Chapter 15 #2
Lady Regina rounded the corner. “My queen.” She curtseyed. “May I please have a word in private?”
She nodded, unable to speak.
The guards moved a respectable distance away.
“I wish to offer you my rooms for the night,” Regina said. “We need to hide you.”
We. Sabine wondered if that included Felix and Cutler.
“Is that acceptable to you?” Regina asked.
Sabine nodded, tears streaking down her cheeks. When she turned toward her guards to inform them of her destination, Regina shook her head. “I’ll take care of it. Don’t try to talk.” Regina wrapped her arm around Sabine. “Guards, this way.”
For the first time in weeks, Sabine felt as if she had a mother taking care of her.
She hadn’t realized how much she needed this comfort right now.
She relaxed and let the older woman guide her through the palace, taking corridors and passageways she hadn’t been in before.
Some of them were so narrow and dark she wondered if they were in the servants’ passageways.
They entered Lady Regina’s rooms from a hidden door. Regina ushered the guards inside as well. Then Cutler stepped forward and ordered the men to guard every door and entryway. Regina took Sabine into a small bedchamber, sitting her on the bed.
“My dog,” Sabine whispered, worrying about Harta’s safety.
“I already sent Harper to your room to take care of the dog and a few other things. She’s the one who came and got me.
But right now, I need to take care of you.
” She went over to the side table and pulled out a box.
“I’m going to put something on your neck to help with the swelling.
It’ll take the edge off the pain as well.
You’ll still be sore, but you’ll be able to talk in a few hours. ”
Sabine absently nodded as Regina administered the ointment to her skin. “How do you know this will work?”
“I used to help the previous queen with situations such as this all the time.”
Her words felt heavy, like lead.
This was not a life Sabine would allow herself to live.
If things didn’t go her way tomorrow, she would flee the palace.
She’d find another way to make sure Rainer didn’t go to war.
It was a good thing Evander wasn’t here.
If he were, Rainer would be dead and she’d have a diplomatic crisis on her hands.
“Was there really an emergency?” Sabine whispered, wondering about Felix’s timely interruption.
“Cutler came and got him,” Regina revealed. “But I do believe a letter of importance arrived—it just wasn’t an emergency.”
Who knew Cutler would turn out to be someone who helped her? “When Rainer doesn’t find me in the dungeon, he’ll start looking for me.”
Regina capped the ointment and returned it to the box. “Tonight, you’ll be safe here. Tomorrow, we’ll have a plan to get you to the throne room.” She moved to the door.
“Regina,” Sabine said, her voice still raspy. “Thank you.”
“Of course, my queen.”
Mumbling sounds came from the other side of the door, waking Sabine.
She peeled her eyelids open, and memories of last night came flooding back.
When she swallowed, it hurt, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as last night.
She slid out of bed and padded over to the mirror.
A gasp escaped her lips. While the swelling had gone down, a bruise the shape of a hand had formed on her neck.
Glancing at her arm, it also bore a bruise in the shape of fingers.
Anyone who saw her would know someone had attacked her.
She shoved away all thoughts of Erikin being murdered.
If she allowed herself to think about him, she wouldn’t make it through the day.
A chill spread over her as the image of an angry Rainer grabbed her neck, squeezing, wanting her dead.
She could almost feel his fingers on her skin.
Shaking, she went over to the door and opened it, needing a distraction.
Lady Regina and Commander Felix were in the sitting room, deep in conversation.
“Queen Sabine,” Regina said as she stood and curtseyed. “I hope you slept well. Harper delivered an outfit for you.” She gestured to a dress draped over the chair. “And I have breakfast on the table for whenever you’re ready to eat.” She sat back down, folding her hands together.
Felix ran a hand over his chin, his focus on something far away.
“Commander, is something the matter?” Sabine asked. She slid her hand onto his shoulder, squeezing.
He sighed. “Oh, child. I am so sorry for last night.” He patted her hand as he looked at her, shaking his head when he caught sight of her bruises. “I’m sorry for the death of your guard and for the way the king treated you.” He stood and faced her.
“Thank you.” She stared at her feet, not wanting to talk about it right now. She needed to prepare for the day, and that required getting her confidence up to be able to face the nobles in the palace.
“There’s something you need to know,” he said, leading her over to the sofa.
Sabine took a seat, instinctively knowing bad news was coming.
“There’s no easy way to say this.”
“Just tell her, Felix,” Regina said.
“Yesterday, a letter arrived. I’d assumed it was to inform the king of another murder. However, I was wrong. It carried news of a prisoner. This man is believed to be the one responsible for killing so many of our soldiers. He arrived here at the palace last night and was placed in the dungeon.”
“That’s good news, isn’t it?” Sabine asked, her body relaxing.
“Yes, it’s good that this man has been caught. However, since he is dangerous and in our dungeon, Princess Lottie was moved back to her room. I was also told Prince Axel is in his room as well, and Prince Anton isn’t in the palace at the moment.”
“Then I assume the king is in his room. How convenient.” She folded her arms, trying to hold herself together. “Will Lottie’s trial even take place today?” Or would the powers that be deem it too risky.
“It will.”
That was all that concerned Sabine at the moment. Taking care of Lottie fulfilled Sabine’s promise to her sister, and it would take care of Rainer by getting him out of the way. She’d be able to stop the war before it even started. Right now, that was all that mattered.
“Who decided all of this? Shouldn’t it have been me?”
“The king determined everything. I’m so sorry.”
Of course he did.
“Go and dress,” Regina said. “Once you’re ready, the commander will escort you to the throne room for today’s proceedings.”
Sabine returned to the guest room, considering everything Felix had said.
A man had been brought in late last night—the same night Evander left.
King Kai had indicated a handful of Avoni assassins were in Lynk carrying out a mission.
