The light in the dungeons was dim as Lady Miranda passed by the torches, the shadow of her and her guards descended upon each cell. Awakening the prisoners with their footsteps, it was in the early hours of the morning. They were here to visit Lady Violet an ambassador of the Autumn Court and an old lover of King Casimir.
The lady to be interrogated sat at a wooden table with her hands in iron cuffs. Her pristine orange gown was smudged with dirt and dust, her curly brown hair was disheveled but her composure was cool and calm. Lady Miranda still felt the undercurrent of fear in the way she slowly exhaled her breath to remain calm.
"You thought you could get away after wrecking havoc at the king's engagement ball?"
Lady Miranda accused not bothering to waste time or conceal her suspicions.
To which Lady Violet quietly replied, "I don't know what you speak of and you have no proof."
"We have reason to believe it was you, your comrade Lady Daphne readily gave you up."
At the mention of Lady Daphne's name, Lady Violet began to fidget nervously.
"If you know what I did wrong then why are you here, Lady Miranda?"
"Because I need a confession of your guilt, you conniving woman!"
"And what do I have to admit to?" Lady Violet asked taunting her boldly.
"Admit to conjuring a whirlwind that tore the hallways in which lives were nearly lost, many of them royalty in which you will be held accountable for!
"I didn't mean for it to get out of hand," Lady Violet replied quietly.
Her eyes looking down cast now as she remained silent for a moment.
"I regret that it happened, but as I understand there is nothing I can do now to make amends."
"You are a fool, Violet, how could you risk so much of what's at stake for the Autumn Court out of mere jealousy?"
Lady Violet then broke down in tears.
"She convinced me that he deserved it, that he was merely making use of us for his own ends and that we never meant anything more to him.
At this Chancellor Vance stepped in gently replying, "my dear you need not have gone through such measures to gain attention."
"He would have readily made arrangements for your welfare and that of your people on the long run, if you had abided by the arrangements you had previously agreed to."
"I know....what happens now?" Lady Violet asked hesitantly.
"The gallows await you," Lady Miranda uttered mercilessly.
To which Lady Violet paled.
"He made promises that he had yet to keep, Miranda, I did what was necessary. He was distracted with the Winter Princess."
"No! You did what was foolish, in a moment of selfish ambition!"
"I cannot die for something as small as this!" Lady Violet cried outrageously.
"Small!" Lady Miranda thundered.
"You call putting people's lives and scheming with Lady Daphne to kill both the Winter Princess and King Casimir small!"
"A failed attempt," Lady Violet replied quietly now.
"Make no mistake, Lady Violet I will personally see to it that you do not leave this cell alive!"
"Then you will not know the full extend of the rebellion, Miranda." Lady Violet taunted one last time.
"The rebellion towards the Summer Court will be tracked and its leader executed, for that I do not need your help, Violet." Lady Miranda replied firmly.
"You cannot mean that!" Lady Violet exclaimed now desperate tinging her voice.
"But I do." Lady Miranda replied and with a turn of her royal robes she left the cell, followed by her guards.
All that was left was Chancellor Vance.
"What is the reason behind the rebellion, Violet?"
"Why should I tell you Chancellor?" Lady Violet asked.
"Perhaps I can help you," He offered.
"To completely destroy the Summer Court, they have conquered and ruled ruthlessly for so many years, isn't it obvious?" She snapped at him bitterly.
"I see," the Chancellor replied quietly.
"For what its worth, I hope you will be able to offer more information before your execution, Lady Violet."
With that Chancellor Vance left her cell, giving her time to think and revisit her mistakes and recalculate her next move.
She was not alone in this rebellion and she certainly would not be for a long time.