SIXTY NINE: The Trial

"What about after we got back to the palace?" Kel asked. "What happened that night?"

Lucy blinked a few times, her heart rate quickening as she thought of the emperor's reign of terror that night. Thank goodness the princess had been locked away from all the chaos, or she may have become one of the many targets of His Majesty's anger.

His closest aides barely managed to keep him from slaughtering the guard accused of stabbing Sir Barclay. After exhausting all of their breath and strength holding him back, the two aides were able to convince him to hold a proper trial.

The emperor, of course, wanted to hold the trial immediately, but most of the officials had left for the night and wouldn't return to the palace until the following morning. Throughout the sleepless night, all servants like Lucy could do was pray the sun would rise quickly and then do their best to stay out of sight.