Sumanth stiffened in his position listening to Rishi's words. He sensed something was wrong but he didn't want to admit to crime. So he mustered all his courage and started speaking.
"Your Majesty. Like I said before, I didn't commit any crime. All these years I have just been loyal to the throne. Anything that shadows my loyalty to this kingdom is nothing but a lie," Sumanth said.
Rishi smirked and stated, "Fine. If you want to play it the hard way, then remember, there's no stepping back. Raj please present the evidence to His Majesty"
Raj went to the King and presented him a few scrolls. He went back to his position at his place.
"Your Majesty. We found evidence in Neeru town where Minister Sumanth went in the pursuit of the witch. The information in the scroll proves our Ex-Minister's visit to that town. It's provided by the head of Royal security. Our Ex Minister Sumanth was spotted in the town by a few people when he was not in disguise. There is evidence of their fingerprints who noticed sumanth in the town," Raj explained.
"Also we imprisoned the witch and interrogated her today with our Military General's presence. We couldn't produce her in the court considering the threat she could pose to the people here. Your Majesty, the scrolls were signed and sealed by the Military General himself, making the facts provided in it, unquestionable."
Sumanth began to sweat with the information given by Raj in the open court. After he got ripped off of his position, his every move was observed. He was unable to make any moves to erase his traces from his act and was not even able to warn the witch about him being suspected.
The King nodded and said, "That is fine, Minister Raj. It is the right thing to do. In fact I've been following up with the witch's case."
After listening to the King's words, Sumanth realised how foolish it was to ignore Rishi's warnings. Now he's reached the end of the cliff and he's also sure that it's the end to his life.
"Sumanth, do you still want to deny the accusation? Do you have anything that can prove you as innocent?" King asked.
"Your Majesty, where are the proofs of the Witch? Did they really imprisoned her? What if they imprisoned some innocent person?" Sumanth argued.
Rishi smirked and said, "If you want to see the witch then feel free to meet her in hell."
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly what you are thinking. As a minister, you should know the meaning. Don't you?" Rishi said.
Sumanth could not utter a word hearing that. He desperately thinks of a way to get out of the fix but the proofs are so strong to deny.
The King stated, "Since Sumanth has nothing to prove his innocence and I have to consider his silence as him admitting to his crimes.
"Thus considering committing to betray the kingdom by attempting to kill the King, keeping the fact of a harmful witch's existence in the kingdom and lying in the King's court in front of the honorable ministers and the King himself as the unforgivable treason, the traitor will be awarded a punishment that no man could ever imagine. This punishment will bring terror in the hearts of the traitors, that there should be."
King paused and said, "Minister Raj, Can you please announce the kind of punishment written in the law which will be imposed on a convict who attempts to hurt the royal family?"
Raj informed, "In any case of attempting to harm the royal family, the convict shall be awarded 50 whips. The convict's status in the society will be removed. Assets and the money the convict is entitled to will be ceased by the Royal guard. Finally, the convict will be thrown into a dungeon, till the death takes over."
Sumanth was shocked and his hair stood on his neck by listening to his words. He was well aware about the punishment, but now it felt far more terrible. He doesn't want to go to the dungeon. The people who go there will never see the light ever.
As a minister, he knows how horrible life will be in the dungeon. He doesn't want to experience it. Suddenly he drops to his knees.
"Your Majesty. Please sentence me an immediate death. Please.. I accept my crime. Just remove my head here, at the moment. Brother please don't do this to me. Please brother" Sumanth pleaded with the king.
The King's eyes turned red and he withheld his tears, "The Prince already gave you the chance but you didn't use it. Implement the punishment now."
"Brother.. Brother please!. Please don't do this. Rishi please tell your father. I am your uncle."
"Sumanth, in the eyes of justice, everyone is equal. Punished will be the traitor with no exception of blood relation to the Royal family," King said sternly.
"Take him away and implement the punishment in front of the people. Spread the news in the Kingdom and let people know the kind of situation they have to face in the event of harming someone." the King ordered.
The guards came forward and took away Sumanth. His cries echoed in the court and eventually faded.
After sometime, "This will happen to anyone who tries to harm anybody else. I appreciate Rishi and Raj for resolving the issue and providing justice. Now the court is ended." King said and left.
Everyone left discussing what just happened and felt like remembering it to their deaths. They praised Rishi and Raj for their actions and for their courage in bringing forth the truth before everyone.
Rishi and Raj went towards the King's room. They know his father is disturbed by this incident. They reached near the room but before they entered, the guard stopped them.
"Your Highness. His Majesty informed us to not send anyone into the room. He said he wanted to be alone," the guard informed politely.
Rishi understood and asked, "Is my mother here?"
"Yes, your Highness," the guard replied.
"Okay" Rishi sighed and left the place along with Raj.
"Rishi, why did you leave? We have to inform your father about you. Don't you think?" Raj asked.
"No Raj. It's not the right time." Rishi said.
"Why?"
"Let him grieve. After all, it's his brother over whom he made the horrible judgement. He must also be devastated by his betrayal. Now tell me, you think it is the right time to tell them about the person I am in love with?" Rishi asked.
Raj shook his head and followed him along.
Suddenly, "What are you going to do about Sumanth? Do you have any plans?" Raj asked.
Rishi smirked and said, "That punishment is not the tip of a nail. His life is going to be a living hell. Even death will abandon him, until I let it take him."
Raj's hair stood on his neck seeing Rishi smile. He started to feel pity for Sumanth for his wrong doings. He stood in the hallway while Rishi walked away to his room.