The emperor cleared his throat and lifted his head to look at all of them. He took a deep breath and turned to Bronco, transferring the verdict to him. "Read it," he said to him, and Bronco received the verdict, then turned to face everyone in the hall.
He lifted it and stared at what was written inside, his eyes instantly narrowing. He cleared his throne and glanced at Layah before proceeding to read it. "On this day, February 19, 1820, her highness, princess Layla, shall be stripped of her title as the crown princess and shall be exiled out of the Tecren Empire for the crime of treason. She is given the chance of a return in eight coming years because of a lack of providing evidence." He rolled the verdict when he was done and stepped back to stand beside the throne.
Layah's heart skipped a bit on hearing this, and her eyes flickered vigorously. Her hands balled into a tight fist and she lifted her eyes to stare at the emperor.
"Your majesty, the princess committed treason. Why is she given the chance to return? Isn't it already fair on your path that you exiled her instead of having her executed? " The prime minister, who seems to have the highest authority in the court, inquired, and the emperor shifted his deathly gaze to him. "Are you questioning my decision, Edgar?" he questioned with authority in his deep voice, and Prime Minister Edgar instantly shook his head and quickly stepped back with a bit of fear in his eyes on seeing Bronco's grip on his sword tightened.
The emperor retracted his gaze and turned to face Layah, but his eyes fluttered when Layah abruptly turned around and began to storm out of the hall before he could utter a word.
This girl! He just can't pin out what he sees in her. There is just something about her that worries him a little. He can't tell, but there is surely something. It is also one of the reasons that he can't seem to make decisions sometimes when it comes to her. A low sigh fled from his nose and he stared at her disappearing back.
Mishak, who was still within the hall, also turned around and began to walk after the princess with an apprehensive expression on his face.
....
Layah arrived near the door to her room and pushed the door open. She stepped in and began to punch the wall, trying to let out all her frustration, not minding the fact that she was injured.
She continued to punch the wall, ignoring the blood that was tainting the wall and a furious breath fled her nose when someone grabbed her by the arm and turned her around to face him. "Princess, stop it! You're hurting yourself! " The person, who was none other than Mishak, gazed at her, and as mad as she was, she glared at him with deadliness in her eyes and snatched her hand back. "What do you want?" she asked in an angry tone, and Mishak took a deep breath.
"Nothing. I am just worried about you," he stated, and Layah's brows curved in confusion. "Why?" she asked, and Mishak shook his head at her. "Why, if not because I care about you? I know that you're hurt because of what happened in there and that you're innocent too, but it doesn't warrant you hurting yourself like this," he stated, and Layah stared intently at him for a few moments, before letting out a low breath.
"You don't understand, that's why?" She said and walked towards the bed to sit down.
"I don't understand what? As I said, I know you're innocent, but still, it's not in any way a reason for you to hurt yourself," he said and walked to sit down on the chair opposite her bed.
"Then since you know I'm innocent, you must know who the culprit is, no?" She arched her brow at him in a questioning manner, and Mishak lowered his head, not uttering a word.
"Just like I thought," she scoffed and gritted her teeth in frustration. Though she is angry at being exiled, it is still better than the death penalty. Eight years may be a long time, but by then, she will be ready for her revenge, and it will be brutal. It won't just be revenge for herself, but for her dead mother too.
She let out a low breath to calm herself down and lifted her head to look at Mishak, who was walking toward her. "What are you doing?" she questioned, and Mishak shrugged before squatting down to her level in front of her.
He grabbed her hands that were bleeding and took out two pieces of white clothing from his pocket. He cleaned up the blood and gently began to bandage her injured knuckles, leaving Layah to stare at him in confusion. 'What is wrong with him?' She inquired it in her heart.
Mishak stood up when he was done and smiled at her. "We will be leaving tonight, so I will wait for you outside the palace gate." He said, and Layah's brows creased in deep confusion. "Wait what! Why? You're not leaving with me, are you?"
"Yes I am. I am your slave, aren't I?" He arched his brow at her and Layah looked at him in shock. She totally forgot about that, but even still, it's not a reason for him to go with her. "Oh, about that. You don't have to worry. Since I am no longer a princess, you're not entitled to serve me, so you're free." She said, but Mishak, however, shook his head at her. "Your highness, I told you before, I don't go back on my words. We had a bet. You won, so I am your slave, whether you're a princess or not. After all, you didn't fight me with the title of a princess, did you? It was a fair fight. So.. I am leaving with you." He said, and before Layah could utter another word, he stepped out of the room and shut the door behind him.