I calmly made my way through the crowd. All those who recognized me, I would give a weak smile in acknowledgement and proceed in my path. I received many concerned questions and care from the surrounding people.
This continued until I got to the platform that the Royal Family was. Dropping in its path, I knelt down and waited for the driver stopped the car that was pulling the platform.
As the procession finally stopped, I could feel the curious gazes directed at me. Even the King was unsure what I was doing and didn't stop me.
'Your loss my King'
"Miss Cecile what are you doing?"
Bowing my head to the King I stayed knelt on the hot floor.
"Your Majesty I'm here to confess my sins!"
"What? Quickly go help her"
The Royal Knights tried to take me, but my Knights blocked their path. I could see His Majesty face turning grim by the second. I am sure he already inferred what I'm about to do. Not that I care. He can't do anything at this time of the show or else the audience will revolt.
"YOUR MAJESTY I COMMITTED A GRAVE SIN. I FAILED YOUR EXPECTATIONS"
I made a dogeza to the people surrounding us and knocked my head three times. Then, I told them how His Majesty entrusted me to take care of Marc's subordinates and the task that Fournier passed to us. I told them how I ended up involved and what was supposed to happen today.
By this time, the face of the whole Royal Family was so black that it was dripping. Right now the public view would label them as heartless people who put a young lady to manage their dirty work. Well, is not like anything that I said is a lie, I just... omitted a few things.
"AND THEN, UNFORTUNATELY, OUR PLANS WERE SPOILED. THE KIND AND INNOCENT MISS JULIA GOT TRICKED BY FOURNIER SON AND TOLD HIM ABOUT OUR PLANS. FOURNIER ESCAPED AND HIS SON CAME BACK TO KIDNAP ME AND MISS JULIA. FOR SUCH A CRIME I ORDERED HIM TO BE DETAINED, BUT ALAS I DID NOT NOTICE THAT SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE ASSIGNED TO ME WERE STILL TOO CRUEL. MAYNE FOURNIER DIED AND WITH HIM FOUR OF MY KNIGHTS THAT TRIED TO PROTECT HIM. THE CULPRIT SAID THAT HE WAS PAID TO TAKE MAYNE'S LIFE AND IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. I- "
I felt my tears falling. Although I planned to force them, they're genuine tears made by the guilt that I feel for losing all those lives.
"I-I FAILED TO SEE THE DARKNESS AROUND ME AND CAUSED UNNECESSARY DEATHS. I ASK HIS MAJESTY- NO I BEG YOU, PLEASE, PLEASE PUNISH THIS UNWORTHY ME WHO FAILED THE TRUST OF THE ROYAL FAMILY AND OF MY SUBORDINATES"
Please, I beg you. Punish me so that my guilt can fade at least a bit. Punish me so that those who die don't constantly haunt me. I need some. I deserve some.
My whole face was probably all messed up from the tears. I couldn't stop crying and I'm sure I probably look like a lunatic by now, but I didn't care. I only looked at my sovereign, who in turn looked at me with pity.
"Cecile cease this. I'll forgive you, my child"
By this time, some Royal Knights got free from my Knights.
"If not my King, I please beg from the audience, any punishment that you all feel it's right for this dirty me, I'll humbly accept"
"It's not your fault, Miss Cecile!"
"Don't blame yourself!"
"I'm sure that our brothers died happily for perishing in duty Miss"
Many shouts in my favour were yelled by those in the audience. Be it plebeian or noble, most of the public that listened to my little show was on my side. Even my knights that seemed disappointed and angry with me earlier looked milder at me. There were dissenting voices, but the overwhelming majority quickly drowned them.
I looked around and saw that the Royal Knights were already close to me. Tooling a last glance at the platform where the Royal Family was, I saw the woman who I wanted to ripe her throat. The anger that I had put aside to look pitiful came back in full swing.
Bluntly staring at one culprit to this result, I gritted my teeth.
"YOUR MAJESTY, I BEG YOU TO FAIRLY PUNISH ALL THOSE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UNFAIR DEATHS TODAY"
"THIS IS NOTHING FOR YOU TO JUDGE MISS DUBOIS, STOP THIS NONSENSE NOW. GUARDS TAKE HER"
Heh, looks like I finally got into his nerves. Serves him right. He's no less guilty than his son in this mess. It's impossible for him not to know Julia and Mayne's friendship. He could stop them, but he permitted and here are we. It's the same for the other two from the Royal Family.
The Royal Knights finally got to me and yanked me up. Before they could drag me like some kind of criminal, Brother and Father came and took me behind them.
"Thank you, gentlemen, we will take from here"
The Knights looked at the King who nodded in acknowledgement. Bowing to my family, they took their leave.
"Your Majesty, I'm sorry for my daughter's behaviour. I request to be dismissed from the Parade so I can accompany and properly punish her. Later I will give Your Majesty a proper apology"
"Yes, you can go"
Hearing the King, Father took my hand and took me to our carriage, which was already waiting for us outside the crowd.
Just as Brother entered and closed the door, the solemn facade that Father has cracked and a booming laugh filled our carriage. Clapping in my direction, Father had a proud expression instead.
"Good Cecile! Who would have thought you would have done that! Wahaha that sly king can't protect that woman this time! And you will be less judged by anyone. Even if the commoners don't get that Julia is stupid and disrupted your plans the nobles will, and the popularity she just gained will turn negative again. I didn't expect less from you!"
"It was the least that I could do for my Knights that died so unjustly. But it's okay now that Fournier is not here. Since I revealed his plot, his business in the kingdom will fall and he's doomed to come back. The real battle will start then"
"Don't worry bunny. Now that he's a traitor to the kingdom, I'm sure that a lot of his partners will be itching to snitch on him. Even if we can't gather proof of his involvement in the plot or his son's death, we will successfully charge him with other crimes. I won't let him escape this time and let your efforts be in vain. We will get him bunny"
I hugged my dad.
Yes, we will get him. Him and all those involved. I won't let anyone leave scout free from this.