The Gilded Bride

Chapter 19: A queen's trial

King Demitri had finally reached his limit.

For three days he buried himself inside war meetings, investigations, interrogations, and strategy rooms in a desperate attempt to prevent Delmatia from collapsing into chaos.

For three days he ignored the growing ache inside his chest whenever thoughts of Queen Elowen surfaced.

For three days he convinced himself distance was necessary.

Strategic.

Reasonable.

But now,

sitting at the head of a war table littered with bloodstained reports and casualty lists,

he realized something horrifying.

Elowen would think he abandoned her.

Again.

The thought struck harder than any battlefield wound.

Demitri pushed away from the table abruptly.

“I am done for tonight.”

Several generals exchanged confused looks.

Caion immediately noticed the shift.

“You are going to see her.”

It was not a question.

Demitri ignored him completely while fastening his coat.

He needed to see Elowen.

Needed to explain.

Needed,

The massive doors of the war chamber suddenly burst open.

A royal messenger stumbled inside breathlessly.

“Your Majesty!”

Demitri’s expression darkened instantly.

“What now?”

“The court demands immediate assembly.”

Of course they did.

The king closed his eyes briefly.

God.

Not now.

---

The royal court of Delmatia had become a battlefield of its own.

Chaos erupted the moment Demitri entered.

Nobles shouted over one another across the grand marble chamber while advisors argued loudly near the council steps.

The atmosphere crackled with panic and fury.

Demitri descended toward the throne slowly, silver eyes cold enough to silence several lesser lords instantly.

Not enough.

Voices continued rising anyway.

“The attacks were too precise!”

“We have a traitor inside the palace!”

“People are rioting outside the gates!”

“The queen must answer for this!”

Demitri’s jaw tightened violently.

At the center of the room stood Lord Dansdale.

Older brother of Maria Dansdale.

A man Demitri already distrusted deeply.

“The people demand justice,” Dansdale declared loudly. “And frankly, Your Majesty, your silence regarding the Norwasian queen is becoming concerning.”

The room erupted again.

Demitri sat slowly upon the throne.

Dangerously calm.

“What exactly are you implying?”

Dansdale bowed shallowly.

“Only that perhaps Her Majesty should be questioned more... thoroughly.”

Coward.

Demitri’s gaze sharpened lethally.

“And if questioning does not satisfy you?”

Silence stretched.

Then another noble spoke carefully.

“Many believe the queen may have aided Norwasia.”

The words echoed through the chamber like poison.

Demitri felt fury rise instantly.

Not because suspicion existed.

Because hearing it spoken aloud made something primal inside him vicious.

“She had access to palace layouts.”

“She is daughter to King Charles.”

“She gained the king’s trust remarkably quickly.”

“Perhaps too quickly.”

Demitri’s hands tightened against the throne armrest.

Every instinct screamed to crush them.

But he restrained himself.

Barely.

Because part of him understood something the court did not.

This was planned.

Too planned.

The military information leaked was highly restricted.

Elowen would not even know half those strategies existed.

Someone inside Delmatia orchestrated this.

And Demitri strongly suspected one of the nobles currently shouting loudest.

Especially Dansdale.

Yet he could not reveal the investigation openly.

Not yet.

If the real traitor realized suspicion turned toward them, they would vanish before Demitri gathered proof.

So instead,

he endured.

And god, he hated it.

“The investigation remains ongoing,” Demitri finally said coldly. “Until facts emerge, no accusations will be acted upon.”

Dansdale stepped forward slightly.

“And what of the people demanding answers?”

Demitri’s eyes turned glacial.

“The people will receive answers when I decide.”

Another noble rose abruptly.

“With respect, Your Majesty, the kingdom bleeds while the Norwasian queen remains hidden safely inside your chambers!”

That did it.

The room temperature seemed to drop instantly.

Demitri stood slowly.

Every voice died immediately.

“You speak of my queen,” he said quietly.

Softly.

Far more terrifying than shouting.

The noble visibly paled.

Demitri descended the throne steps one by one.

Measured.

Controlled.

Deadly.

“If any among you possesses proof against Queen Elowen,” he continued calmly, “present it now.”

Silence.

No one moved.

Because they had rumors.

Fear.

Prejudice.

But no proof.

Demitri looked around the room with visible disgust.

“That is what I thought.”

