CHAPTER 2

King Zirenius, shifting his gaze to General Edna and asked rethorically , "Lycans??", Sighing with his palms on his face like he was wiping something off. "So what do you propose we do General??" The king asked as his face bore a look of both worry and determination as Edna explained the issue at hand that the Lycans had been trespassing the border, causing unrest among the human settlements close to the border. Their attacks on livestock and occasional attacks on innocent villagers had raised the fears of the people to dangerous levels.. Edna, known for her extraordinary intellect and strategic thinking looked at the king and said "Your Majesty," Edna began, her voice filled with confidence, "I believe the key lies in communication and mutual understanding. We must establish a channel of dialogue with the Lycans, so we can address their concerns while making our own intentions clear."

King Zirenius looked intrigued but also skeptical. "How can we trust them? Their actions speak volumes about their intentions." Edna nodded, acknowledging the king's valid concerns. "Your Majesty, I do not ask for blind trust. Instead, I propose a two-step plan to forming peaceful relations. First of all, we shall put together a council comprising representatives from both the human kingdom and the Lycan tribes. This council will serve as a platform for open discussions and a means to address grievances."

The king considered this proposal and nodded. "Continue, Blitzer."

"Secondly," Edna continued, "we will create a joint task force, consisting of brave soldiers and warriors from both sides, to patrol the borders and prevent any further trespassing. This will demonstrate our commitment to maintaining order and security, while also fostering a sense of unity between our peoples."

King Zirenius smiled, seeing the potential in Edna's plan.

The king leaned back on his chair, contemplating the proposal in silence. Edna stood patiently, allowing the weight of her words to settle upon the king's decision.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, King Zirenius spoke. "Edna, your plan is thoughtful and comprehensive. It not only addresses our immediate concerns but also paves the way for a brighter future. I trust your judgment, and I will implement your proposal."

Edna bowed deeply, expressing her gratitude for the king's trust and together they left the room and headed to the party to continue the merriment.

The day passed, celebrations for the festival were over. Everyone had gone to their various houses as a new morning is dawning. But in the dawn of a new morning lies an evil plot by some nobels.

Volko whispers to Edna " these nobels are definitely up to no good my friend", Edna nodded in agreement and said "I know,__come on__let's go". They both left the palace and walked away.

A day came that a group of treacherous nobles, jealous of Edna's prowess, her influence on the king and the trust she had earned from the royal family, made them devise an evil plan to tarnish Edna's reputation and remove her from the palace. They were driven by their own selfish desires and sought to overthrow the king.

The conspirators devised a scheme to frame Edna for treason,....a crime that carries severe consequences, including death. They knew that the key to their plan's success lay in convincing the king of Esna's betrayal. So with their influence among the court, they began spreading rumors of Edna's disloyalty and treasonous activities.

Just weeks after the festival, one of the nobels approached the king and said "Your Majesty" bowing fully to the king as he continues "May I have a word my king?", "Yes, speak!" King Zirenius replied as he listens in an unconcerned manner.

"I'm afraid I have bad news your majesty", says the nobel, "Bad news you say??, Well let's hear it, what is it??" The king asked still in an unconcerned manner. "Yo...yo...your majesty,....it's about the General". The king's gaze is focused and eager to hear more ," well....what happened??" Asked the king.. "The rumors going around palace about the General your majesty,...I'm afraid it's true," the Nobel said.

On hearing these accusations laid against General Edna from one of the nobels the king said, "Why should I believe any word from your mouth??, these are treasonous accusations and besides, Edna is loved and well respected by many throughout the kingdom!!". "That may be your majesty!,but you see to prove the validity of these accusations against the General there are people waiting to testify that Edna is working with the enemy to take your crown your majesty!!", The Nobel replied...."Leave my presence at once!!!" The king yelled in anger throwing his cup that it hit a fancy glass and breaks it. He continued "And bring me the evidences gathered!!"

Whispers echoed through the palace corridors, tarnishing Edna's name and sowing seeds of doubt in the mind of king Zirenius. The conspirators gathered and presented false testimonies from random people they bribed and fabricated evidences.

