Exiled

NOWEL

''Tell us! Who dares send an assassin to hurt our king?!''

''It's...Her Highness.''

My jaw reached hell at such blasphemy!

''What?!''

Yeah, what?

''Her Highness sent you to kill...His Majesty?''

Unbelievable.

''Yes,'' he confirmed, and the whole court broke out!

''Nowel, did you hire an assassin to get rid of Michael?'' Illinois questioned me surprisingly.

''What? You believe him?''

''She told me that if I kill His Majesty, I would also get a befitting position in the royal court once she takes over the throne and becomes the ultimate ruler.'' The criminal lied.

''What?!'' Someone exclaimed from the crowd and I trembled at such ridiculous lies about me.

''When I told her that I won't do it, that I would never dear harm His Majesty because of her selfish reasons...she threatened to burn down my house and farmland.''

''Unbelievable!'' Another person protested from the background while I remained speechless at such accusations.

''Yes, it is.'' The criminal argued. ''When I resisted further she scarred my son! My only son and I have proof of the scars!'' He roared with anger, pain, and the best acting skills in the entire universe.

''Show us,'' RC Avana demanded. And to my horror, the double doors were let loose and roars of anger and disapproval echoed through the mighty walls of the courtroom as a young boy entered with bruises and burnt flesh.

I covered my lips in shock at such evil someone did to this boy to have me blamed for Michael's present predicament.

''Is that man over there your father, young boy?''

The whole room fell silent as the boy looked up to face the crowd and the assassin. My heart began to beat in anticipation of this boy, I had never met in my life reply.

''Yes. He is my father.'' The boy looked down in pain as the courtroom broke out for the one-hundredth time since we began this assembly.

My eyes widen with terror at the lies of the young boy. He doesn't even look like Iris's age, to be honest.

''And what is your name?'' Adranus continued.

''My name is...Willi--I mean, Philip sir.''

''Did Her Highness do this to you?'' Adranus asked while pointing at his fresh scars and bruises. A heavy lump formed in my throat as the boy locked eyes with me.

He was so innocent and blessed with this set of gorgeous eyeballs and they were watery as he stared at me in confusion.

No. I didn't do that to you. Don't you dare lie or we would both be gotten rid of after this. I tried telling him that as we maintained eye contact.

''Yes...she was the one that did this to me.''

The whole court gasped for like the one thousandth and one time since this evening. Either in shock or anger.

''This is unacceptable!'' Someone raised his voice from the crowd.

''Yeah!'' Another person yelled.

''We demand justice for this young boy! Who has done nothing to deserve this!'' Another person cried out.

I panicked. Dear eye-god, what is happening?

''Her Highness must pay for her crimes!!!''

''We demand justice!''

''Yeah!''

''Justice!

Justice!

Justice!...'' The crowd began in unison. My nightmares began. Adranus tried his best to calm the raging audience but they were already out of control.

''Treason!'' I flinched.

''Evil!''

''A witch...Murderer!!!!''

''Death sentence!'' Tears formed heavily in my eyes at this mass rebellion.

''Release the father of the scarred child for peace!''

My mind was in turmoil as I felt myself losing control of the situation. As I saw getting justice for my husband drifting slowly to fantasy land.

''Silence!'' One word. Just one word and everybody calmed down. The white wizard arose from his chair and walked silently to the center of the room and stood behind the assassin.

''Does Her Highness have anything to say to this? Any proof to prove her innocence or any further confessions to make?''

My heart sank as Elys stylishly sided with the raging crowd. Is this happening? Are they doing this to me?

''Nowel,'' I turned to face Illinois with trembling lips. ''Is this true?''

What do you want me to say? They have proven that I am guilty and I have nothing to show myself that I am innocent.

''Nowel, is this true?'' Heat rose to my cheeks as I tore up. ''You wanted it all for yourself?''

My legs shook and I was about to fall off the throne.

''I thought you cared for that boy.''

I closed my eyes as painful tears rolled down my cheeks. I held onto the golden handles of my throne to give me the strength I needed to face all of this.

''She was all faking it!'' Elys revealed. ''Have you all heard what she says about him behind his back?''

Caroline, my most trusted royal maid ever came out from the audience with shaky hands to add to the lies.

''It is true.'' She began, ''I...oh my god, Her Highness is very sick!'' She wept. ''She has never wished well for His Majesty. She is always asking me questions about ways to kill His Majesty without her getting into trouble.''

''She has always wanted the throne for herself! And now...she is finally going to have it now that His Majesty's life is on the verge of death!'' She cried as she ran out of the courtroom.

None of what has been happening since the past minutes shocked me more than Caroline's involvement in this. She willingly parted her lips and moved her tongue to produce harmful lies that could be used against me without any second thought. My heart broke the more at this betrayal as my lips were paralyzed to defend and rebuke such claims.

''I am greatly disappointed in you, Nowel,'' RC Avana said, ''If you wanted the throne, power, and riches for yourself you could have just asked than killing everybody for it.''

I could have just asked. Really? I closed my eyes as I tried to hold back the tears falling down my face like rain.

''What's your final verdict on this Illinois?'' The royal wizard asked.

Everywhere became dead silent as all eyes moved to Illinois. Even my heart seemed to still as we all waited to hear the punishment befitting my crimes.

Illinois sighed, ''Exile.''

The white wizard smirked.