Molly's confident response, "Yes, my king," hung in the air, amplifying the courtroom's tension. Emily's confusion deepened, and she felt betrayed by her cousin's accusations. Desperate for answers, Emily wondered why Molly would fabricate such a lie.
The king commanded, "Present your evidence." Molly explained, "I sent Emily a letter along with the royal emblem." The king's curiosity was piqued. "A letter?" he asked. Molly pleaded, "Yes, my king. It must be at her house. I assure you, I'm telling the truth."
Emily's bewilderment grew. "Molly, what are you talking about?" she asked. Molly avoided her gaze, prompting Emily to raise an eyebrow.
Prince Edward intervened, "Father, Emily's house should be searched to clear her name." The king nodded and whispered instructions to Victor, his right-hand man. Victor bowed and exited the courtroom.
The king announced, "Miss Emily's house will be searched, and we will await the results."
After an hour's wait, Victor returned to the royal courtroom, bowing deeply to the king. "We searched Miss Emily Neville's house and found the letter and royal emblem," he announced, his voice echoing through the silent courtroom. Gasps and whispers spread like wildfire as advisors and onlookers struggled to believe the beautiful young woman before them was capable of theft.
Emily's eyes widened in shock and confusion. How did the evidence end up in her house? Why had Molly betrayed her? Tears welled up in her eyes as she felt her world crumbling around her. She thought back to her conversations with Molly, wondering if she had missed any signs of deception.
Meanwhile, Cathy's heart racing wildly as she watched the scene unfold. She felt a pang of guilt and regret, wondering if she had done something to cause this. The king's voice brought her back to reality.
"With this evidence, Emily Neville is guilty of conspiring with a palace maid to steal the royal emblem," the king declared, his voice firm but laced with disappointment. Whispers and murmurs spread throughout the courtroom as people discussed the shocking turn of events.
Edward's face fell, his head bent in disappointment, but a subtle smirk played on his lips. It was a fleeting expression, that no one in the courtroom noticed.
The king continued, "As Prince Roman is away, no verdict will be given until his return."
However, the advisor of earlier who oversees the court matters of Prince Roman, stood up and bowed his head to the king. "I believe it's unnecessary to wait for Prince Roman's return, as he has already rendered his verdict in the event of the culprit's capture." The advisor held up a scroll, seeking permission to share its contents. "May I read it aloud, Your Highness?" he asked.
The king nodded, and the advisor opened the scroll and began to read the contents of the scroll. "In the case of the theft of the royal emblem, a symbol of our kingdom's royalty, I have chosen to issue a verdict prior to my departure, as I will be unable to attend the trial. My verdict is as follows." The courtroom fell silent, with all eyes fixed on the advisor.
The advisor paused for a moment before delivering the verdict. "The two conspirators will be sentenced to two years' imprisonment in the west wing of the royal dungeon, where they will also perform two years of hard labor during their incarceration." The advisor's words hung in the air, as the weight of the verdict settled upon the courtroom.
Victor nodded to the king, and the royal guards moved to take Emily and Molly away. Emily's eyes locked onto Cathy's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Tears streamed down Emily's face as she felt her world shattering around her.
Molly and Prince Edward exchanged a fleeting glance, like they shared a secret. Cathy rushed to her sister's side, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Emily, I'm so sorry," she whispered, hugging her sister tightly. Emily, devastated, didn't respond. She just stood there, frozen in shock and despair.
The guards dragged Emily and Molly away, leading them to the east dungeon. As they disappeared from view, the courtroom erupted into a flurry of activity. The advisors and the few servants of the palace present began discussing the verdict.
Cathy stood alone, tears streaming down her face. She felt lost and helpless, unsure of how to process the events that had just unfolded. She knew she had to do something, but what?
After the trial, Cathy felt heartbroken and consumed by guilt. She had unknowingly played a role in her sister's downfall unknowingly by keeping the letter and royal emblem in Emily's wardrobe, as Prince Edward had instructed her. The weight of her betrayal threatened to crush her.
As she left the palace, Cathy spotted Prince Edward conversing with Advisor Nottingham. Her anger boiled over, and she approached them.
Advisor Nottingham, a man in his forties, cast Cathy a disapproving glance. "Do you not know to show respect by bowing your head in the presence of the prince?" he chastised. Cathy hastily bowed her head, swallowing her pride despite feeling wronged.
