Many held their breath, anticipating Eugenie's words at Catherine. But the severity of the punishment would depend on Caroline's words. If Caroline accepts that Catherine ordered her to trouble Alora, then Catherine should forget the title of a Royal and the road to the palace.
Somewhere in their heart, they knew Catherine wasn't so easy to handle. She would always be ten steps ahead in her plan and prepared even if she is caught.
Sometimes Eugenie wished Anka was like other kingdoms. Then she would have slaughtered Catherine many times, if not now. Willingly or unwillingly, she had to ask, "Duchess Blewett, do you have anything to say?" Instead of her, her daughter will rip off Catherine's image. Thus it was a warning for her to behave.
Catherine stepped in front of Eugenie and curtsied, as it was a trial and she was head of the new criminals of the court. She carefully chose her words as a small mistake could cost her everything.
Nevertheless, Catherine discerned Alora was intelligent, she was good with her words but not sly enough. The critical disclosure was Alora had no powers to protect herself. Something was fruitful by the attack.
Catherine glanced at Alora with a fake expression of guilt as she spoke, "I feel ashamed that I started neglecting my job after the arrival of the Crown princess. I should have been more careful rather than relaxing."
Alora: "…"
Why didn't it sound sincere? Rather… Alora looked at her mother, disliking how Catherine was indirectly pushing the blame on her mother.
One who hated Catherine couldn't believe Catherine could put on such a good act. Catherine smartly blamed Eugenie for her absence which stressed her out in the past years due to work.
However, Eugenie's lips curled sinisterly. She wasn't going to waste the grave her daughter dug so deep. If she couldn't control Catherine even after this, it would be unfair for Alora, for her daughter.
Catherine continued her act despite no one believing it in the court, "I hoped for Princess Alora to acquainted with Lady Caroline and that will help her, get comfortable and learn quickly."
A voice piercingly intervened, silencing the hall and catching everyone's breath in their throats. "Then why didn't Lady Caroline come looking for me, Duchess Blewett?" Freya's boot steps sounded in the hall when she took a pause.
"Are you ignoring me or are you targeting my sister?" Freya's words were like a knife slicing through Catherine's fake modesty.
Freya nodded to Arihan while passing by him and bowed to her parents as she was in training clothes. As soon as she heard there was a commotion in the banquet hall and Alora wasn't in her room, Freya rushed upstairs.
Giving a nod of assurance to Alora, Freya stood right behind Alora and glared at Catherine, waiting for another lie.
Eugenie slowly breathed to keep her calm. Freya was smart, and strong but also hotheaded. She was like Lothar, she would kill the offender and plainly say she couldn't stand such people.
Catherine clenched her teeth, trying to give an apologetic smile. The more lies she adds on, and if one is proven wrong, then Eugenie will slit her throat.
She carefully spoke, "Princess Freya, you have got us wrong. We have no such kind of intention. Princess Alora seemed to be a shy person so she will need more time to get comfortable with others."
Alora, Zander and Eugenie: "…"
Alora wasn't an introvert and Freya was a cold person who keeps everything to herself. One who was good at socializing was Alora rather than Freya.
Freya sneered looking at Catherine who didn't blink when lying. "Then I must say, neither the years of your experience nor intellect is well fitted for your titles."
'Pfft…' A few lost control and burst into a peal of laughter. They were loving these sisters for showing the place where Catherine belonged.
Alora tugged her little sister's hand. Freya generally keeps her opinion about everything and everyone to herself unless it was necessary to voice it. Alora was always an exception.
Freya looked at Catherine's face which had turned bright red in embarrassment. She looked at Alora who was shaking her head. She knew she shouldn't say those words as she will put Eugenie on the spot. But some people don't learn even after saying it on the face.
Eugenie was proud that Freya supported and protected Alora but she wasn't allowed to look down on others, especially in front of so many. "Princess Freya…" Oh lord, she hated it, "Be mindful of your words."
Then she taunted Catherine, "It's alright everyone makes a mistake. Duchess Blewett isn't an exception. She doesn't know about my daughters and made a hasty decision."
