Nearly all the Fae in the room collectively held their breath the entire ti the mory was being recreated as if scared that they would ruin the mont. So when the scene ended, the silence was even more silent than the previous ti, the tension so thick one could slice through it with a knife.
When the silence ensued long enough for the revelation to sink in, Andre broke the silence.
"And as you have seen, that is evidence of Lady Elena dabbling in witchcraft and murdering the forr Lord of the Winter Court."
A loud wail pierced the air, shattering the stillness. It was Juan, Elena’s mother, collapsing in tears. Unable to bear the judgnt placed on her daughter, she fought against the Faeries from her household who tried to restrain her.
"This is all your fault!" Juan turned to Queen Maeve, her voice raw with anguish. "If you hadn’t co for my daughter, Elena would still be alive and with in the Sumr Court. If you hadn’t wanted a daughter-in-law to make Queen, she would still be alive. You killed my daughter! Bring her back to !"
Everyone watched the scene with a mix of sympathy and discomfort. Even Andre felt a tinge of guilt, however, this was necessary. He already received news that the Raysin family launched an attack at Aldric’s place. Sotis for peace to reign, there had to be necessary sacrifices and Elena was one of them.
"Bring my daughter back to !" Juan’s cries grew louder, her sorrow echoing through the hall. "This is all your fault. The royal family is a death trap. You drain the life out of everything and everyone that cos into your life. You are cursed."
It was worth knowing that Queen Maeve sat unmoved, her expression unreadable even as Juan’s accusations flew. Her regal deanor remained unshaken.
Sensing that his wife had lost all reasoning and was about to blasphe against the royal family, Lord Raysin ordered the Faeries close to her, "Quick, take her out of here! "
Two Faeries tried to restrain Juan but fueled by adrenaline, she shoved them away with surprising strength. Eyes blazing with fury, she turned back to Queen Maeve. "Perhaps you should join my daughter."
"No, wait—"
"Don’t—"
"Stop her!"
Commands echoed as Juan’s body language signaled her intent. Flas erupted violently from her hands, aid directly at Queen Maeve. Even Valerie stood abruptly, concern etched on his face for his mother’s safety. Oberon’s mask slipped montarily, revealing his own worry.
But it was too late. Lady Juan unleashed a bright stream of fire toward Queen Maeve. The fla was expected to devour and burn Queen Maeve to a crisp. To everyone’s astonishnt, the flas did not touch her.
"What the...?" Valerie watched, wide-eyed.
The flas did not touch Queen Maeve, it was almost as if an invisible force acted as so shield and was repelling the fire from consuming her.
"How is she....?" Theodore was left in utter disbelief. It was as if Queen Maeve was manipulating the fire without even touching or summoning it directly judging from the way Lady Juan strained against it, which shouldn’t even be possible. If Queen Maeve was still powerful, then his mother was in trouble.
"It’s not her," Andre announced and everyone followed the li of his gaze only to realize that it was the witch who had recreated the scene. She was the one fighting against Lady Juan’s fla else Queen Maeve would have been injured, if not worse.
The witch expertly controlled the fla with her magic while Lady Juan grunted and cried out sensing the control was being taken from her.
"No please..." She shook her head desperately as if pleading with the witch not to take away her one chance at revenge.
But the witch, with renewed determination, made so gestures with her hand, and the fla was instantly put out, alongside Lady Juan’s hope. Elena’s mother crumpled to the ground in a heap, having lost the desire to live.
But that didn’t stop the king’s guards from coming over and grabbed her from both sides and began to take her away. Lord Raysin was utterly confused, having no idea whether to go to his wife or kneel and apologize to Queen Maeve. Unfortunately, he forgot about the king as well.
King Oberon bellowed from his seat, "Not only does your daughter use dark magic on my son, Aldric, but now, your wife dares to attack the Queen! I should wipe out your insignificant Raysin family instantly!"
"Your majesty! rcy!" Lord Raysin fell on his face at once.
Queen Maeve at once shot up to her feet, saying quickly, "The woman just lost a child and was not in her right mind, I plead for rcy for their sake, Your Majesty." She interceded for them personally.
Andre’s mouth twitched, clearly seeing the politics being played here. This was the perfect excuse for King Oberon to get rid of the Raysin family once and for all. However, Queen Maeve could not let that happen. Not when the Raysin family was the biggest player in the sumr court and related to her bloodline. They were her pillars and supporters. Getting them off would deal her a great blow.
Nearly imdiately, all Queen Maeve’s supporters got the hint and they all fell to their faces one after the other till nearly half of the ministers and high lords in the room were crying and pleading for rcy for the Raysin family. It was evidence of how far-stretched Queen Maeve’s influence was in the royal council.
Although King Oberon kept a straight face, his hand had balled into a fist, a gesture that Valerie noticed yet pretended not to have done so. For the first ti, King Oberon was scared, not for himself, but for Aldric’s future. Queen Maeve just like a poison had reached deep into his rulership.
He was scared of what would happen to his son once he was gone. He had failed as a father. Now it seems he would fail Nora as well — he was unable to protect her son just as he failed to protect her. She would probably never forgive once they t again.
He announced warily, "The Raysin family is pardoned."
Relief washed over Queen Maeve just before a smug smirk crossed her features. That had been a close one. She glared at lord Raysin just as he slowly rose to his feet. In the end, only she could get the job done around here.
Andre continued, having received the cue to go ahead from his father. "From the evidence submitted and accessed so far, Prince Aldric is declared innocent of all cris, having ridden the traitor traitor. Any other attack or move from the Raysin against the high lord Prince Aldric would be seen as a direct assault against the crown and actions would be taken up imdiately against the Royal family. Do you accept the judgnt, Lord Raysin?"
Lord Raysin’s gaze locked with Andre’s. There was a suffocating feeling in his chest and he wanted to scream that his daughter was innocent and had been frad. His hands balled into a fist and he turned to Queen Maeve.
Although they did nothing but stare at each other for an extended ti, their gaze spoke volus. ’Don’t do anything stupid’ Queen Maeve’s eyes communicated to him.
With every strength he could muster, Lord Raysin said against his conscience. "I accept the judgnt."
The instant he said those words, Lord Raysin felt sothing break inside of him. In the end, he failed his daughter. He had not gotten vengeance for his daughter. He now looked at Queen Maeve with what seed like resentnt in his eyes.
Queen Maeve subtly shook her head. "Bid your ti carefully," she mouthed to him.
Yet that was not enough assurance for a Fae who just lost his only offspring.
Andre said, "Lady Elena’s birthday would be released to her family for burial tomorrow with the investigation finally closed. This marks the end of today’s hearing. All hail the sovereign king."
In unison, they all bowed to show respect to King Oberon.
"You may rise," said King Oberon.
King Oberon stood now to address the assembly, "It is quite devastating news that has fallen upon this great kingdom and I believe that both sides have the fortitude to bear the loss and may Lady Elena of the Raysin family and High lord Karle of the Winter court rests in the bosom of our fathers."
With that said, King Oberon stepped down the dais, all heads bowing as he left the hall with his sons the sa way he had arrived.
And even with his head bowed, Lord Raysin trembled with rage. This was not over. He would have his revenge on Aldric - and perhaps Oberon. He turned her innocent daughter into a traitor even knowing the truth. This kingdom deserved to be reduced to shambles!
Queen Maeve left after her husband and sons and she did not even spare a look at lord Raysin still on his knees.
What a disappointnt.
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