
“But you’re innocent, Dad. They won’t kill you because you didn’t do anything against the kingdom,” He shook his head again and held my hand.
“Even if I’m innocent, they will do anything to bring me down. We have many enemies, honey. They won’t stop until they have my head,” I gasped. What? Enemies? But he’s the kindest man I know.
“I’m telling you this for you to be aware. You can’t trust anyone here. Just trust yourself. Anyone can pretend good but evil inside.” His face went closer to my ear, and he whispered something.
“Your mother didn’t die because of her disease, and someone killed her. I still don’t know who, but I’m doing everything I can to find the culprit,” My eyes widened in shock.
Someone killed my mother? “That’s the truth, honey. I was devastated when I discovered that.” I can’t move or even say something. I was stunned and so lost.
“I wanted you to investigate even further about her case. I have limited time and privacy inside the palace to know the truth. I’m counting on you, my daughter.” I nodded. Aside from my father’s case, I needed also to find out the truth about my mother’s death.
“We need to leave now. The king and the council were waiting for you and your father’s arrival,” I looked over Mr. Yuan’s place and then back to my father. He nodded his head, so I nodded back.
When we reached the palace, we went directly to the trial hall. I saw the Lycan King and Queen sitting on their throne. The same as my mate sitting on the chair beside her mother. He was looking at me coldly as if he did not know me.
I bit my lower lips in sadness. Why does he need to make me feel this way? I looked away and sat down beside my father. On my right side, Nathan is sitting down. Nathan is the son of my father’s best friend. He’s also a good friend of mine. He smiled at me, so I smiled back.
“Shall we start now?” A member of the council asked. Everyone nodded, “Okay then, shall we proceed? May I call Mr. Victor Craine to go in front?” My father stood up. He looked at me and nodded.
After a few hours of debating, I was furious about the result. How could they do this to my father? He loses his wife.  How can someone be this cruel?
“Mr. Craine, the beta of Lycan kingdom, was proven guilty. The Lycan King will give his punishment now,” I stood up. I was about to protest, but my father looked at me seriously and shook his head.
“Don’t.” Nathan pulled me back in my seat. The king stood up from his throne and looked around. “Everyone in this place witnessed this trial. Everything is fair. As the Lycan King, I’m here to state the punishment for Mr. Craine, who betrayed the kingdom.” He paused and looked at my father, who was coldly looking at him.
“You’re a great beta, Victor. I did not expect you either to do some action like that. Forgive me, but I need to do this,” I’m fucking nervous. I’m sensing danger from the king’s word.
“Victor Craine. You will lose your title as the Beta of this kingdom and will be sentenced to death. Your head will be cut today as the trial ends,” My eyes widened. What? No!
I quickly stood up, “Pardon your majesty, but I won’t let that happen!” They all looked at me. I wanted to cry and beg, but my father and mother taught me how to be brave.
“And how will you do that, young lady?” One of the council members asked me. I… I don’t know, either.
“I can do something … because I’m your son’s mate, and my mother saved him before. It is unfair to treat us this way after all the good things we have done for this kingdom and your family, your majesty?” I bravely said. I’m not asking anything in return, but at least they should have reconsidered and had mercy on us.
This time, his son stood up. I thought he would say something to save us, but he sat down again and remained silent. I looked at the king again, who was raising an eyebrow now.
“Oh? I thought my son and you broke up. You’re not responsible anymore. And besides, I saw you flirt with the man beside you earlier,” he said, which made me look at him in pure disbelief. What? Flirted with whom? With Nathan? That’s absurd.
“No, your majesty…” The king shook his head. “You’re not behaving well, young lady. You don’t deserve my son. I will give you a punishment too.”
 “I, the Lycan King, Exiling Vishiea Craine in this kingdom.” My father quickly looked at him. “You can’t do that, Uriel!” He yelled in anger.
“I can, Victor. I always can.” My father tried to approach the king but was stopped by the warriors.
“Enough with this. Ms. Craine will leave after her father dies. Everyone, proceed outside.”
This is too much! They forced my father to go out. They prepare to cut his head off in the middle of the vast field.
My eyes widened in shock as I screamed in horror.  I kept calling my father’s name and begging them to let him go. But no one heard me, not even the moon Goddess.
This is the day I witnessed how my father cruelly died. Anger filled my heart. The only thing I can see is blood. At that moment I promised myself that I would return to avenge my family.