Was Catherine thinking only she would speak with different intentions?
Edward narrowed his eyes at Eugenie when he stood by his wife. He pretended to be protecting Catherine but his hateful gaze said something else, "Your Highness, your daughters are humiliating my wife."
'Humiliating?' Alora was abused in a place where has to feel protected and safe. Who is responsible for that? It was infuriating that they could do nothing to Catherine without evidence against her.
Zander snapped at the man who should have kept his mouth shut before speaking nonsense between the serious trials, "The truth hurts." His gaze turned cold and sharpened at the man as he instructed, "Escort Duke Edward to his room. His weak heart couldn't handle the truth."
The two guards stood behind Edward who grounded his teeth in hatred and went out. It was better than being dragged away.
Alora looked at the unamused audience and her parents. Everyone behaved as if it was normal while only she was finding herself foreign.
Her mother had explained many scenarios and how the crimes are handled. But she never expected everyone to put on the mask of good people, speak something but mean something else, state a lie as truth and hide the truth.
'How do people trust each other?' Alora wondered how they could live together with distrust.
After Zander's authoritative control over the hall, nobody dared to even breathe loudly.
Catherine swallowed her anger and accepted another wrong, "I was wrong to think that way." Accepting she was wrong to think such a way was better than opposing which will make them question her ladies-in-waiting.
Catherine continued with Caroline's actions so the matter doesn't continue to dig deeper, "As for Lady Caroline and her maids, we have always respected Lady Caroline for her efforts in tutoring princesses of Roosevelts. Nobody ever reported such incidents before Princess Alora."
Alora's head titled. She felt like Catherine was blaming her. Her head straightened, feeling a pair of eyes, She turned around and looked at Agost whose hazel eyes were dark and there were frowns while watching Catherine.
Agost blinked his annoyance away and met Alora's eyes which were filled with confusion and uneasiness. She looked away almost immediately when Catherine continued to speak. However, Freya's suspicious gaze shifted on him, warning him to stay away from Alora.
On the other end, Catherine continued to sacrifice the people who worked for her, "I wasn't aware Lady Caroline would do something like this. I apologize for my negligence. I will make sure it won't repeat."
Lady Caroline's eyes were wide in disbelief. She wasn't an idiot to trouble a royal. She only dared to behave as such because Catherine didn't just encourage her but also told her that Alora wasn't a real princess and they had to scare her away from the palace.
The maids of Lady Caroline were in tears. They wouldn't dare to utter a word against them as they were royals. If not one way, they will control them in another way.
Eugenie turned to Lady Caroline. She hoped Caroline wasn't an idiot to save Catherine, "Lady Caroline, do you accept Duchess Blewett's accusation?"
To everyone's disbelief and disappointment. Lady Caroline went on her knees and started begging for mercy. Nobody knew why she was taking the complete blame and protecting Catherine.
Eugenie put the three ladies behind bars as their punishment will have to be decided by Orla. However, Catherine comes under her.
"Duchess Blewett, I am grateful to you for voluntarily taking my responsibilities in my absence," Eugenie reminded Catherine it wasn't her who put work on her, Catherine willingly and eagerly took the job so that she could have more power over the people.
Catherine's lips twitched uncontrollably hearing people snicker around her when Eugenie stated the truth and slapped back her words.
"Considering your repeated negligence at the banquet, regarding the tutor, your ladies' irresponsibility at their work, and the maids under you, I am relieving you from all your palace duties…" Then Catherine's identity would be nothing but a royal member without any benefits, power, and less service.
"Euge…" Catherine was saying through her teeth when a sound made her freeze.
Zander flicked his fingers and everyone witnessed the first princess's special coronet embellished with precious stones break into two and fall on the floor, leaving the hall in a hush.
As much as Catherine tyrannized in the palace in Eugenie's absence, nobody ever endured so much disgrace in the palace as much as her.
Everyone felt like Eugenie and Zander were waiting for this day from the second they stepped into the palace.