“P-Please give me a moment.”
Maxi examined her reflection in the mirror. She still looked elegant despite a few stray hairs sticking out from the braid coiled around her head. Maxi draped her cloak over her shoulders and stepped out of the room.
“Wh-Where is Riftan?” she asked.
“He has gone ahead to the assembly room with His Majesty,” Ursuline replied as he led her to the stairs in the center of the hall. “Please do not worry. Charon and I will enter with you.”
“Who else…will be joining us?”
“About ten people from the king’s retinue, attendants, and guards…and the duke will probably bring five or six people with him.”
It was a relief to learn that there would be fewer people than she had anticipated. The sheer number of men her father had brought with him had been intimidating.
The knights led her to an assembly room on the second floor. Maxi nervously glanced around as they entered. King Reuben sat like an imposing judge at one end of the spacious room. Princess Agnes and the earl stood at his right and left respectively, both wearing grave expressions.
Riftan and the Duke of Croyso sat at opposite ends of a long table. They had their heads turned away in a blatant refusal to even look each other in the eye. The icy atmosphere petrified Maxi. Seeing her frozen to the spot, Elliot led her to her place behind Riftan.
“This way, my lady.”
Maxi sank into one of the chairs that lined the wall. As Elliot and Ursuline took their seats on either side of her, the king looked up from the roll of parchment he was reading.
“Are all concerned parties now present?” he asked languidly.
Propping his elbow on the armrest, King Reuben rested his chin crookedly on one hand and waved the parchment with his other. “I was just re-reading the lengthy case sent by the Duke of Croyso. The duke claims that our most favored knight did something heinous last fall.”
An amused smile tugged at the king’s lips as he mockingly scanned the parchment. “To summarize, he claims that the Champion of Wedon broke into his castle and attempted to murder him.”
Ursuline shot to his feet in anger, but the king continued speaking before the knight could say anything.
“Around the same time, you, Calypse, declared an unlawful war on the duke. It eludes me why one of you is raving about a war, while the other is dead set on a trial. Do shed some light on what exactly transpired.”
“Your Majesty! We are not here to discuss that man’s d-declaration of war!” the duke protested, his lips trembling. His face flushed with agitation. “That beast of a man…is guilty of trespassing and assault! I was at death’s door for four days…despite immediate treatment by a high priest. Ibarely survived. You must pronounce judgment…on the man who dared to lay a hand on a high-ranking noble! Your Majesty, it is the least you can do for your subject…who has been loyal to you all his life.”
Unable to contain himself, Ursuline cried out, “Your Majesty! The duke’s claims are biased and misleading!”
An official went to reprimand the knight for his insolence when the king raised his hand, cutting him off. He then bobbed his head, prompting Ursulineon.
Ignoring Riftan’s silent warning, Ursuline knelt before the king. His explanation seemed to tumble out all at once.
“The reason we went to Croyso Castle that day was to see Lady Calypse. Though he had no right to do so, the duke had confined her ladyship. He refused us entry. What man would simply sit back and do nothing if his wife was taken from him? Our commander had no choice but to break in and bring back Lady Calypse. Strictly speaking, it is the duke who has committed the offense.”
“H-How dare you…spout lies before the king?!” the duke bellowed, slamming his hands on the table. “You accuse me of locking up my daughter? All I did…was allow my own child to stay at my castle. Is that a crime? Her Highness is my witness! D-Did you not see my daughter choose to return to Croyso Castle of her own accord?!”
“Cease this assault on our ears,” King Reuben muttered with a frown. “We are not here to argue about who is at fault. The reason I have come all this way is to personally hear your explanations and to offer a resolution. Do consider my efforts, and stop shouting at each other.”
The duke pressed his lips together, disgruntled at the reprimand.
King Reuben appeared to be lost in thought for a moment before he continued. “Unfortunately, Lord Croyso, I must agree with Sir Ursuline. Legally speaking, a woman is the property of her husband. You had no right to prevent Calypse from meeting his wife when he requested it.”
“Your Majesty, I was merely trying to protect my daughter,” the duke said with astounding sincerity.
Thus far, Riftan had managed to maintain a calm, silent demeanor. As soon as he heard the duke’s bald-faced lie, his expression grew cold.
“Did you just say…” he said, glaring daggers at the duke, “you wereprotectingher?”
The duke froze at Riftan’s menacing look. His face grew ashen, and he flinched as though confronted with a nightmarish monster.
“My daughter was abandoned at Drachium Palace…after suffering a miscarriage.” The duke jerked his head toward the king and began his appeal. “I reacted as any father would! I was only trying to protect her from the endless court gossip…and my son-in-law’s neglect.”
