Remaking Of Lady Cruel

Chapter Forty-Seven: The Trial

‘What have I done to suffer this? Have I been too bad before?’

She felt her head pulsating and in the verge of exploding of anger towards the i***t second prince. In addition, they are in the greenhouse, one wrong move and all the flowers and plants inside will be ruined due to their manna.

“First of all, let us go outside and resume the talking.” She interrupted.

“Of course. It is such a waste if the flowers and plants here will be destroyed. Right?” The second prince asked yet no one answered.

All of them move out from the greenhouse. Viviene face them with a calm demeanor. She can feel some worried and mocking gazes toward her but she ignore it.

“Pardon, but in what way did I insult His Highness, prince Ian and when did I insult him?” She asked.

“I’m sad that you forget, Lady Cruel. It’s the day that you refuse my engagement to you.” The second prince answer himself.

‘Egotistical wimp.’ She insulted inwardly.

“What is the meaning of this?! Second prince?” The duke asked as he showed up suddenly beside them with the other dukedom knights.

“Lady Cruel is under arrest for insulting a royal family, Duke.” He answered. “Any interference may consider treason against the imperial family.” He added.

“You!” Arthur was about to point his sword when Viviene suddenly speak.

“Calm down, brother and father. Second prince, there’s no need to apply force upon dragging me to the imperial palace. I will come on my own.” She muttered trying to calm herself.

“Hah. Knights, tie her..”

“No need, prince. I cant runaway anyway. I am physically weak” She added.

“… Fine. Knights, escort her.”

The imperial knights surrounded her but before she can walk, the duke held her habd.

“Don’t worry child, I will do my best to free you from this. You’re father will do everything to help you.” The duke muttered firmly, giving her the strength and courage for the trouble she will be facing. She smiled genuinely. She held back her father’s hand and for the first time, she felt a real affection from a father.

“Don’t worry, father. I may be physically weak yet you didn’t raise a child with a weak heart and mind. I will get through this. I promise.”

The duke’s eyes dilate and trembled, tears verging to fall from the corners of his eyes. With a reassuring smile, the imperial knights escorted her towards a plain and shabby carriage which was not fit for a noble lady to ride in. Viviene held her breath and firmly close her eyes as she sits on the hard sit inside the carriage.

‘Seriously, what did I brought myself into?’ She asked to herself.

“I don’t even, deserve this shit.” She muttered with contempt at the fate she shouldn’t have experienced.

The imperial court was managed by the emperor and his subordinates consist of ten noble houses including the house of Cruel. The room was spacious for the spectators to watch the trial and in the front is the grand throne placed on a platform. On the center of the room were two podium stands for the defendant and complainant.

Viviene was placed in jail before the hearing started late afternoon. She’s not really feeling well considering that she eat less during luncheon. The food that was served by her were spoiled and rotten. She frowned at the injustice she received.

‘I even carefully reject him since he was a royalty. What on earth am I here for?’

Two soldiers came and open the jail.

“I’m here to escort you to the court room.” The soldier said. He was about to grab her arm when she speak in a weak manner.

“If you’re going to grab me, please do it gently. I am not a strong person to use force upon you.”

The soldiers look at each other and examine her face. She’s pale and her body is thin yet it didn’t hide her beauty at all.

“… Alright.” One of the soldier said.

“Thank you, Sir.”

Ulysses were busy examining documents. On the side of his desk is the glass jar half-full of lucky stars he made. Looking at it made him think of his own absurdity in accepting a task meant for children. Oliver entered his tent with a nervous expression.

“Captain.” Oliver called.

“What is it?”

Oliver is hesitating in telling about the bad news he heard from the information guild in the capital of Valliaña.

“I don’t have all the time in the world, Oliver. Speak.”

“I know that you are acquainted to the lady of the Cruel household and that she is the lady that the captain is meeting under that big narra tree so I think yoy should know this, Sir.” He muttered in a grave tone. Ulysses’ face went even more serious and scarier than before.

“What is it, Oliver?” He asked as his eyes glowed dangerously.

“The lady was taken by the imperial knights accused of insulting a member of the trial family. The trial is starting at this hour.”

“What!?”

Ulysses stood up from his chair and the glass jar placed on the side of the desk fell on the ground and immediately shattered. The lucky stars that he made for such a long time scattered on the floor. He immediately walk pass through him and took his cloak and sword.

“Captain! Sir! You cant go in there right now!” He held the knees of Ulysses who was about to teleport away.

“Don’t stop me, Oliver! Who do you think you are!?”

“Sir, I know you’re furious right now but please be rational! The moment you step in the imperial court of Valliaña not only the lady will be in danger but you, Your Majesty as well!”

“f**k!” He cursed full of rage. How can he be so helpless? He, the most powerful and fearful foe of the nations? “Let go, Oliver. I am not stupid to do that.” He added.

“No, Your Majesty.”

“Suit for yourself.”

Both of them vanished and in an instant, they arrived at the most hidden part of the imperial court. Ulysses eyes fell to the figure standing in the podium stand with her head facing the floor. His blood boiling as he saw her in there.

“His Majesty the emperor has arrived!”

A servant mentioned and the atmosphere inside the room changed dramatically. Viviene raise her head and met the emperor’s fierce eyes. His violet irises were as sharp as knives that can stab her anytime. His blond hair was neatly fix on his head and his feature has similarities with the crown prince Aleiandro.

‘Relax Viviene. You can do this. You are innocent.’ She recall to herself.

