Dahlia's heart palpitated with fear as she entered the hall, where the King and Queen were present. She reacted in anger and slapped Ainsley without thinking about the aftermath. Her eyes landed on the Crown Prince and then the Third Prince, whose mood looked foul.
As Sullivan and Dahlia greeted them, the Queen asked them, "How dare you both humiliate my son? Your Majesty, yesterday Dahlia left our eldest son on the wedding altar, trampling on his dignity in front of so many nobles and today she slapped our third son. I want the harshest possible punishment for Dahlia and Sullivan, Your Majesty."
"My husband did nothing, Your Majesty. Please keep him out of the punishment," Dahlia spoke while keeping her eyes low. She needed to be as humble as she could in front of the supreme lord of the kingdom.
Sullivan glanced at her thinking why she protected him. No one ever tried to take a stand for him. He was always treated as the villain in the palace.
"Father, they both acted wrongly. Sullivan is the one, who encouraged his wife that she dared to slap me. I'll not bear this humiliation of mine. Either order to cut Dahlia's right arm or banish the two of them of this kingdom," Ainsley requested the King.
The Crown Prince remained silent as he only had his eyes on Dahlia. He wished to save her, but the situation looked difficult. He had to find a midway, which would appease not only his mother's and brother's anger, but at the same time, would spare Dahlia from a harsh punishment.
Dahlia was swift to get on her knees and she bowed down. Her forehead touched the carpet on the floor. "Your Majesty, before coming to any decision, please give me a chance to speak," she requested.
Sullivan glanced at her with astonishment. She left him amused because the same way she won the King's heart last time.
"Every servant present in the corridor witnessed Dahlia's ill-mannered attitude toward Prince Ainsley. There is no explanation needed, Your Majesty. Dahlia should get punished for harming the reputation of Prince Ainsley," Queen Verlina pronounced, gazing at her husband.
"Let's hear out Dahlia too," King Iramo announced.
Dahlia thanked the King for giving her a chance to speak up and sat on her knees. Her head still hung low. "Your Majesty, Prince Ainsely called my husband characterless and even cursed my late mother-in-law. How could I not get angry at this? It wasn't my husband's fault that he was born from a courtesan's womb. When Prince Ainsley didn't apologize to Sullivan, I raised my hand at him," Dahlia explained her stance.
"I was present there and I confirm what Dahlia said to Father is absolutely right. Brother Ainsley should not have brought Brother Sullivan's mother in the conversation," Crown Prince Daedric said as he stood as Dahlia's witness to the scene.
Sullivan slightly chuckled and gazed at Ainsley, who was already fuming in anger. Dahlia had become interesting in his eyes now.
"Sullivan, why did you not stop your wife from doing so?" King Iramo asked him.
"Everything happened so fast that I didn't have time to do anything, Your Majesty," Sullivan replied. "Dahlia should learn manners though. She cannot hit any royal anytime she desires to," he stated.
Dahlia lifted her head to gaze at him. 'Did he just ask for a punishment for me? How could Sullivan do this to me? I am saving him, but he is throwing me to the pit!' she thought and felt like kicking his butt.
Sullivan lowered his head to look at Dahlia and arched a brow at her while she made a face at him. He turned his gaze back to the King and continued, "Prince Ainsley has been humiliating me for a long time. He always reminds me how my mother slept with multiple men, including the King. I did hope the Queen would have taught his son some manners, but Her Majesty failed in that."
"How dare you point questions about my upbringing?" Queen Verlina frowned as she demanded an answer.
"I never said anything about upbringing, Your Majesty. Even the Crown Prince confirmed that Prince Ainsley suddenly started calling me characterless. However, what he did in the corridor was truly shameful," Sullivan affirmed.
"And what your wife did was justified?" Ainsley spoke up. "Father, I said nothing wrong about that courtesan and Sullivan. Dahlia should not have slapped me," he felt agitated.
"Quiet!" King Iramo commanded and the hall fell into silence. "Dahlia will be punished for what she did. Raising a hand on a prince isn't acceptable from a lady like her. However, what Prince Ainsley did can't be ignored. He will also get punished for invoking such an act from Dahlia," King Iramo announced.
"Your Majesty, Prince Ainsley did nothing wrong," Queen Verlina asked him to punish Ainsley as he wasn't at fault.
"Prince Ainsley should not call Prince Sullivan a characterless man. Even if he is born from a courtesan's womb, I have announced him as my son," King Iramo stated.
"An illegitimate son, Your Majesty. I cannot believe you will punish Ainsely too when it was all Sullivan's fault. He doesn't belong to this palace, yet His Majesty brought him here," Queen Verlina complained.
"Stay quiet, Verlina. What I've decided is the best for two. Even the Crown Prince witnessed the scene, so I cannot be biased," King Iramo proclaimed. "Dahlia will work in the royal garden with the gardeners while Ainsley will have to help the Princess." He announced the punishments to both of them.
With that the King left the hall, followed by his valet and the Queen.
Ainsley clenched his fists as he glared at Daedric. He had not expected his eldest brother to stand for Dahlia.
Dahlia asked Sullivan to pull her up. Her gown was heavy, which made it difficult for her to stand up. Sullivan extended his hand out and Dahlia grabbed it quickly. "I wasn't thrown into the dungeon. You scared me for no reason," she pouted at him as she complained.
"I saved you or else the Queen would have thrown you to the dungeon," Sullivan said and he turned to leave. Dahlia followed him closely while holding his arm tightly.