Big green eyes stared at Adam in horror without blinking. Her hands gripped her dress tightly until it wrinkled. The King understood the tense atmosphere that was so palpable. Carmellia felt so scared and pressured by the situation. She didn't know what to say.
Her eyes saw for herself how Adam firmly sentenced the defendants. Would her fate end the same, she prayed to God. Would she be able to go home that day or would she end up behind bars.
Not daring to look at her surroundings, the Princess broke out in a cold sweat. She couldn't deny anything, everything was suddenly clear, the red thread was increasingly connected. The five men were her father's orders, she had met them several times in Grissham. Recognizing their faces. Even so, feelings of hatred or anger did not arise in the poor girl's heart, even though for no reason she knew, her father and mother had sent her into the enemy's cave.
"The meeting is over here." Adam rose from his throne followed by the disapproving words of the higher-ups.
"What about Princess Grissham, Your Majesty!?"
"Yes! Shouldn't we finish it completely now?"
"There is no more time, Your Majesty!"
"We beg you not to cover it up."
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty. Finish everything now!"
Trevor tried to maintain a conducive condition, but the men would not listen to him. All eyes looked towards the King who stood silently.
"Gentlemen. I don't need to say it a second time. I want the meeting to end here." The man still had enough patience to serve the high-ranking officials even though he could have walked out without turning around.
"The Princess will not be comfortable if dozens of questions are thrown at her suddenly, in front of all of us. I will personally take care of it." His feet stepped out of the courtroom followed by Trevor, Ackerley and Anthony behind him.
"Your Majesty?" Adam roughly pushed away Trevor's hand that was resting on his shoulder.
"Excuse me."
"Trevor. Come on, leave Your Majesty alone. Let's talk to the Princess."
Adam turned around, "Let's talk in my office."
The Princess awkwardly sat herself down on a sofa. When the men surrounded him, it made him feel so depressed.
"Princess." Adam sat beside her slowly. He could clearly see the cold sweat running down the woman's nape and neck. He stared at the girl's eyes closely.
"Say something"
Adam stretched his hand on Carmellia's shoulder, when he knew that the girl was going to cry. The way the King always used made Anthony no longer surprised. The Grissham Princess sobbed, her small shoulders shaking in Adam's arms.
"Enough, enough."
"I d-didn't know about that at all, Your Majesty! I never thought that everything would be like this. Please! Forgive me!"
"Do you know the five men?"
The girl nodded, "I've seen them in the Grissham Kingdom several times. Which met my parents."
"So you can confirm that they are Grisshamians?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. They seem to be my father's messengers."
Adam released his embrace and wiped the girl's tears with his silk gloves. "What exactly do you mean by coming here?" As much as possible he respected a woman in front of him, his mother had never taught the King to be rude to women, even if she was a criminal's daughter.
"I really only came to fulfill the invitation to the harvest party, Your Majesty. Nothing else. Cut my tongue, if I am caught lying. I never lie."
Adam nodded, his big hand gently stroking Carmellia's hair, "Then your parents must have hidden it very well. Do you know about the dark organization Blackwood? They were the ones who brutally slaughtered King and Queen Wilhelmia, on the night fourteen years ago."
"Yes, I know, Your Majesty. But I never thought that my parents were the perpetrators!" She lowered her head. The girl's tears could not stop despite the gentle attitude Adam gave her. He was not willing to put this ignorant girl behind bars.
Adam glanced at Trevor and Ackerley. Then back to the Princess. If she was telling the truth, she was innocent. All the blame was on her parents. This girl did not need to be punished for her ignorance.
"I don't need to throw a series of questions at you. Because it seems that everything is clear. I don't need your confession, Princess, whether your parents are guilty or not. And I believe that you are not a liar."
"I understand that your arrival here is as a diversion. As a shield or as a puppet. Whatever it is. So... tomorrow I ask you to return to Grissham. To deliver my message to King Anderson."
The princess nodded understand. Tears still pooled in her eyes. The King wiped them away with the silk cloth once more. He then smiled, "Calm down, Princess. This is not your fault. Now go back to your room."
Adam took a deep breath, all eyes were on him. Shocked. Confused. The Princess turned around, "Your Majesty." her voice was hoarse. "Even so, I am not someone who would betray my homeland. I will defend Grissham no matter what. I hope you can understand."
"Of course."
She stepped closer to the King again and placed both her knees on the floor. "But, I, Carmellia Elanora. Personally as a human being apologize for the events that happened fourteen years ago. Which has caused suffering in your life. Not for Grissham or my title. But as a human being, I express my deepest condolences."
"I don't know what my parents have done or will do in the future, I myself do not have the power to stop them. To change their decree. So I beg you, take care of yourself."
Adam pulled the girl's arm so that she wouldn't kneel before him. "You are the greatest woman I have ever seen. Who says you don't have the power to change destiny. If you want, you definitely can. God wouldn't just make you a Princess if you didn't have more power than any other girl."