Prince Edward dismissed the advisor, saying, "I'll speak with you later, Advisor Nottingham." The advisor bowed and departed, leaving Cathy alone with the prince.
Edward's expression remained indifferent as he asked, "What is it that you want?" Cathy's voice trembled with emotion as she accused, "You deceived me into betraying my own sister. Because of the envelope you gave me, she's now facing punishment."
Prince Edward's response was nonchalant. "And so?" he asked, his voice dripping with apathy.
"Emily is my sister and I thought you loved her. I'll not sit back and watch my..."
Prince Edward bridged the gap between them, his steps deliberate and calculated. As he drew closer, his eyes locked onto Cathy's, and he dropped a bombshell, "I never had any romantic feelings for your sister." The prince's words hung in the air, shocking Cathy to her core.
Cathy's breath caught in her throat as Prince Edward's proximity made her feel suddenly vulnerable. His next words only added to her astonishment. "From the start, my heart belonged to another. I simply needed to eliminate a certain obstacle."
Cathy's pulse skipped a beat as Edward's gaze held hers, his words sending a shiver down her spine. She forgot the purpose of her visit, her mind clouded by the prince's revelation.
The prince's words left Cathy breathless. He took her hand, his touch sending shivers down her spine. "Marry me, Cathy," he whispered, his eyes burning with intensity. Cathy's long-held dreams of becoming a princess and living in the palace now seemed within reach.
As she tried to speak, Prince Edward's lips brushed against hers, silencing her. He gently swept her dark hair behind her ear, his fingers grazing her skin, and leaned in closer, his face inches from hers. Cathy's heart racing, she felt herself getting lost in the intensity of the moment.
Her heart was still racing from the Edward's gesture few seconds ago. She pushed aside her guilt and betrayal, convincing herself that Emily would understand. With a smile, Cathy nodded her acceptance. Prince Edward's face lit up with a sly smirk, hidden from Cathy's gaze.
As they embraced, Cathy felt a sense of excitementand trepidation. She had just agreed to marry the man who had destroyed her sister's life. The consequences of her decision would be far-reaching, and Cathy could only hope that she wouldn't regret her choice.
Days had passed since Emily's imprisonment in the east dungeon. Her once radiant appearance had withered away, replaced by a haggard and disheveled look. Her hair was unkempt, her dress torn and dirty, and her face dull from lack of washing. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she struggled to come to terms with her drastic change in fortune.
She had been expecting a visit from her family, but none had come, not even Cathy, who had been present at the trial. The thought of being transferred to the notorious west dungeon, where visitations were forbidden, filled her with dread.
The sound of footsteps echoed through the dungeon, growing louder with each passing moment. Emily's gaze lifted, hoping to see a familiar face of her loved one, but her expression turned sour as Prince Edward came into view.
The prince stood before her, separated by the rusty metal bars of her cell. "Let's talk, Emily," he said, his voice firm but laced with a hint of longing. Emily, however, refused to acknowledge him, pretending he didn't exist.
Prince Edward's eyes narrowed, his fist clenched in frustration. "Why would you steal from the royal family?" he asked, his tone accusatory. "What were you thinking?" Emily's silence was deafening, and the prince's expression darkened.
In a sudden shift, Prince Edward's demeanor softened, his voice taking on a pleading tone. "I love you, Emily. I want to help you escape, but you must promise to marry me." Emily's gaze finally met his, her eyes flashing with defiance.
"What makes you think I want to leave?" she spat, her voice venomous. Prince Edward's smirk returned, but Emily's next words wiped it off his face. "As much as I want to leave this place, not with your help."
The prince's face twisted in anger, his hands gripping the metal bars that separated them. "You'd do well to reconsider," he snarled. "The west dungeon is no place for someone like you. You'll be treated like an animal, beaten, and left to rot."
Emily's eyes flashed with fear, but she refused to back down. "Being your bride is a fate worse than the west dungeon," she declared, her words cutting deep into the prince's ego.
Edward's face turned red with rage, and he slammed his fist against the metal bars. "You're not even worthy of me!" he bellowed, before turning on his heel and storming out of the dungeon, leaving Emily to her fate.