Cornering The Culprit

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CHAPTER 38

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Mildred's eyes widened in shock. Hell no!

There was no way he was wishing that this news would get to his majesty. That would be an absolute death sentence for him.

He was then left with no choice but to do that which was needful. It was either he saved his skin or he dies and suffers for the mastermind.

"No, your grace. I did no wrong. I was simply following orders."

"Yes, I understand. You were following orders to kill your queen and what is the crime and punishment for that, Aeverie?"

"Treason, your majesty," Aeverie responded, taking a step forward. "And the punishment allocated to such a crime, is," she paused, raising her head to look Mildred deep in the eyes. "DEATH."

"Thank you, Aeverie. Now you see, you followed orders and committed treason, forgive me and do not blame me for following mine. You either say the mastermind behind this whole thing or you just accept it all and take the punishment."

"Your grace, please. Please spare my life. I am begging you."

"I am sorry but your plea isn't going to do you must justice now."

"But I do not know anything about the cut saddle. Or I know was that I gave you that horse as per orders."

"You still have the audacity to try and trick me, huh Mildred?"

"No, I dare not. I speak the truth. I know nothing of what you speak off, your majesty."

"Is that so?" Aeverie asked, taking another bold step closer to them. "Then explain to her grace why you were acting nonchalantly when Azzura asked you about the horse, considering everyone knows how dangerous it was to ride the horse."

"It is as you said, everyone knows how dangerous it is to ride the horse. So how am I to blame for you not doing your duty and accompanying her or telling her the right horse to take?"

POW!

GASP!

Everyone was about to move but stopped in their tracks when they saw who actually delivered the slap. It was Era. She had managed to condole his nonsense for long but this time around, it did actually annoy her.

Just because Aeverie spoke to him, he forgot his place and was now acquisitioning the blame on her.

"Insolence!"

"Your majesty," Aeverie could barely believe that the queen who looked so quiet could actually be provoked like this.

"Up till now, you are not remorseful about anything. Rather you just want to put the blame on someone else. Who job or duty is it to manage the stables and everything in it including which horse is to be ridden?"

Mildred did not answer her, rather he looked somewhere else. He was hoping he would be able to get away from this and come to a negotiation with Era if he blamed her lady royal instead.

"Am I talking to a human being or not?"

"Answer her grace when she speaks," Aeverie chipped in, cautiouningly.

"I am."

"Great, so why then or how is it her fault for you not doing your job accurately well? Or might I remind you of the sneaky pesky servant I saw leaving your presence upon my arrival and how you gingerly agreed to take me to the right horse for me?"

"Your majesty…"

"Or was it the fact that you were seen sneaking to Lady Diona's room right after and even later in the evening?" She took in a deep breath and then turned around.

"Let's say I believe you that you were not aware, but how could someone enter your domain and you do not notice till a saddle for a horse is properly cut? And you expect me to believe that story? To whose negligence should I hold responsible, huh? If it were his majesty this had actually happened to, do you think your heads would not be hanging outside the city gates by now?"

"Your majesty, please," one of the stable boys pleaded.

"You all are to blame. There is no how no one saw them when this evil act was carried out and if you say you weren't aware, it meant you left your duty post and ignorance is not an excuse. Lives are at stake here."

Quickly all eight of the boys fell to their knees before her and pleaded.

"Have mercy, your majesty. Please forgive us."

Aeverie was stunned. How quickly did Era instil fear in their hearts that they readily bow before her and cower in fear? She was impressed. This really was the attribute of a strong queen.

"Even if I forgive you, I fear that without the right punishment, you would do the same thing again. For your negligence, you all would be flogged five strokes each and as for him, he had better speak the truth else, he suffers the punishment for his treason."

Quickly they all bowed their heads and prostrated before her, pleading for her to have mercy but Era knew what she wanted. She knew if she agreed easily, Mildred would not confess.

"Accept and confess your crimes now before it is too late, Mildred. Last chance or I proclaim my judgment."

"My only crime was allowing you to ride that horse. Anything other than that, can't be tied to me. All you have are baseless accusations. If really that saddle was cut, then how come you returned unhurt and how did you ride the horse if she was dangerous?"

"Hmm," she scoffed at him.

'He really wants to play brave and bold with me. Interesting, but young man I have dealt with the likes of you before.' Era thought within her.

"Very well then, Aeverie, order one of the guards to go to my chambers and retrieve the cut saddle and as for your wild horse, I tamed him. Do you have any more questions? If the saddle is brought, I hope you can still keep up this charade."

"Aeverie, please do as I have said and hurry."

"Yes, my queen."

"Wait. I would speak the truth."