"I-I can change destiny?"
"Yes, if you want. You can."
Adam chuckled, "Your status will also be at stake. I myself don't want to see you in danger."
"Tomorrow the Wilhelmia soldiers will escort you home. Make sure you arrive safely. I think you are very brave, to push aside the waves every day and decide to serve your parents. To come here when it will kill you."
Adam held the girl's two hands. Their soft skin touched each other. "Thank you for being honest with me." The girl nodded and walked away.
The situation was quiet again. Adam looked out the window, the blue sky and the pure white clouds could not be rained with blood.
"Your Majesty! Oh my God!" Ackerley raised his voice. "Blackwood!?"
"I've been thinking about it since yesterday when Trevor found all those files. I read it all night with you, Ackerley. Why did you just realize it now?" Adam said firmly.
"I-I just didn't expect it to be like this, Your Majesty! I never thought that mysterious murders, rumors of witches would lead to your parents' murder case."
The man's stomach felt heavy, he lay down on the sofa. He could feel his heart beating erratically. "Trevor, Ackerley, you know what will happen next."
"Are we going to let Princess Carmellia go just like that?"
Adam clicked his tongue in annoyance, "Anthony. What good is killing an innocent girl? You will only embarrass men. Go with her to Grissham tomorrow. See what the condition of the country is like. Then report to me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Then, do you not remember anything that almost killed you last time!?" Ackerley clarified his question.
"Who did you meet? Who interacted with you? Who ate with you?"
"You know I meet many people every day Ackerley. I myself do not know how the poison got into my body."
"And Weithia!? What kind of young man do you trust to guard His Majesty Trevor!?" Ackerley said angrily.
"He is not good enough to guard himself! Let alone be someone else? You better replace him with someone better than that man."
Adam fell silent, as did Trevor hearing Ackerley's anger that sounded very reasonable.
"No need."
Ackerley tilted his head in confusion, "You have many choices Your Majesty. Why stick with someone who does not bring you any benefits?"
The situation outside the palace became so chaotic with the higher-ups still not returning home. Dozens of men were talking about what had just happened in the palace yard and were absorbed in the situation. Gathering like in a market.
"Grissham? So all this time it was that country that killed the previous King and Queen?"
"I didn't expect that."
"What about King Adam's next decision?"
"Will he hold another meeting?"
"I don't think so, the King will probably declare it right away."
"Then I can't believe it, the King is keeping enemies in his Kingdom."
"Princess Carmellia is a guest at the harvest party. Don't talk carelessly, just trust the King."
"I'm sure that girl is the one who wants to kill the King with the poison of the night shadow flower."
"Really? The news is true?"
"I think that makes sense. Could it be that the Princess's main purpose was to harm His Majesty?"
"The news of the King's death has spread everywhere, the night of his parents' death anniversary, he was also harmed. How unfortunate."
"Who would want to be the heir if he died!?"
"Lower your voice! Besides, His Majesty is fine now. We can rest easy."
Robin listened from a distance to all the discussions of the government officials. He was also not allowed to attend the meeting by the General because his position was not too important. But eavesdropping is not against the law.
"Minister Jaquet! can you imagine?"
"Yes! I was really shocked when he was led by the soldiers to the middle of the room."
"Even though I was quite close to him."
"His work was also good, I didn't expect him to be a traitor to the Kingdom. Did you see the look on His Majesty's face? He was really disappointed."
"Sir Ulric too! Even though he seemed so passive. He didn't talk much but acted like a jerk."
"Frandel Gaunt, if I recall he was also close to Minister Jaquet. No wonder."
"My wife is very close to Minister Jaquet's wife, will surely be shocked to hear this news from me."
"But, we also have to be careful. Don't trust just anyone."
"Yes, that's right. When it's like this, it's hard to trust each other."
"What are you doing here?"
Robin was shocked when a hand suddenly patted his shoulder. "Sir Tivius!" His tall body covered Robin's face from the scorching sun.
"Eavesdropping on conversations is not good."
"Sorry. I couldn't help it."
"Come with me." The tall man invited Robin away from the crowd. "They're gossiping like mothers in the market." He said coldly.
After finding a much quieter place. Anthony leaned against a stone wall, the place was cool because the shade of the trees blocked the light of the fireball. "I just spoke to the King."
"Yes. And then?"
"He ordered me to take Princess Carmellia home tomorrow."
Anthony rubbed the back of his neck, "I meant to invite you to come along. I mean, you know yourself that I'm a Gwylion person. The king did not order anyone from Wilhelmia to accompany me, other than the diplomat. At a time like this, it would be best for you to come along as a witness."
Robin nodded, "Yes. Of course, sir. With pleasure. Let me ask permission from my superior first."
"Of course. We will depart tomorrow morning."