The queen is defeated

For a moment I was seriously confused. The queen was clearly talking about what I did at the party yesterday but nothing made sense now. No one testified or said a word about what happened, I don't know if that girl had a family or not, but someone must be looking for her.

A thought crossed my mind, 'What if someone from the duke's mansion hide all the pieces of evidence and silenced the witnessed?' that would explain the reaction that Spencer had when I talked about it. 'Maybe because I fainted they thought that it would be a good opportunity if everyone acted as if nothing happened, so I would believe the same and eventually forget. But if what I think is true, then why?'

The queen from the beginning created a mystery scene for us all and after she did this successfully, she then directed her attack on prince Alastair and apparently that was her goal from the beginning. But my question is 'Why is he involved in this?'

Not soon after his name was called in the court, a young boy over 170 cm, a perfect baby face covering his eyes a little with his long brown bangs rose from his seat. He didn't look surprised, it was more like he gave the idea that something like this repeated that much that he didn't see anything strange or confusing in this situation even if he was being questioned for a crime…

"Pardon my lack of attention, but can you repeat the question!"

'Apparently, I was wrong, he is just not interested in hearing her.'

…a mysterious character and a strong leader, someone that refuses to bow his head at someone's ideals, a human that would act as a tyrant to protect his family even with his own body, which emitted a radiant aura not dissimilar from the very gods. That's what I imagined when I first heard about him. A boy and a man that would love the people who trust him and lose his life from their hands.

'Looking at him now I can't say that I am disappointed, he looks exactly like the story described him, and even more intimidating than that. It's more like nostalgia! I petty him for believing and trusting blindly on someone, even if it was his family because he knew that they were planning behind his back on taking the throne by force.'

"Be more careful next time prince Alastair, I'm asking you again. Is it true that you committed a crime yesterday at the duke's estate?"

"Why should I do that?"

As the queen looked a little irritated by Alastair's indifference since she was being serious by gathering everyone as a witness, she kept a calm face and continued to put the blame on him, while he was looking at her like a stray dog that was barking at his property. One question led to another, and he was still answering her with another question, making the queen and the crowd wander in circles. The séance was so long that the nobles were losing interest and the queen become impatient and lost her cool by exploding in rage in front of everyone. She yelled and called the prince a criminal who had no respect for anyone, an illegitimate child that ruined everything and now had the audacity to show his face after what he did. As some of the nobles took her side, she was smiling victoriously at the prince, and his face was darkened. But some kept their silence and I was not in a position to keep sides.

'Why isn't he refusing? If he keeps this up, she is going to turn the table along the way with the help of her supporters.'

"Alastair Viotto Aleader, it is futile for you to lie any longer, if you agree to corporate with us and admit that you committed the crime, your father…ahem the emperor will think of a proper punishment for you. Maybe you would lose your right to succeed on the throne, but at least you would do the right thing as the first prince of our kingdom and the hero that all believe you are!"

'The more I hear, the more I think that she is the same as she was in the story. The same tactics and hidden lies to trick the crowd and come on her side. Her motive is obvious, she wants him out of Jonathan's way, but I never would have imagined that she would go that far as to call Alastair an illegitimate child. Was that true or it was just in the spur of the moment? Still, he looks annoyed and the silence in the court is also a form of approvement, so is it real?'

Even so, a sinister laugh wiped the queen's victory off her face. 'Did he reach his breaking point and now he is showing his true nature to her?' I thought when I saw that he cracked a smile filled with genuine happiness.

"You're talking like you know everything already, and your search for the truth to come right from my own mouth is even more disrespectful than calling me names. Well if you insist so much, then it would be a petty if I don't agree with you."

She was happy again, it was like she had the same thought that crossed my mind a moment ago and it seemed like she succeeded in putting the prince behind a wall, all it was left now was to drop the last bomb and show the unforgivable crime he had committed in front of everyone.

"I, Beatrice Viotto Aleader as the queen of Raeon kingdom."

'She is doing it again. The same exact words from the original story that she used to send his highness into war for ruining the engagement. I can't say still, if I say something now maybe I can save a life. He shouldn't be accused of something that I did, but because of the way he thinks and acts, people will take him for being guilty. Just refuse it now, don't make me do it!'

"Accuse you, prince Alastair for committing the crime of…"

"Well, I admit the crime!"

He admits the crime before others know why. I was shocked and got up from my seat with a blank face not knowing what to do. The wave of noise filled the hall, but the only thing I could hear was my heart pounding as if it were coming out of my chest.

'Why did you admit it, it wasn't even your doing?! If he loses his right to the throne now, what is going to happen in the future when Mireya and Jonathan fall in love with each other? He is the only one that helped them and put the nobles in their places. Everything is changing because of my mistakes! I should have just admitted it myself before he did.'

Some were astonished, demanding an explanation and details of the crime their prince had committed and causing the court to be filled with questions. The queen's supporters were fired up and called him guilty and only one group in all that crowd decided to stay silent and asked him directly for an explanation.

"Your highness, for what is this all about?"

As he rose up from his seat, the court became quiet in order to hear his answer. Then he turned his eyes toward the crowd as if he was trying to find someone among them. In the beginning he went pale as if he saw a ghost but shook it off in an instant and then he grinned in satisfaction. The queen also calmed her supporters and let him talk with an annoyed expression. She clearly didn't like the idea of him talking after he admitted the crime, but the thought that everything was over for him gave her the upper hand, and was ready to hear his 'last words'.

"Yesterday I confronted the young duke at the party because of some 'personal matters'. There were too many eyewitnesses but it was nothing serious since I came out injuring just his shoulder. But apparently, since the situation has come to this point, where even the queen is so persistently seeking to find me guilty, it means that he has not forgiven me for what I did and seeks a rematch for his dignity."

All the attention went to the young duke and his arm. Everyone was trying to see if he really had an injured shoulder or not, and for the first time, I agreed with the queen's reaction, because that was the most expected testimony that I have ever heard. I left a sigh of relief when I saw the bandage on his shoulder when he agreed to remove his jacket after everyone demanded, and I could feel my heart beating normally again after such stress and anxiously.

"I get that this is a crime and I should receive my punishment for causing damage against an important family and a huge helper for the empire, but I ask for everyone's opinion in this court first. I want a second match, one to decide the real winner."

In their eyes, prince Alastair was genuinely asking for the right option to end the council meeting. Since everyone saw Alan's shoulder they came to a conclusion that their fight was something that boys their age do when they don't agree with each other and this meeting was only a child's wish to revenge for his loss. Soon one after another, a small group of lower ranged nobles started to get up and agree to his decision.

"You are joking, right? Even if a small group agrees with your method, still that doesn't give you the right to do as you please." The queen got up and yelled at prince Alastair who wanted to end the meeting so easily. She had more to say, and it was true that the nobles that agreed were insignificant if the queen opposed.

"I agree too!"

'Well, she can oppose as many times as she wants, but if a high ranged aristocrat also agrees with his highness, the votes of the group of nobles that agreed first are as important as my vote. Since I raised my voice, his grace will follow me because of our agreement. His vote plus mine and theirs, is going to give prince Alastair the ultimate decision.'

To my surprise, his grace didn't agree but others did. Even Alan's father raised his hand and agreed with his highness's opinion. Clenching her dress until it looked like it would be torn out, grinning her teeth straight at Alastair looking all proud after explaining and winning over the crowd, she left the court in complete defeat.