"Your Majesty!!" one of the nobels spoke up as few other people give their false testimonies "these are just a few my king, there's more." Smiling in a mockery manner with the side of his mouth. "Whaaaat!!!!!??, Edna working with the Lycans? That is an absurd accusation!!!!" the king exclaimed in a loud and angry voice with his face clearly showing disgust.. These further raising their suspicion towards their once-trusted General.The conspirators used their connections to manipulate the flow of information, ensuring that only their version of events reached the king.

Edna, unaware of the web of deceit being woven around her, continued to fulfill her duties diligently. But as the whispers grew louder and the accusations more audacious, Edna could no longer ignore the shadow of doubt cast upon her honor. She sought to confront the king directly, to profess his loyalty and expose the treachery of those who sought to bring her down.

But as the days grew colder in the kingdom of Woodward,, the atmosphere within the palace turned equally frosty. Rumors had spread like wildfire, painting Edna, the loyal advisor to King Zirenius, as a traitor. Whispers echoed through the corridors, and even the nobles, once friendly and respectful towards Edna, began to regard her with suspicion.

The conspiring nobles who felt threatened by Edna's growing influence over the king. Seizing upon the opportunity, they conspired to tarnish her reputation and undermine her position. Their malicious plot sought to frame Edna for treason, thereby eradicating any trace of her presence from the palace.

The conspirators knew that the key to their success lay in manipulating the king's trust. They carefully crafted a scheme that would plant seeds of doubt in King Zirenius' mind, sowing discord between the monarch and his most trusted advisor. With each step, they roped Edna in their treacherous web.

The second move in their grand design was to forge a series of intercepted letters, written to mimic Edna's distinctive style. These fabricated correspondences depicted secret dealings with neighboring kingdoms especially the Lycans, pledging allegiance to their ruler and planning to undermine Woodward's sovereignty. The conspirators orchestrated the perfect illusion, expertly constructing a case against General Edna.

Next, they placed these falsified letters where they would be discovered by the palace guards. The discovery set off a chain of events that would ultimately lead to Edna's downfall. The guards, loyal to their king but unsure of Edna's true intentions, felt compelled to inform King Zirenius of the supposed treasonous acts.

"My king,...we found these documents and felt compelled to inform you" bowing with arms stretched out towards the king. When the guards presented the forged letters to King Zirenius,, his countenance turned grim. Doubt clouded his mind, and he struggled to reconcile the image of the devoted advisor with the accusations before him. The loyalty he had cherished from Edna now seemed like a mere joke.

Guilt-ridden and torn between his trust in Edna and the evidence presented, King Zirenius called for an audience with his advisor. As Edna entered the grand hall, she could sense the tension in the air, the hostile gazes of once-friendly nobles now fixated upon her.

Standing before the king, the letters were passed to her by one of the palace guards. Looking at the letters with surprise on her face, Edna's voice rang with an unwavering tone, "Your Majesty, I assure you, these letters are fabrications. I would never betray Woodward or your trust." Her eyes searched the king's face, hoping to find a shred of belief amidst the turmoil.

King Zirenius' expression remained the one of disappointment as he weighed Edna's words against the mounting evidence. The silence stretched on, each passing second laden with the weight of the kingdom's fate.

Just as hope seemed to fade way, a voice spoke from the back of the hall. It was Volko, the army's second in command and close friend to the General who had long served the king with unwavering loyalty. "Your Majesty, if I may say something," he said, stepping forward, "I have known Edna for many years since we were children. Her devotion to Woodward and your well-being is unwavering. I find it hard to believe that she would commit such treacherous acts."

Volko's words hung in the air, piercing through the doubts that plagued the room. A murmur of agreement rippled through the other nobles gathered, the tide of suspicion wavering for a moment.

In that fragile instant, King Zirenius, torn between loyalty and doubt, made a choice. He extended his hand to Blitzer and declared, "for now I will not let accusations sever the bond we have forged. But pending investigation you will be arrested." Just as the king finished speaking the guards arrested Edna.