7 A lamb to be slaughtered

Just when the king was about to give in to the royal council, foot steps were heard hurrying into the court room. One of the men bow and walked up to the king.

He whispered a message into the kings ears. King George frown his brows, when he listen. Earlier when he heard about the rumors going round the kingdom, he had sent his men to investigate who started those rumors.

He was shocked to learn that it was princess Ellen. Regina regain her Gracefull smile, seeing the expression on the kings face.

When she learned about the rumors going round she had decided to frame Ellen for it. Knowing how much the king hate schemes like this, she was certain he would be angry at Ellen and insist she marry's the cursed prince for dragging down other members of the family for her benefit.

It was not that the king hates schemes, After all to stay on top, one must have some schemes off his sleeves. He did not just want his children using it against each other.

Other people in the room were a bit confused not knowing what was going on. "princess Ellen please come forth" the voice of general Cypher was heard.

Princess Ellen stepped forward totally ignorant of the situation. "you stand accused of spreading false news. There by throwing dirty on the Queen and the crown prince. How do you answer to this?" general Cypher asked.

Ellen held her urge to laugh. She did not need any one to tell her that this was the Queen's doing.

"Who accused me?" Ellen asked her voice calm and smooth. She understood why the Queen used this method. Knowing her father she expected this reactions. But the Queen's action this time was a bit dumb. How could she go this cheap, she was worse than she ever imagined her to be. Ellen remembered bowling to her action Just this morning. Indeed she must be the devil 's younger sister. How crafty can she be?? Ellen feeling absolutely dumb by the accusation.

Still in her mixt of confusion, a maid was dragged into the court. Ellen was not surprise to see one of her personal maid. She has known for sometime that this particular maid reported all her activities to the Queen.

The maid bowed and in front of everyone and confessed that it was Ellen that choose to put dirt on the Queen in other to save herself from getting married to the cursed prince.

Lord Yancey face lost all color, he has been the one that started the whole process. He even met the other three great families to support him, so he could not stand the thought of a maid lying so smoothly.

If not for many years of experience he would have stood up from his sit and give the maid good beating. The other lords were also pissed it was obvious that this was some diety trick. The princess will only send a trusted maid to spread false news. So it was impossible for her to easily give in, beside there are no other evidence.

"I must commend your network, I only find it quite surprising that you are only a Palace maid. Precisely you are my personal maid. yet you spread news so fast and quickly. This kind of network..." Ellen left her words hanging.

"I had some help, immediately you gave your orders," she stammered a bit as she was scared of Ellen's action and then she continued. "After you gave the command this morning I did not wait a single breath," the maids voiced out desperate to please the Queen with her act.

" But the rumors started last night "one of the noble voice out.

When Queen Regina heard this her heart beat increased. She has been desperate to ensure that her daughter was not married to the cursed prince that she acted rashly. Besides the royal council and noble were already present before she got a wide of the news. Which made it more difficult for her to come up with a better scheme.

Ellen turned her head to the king. King George felt awful. Just now when he heard the whisper of his guard, he had acted on impose. Besides Ellen's out burst earlier had made him believe the information easily.

"Your majesty I plead not guilty for the charges. The maid here must have really started the rumors. I believe she and who ever sent her planned to call me out when the time comes."

"As regarding the matter of the curse prince, since my father see me as the lamb to be slaughtered," Ellen pause to catch her breath while looking at the king with not emotion in particular. "I will marry him. After all a death caused by strangers is less painfully than that of a kin," Ellen stated.

The whole court room fell silence. Nobody expected her to have accepted to marry the curse prince. But thinking about her words again the king felt like hiding his head. How could he have fallen for such a cheep trick.

Even Queen Regina could not look at the lords and ladies. Ellen just clearly stated that her life was not safe in the Palace and so she has chosen to die in the hands of strangers. Even a stupid person could tell that she was pointing at the Queen.

Lord Yancey sigh, he felt very sad but he had a faint smile. His efforts might have gone to a waste but he felt happy that he tried. He was particularly happy that she cleared her name. Ruining others reputation with lies just for ones own gain was a crime.

Ellen would have had her hero reputation ruined, if she did not make the choice that she did.

Ellen seeing the look on the faces of everyone presents felt satisfied. She bowed her head and walk out of the court. She did not want to get married to any of the sons of any of the lords. For what she knows they could be just as the cursed prince.

Besides she was sure Queen Regina still had some plans under her sleeve. Even if she excaped marrying the curse prince she knew Regina will not let her live.

The woman is definitely vicious. So she decides to take her fate in her hands. It was better to die an honorable death, than to be killed like a chicken.

The king step off his throne, after Ellen walked away. Queen Regina was happy that no body remembered to pressed the maid about who sent her. She quickly used her eyes to command her most loyal guard to get rid of the maid.