The next day, high-ranking officials flood the court room, ready for the usual meeting session but in actual fact, they are eager to discuss the fate of the Markham.
"Your Majesty," Collins, the Queen Mother's younger brother, speaks first,
"We all know the punishment for harming the King is death. We request that the Markhams be punished accordingly."
"Harm the King?" Lucas repeats, a scoff curling from his lips. His tone is cold, cutting.
"Your majesty. We have been trying to find the rebels who is responsible for threatening the peace of the country for so long." Another says and pauses, earning approval of his words from the others.
"Now that evidence is clear in front of us. We must not delay to capture and deal with everyone involved."
"Yes, your majesty. Only by melting out punishment strictly can justice be upheld." Yet another speak.
"You call this justice?" Lucas asks, they all seem to agree easily on this.
One of the Prime Minister's men steps forward.
"Your Majesty, it's clear this rebellion has been long in the making. I suggest the entire Markham family be eliminated to prevent future threats."
Lucas narrows his eyes, seeing through their carefully veiled ambitions.
"You want me to kill the Markhams? To erase the only candidate left to become he Queen before she even enters the palace?"
"Your Majesty, we dare not think that," Collins replies quickly, but Lucas hears the lie in his voice.
"The appointment of the Queen has always been the royal family's right."
"Really?" Lucas steps down from the dais, eyes burning.
"Then why has no one spoken about Queen Henrietta's death? Or do you also believe the Jurua is behind that too?"
The room falls into uneasy murmurs.
"The Queen's death is suspicious, yes," the Prime Minister answers boldly,
"but we can't ignore current threats."
Lucas's voice cuts through the air.
"Current threats? What a joke."
A month ago, Thomas bought him a report: one of the Queen mother's trusted men had disappeared the same night Queen Henrietta died--only to resurface in his hometown.
Lucas knows the Queen mother has long resented his father's decree, pushing him to marry from her lineage.
But for her to go as far as killing each Queen crowned.
The timing is too convenient. This uprising, this scandal—it's all designed to bury the truth behind Queen Henrietta's murder.
The confessions from the captured rebels align too perfectly, it took no time for them to confess to the crime and points out the evidence hidden in Markham estate. Someone has been orchestrating this long before now.
All in the sake to cover up the Queen mother's crimes—vicious enough to sacrifice his own to frame Markham.
A true puppet master.
Even if he wants to refute them, they will push him till the end.
"Your Majesty, even his second daughter tried to harm you last night!" a minister interjects following his silence
"Perhaps he planned for the murder of the Queen as well, just to put his daughter on the throne!"
Lucas's jaw tightens.
Another official steps up, his voice urgent.
"You cannot spare his family. His eldest daughter is his heir, there is no way his other family are unaware about his evil plans—what if they resumes his mission when they are spared?"
The throne room falls silent as Lucas walks forward, eyes fixed on a distant thought. When he met Markham in secret earlier, the man had begged him to spare his family—just his family.
The rumors are already spiraling: that the dragon spirit returns for vengeance, that the Queen's soul wanders because justice hasn't been served.
If Lucas moves too forcefully now, they will twist the story until Markham becomes the Queen's murderer.
"Prepare an edict," he commands.
The entire hall stills.
"Send out my order: Lord Markham conspired with enemies of the realm to harm the royal family and causes unrest to the kingdom. He shall be executed at sunset, two days from now."
A ripple of satisfaction spreads through the officials, but the Prime Minister frowns, sensing something amiss.
"What about his family?" Collins presses.
"Especially the one caught in your bedchamber. She's a disgrace to every woman in the kingdom."
Lucas lifts his chin.
"Everyone associated with the Markhams is to be executed."
The King's secretary hesitates—shocked—but notes the decree.
Thomas, stunned, waits until the chamber empties before stepping forward.
"Your Majesty… Are you truly going to execute the entire family? If you do, there will be no one left from the late King's chosen candidates. They'll force you to crown her."
By her, he means the consort, Collins's daughter.
Lucas doesn't answer the question directly.
"When the eldest daughter of Markham arrives at the palace, bring her straight to my study."
"Miss Emilia?" Thomas blinks, confused.
"You… you gave orders not to see her. Everyone of the Markham is under house arrest."
"Just do it," Lucas says calmly, waving him away.
His gamble depends on the one weapon Markham kept hidden.
---
In the Markham mansion, tension coils like a noose. Everyone sits in the hall, restless, their eyes flicking to the door with every passing sound.
According to their men in the palace, the King's decree should've arrived by now. But no messenger comes—only silence, and the heavy air of doom.
To make matters worse, the city has turned on them. The streets buzz with whispers. Cornelius and his family, who promised to visit to finalize the engagement, never show up.
Emilia tries to remain composed, but her father's suffering haunts her. Her hands tremble as she slams the table in front of her.
She sends desperate letters to her father's allies in court, but receives nothing but excuses.
Cowards, every one of them.
Sophia sits like a statue, the weight of guilt silencing her. She is worried about Catherine but can't voice it out, her presumptuous behavior has bought more troubles upon them.
But Emily, heart pounding, daring to speak on her mistress's behalf. No none has mentioned anything about all night.
"Your ladyship… what about—"
"Silence," Sophia snaps, cutting her off before she finishes.
A servant rushes in, breathless and informs them.
"The messenger from the palace are here!"
They all rise in unison, making their way to the outer courtyard and meet Saint halfway in.
A number of soldiers and officials followed behind him, their countenance already showing them it's no good news.
Saint steps inside, flanked by royal soldiers. His expression is grim. Emilia's heart drops, but she greets him anyway, clinging to hope.
"Your ladyship," Saint says softly, almost mournfully,
"I bring the King's decree… you must kneel to receive it."
Emilia's breath hitches. She kneels. They all do.
"Is it… is it bad news?" she whispers.
Saint hesitates. Then he reads:
"The Markham family has conspired with the enemy. All members are to be executed by poison in two days."
Gasps erupt.
"Executed?" Emilia chokes out, swaying on her knees.
June clutches her trembling hand. Behind them, the room explodes into chaos. Sophia faints and the servants scream. Weeping echoes off the walls from the rest of them.
"Emilia, do something! Are you going to let us die?" Margaret wails.
"How… how can this be?" Emilia whispers, dazed, tears flooding her eyes.
She can't believe this.
Although her mother's relation to the royal family has been severed after her death, as her child, she is still considered a royal blood.
Not to say her father once taught the King as well.
Is that not worth something? The king isn't even willing to spare them at all.