.

The next day, Sebastian was given painkillers and led into the palace's courtroom, which had (mostly) survived. It was clear that construction had been started up, with ladders, bricks, and paint lying on the sides. However, any feelings of appreciation and wonder were overcome by the purpose of Sebastian being here in the first place. 

Sebastian's hands were tied, making him feel small and trapped. It was an old room, but that didn't mean it was abandoned. The desks were filled with people he knew - a few ministers, advisors, and people from another kingdom. Sebastian realized that he saw 's parents in the last row of desks, but not Lei herself. Had he been too late? Should he just have put on the ring? Or had the King and Queen now sitting comfortably in the velvet chairs slit the throat of their own daughter? 

Old oak pillars held up the roof, and three rows of smooth maple desks lined the walls, revealing a podium in the middle where the guilty would speak.

The guilty, as in Sebastian. 

"May Prince Sebastian please step onto the podium." The judge drawled, sounding bored but with the most attentive look on his face. 

Sebastian gulped and hesitantly stepped onto the platform. 

"Prince Sebastian. Have you partaken in any harm to the castle or its inhabitants?" the judge asked, and Sebastian shook his head. 

"I have not, your honor." Sebastian said, firmly, voice calm, even though he was anything but. 

"Then why was the knife that stabbed Princess Lei found in your hand? Did you not stab her and then stab yourself of, hypothetically saying, guilt?" the judge persisted, and Sebastian shook his head again. 

"Before I fainted, there was a hooded figure who came in. I tried to protect , but he stabbed me and… and I believe he chased her out and stabbed her as well. I believe he put in knife into my hand on purpose as to make me look bad." Sebastian faltered with this claim, however, leading to the judge sighing and raising an eyebrow. What was happening? Why did he feel like he'd fail? 

"Then, pray tell, who is this mysterious villain? And how did no one see them? The prince goes through eleven vigorous years of sword training, and yet you could not hold your own against this mysterious figure?"

Sebastian looked down, embarrassed and at a loss for words. "Your honor, I know that this case is not leaning in my favor. But – but, truth be told, they were quite agile. I believe they could have made their way past the others in disguise or had the others occupied with the fire."

This was quite good reasoning, but the room's silence seemed to foreshadow what was to happen THe judge thought for a moment, then picking up the hammer for the final verdict. Sebastian screwed his eyes shut. 

"Prince Sebastian, I sentence you to five years of prison." And then there was a bang as the hammer pounded and murmurs began passing through the crowd.