: Penance Hall

There in a seemingly ancient looking room filled with exotic decorations seated a young girl who had black hair and gorgeous looking emerald green eyes that was focused on reading through the texts from the thick book she was holding that was titled: Poisonous and Medicinal Plants, The Final Volume.

She heard the suddenly door open with a huge slam making her head snap in the direction of the door due to surprise.

"My Lady! My Lady!" Lila's headmaid-- Angcon yelled in panic as she ran towards Lila while stumbling on some of her steps.

Lila felt that something was amiss and her beautiful arched eyebrows furrowed in worry.

"Deep breaths, Angcon." Lila said as she reached out to rub Angcon's back to soothen her panic. This headmaid of hers has been with her since she was only 8 years old. She remained by her side and even gave up the thought of marriage just so she could continue to serve her.

Angcon was Lila's only friend and she treated her as family, considering the fact that her 'real' relatives weren't the least bit close to her.

Angcon did as she was told and took a deep breath before looking at Lila with fear-stricken eyes.

"Your father-- The King, Calls for your presence at the Penance Hall!"

"The Penance Hall?" Lila repeated as she her head was filled with confusion.

The Penance Hall is a place where people with heinous crimes get judged by the kings and nobles in the full view of the public.

Why am I-- Lila Hiram Florence, Fourth Princess of the Florence Kingdom, being called there?

Despite Lila's confusion, she still stood up and straightened her yellow-green colored gown that draped down the floor.

She asked Angcon to fix up her hair and then checked her appearance on the mirror to see if she looked presentable. When she was finally satisfied with how she looked she turned to her headmaid.

"Lead me there."

They walked towards the Penance Hall, passing through the long winding and endless seeming hallways of the palace that was filled with decors that costs more than hundreds of gold, signifying the power of the people living there.

When Lila was finally starting to feel tired from walking they finally reached the entrance of the Penance Hall. The guarding soldier saw them walk towards him and his face instantly contorted to that of ridicule.

"How dare you look at Her Highness Lila that way!" Angcon scolded.

Lila grabbed Angcon's arm to stop her.

Angcon glanced at her master, "But Your Highness he just--" Lila shook her head and mouthed 'don't'

Lila was not dumb, she knew that something was wrong as she felt her stomach slowly churn-- However her years of princess training made her continue to maintain a calm composure.

"How thick-skinned of you to show up! You traitor!" the soldier said in a tone filled with disgust.

Lila merely ignored the soldiers comment.

"Are you not going to open the door for this princess to enter?" Lila said in a commanding yet elegant tone as she arched one of her brows displaying her noble upbringing.

The soldier gritted his teeth in anger and unwillingly opened the door for Amethyst to enter knowing that no matter how much he despised this woman she was still a person of royal birth: a princess.

Lila walked inside the Penance Hall and she immediately grew deaf when she heard the citizens mocking comments and complaints.

"Kill her! Kill the traitor!"

"Off with her head!"

"Traitor! Traitor! Traitor!"

The citizens screamed in unison as they threw rocks at Lila. Angcon was startled when she witnessed this scene however she quickly regained her sense of self then protectively guarded Lila using her body. Protecting and shielding her from the rocks.

Lila was shocked when she saw Angcon's act of sacrifice, she has long since known of Angcon's loyalty to her but still her servants actions made her feel warm as she thought: Atleast someone still believes in me.

Her heart ached when she saw a rock hit Angcon's forehead as it wounded and seeped out blood.

"Angcon! Are you alright?!" Lila cried out as she ran to her.

The headmaid merely smiled as if the rock didn't hurt her. "Don't worry about me, Your Highness."

Tears welled up on the sides of Lila's eyes threatening to fall however she held them down.

No, I can't break down here.

"His Royal Highness, King Lima Mindos Florence IX has arrived!" a steward announced making the whole stadium fall in deafening silence.

Lila pulled Angcon's arm and hid her behind her back.

The King-- Lila's father walked and sat towards a chair that was placed above everyone else's, showing his superiority, while the other nobles sat right below him.

Lila looked up to glance at her father only to see him looking down at her with his similar green colored eyes, with a scowling look on his masculine looking face as if he was ashamed to call her his own daughter.

Just what did I do wrong?

Lila tried her very best to recall a mistake that she probably had done unknowingly, however nothing came to mind.

"My subjects! We have gathered here today to witness the judgement of the Sinner: Lila Hiram Florence, Fourth Princess of Florence Kingdom, under the crime of treason!"

"Burn her to a stake!"

"Kill her!"

"Feed her to the dogs!"

The crowd boomed.

Crime? Treason?

I, a royal princess of Florence Kingdom, am suspected for treason?! But how is that possible! I am forever loyal to the kingdom! Betraying is a crime I would never dare to commit!

Lila was pulled out of her thoughts by King Lima's voice.

"Do you, Lila Hiram Florence admit to your crimes?!"

Lila stood with her head held high, with her back straight and with her chin up: A posture that was planted to the deepest parts of her very bones ever since she was a child.

"Forgive me Your Royal Highness for I am unable to admit to something I have not done!" Lila said as she looked at the King with vigilance and power.

"You still dare to act innocent! You evil being!" A certain official said as he spat at her in disgust.

"This Royal One shall once again repeat: Do you, Lila Hiram Florence admit to your crime?!"

"I too shall repeat this ones self, I am unable to admit to something I have not done nor committed!"

Princess Lila and King Lima gazed at each others eyes, each one of them was trying to guess what the other was thinking.

"We shall see if you would still continue to deny even when faced with evidence." The king signalled to one of the stewards and one steward then handed the King an opened letter. "Do you see this letter?" The king raised the letter for everyone to see. "Do you recognize the seal used?"

Lila squinted her eyes to have a clearer look at the letter.

"If this subject may speak, yes I do recognize that seal for it is my very own."

"The contents found inside this letter states our kingdoms weaponry for wars as well as our kingdom taxes and many more. Informations that was supposed to be classified! This was found on the body of a man who we suspect is a spy sent by the enemy kingdom." The king glowered at Lila.

The letter was supposed to be on its way to be delivered somewhere quickly but luckily one of the royal guards stationed at the borders found the man suspicious therefore he sought chase and caught him, and as said, the letter was found in this certain mans belongings and it remains unknown as to whom the letter was supposed to be sent so they weren't able to identify if it was sent by the enemy kingdom: The Kingdom of Peridon.

They jailed and tortured the man to force him to loosen his mouth however the man bit his own tongue off and bled to death.

"Since you admitted that the seal is your own then naturally the content of the letter should be yours as well." A noble spoke.

Lila turned her head to look at the person who had just spoken and her eyed widened in shock when she saw who it was.

It was Duke Peter Welkin's, The Grand Duke of the Welkin's house, as well as the father of Lila's fiance: Felipe Welkin.

Lila fell silent as her brows scrunched in wonder.

But... but how?! My seal was supposed to be deeply hidden inside my room so who could have stolen it? The last time I used my seal was when I was with Felipe to sign our engagement papers— She paused and shook her head in disbelief.

No. It can't be him. It mustn't be.

"If I may speak in my defense, The seal on the letter could have been used to throw suspicions at me. May I ask Your Highness to investigate this matter properly!"

"That wouldn't be necessary." Duke Peter spoke again. "May I please call a witness Your Highness?"

"You may." The King acknowledged.

"I call on court the witness! From the house of Welkins!" Lila froze.

No.

Please.

Anyone else in the world may go against me but never you...

Yet why?

Why are you here?!