If a single man was brought in for murder, it didn’t necessarily mean he was one of the Avoni assassins.
However, she couldn’t dismiss the possibility.
Felix didn’t want to escort Sabine to the antechamber in case Rainer was there, so he led her directly to the throne room’s main entrance.
When they arrived, Sabine found the room so packed she couldn’t even see the dais from the back of the room.
Her guards shifted around her and moved forward, clearing a walkway for her.
As she made her way toward the dais, people began to notice her.
Within seconds, the room fell silent, and every face turned in her direction.
The outfit she wore made no attempt to cover the bruises on her neck and arm. If anything, the light pink fabric highlighted the marks on her body. Since enough people had seen Rainer hurt her in the courtyard last night, word would spread. Everyone would know what the king had done.
Halfway down the aisle, she spotted Rainer seated on his throne on the dais, with Lottie and Axel standing on the steps before him.
Since Sabine had never been to a trial before, she wasn’t certain what would happen or what the protocol was.
However, she made sure to keep her head high and at least act as if she knew what to do.
The herald officially announced her, and everyone dropped into a low bow or curtsey. When she reached the dais, she stood at the top and turned to face her people, telling them to rise.
Drew entered the room, joining the ranks of her personal guards.
“Thank you all for coming,” Sabine said.
“It is with a solemn heart that I am here addressing you today.” She made a point to meet as many eyes as she could, willing them to see her sincerity.
“I came to Lynk, taking my sister’s place, for several reasons.
My family needed an alliance with Lynk. They desired Lynk’s protection.
Lynk needed Bakley’s food, and my old kingdom had more than enough.
King Rainer needs a child of royal blood in order to maintain his throne, and I am of royal blood and able to provide him with that child.
It seemed that by coming here, two kingdoms benefitted. ”
She folded her hands. “Of course, I only came because my sister was murdered. It took a great deal of courage to fill Princess Alina’s shoes.
Since being here, I have discovered the person responsible for her death.
Naturally, I want that person punished. However, what I want is of no consequence.
I married King Rainer, I was crowned queen, and I took a vow. I promised to uphold Lynk’s laws.”
She took a deep breath and continued. “The night of the masquerade, I saw Princess Lottie speaking with a man. I heard her order him to kill me. During their conversation, he implied he’d killed my sister, Alina. Therefore, Princess Lottie is guilty of treason.”
A hushed murmur went through the room.
“I told King Rainer and asked him to have Princess Lottie arrested, but he refused. I then learned that for a crime such as this, the perpetrator’s entire bloodline will suffer the same fate.
Which means King Rainer, Prince Axel, and Prince Anton will receive the same punishment as Princess Lottie.
I assume that’s why the king chose to ignore the law and refused to act.
I do not wish to see the king suffer the same consequences as Lottie.
However, the law is the law. We can’t pick and choose which laws we do or do not follow based upon how convenient they are.
Therefore, I believe Princess Lottie should be stripped of her title and executed.
As the law states, her bloodline will face the same fate.
” Sabine remained standing there, letting everyone soak in what she’d said.
Rainer pushed to his feet. “My dear people of Lynk,” he said, coming to stand beside Sabine.
“I understand that this is a lot to take in. Our dear queen is still grieving the loss of her sister and perhaps isn’t seeing things clearly.
No matter what she says, she desires revenge.
” He paced a few steps before continuing.
“To charge someone with a serious crime requires proof. In this particular case, Queen Sabine doesn’t have any proof—it is simply her word against my sister’s.
I have known my sister all my life and trust her.
I haven’t known the queen for very long.
You all know Princess Lottie. There is no reason for her to want the queen dead, and the princess doesn’t want my throne. ”
Rainer folded his arms, as if contemplating his next words.
“I do not believe it wise to kill the entire royal family—except the queen—on one person’s word.
Especially when the queen is the one bringing the charges forward.
It’s almost as if the queen wants to get rid of me.
Not only that, but we are facing war. The other kingdoms are restless.
We have someone in our kingdom committing murders.
People have been showing up dead since Princess Alina’s death.
Perhaps these murders are tied to the late princess’s murder.
Thankfully, word came last night that a foreigner has been apprehended.
He was caught trying to murder one of my military officials.
He was brought here to the palace and is in the dungeon.
I need to question him to get to the bottom of this. ”
People began talking to one another.
Sabine wanted to scream. Rainer spoke half-truths to make her look bad.
The king held up his hand, getting everyone’s attention.
“If we look at the situation objectively, Queen Sabine has more motive to kill me than my own sister does. But let’s put that aside and focus on Princess Lottie.
She is engaged to Prince Evander of Avoni.
She is leaving our kingdom once the marriage takes place.
She won’t be any threat to me—if she was ever a threat at all.
” He moved back a few steps so he was now in the center of the dais, behind Sabine.
“I believe Princess Lottie should proceed with her marriage to Prince Evander. The wedding will take place in five days. Then Prince Evander will take Princess Lottie to Avoni where she will live with him, posing no threat to Lynk. I will get back to work and focus on our prisoner and find out why he’s been committing these murders.
I will ensure he is punished according to our laws. ”
People began talking again, more enthusiastic this time.
Tears filled Sabine’s eyes. She’d come here to bury Lottie, but Rainer had just taken a hammer and pounded Sabine into the ground.
Of course the people would side with the king after that eloquent speech.
Plus, they knew him and the royal family better than Sabine.
She’d been naive to think she could have outsmarted him.
A soldier ran into the throne room, heading straight for Rainer. When he reached the king, the soldier held out a letter to him.
Rainer took it, tearing it open. He cursed. “This trial is over. All guards to the front of the palace.” The king handed Axel the letter then took off running down the aisle.