AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Odette let out a breath. This man would do. She flipped open the diary and pulled out the marriage parchment, handing it to the magistrate. “This paper documents the marriage of Prince Albert to Ida Stellyta.”
Boris took the document and examined it. “Stellyta? You mean the woman married to Rothbart’s father?”
“The marriage recorded on that document predates Stellyta’s marriage to Rothbart’s father.”
Zoya sucked in a breath and spun around, tearing out of Odette’s grasp. “Let me see that.”
The man stared at Zoya as he handed over the paper to her. “And this girl…”
“Is their only child.” Odette handed the man the book in her hands. “This diary is from the midwife who delivered Zoya. She notes the mark at her birth and explains why Stellyta chose to keep it hidden from the world.”
Boris took it and flipped it to the first earmarked page.
Zoya’s hand flew to her mouth as she stared down at the contract, then up at Odette, her face pale. “Mother refused to ever tell me anything about my biological father. You mean I’m…”
Odette felt sorry for her. This had to be quite a shock, and to find out this way was far from ideal.
“The only surviving child of the Salian line, and the true heir to the throne,” Boris said, closing the small book.
The surrounding crowd gasped and broke out in rapid talking.
Zoya looked faint and Odette stepped close, in case she needed to catch her. “As queen, you can free Rothbart from his death sentence,” she whispered in her ear. “Remember, this is for him.”
The girl, still pale, swallowed and nodded.
Guards burst into the room with Torsten at their head. He looked around in surprise, but then his eyes fell on Odette and his gaze was a thousand raging daggers piercing her skin.
“Seize that woman,” Torsten shouted at his guards. “She murdered the queen.”
The guards rushed forward. The crowd was so thick, there was nowhere for Odette to escape. Hands closed around her arms, jerking them behind her and cold metal pressed into her wrists and snapped shut with a large clank.
“Wait, no,” Zoya said, now appearing afraid but determined. “She saved me. Queen Emiranda tried to kill me.”
More gasps and murmurs spread throughout the crowd. The magistrate appeared as bewildered as everyone else, and he looked between Zoya and Torsten.
“Is this true?” he demanded.
Shock speared across Torsten’s face at the accusation, but then his lip curled. “Of course not. Who does this girl think she is? Guards, arrest her too.”
His men moved to do as bidden, but Boris stepped close to Zoya. “You will not shackle the last remaining member of the Salian line.”
The guards stopped in their tracks, obviously surprised by the claim.
More men and women came and stood with Boris. Odette could only assume they were other members of the court.
“What do you mean?” Torsten demanded.
“I mean, this young woman is the actual heir to the throne, and you will not touch her until we determine what is to be done about it.”
Torsten’s mouth fell open, and he gazed at Zoya, speechless, his face going red. Then it snapped shut. “I want this woman,” he snarled at Odette, “hanged for murder and treason.” Fury rolled from Torsten with every word.
Zoya took a decisive step forward. “And I say she is a hero.”
Torsten’s face became even redder.
“My prince, my princess,” Boris intervened. “We must work all of this out. Let the woman be held without sentence until that time.”
More guards came from the rear hallway that led to the queen’s rooms, pulling a weakened Rothbart between them, in chains.
