Author's Note: Dear readers, Apologies for late update. I have been busy with work and was out of station for few days. The Chapter release rate for this book is one chapter per week. New Chapter update will be on Sunday every week.
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In the building of the High Conclave, the Head members set around the round table and behind them set all the members of the Conclave on the staircase seating. Everyone except Vincenzo held a grim expression after hearing the tale about the murder of subordinate Gabriel from the Envoy.
King Archimedes asked the Envoy, "How are you so sure that Vincenzo is behind the murder of the subordinate?"
Egnatius said in an obvious tone, "Isn't it obvious? Since the moment she crossed path with the Conclave, Vincenzo is adamant on saving the girl no matter the consequences!" He paused and glanced at all the members present in the meeting room before his eyes again set on the man who questioned him and he continued, "I am not sure why would he kill Gabriel when he only followed my order and arrested the girl! May be he wanted to punish the head guard for whipping the girl so he killed Gabriel and intimidated the guard to bear the blame for it or may be he made the guard kill Gabriel for some reason!"
"You and your wild accusations Lightwood! Considering your theories, I think you should be a theorist instead of the Conclave member, apart form that, it's not like you are very good at your current job!" stated Vincenzo
Greeting his teeth, Egnatius said, "These are not some baseless accusations! We all know you are behind all this as you made it pretty clear in the last meeting that the girl is quite important to you and your action indicates, you have some kind of obsession with protecting her at any cost!
Vincenzo remarked on the Envoy's words, "Finally you are right about something Lightwood! Yes, she is important to me and as I made it pretty damn clear in last meeting, She is mine to protect" He paused before his eyes hardened remembering the wounds on his precious little girl's legs and he asked in a grave tone, "Why would I kill the poor subordinate when the real culprit is You Lightwood?"
Vincenzo's threatening tone and words, made Egnatius shiver and he tried to defend himself, "I did not do anything wrong and was only doing my duty. The girl was found in suspicious circumstances and the vanishment of town is not a small thing but is related to god knows what the Dark Witches are conspiring! You can't expect that I should have let her off the hook! Can you?"
Vincenzo retorted still in a deadly tone, "Even if you found her there, the first duty you had was to inform the Conclave about it but you took the matter in your own incompetent hands and proceeded on your own! First you did not do your job correctly and now here you are blaming me for the subordinate's murder!?"
"You never cared to help anyone yet you claim to protect that girl at any cost and we all know to what level you can go! You killing someone as punishment is not that shocking or unusual !" said Egnatius
Vincenzo made a sinful chuckle before he said, "Yes, I can go to any level to protect her! If needed I would burn your whole empire in a blink for her but as I said, Why would I kill the poor subordinate or anyone when You were the one who made the grave mistake to harm something that's Mine?"
All the Conclave member can feel the tense atmosphere building in the room with every passing second. King Archimedes and Head witch Bellatrix exchanged a look indicating the need to ease the situation before it takes any grievous turn!
Turning to Vincenzo, King Archimedes said in a calm voice to lighten the air, "Given the circumstances, Arresting the girl was mandatory but deciding to punish her was not! He paused and turned to look at the Envoy before continuing again, "Vincenzo has no motive to kill your subordinate or to punish the head guard, Egnatius! So irrespective of your differences with Vincenzo, you need to stop blaming him for every wrong thing that transpires here!"
Egnatius started, "But there needs to be an investi..."
Vincenzo cut him off in between by saying, "Envoy Egnatius Lightwood needs to be punished for not only imprisoning but also harming the future Queen of Versimoil Kingdom!"
Bewildered by Vincenzo's revelation, everyone's face in the meeting hall turned dumbfounded and they exchanged a look of perplex with each other.
Regal Fairy Luciana whose long plan was to get her daughter married to Vincenzo and make her the Lady of the Kingdom of Versimoil, asked to confirm, "The girl from the forest?"
"Yes, The girl from the forest. Anneliese Levine, blue eyes brown hairs! She will be my consort and the Lady of Versimoil Kingdom." Vincenzo made clear for everyone to understand.