The emperor took a sit on his throne. His eyes went to his son, Ian then to Viviene who was looking at him calmly before looking down on the floor.

“Lady Cruel, are you aware that insulting a member of royalty is a crime?” The emperor muttered in a chilling voice.

“Yes, Your Majesty. However, this humble subject didn’t dare to do so.” She answered calmly.

“Then why are you here if you didn’t?” The emperor asked again but this time, she didn’t answer.

“Due to the situation, I hereby declare that the Cruel dukedom will be forbidden to interfere in this matter.” The emperor added. The duke stood up and tried to explain to the emperor that there will be no bias in any way during the trial but the emperor still didn’t agree. A servant went in front and started speaking.

“The trial will begin with the complaints being exposed before the defendant’s explanation. Both parties will be given the right to speak by His Majesty the emperor’s kindness and justice.”

The second prince, with a confident smile and standing in front of everyone for a while started talking.

“Blessings upon the sun of the empire, Good day everyone. I am here to complain the insult that the daughter of the duke Cruel gave to me, not even respecting me as a royal family member, Your Majesty.” He started. Viviene remain silent and kept on listening to his words.

“I visited the Cruel manor to express my worry to the sickly lady and express my deep love for her. I propose a marriage proposal and a promise of a happy marriage between us. However, I got an insult in return. Therefore, I concluded that lady must be punished as a lesson for her deed.” He muttered full of anger.

“So the lady reject your marriage proposal?” The emperor asked.

“Yes, Your Majesty. She insulted me in front of the Young Duke of Cruel and to her servants as well. If you don’t mind Your Majesty, I will present my witness.”

“You may.”

A woman passed twenty went in front. Viviene look at the woman and their eyes met for a second. She was a maid of the Cruel household.

“I-I s-saw and h-heard t-the lady insult the second prince.” The witness stammered.

“How did the lady insult the prince?” One of the nobles asked.

“S-she reject the prince coldly and h-harshly b-by saying that she will not m-marry anyone.” The witness answered.

“Stop. I want to hear the Lady’s explanation for this.” The emperor spoke. “What can you say about this, Lady Cruel?” The emperor asked.

“Thank you for hearing me out, Your Majesty. It is true that I reject the second prince’s marriage proposal and that I will not marry someone. I apologize to the second prince if I offended him by my refusal.” She muttered.

“The prince promised you a happy married life. Why did you refuse it?” The emperor asked.

“Yes, Your Majesty. The prince may give something like that, however, I cant promise a happy married life to him. Not even to any men.”

“Why?”

She raise her head and look at the emperor calmly.

“I am dying, Your Majesty.” She answered without any emotions. Her eyes were unshaken showing like radiant little suns to his violet irises.

“Dying you say? So the rumors that you’re sick is true?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I rejected the second prince marriage proposal because I am someone who will leave this world. The happy married the prince said will be repaid only by sadness and loneliness. Since I don’t want someone to suffer over a tragic marriage, I rejected the second prince not in a pretext of insulting him but because of the reason that I don’t want to break someone’s heart when I’m gone.” She answered the emperor.

“But, I heard that Duke Cruel is searching for the cure. Isn’t it too much to say to yourself when His Excellency is doing his best to save you?”

“Yes, Sir. I am very grateful to father and brother for doing that.” She said with a small smile but it didn’t last long. With a bone chilling voice, she added. “But I am beyond saving.”

Her eyes became lifeless and for a second, everyone thought that they are talking to a dead person.

“I am someone, who’s like a withering flower. No one can change someone’s fate. No one can change the fact that I will die soon.” She added coldly with her dead eyes.

Everyone felt the chill and cant help but to sympathize the lady who's narrating her death like of a storybook in front of children.

"Stop it! Are you making stories here to gain pity from His Majesty and the council as well? You really are an evil woman!"

The second prince fumed sensing that the tables have turned. Viviene watch him coldly and answered.

"Second prince, I am not lying. I can present our family doctor to be my witness, the other servants and many more to support my details."

"Hah. You are a vile lady and everyone knows that. Your Majesty, you knew her background very well. She is indeed lying to put a bad image over me."

The emperor glared at him making him to shut his mouth tightly. He took a deep breath before speaking again.

"Hearing both parties, I have come to a conclusion. The complain from the second prince was not only childish but also insignificant. I hereby say that the Lady of Cruel is telling the truth yet still, she is responsible for hurting someone emotionally so I prefer that she shall send a letter of apology to the second prince. As for the second prince, he will pay two thousand pieces of gold to the lady as compensation of ruining her reputation due to this trial. Thus, I want a clear report of the lady's health status tomorrow as evidence of her statement. This trial is finish."

Viviene's eyes widen as she heard the emperor.

'I, won.'

Her vision became blurred. To avoid from falling to the pavement, she tightly grip the podium stand but that didn't last long. She felt herself falling to the ground.

'This will hurt a little.'

She thought but surprisingly, she didn't hit the ground. No one caught her but she didn't hit the floor.

'There's a wind under me.'

She slowly open her eyes and in saw a familiar face in the furthest part of the room.

'He, did this.'

She thought as she can see the worry etched on his face.

"Viviene!"

The wind supporting her suddenly disappeared and she fell to Arthur's arms holding her tightly.

"Brother, I want to go home." She muttered weakly.

"Yes, we will go home." Arthur answered with trembling voice.

"I want to, sleep." She mumbled. "Can I?" She asked to him.

"Of course. You can."

Her eyes slowy closing, letting sleep devour her.