The halls of Eldoria's royal court shimmered under the glow of golden chandeliers, the soft murmur of noble voices weaving together like a delicate tapestry of intrigue and deception. But beneath the polished marble floors and regal finery, something foul lurked in the air, an unease that sent a chill down Cassiel's spine as she was guided into the grand chamber.
The chains had been removed, but the ghost of their weight still clung to her wrists. Every step she took felt heavier, her thoughts clouded with Malrik's ominous words in the prison chamber. I simply ensured that fate fell into the right hands.
She was led forward, the sea of courtiers parting as she moved toward the throne. Arden walked beside her, his shoulders stiff with tension, the bruise along his jaw a stark reminder of their captivity. She was not comforted by Malrik's absence; on the contrary, it made the atmosphere feel even more oppressive.
At the head of the room, King Edric sat upon his throne, his piercing gaze settling on her like a weight pressing against her chest. His silver-threaded robes draped over his strong frame, but something about his expression was... off.
She had known King Edric since childhood. His rule had always been firm but fair, and his presence had always been steady. However, she could feel a change in the air as she stood in front of him now, a change in the way his eyes met hers.
Something else lay beneath the golden crown. A colder one.
Queen Evelyne sat next to him, her fingers clenched in stiff silence. There was a momentary flash of concern in her emerald eyes as they looked at Cassiel, but she quickly covered it up with an unreadable expression.
"Cassiel Valtrys," King Edric's voice rang out across the chamber. "Do you understand the charges against you?"
Cassiel's breath hitched. Charges?
She exchanged a brief glance with Arden, who was equally tense beside her.
She opened her mouth to say, "I—" but the words died in her throat.
What was going on?
There was a reason the court had convened; dozens of nobles stood silently anticipating, their faces displaying everything from open animosity to interest. Each word was tinged with suspicion as the whispers flowed between them like fire on parched parchment.
King Edric's gaze sharpened. "You have conspired with enemies of the crown. You stand accused of treason."
The words hit her like a blade to the chest.
The court erupted in murmurs.
Cassiel's heart pounded. "That's a lie."
The king's face remained impassive. "You were seen conversing with the Veilborn, creatures of shadow and deception. You have been found in secret meetings beyond the palace walls, engaging in matters that threaten the stability of the kingdom."
Realization dawned in Cassiel's mind.
Malrik.
This was his doing.
He had twisted the narrative, turned the truth into a weapon against her. And now, before the entire court, he had laid the foundation for her downfall.
Arden stepped forward, his voice firm. "This is madness. Cassiel has done nothing but serve this kingdom."
King Edric's gaze shifted toward him. "And yet, she was captured outside the palace under circumstances that call her loyalty into question."
Arden's hands clenched into fists. "She was taken against her will."
"And yet, she returned in chains."
The words carried a weight that crushed the air from Cassiel's lungs.
She opened her mouth to protest, but a new voice echoed through the chamber.
"Your Majesty, perhaps we should not be so hasty."
While his face remained composed, Lord Malrik's golden eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he stepped forward, his long robes following him like the sweep of a shadow, and the crowd parted.
It made Cassiel's blood freeze.
"Lord Malrik," King Edric acknowledged. "You have counseled me wisely in the past. Do you doubt these accusations?"
"Doubt, Your Majesty? No. But I do think that Lady Cassiel deserves a chance to prove her innocence—if, of course, she can," said Malrik, bowing slightly.
A trap.
Cassiel knew that look in his eyes. The pieces were already in motion, and Malrik had already played his hand. He could not possibly allow her to escape unharmed.
She lifted her chin. "I am loyal to Eldoria."
Malrik's lips curved into something too smooth to be a smile. "Then prove it."
The court murmured again, the weight of a thousand gazes pressing down upon her.
King Edric studied her for a long moment before nodding. "Very well. A trial will be held at dawn. If you are found guilty, the punishment is death."
Cassiel's breath left her lungs.
Arden took a step forward, his voice sharp. "You cannot be serious."
But the king's expression remained unyielding. "The law is clear."
Cassiel forced herself to stay steady, even as the world tilted beneath her feet.
Malrik inclined his head. "Then may the gods reveal the truth."
Cassiel met his gaze, fire burning behind her eyes.
She would not fall into the shadows.
Not yet.