Dragon's Sorceress Queen

36. Under Arrest

Third Person's POV-

"The seriousness of the problem is clear. There is no need to hide anything from any of you but we must not let this news go outside these walls.

The search has already started for any suspects still lingering around the castle. But the culprit can very well use the night as our blindfold to his advantage. Apart from that, no one should leave the castle. Everyone must be questioned right away. The maids, the guards, even the Lords." Roald gives out his orders to his five most trusted men. They now their work. They have to investigate this case and keep eyes on the other guards helping them.

The men nod at their master and leave instantly, while Roald quickly makes his way to the meeting hall where the Lords wait for him.

Perhaps, he could use this ordeal to his advantage.

"I know the time isn't exactly favourable to call upon all of you, but we have an urgent matter. The King has been poisoned and the traitor could be among us." The crowd of the Lords fill with murmurs instantly.

"What do you mean, the King has been poisoned? There's no one who would dare doing that. Even the Lords who didn't like him stepping on the throne— because of their loyalty to the former King— won't ever dare coming across him." One of the Lords voice out his confusion while at the same time mocking the ones who loved the former Alpha.

"I'm saying the truth, my Lord. As much as it is impossible to believe. The Queen herself brought this to my attention after she saw the King clutch his throat. According to her, it happened after he drank the wine seated in her chamber." Roald says showing no effort in dodging what is now the confirmation of the Queen having a different chamber.

"We must question everyone who paid a visit to her chamber then."

"Yes, and before she has come to the castle, her personal maid, Nina stayed in the chamber. We must interrogate her and also anyone who entered her chamber after that." Roald says hoping someone would ask the question he wanted to answer to. Meanwhile, one of the Lords already leave to get Nina interrogated.

"But it could be meant for the Queen as well." Roald smirks knowing it was going as he planned.

"Your suspicion is right, my Lord, but the Queen doesn't drink wine. Never even to be polite. And all the maids know that. So, it is indeed well planned for the King." Roald answers the old Lord.

"Could the maid have expected the King's orders and planned it all?"

"Vaidya Kalm along with his sub-vaidyas has already confirmed that no poison was burrowed or stolen from him. And she couldn't have had it with her all along as everyone is checked thoroughly before they can enter the premises of the castle. Moreover, she couldn't have expected the Kong outburst at her doings. None of us could, she couldn't have as well." Roald says.

"Then it is an outsider. Maybe the two Rogue girls brought in by the Queen?"

"No." Roald shakes he head, "They wouldn't want that. And even so, they wouldn't have gotten the poison from anyone. They didn't even go out of the castle since they have come and even if they have, I'm sure they were checked before being allowed to enter." Roald says pretending to think deeply.

"It has to be someone who has a motive, someone who had been out recently, and someone who wouldn't be questioned everytime they enter the castle." He says planting little plants of doubts in the minds of all the Lords. Roald looks at them and he can see that some of them has gotten the idea, but they are too afraid to speak it out loud.

He sighs, "I know what I'm going to say is punishable, but it is all I can think of right now. The Queen—" The Lords fall in silence, "She married the King to strengthen the bond between the two Kingdoms. She suddenly left in the middle of the night, just to do a joke on her brother, but also she could be gone to take the poison. The Queen might want it to seem like she was the target. I know this doesn't prove anything but as of now, this is the lead we have got and she could be thinking of her Kingdom's benefit. Besides, the rumours of them being in different rooms are true as well and I think, we must keep her away from the King just until he is awake at least." Roald says tuning the wheels of everybody's mind.

"But what if the Queen is not the culprit. And didn't she inform you about the incident herself?"

"Yes, but the best way to stay out of the investigation is to become the part of it." Roald reasons with the Lord.

"We can't do more than restrict her to meet him as of now. But it must be done." One of the Lords declare and the others start agreeing slowly before all of them chant the same thing.

"Lord Fredini, no man is allowed in the family wing of the Alpha King." Soemone expresses his doubt.

