"Speak!!" Rishi roared.
"Like I already told you! That was for my mother's health.. It kept on worsening and every doctor we consulted said that there is no hope. But my grandmother insisted that a medicine made from human blood would increase the chances of saving her. So I came here to enhance my magic power and started making it. This was the reason I took blood," the witch explained.
A brief silence filled the room. She then began to think that they believed in her words and would leave her calmly.
"Do you think I'd buy your story?" Rishi said slowly.
The sudden voice startled the witch and her breath hitched for a second.
"I told you the truth" the witch managed to say.
"First you try to rile us up with anger and since it didn't work, you are using sympathy to fool us. Did you forget who you are talking to? You think you can still fool us?" Rishi asked.
The sweat beads started to form on her forehead.
"Let me tell you this. Your other story of you running away from your home to cultivate powers and doing research is all fake. You just created it. Should I tell you the actual truth?" Rishi asked again.
"Someone sent you to create chaos here and distract us. They selected you because you look naive and can easily fool people. You were acting according to their instructions and did everything according to their script. But they didn't expect that you would be caught this easily and haven't even prepared you for this."
The witch's body began to tremble in fear as she felt like someone just revealed the reason and way of her existence in the kingdom, point to point
"Because of your lack of experience, you acted according to your instinct till now. Hmm, seems like they made you a scapegoat." Rishi explained.
"NO!!!" The witch shouted.
"No.. that is not true!" the witch shouted and cried.
"What is not true? My words or yours?" Rishi asked with a smirk.
"That.."
"Anyways, no more bragging. Also you haven't used any of your chances wisely. So.. no problem, we will find the truth eventually." said Rishi and turned around to leave after saying to Raj, "behead her."
Her heart stopped for a moment and her back soaked with sweat.
"No.. No, don't go! I will tell you the truth. Please let me go." she shouted.
Rishi stopped in his tracks and a smile came on his lips. But he didn't turn around and waited for her to complete her words.
The witch started speaking hurriedly, "I am an orphan.. A couple took me in as a little kid. Until I became around 8 years old, everything was fine. Then my father had losses in business and became a drunk. Later somebody killed him due to his debts. My mother, being deeply disturbed, slowly started treating me like an animal cursing that I'm a misfortune to the family."
The witch paused and added "It went on like that for another 8 years until a man came to me and told me my real identity. He asked me to cooperate with him in making myself free from this living hell and also promised a good life. I was sick of the life I had and so I agreed immediately. Later he offered her a large sum of money for me in return. Thus she sold me."
"My new life began. I was put into a group of witches who almost all were like me. Despite different stories, everyone has only one aim which is to get back what we lost. We started learning many things and performed magic. Eventually we got better day by day."
The witch paused for sometime and continued, "One day, my master sent me on a mission to create fear in the hearts of the people of Iris. So I came here and asked a vendor for materials I needed to continue my practice. Occasionally I drew blood from people under public witness to make them believe that a witch is really here."
"Everything was going smoothly. One day a minister came to me and asked me to make some poison. But I didn't agree to him immediately because my mission was to create fear but not to kill." The witch paused.
"Then why did you agree later?" Raj asked.
"Because I informed my master about this and he asked me to do it. When I questioned, he told me it is the way to plant fear in everybody and it is the best way to enter the kingdom" The witch explained.
"So you did it and your master didn't prepare you for this situation. Do you know the name of the minister?" Raj asked.
"Yes. We had the deal with Minister Sumanth. I asked him to reveal his real identity in order to help him. Only after confirming his true identity, I helped him. The deal was that, after the King's death, he would give us, the witches, the right to enter into this kingdom and get back our lost glory," told the witch.
Rishi clenched his fists tightly and he swore in his heart that he will make sure that Sumanth will pay ten folds for his crimes.
"But after that we didn't hear anything from him. I tried to contact him after a few days, but didn't get a chance to meet him as there was no response from him," The witch stated.
"I told everything. Now, please leave me" The witch begged.
"What does your master look like?" Rishi asked.
"We didn't see his face and he always wears a mask." Witch replied.
"Where did you live and how many are there in your coven?" Raj enquired.
"I don't know the location. My master blindfolded and brought us to that place. Also, we are not allowed to go anywhere. We are only 10 members but I am not sure if there are any other groups like us," The witch replied.
"Like I said earlier, implement the punishment," Rishi ordered.
"What?? I told you everything. Please leave me. I won't tell anyone and I will work for you", the witch pleaded.
Rishi smirked and replied, "You betrayed your own master who gave you the life. How to believe you won't do it again.."
"Punish her," said Rishi and left the place along with Raj. The witch's curses and cries slowly faded away as they left.
Rishi told Raj to conduct an emergency meeting. Raj nodded and informed the others.
In no time everyone present and Rishi was sitting in his throne emitting a dangerous aura. He ordered Raj to bring Sumanth also into the court.
Rishi explained briefly about the meeting to the King. King was shocked by the sudden turn of events and he didn't believe that his brother like figure tried to kill him. Because he trusted him more than anybody else and treated him as an equal. He was always friendly to Sumanth and the memories of childhood flashed in his mind.
But as a King he needs to do his duty considering everyone as equal in the face of justice.
After a few minutes Sumanth is presented in the court and everyone is eagerly waiting to know the reason for this meeting.
Minister Raj stood up and said, "Greetings Your Majesty. Please allow me to start the meeting and explain the reason for its urgency."
The King nodded in approval.
"The reason for this meeting is to convict the culprit in the incident of Poisoning the King" Raj said. After hearing this everyone started murmuring.
Raj paused and continued, "Prince Rishi interrogated the matter and decided, the truth must be revealed without any delay."
Raj looked at Rishi. He nodded and turned towards Sumanth.
"Sumanth. I will give you only one chance to explain the truth and only in that case, we consider your punishment to be lessened" Rishi said coldly.
Before Sumanth replied, "Remember.. One chance." said Rishi.
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