No one dared speak again.

But the damage was already done.

He could feel it.

The court no longer trusted Elowen.

And worse,

they were beginning to question him for trusting her.

God.

He needed to see her immediately.

---

Elsewhere inside the palace,

Elowen had made her decision.

The king’s chambers felt suffocating now.

Too large.

Too empty.

Too full of memories she could barely survive.

She folded another dress carefully before placing it inside a small traveling bag hidden beneath the bed.

Not much.

Only essentials.

A few practical gowns.

Money.

Her favorite books.

Medical supplies.

Enough to survive quietly for a while.

Her hands trembled slightly while packing.

Not because she feared leaving.

Because part of her still desperately wished someone would stop her.

Foolish.

No one would.

Not now.

Not after everything.

Elowen moved quietly around the chamber while rain battered softly against palace windows.

Midnight.

She would leave after midnight.

The guards around the royal quarters changed shifts then.

If she slipped through the hidden garden path,

perhaps she could escape unnoticed.

The thought terrified her.

But staying terrified her more.

Because if she remained inside Delmatia while suspicion grew,

things would only worsen.

The people would continue demanding answers.

The court would continue pressuring Demitri.

And eventually,

eventually he would have to choose between his kingdom and her.

Elowen could not bear being the reason he suffered further.

Not after he gave her kindness for the first time in her life.

So she would leave.

Find proof herself.

Discover who truly betrayed Delmatia.

Clear her name.

Then perhaps,

perhaps someday,

she could return without destroying everything around her.

A soft knock sounded suddenly.

Elowen nearly jumped.

“Your Majesty?” Edna’s voice came carefully through the doors.

Elowen hurriedly shoved the half-packed bag farther beneath the bed before answering.

“Come in.”

Edna entered carrying evening tea.

The servant immediately frowned.

“You have not eaten again.”

“I am not hungry.”

“That is becoming irritating.”

Despite herself, Elowen smiled faintly.

Edna set the tray down before studying her carefully.

“You look strange tonight.”

Panic flashed briefly through Elowen.

“Strange?”

“Nervous.”

Elowen forced calm into her expression.

“I merely cannot sleep.”

Edna still looked suspicious.

But thankfully did not press further.

Instead she approached slowly.

“The protests outside worsened today.”

Elowen lowered her gaze.

“I heard.”

“Some nobles are encouraging it.”

That did not surprise her.

“What are they saying now?”

Edna hesitated.

Then quietly,

“That the queen should face trial.”

The words landed heavily.

Elowen inhaled shakily.

Trial.

God.

Things were escalating faster than she imagined.

Edna immediately softened.

“I do not believe them.”

Elowen looked toward her carefully.

“Why?”

“Because spies do not cry themselves to sleep every night.”

The simple honesty nearly shattered her composure entirely.

Elowen looked away quickly.

“Thank you.”

Edna moved closer.

“You should speak with the king.”

Elowen almost laughed.

The king had not come near her once since the attack.

“I think His Majesty has enough burdens already.”

Something sad crossed Edna’s face then.

As though she wanted to argue.

But before she could,

a distant bell echoed through the palace.

Late hour.

Edna sighed softly.

“You should rest.”

Elowen nodded carefully.

“I will.”

A lie.

But convincing enough.

Once Edna finally left, silence returned.

Elowen waited several minutes before retrieving the hidden bag again.

Her chest tightened painfully while looking around the chambers.

The king’s chambers.

Their chambers.

God.

She hated this.

Hated leaving.

Hated how much she already loved this place.

Loved him.

A tear slipped free before she wiped it away angrily.

No.

No more crying.

She changed quickly into simpler traveling clothes hidden beneath a dark cloak.

Practical.

Unnoticeable.

Then she moved toward the balcony doors leading toward the hidden garden paths.

Her escape route.

Almost there.

Just a little longer.

Elowen reached for the door latch,

Then froze.

The massive doors to the king’s chambers opened behind her.

Her heart stopped completely.

Demitri stood there.

Tall.

Dark.

Exhausted.

Rainwater still clung faintly to his coat while silver eyes locked instantly onto her.

Not the hidden bag beneath the table.

Not the traveling clothes.

Only her.

For one suspended moment,

neither spoke.

And suddenly,

Elowen realized leaving him might be far harder than escaping the palace itself.