"We are doing it for the safety of our King. If it takes to break his rule and enter the forbidden wing, we must do it." The other nod in agreement to Roald.

Roald smiles in his head at his plan before a guard sent byone of the Lords come back.

"My Lords, the accused, Nina has been interrogated. She says that the only people who had come to her in the Queen's chamber were the Princess, Tina and Ana, and a little boy from the Kingdom. They didn't allow me in, but the Queen seems to know him well. The name is Rick." Hearing the name of the boy, Roald's frown vapour. His mind goes back to when the Princess had interrupted his time with Nina, but he forces himself to forget about that for now.

"Alright. You can leave." The Lord who ordered him before permits the guard to leave the meeting hall.

"We must act fast, son. The Queen is a suspect and should be kept away from the King under the eyes of guards." Roald's father says and he nods with a sad look. A few Lords walk behind him along the guards to capture the Queen. Moving ahead of everyone, a smirk graces Roald's lips as he has successfully brainwashed everyone against the Queen.

Rosabelle's POV-

"He'll be alright, Rosabelle. You know he is strong." Eleanor assures me again.

"I know. But— it— it—" I sigh not knowing what to say. Vaidya Kalm hasn't stopped his treatment and I haven't stopped looking at him and worrying as he would occasionally spit some dark liquid out. Moreover, Vaidya Kalm's frown just said it all.

"It doesn't seem real seeing him so fragile." Eleanor completes my sentence.

"I don't even know how someone would know about him spending night here."

"Probably, it was meant for you." Eleanor says shocking me a bit. I give her a glance before looking back at Dargan.

Well, not everyone like me here. But who could go to the extent of killing me? I haven't formed bad enemies, have I?

"Sometimes, the people closest to us strike us hard. Do not trust anyone here, Rosabelle." Eleanor says and my mind search for any situation where I could have offended anyone.

Gold. My meeting with her wasn't really pleasant. But was it an enough reason to kill me? I don't think so.

Suddenly, my chamber gets bombarded with a trail of guards and a few Lords standing before them.

I automatically stand up and give a simple hitch at Dargan's long coat.

"I'm doing what I can, my Lords. We must pray to the Goddess." Vaidya Kalm says before any Lord could ask him.

"Good. But we are here for some other reason." Roald says looking at me with a pained expression in his eyes.

"What is it if it doesn't concern with your King's health? I am certain whatever it is, it can wait." I say and instantly one of the Lords step up.

"We are afraid, we cannot wait. We must distance the suspect from the King." He says and my ears perk up.

"Who is it? Have you found anything against him?" I couldn't have controlled my desperation better than that.

"Our suspect is you, Queen Rosabelle. Studying the event closely, all the Lords show their suspicions towards you, and as for the safety of the King, we must keep you under arrest."

I just look at Eleanor mirroring her confusion.

"What are the basis of this suspicion, my Lord?" Eleanor says after a few seconds when I do not speak.

"We'll provide you with the information we have, Princess, but for now, the Queen must be kept away." He says before turning to the guards behind him. The guards follow his signal and march towards me. My eyes snap to Roald's who has his eyes down, clearly hating himself for being helpless at this moment. But I know he'd find an evidence soon to free me from this accusation. He is a young Lord, and it is expected for the others to overpower him.

The guards grab my hands before the same Lord stops them.

"You must take off the King's coat. It is his belonging and nobody touches it, let alone wear it." He says with difficulty, not knowing how to say that a criminal cannot have something so precious and valuable as the King's coat.

I look into the Lord's eyes directly, "I have just been accused for something I didn't commit. I'm just a suspect, but I'm still your Queen. I cannot only just touch the King's coat but can wear it as well. I won't take it off ." I say in monotone that makes him take a step back.

My eyes go to Eleanor and I nod at her before giving one last glance to Dargan.

I know there is no way out of this until I'm proven wrong. So, I might as well go or it'll just boost their suspicions. I'm sure Roald will find a way out for me soon. Then, I'll be back to you, Dargan. Hopefully you'll be up by then. I know nothing would happen to you.