'Surely, even mother wouldn't sit by and watch all her hard work go to waste before her eyes, right? Surely father wouldn't just let his own daughter be condemned without interfering?'
Livia tries to smile, "Your highness, please. Why don't we take this to a more private area? I'm sure all of this can be resolved-"
"If not you, then who else?"
Livia smile freezes.
What?
Surely the Crown Prince couldn't be serious.
But he was.
He turns to the crowd, his expression one of soft somber, "To all who gather here today, I wish to impose on you a heavy request. Today, a fellow classmate of mine has been poisoned, and it seems Lady Livia is the main culprit. I, as the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Wisteria, shall be the judge if such a crime if false or true. If anyone wishes to defend Lady Livia against such a heavy crime, please step forward."
Not one person moved.
Livia couldn't even muster up a false sense of surprise, instead, her eyes turned to daggers as she glared at one of her friends who squeaks and duck behind someone. Her skull felt like it was on the verge of collapse, and she could feel another wave of pain building up behind her eyes. She tried to string together her thoughts, to come up with some kind of plan, but it all washed away.
No one would go against the Crown Prince. In fact, after Crown Prince Rodale's announcement, the nobles will no doubt make a great effort to stay in his favor or gain his favor.
It was a calculated move.
The murmurs in the crowd grow louder, and Livia can feel the weight of eyes looking her over.
Contempt slowly starts to fill the air.
"Poor Miss Amelia. I heard her mother died just this year. Just when things seem to be looking up for the girl, this happens."
"Lady Livia has always been jealous of Miss Amelia."
"Honestly, to see one of our own stoop to such a low level is sickening. How could she poison a fellow classmate?"
"Lady Livia did disappear during her own debutante. Maybe she did something then?"
"Miss Amelia has only been kind to Lady Livia. How evil must you be to do something so horrible to someone so lovely?"
"No doubt Lady Livia only invited Miss Amalia for this reason."
Liliana stirred by her side, looking at the crowd with wide, confused eyes.
If she stays by my side, she will be dragged into this as well, Livia thinks, but before she can move away the pain is back and this time it refuses to be pushed back. She doesn't scream and claw at her head, but it is a very near thing. Instead, her hand clenches into the fabric of her dress, her sharp nails almost ripping into it, as she bites off a yell of pain. Her sight goes blurry and she almost faints.
While she is distracted, Liliana is removed from her side.
Faintly, she hears her sister's voice frantically calling her name, but soon that is gone too.
When her vision clears, she is alone.
Her sister's absence is felt instantly.
Above her, the Crown Prince continues to egg the crowd on. He implores someone to step up and defend her, but of course, the nobles do the exact opposite.