"You will speak when called upon."
The maid continued, her voice shaking. "They told me… they told me to say it was the queen who sent me if I was asked. I didn't know it was poisoned, Your Majesty. I swear on my life! I would never harm Princess Salviana."
King Gideon narrowed his eyes. "Then why speak the truth now?"
Tears welled in the maid's eyes. "Because I didn't know what I carried was poison. When I learned what happened, I couldn't bear the guilt. I would never poison the seventh princess."
A murmur swept through the court.
Enid, the kings brothers son leaned toward Jacob, whispering, "Perhaps this maid is just seeking attention. It all seems too convenient."
Prince Benjamin cleared his throat and said, "Perhaps this is all a mistake that can be easily settled,"
Alaric's patience snapped. "A mistake?" he said, his voice dangerously low.
He stood abruptly, unsheathing his sword in one fluid motion. The blade gleamed under the light as he strode toward Christina.
The court collectively held its breath as he placed the sharp edge against her neck.
"If this was a mistake," Alaric said coldly, his dark eyes boring into her wide, tear-filled ones, "then allow me to make one too. I could slit your throat here and now and call it an error. Should I then be forgiven because we're both royal?"
Gasps filled the room. Christina froze, her lips trembling, unable to form words. Jollene screamed, "You wouldn't dare!"
The queen stood abruptly. "Alaric, stop this madness!" she commanded, her voice sharp and authoritative.
"Madness?" Alaric growled, his grip on the sword tightening. "This is justice. These two sought to murder my wife in cold blood. You think I will let them get away with it?"
The king rose from his throne, his voice booming. "Alaric, stand down!"
Alaric's jaw clenched, his body trembling with suppressed rage. Slowly, he lowered the sword, but his eyes never left Christina's. "If you value your lives, I suggest you speak the truth now," he hissed, stepping back.
Christina broke into sobs, crumpling to her knees. "I didn't mean to… it wasn't supposed to… we just wanted her gone!"
Jollene, her defiance cracking, stammered, "We didn't mean for her to die! Just… just to leave. She doesn't belong here! She was always too haughty and we were just playing around" they didn't even know what they were saying.
The court erupted in whispers.
"They're admitting it!" Abigail whispered to Lilian.
"Fools," Genevieve muttered, shaking her head.
King Gideon raised his hand, silencing the room. "Enough," he said, his tone icy. "Princess Jollene. Princess Christina. You have confessed to your crimes against Princess Salviana. Your actions have brought shame upon this family and endangered the peace of this kingdom."
The queen, her face pale but composed, turned to Alaric. "Justice will be served, but it must be done within the law, Alaric."
Alaric's chest rose and fell with barely contained fury. "The law?" he repeated, his voice laced with venom. "Let us see if the law values the lives of innocents over royal pride."
The king looked at the court officials. "We will deliberate on the punishment for these crimes. Until then, the accused will be confined to their chambers under heavy guard."
Guards stepped forward to escort the sobbing princesses out of the room but a scoff drew their attention.
"No, I disagree, they either be sent to the dungeons now or I will slice off their heads here and now," Alaric threatened, his gaze as dark as his words.
The king reddened, "How dare you!" he roared.
"I believe the king is not in a right position to make the right decision for this matter so I will say the court officials should decide, these two princesses attempted murder without remorse," Alaric bellowed his sword still outstretched.
Sansa, The queen sat in silence as the court deliberated, her face a mask of composure, though her heart was heavy.
She watched her daughters, Jollene and Christina, kneeling and begging for mercy, their once-proud faces streaked with tears.
It was a sight she had never thought she would witness.
When the court officials announced the ruling, their voices echoed coldly through the chamber:
"Princess Jollene and Princess Christina are hereby sentenced to confinement in the royal dungeons. They will remain there until deemed necessary for royal duties or assigned menial tasks as punishment for their crimes."
The weight of the verdict hung in the air like a storm cloud.
Jollene's wail broke the silence. "No! Please, not the dungeons! We're princesses!"
Christina, crawling on her knees, clutched at Salviana's gown. "Seventh princess, please! We were wrong, but don't let them send us to the dungeons. Forgive us!"
Salviana flinched at their touch but said nothing. Her green eyes were cold, her lips pressed into a firm line.
She stepped back, her silence more cutting than any words could be.
The queen's eyes darted to Salviana, a plea hidden behind her sorrowful gaze.
She wished desperately that Salviana would show mercy, that her daughters might find some semblance of redemption.
But Salviana avoided the queen's glance entirely, her stance resolute.
"They crossed a line," the queen thought, her heart aching. "Still, they are my children."
Genevieve, the eldest princess, stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the marble floor. Her icy glare swept across the room before landing squarely on Salviana.
"This is all her fault," Genevieve said loudly, her voice ringing with venom.
The murmurs in the court grew louder as heads turned toward her.
Genevieve continued, her gaze unwavering. "Ever since she arrived, nothing but misfortune has plagued this castle. She's the evil here! Look at the chaos she brings—arson, poisonings, arrests, and now sisters dragged to the dungeons. What kind of woman is this?"
The tension in the room became suffocating. Salviana stiffened but said nothing, her chin lifting slightly in defiance.
"She should be checked," Genevieve spat. "For all we know, she's cursed." With that, she turned sharply and marched out of the courtroom, her dress sweeping behind her like a storm cloud.