That all made sense until the last one! "I'll check the proof. If only we could add more.." the blonde looked annoyed while biting his thumb, drawing blood but shaking that off.
Was no one going to explain? "We have syringes, a guilt plea by accomplice, eyewitness testimony of the kidnapping and found his supplier." The attendant, or that she assumed, continued.
He was a pure professional as he didn't bat an eye. "We are unable to tie the supplier with the Baron Vinterfelms but due to Marchioness Hargrove vouching for them, she serves as an accomplice."
The blonde was absolutely feral and wanted to fight. "Why would our own mother's family want to hurt her? Political reason? She is definitely not marrying the prince nor duke as the daughter of a marquis when there are other dukes with daughters."
The people on her mother's side, the barons, were suck-ups. Reputation seekers like her. She knew the Duke in question through his mother befriending her, thanks to the respect order of the Marquis Hargrove family.
Closer to them than royalty, she may have wanted to set her daughter up. However, rumours spoke of Clover being eligible for the crown prince fiancé's candidate. Although not a duke, she was just underneath and her family had the reputation as the swords of the country and royal family, hence a great way to simply promote them to dukes, or rather give them a new title, while safely saying both families are still intertwined.
This was an issue as.. her family supported the dukes. Royalty was something they could only dream of. This was more achievable through the duke's faction who wanted him as king rather than the prince, those two being the only candidates.
"They were connected to a business they desperately wanted in on for money, and filled with greed may of wanted to poison her. If she was sick, she could neither be a candidate nor fiancé, and perhaps they were hoping to take advantage of the fact of their friendship, to bring their children over in the guise of spending time as the lady was lonely."
The red haired attendant practically said her thoughts. Just how long ago did he figure that much out? She had nearly thought maybe he possessed future knowledge.
"The Hargroves are hardly innocent, both of you know that. Your roles will be to protect the kingdom and royal family, speed that outshines anyone, pure strength, quiet steps, all that before your magic honed to perfection, that's what are Hargrove should be." The attendant had continued.
She knew this, too. Ever powerful with magic and blade. Once they find you guilty or are assigned, you are most definitely in prison and out on display.
They were skilled detectives, strong, and able to do their job in silence and no one catching on as they were intelligent. The mercenaries of the royal family.
They more than likely had a reasoning with this theory, along with solid culprits. The marchioness did not do the poisoning, nor the suggesting. She got exactly what he meant solely from the way he presented his argument, he need no further explanation.
And during the court itself, they would expose the truth. The ultimate justice. "These people take rumours too far. Next time I see em' they better run from my fist." The blonde said as her father tried to coddle her, covering her ears.
"For the record she will not get married. She said she loves papa and that's final." It was now his turn. She could still hear him despite how he covered her smaller head.
The man merely gave a shake of his head and best customer service smile. Working for this family must be rough, pal.
That's when something finally struck her. The royal family. As the swords, her being a suggestion for the prince was what she needed exactly!
The prince was her favourite. All the women he rejected until meeting her. He was loyal, and perfect. Nor was he mean to the girls he would reject. She knew that if there was a way to save him this may be her one chance.
As they would go to court, the royals would be there. Her first encounter, she needed a good impression. At the very least, she had to befriend him in order to stop him for falling for the heroine.
Perhaps he wouldn't love her if she could intervene, and even possibly stop his demise. For the sake of him and her family, even the other male leads, she would save them!
For once, the future was looking bright. However how would she win his heart? "Prince, fall for me!" No that's just ridiculous.
"Just trust me. A girl wants to kill you off unintentionally because you love her and your cousin will have your head?"
"Please don't fall for the girl that will send you to an early grave and take your kingdom away because of her love!"
None of those sounded good, truthfully. How could she win the heart of the man she wants to save? She knew she could never be the protagonist but perhaps some way she could get him to listen.
Her last resort might be beg. Or reveal she was a side-character.
Shaking her head while still in the clasp of her father she decided to figure it out later. With no clue why she had a determined look the four men simply looked on mentally cheering.
Such a cute child. She probably did not know what was happening, they thought. She was only nine, after all.
Although nine, she was already a know it all. Sorry, but Lady Andromeda will not be sacrificing more than three male leads this time around for the sake of her own happiness!
Later, after everyone left, checking on her five times, she finally got sleep. She realised then they had mentioned capital crime, and kidnapping. She forgot to ask. No wonder they were so thorough.
A capital crime accused of by the royal swords. A mistake for sure would cost you. But a capital charge is a guarantee guilty. The Hargroves have honour, and have never falsely convict.
They would force on any crime if you showed the slightest hesitation. If they question you and believe you lie they will find proof and prosecute.
All your crimes will be shown, but capital meant… she surely did not support the method but at the very least she was alive!
Could she ask them to let the culprit go? To jail with his life. Having him executed would make her no better than that woman.
Although common, those who attempt murder especially on a noble are sentenced very heavily. They couldn't afford a way out, nor had social stance.
She did not condone anything he did. But she recalled the words the attendant had said earlier, "Value your life." He said.
"Value the lives of others." Perhaps he was talking about himself. But it did not sit right with her to be the cause of someone's else death.
This was now her real world, and this world was their real one, maybe prison would be crueler as they spent eternity there in jail, rather than passing on. But at the very least her conscious would not have a dead man.
Now with not just one problem, but four, she contemplated how to solve them. One, surviving. Two, meeting the prince. Three, saving the man from being beheaded. Four, avoiding the duke.
Would the duke be at the court? She could only wonder as she wanted to avoid him with all her might. She did not need a psycho (another) in her life.
Perhaps if she slept on it, an idea would pop up. Wishful thinking, but there must be a way. There's always that saying you miss all the shots you don't take.
She was never confrontational, but her daily life was never an unending battle to live in nobility society.
Before they mentioned kidnapping as well, just what happened? She presumed she was sleeping as they had eye-witness testimony. The only time to take her was when her body physically shut.
The issue was already bad, but trying to spare an open kidnapper was worse. "I've come to the conclusion authors are cruel and enjoy seeing fictional beings cry with only two happy ones."
Pulling the blanket over her, she turned onto her side still in the infirmary. She could see flowers on a counter as well as many different medication. Although pitiful, life wasn't horrible.
She had an amazing father and brothers. Perhaps once they made a life past teen and late childhood they would relish in early adulthood. She dreamed.
Though that was a far off reality, for now she definitely had to sleep, get food, she started to wish she didn't reject, and think. She wondered if there were desserts for extra brain power. She'd need a lot of sugar in order to survive this.