123 The Culprit And The Stupid Prince

"'Ah! If it isn't my wonderful, breathtaking, intelligent sister, Cyrena," Prince Owen said as a wanton smile spread out across his lips.

"Brother, dashing as always, no wonder all the ladies swoon over you."

Before Prince Owen could retort, King Bayard took the initiative to put a stop to their bickering. He wasn't ready to have two grown up children fight like Children!!

"Good, now that you both are here, it is time to conclude this episode of the theft," King Bayard said, his gaze pacing between his two children.

"Guards, go to the investigation unit and ask them to round him, Brandon up and bring him here at once."

One of the guards left to carry out the King's orders.

In no distant time had he left, and then he returned with two detainers and a frail looking Mr Brandon.

Mr Brandon was brought in before the king and made to kneel before the throne.

"Gerald, read out his crimes," King Bayard ordered.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Mr Brandon George, of the house of Grimwood, you are charged with the following offences; Firstly, you hired a skilled thief and an assassin to steal all the silver coins won by you and your friends for yourself."

Mr Brandon shivered at the mention of his crime. Gerald cleared his throat, ready to go on when the familiar voice rang out.

"Your Majesty, Minister Clifford Marcus, Minister Jeremy Ian, Lord Edwin Alston, Lord Raymond Adrian and Lord Claude Cyril have arrived to see His Majesty."

"Open," King Bayard ordered the guards at the door.

With a little creaking sound, the big doors to the throne room open wide for the Ministers, Lords and Lady Lorelei to enter.

They all went in and greeted King Bayard with a bow. "Greetings, Your Majesty," they chorused.

"Welcome, what brings you here?"

"We heard the Princess found the actual culprit behind the thefts and we came to hear the verdict and congratulate Her Highness. It is important that your minister also attend," Minister Clifford explained.

King Bayard couldn't help but shake his head inwardly. It had already begun before it started. 

He knew Lady Erwina would pull some strings with this incident, but never had he imagined that she would go to such lengths to get these prominent people on her side.

Prince Owen clenched his fists into a ball by his sides at what was going on. The King, his father, hadn't confirmed is Mr Brandon was behind this and here they are, coming to congratulate her.

He knew who rallied these people; it was none other than the Lady Erwina. She really was planning on turning this to a war.

What were they really here for? To spite him? He couldn't wrap his fingers around it, so he had no choice but to sit and watch on.

She chuckled in her mind as she enjoyed the sight. 

"If only mother was here to see this, she would have enough to make her laugh for a week. Oh! the joy of seeing the Crown Prince's frustration."

"Oh! Sire, I presume this is the real culprit behind the crimes?" One of the men asked. 

"Yes, Lord Raymond. This is he," Gerald took the initiative to answer the Lord. 

"Now, Gerald you may proceed."

"Pardon, how did the Princess manage such a feat? You see I am very much intrigued by this outcome."

Princess Cyrena's brows furrowed at the bold Lord. Sure he was of great importance but what was he here for if he wasn't supporting her? 

"You see Raymond, Cyrena has already explained everything to me. There's no need troubling her after such a meticulous work to repeat things now, is there?"

"Umm while that is true, well okay you may carry on," he directed his gaze at Gerald as he said the last phrase. 

"Very well. Secondly you," he turned his gaze back to Mr Brandon. "You deceived the Prince and asked for help from the palace when you noticed the thief wasn't remitting the stolen money to you, making the Prince catch the wrong person."

"Really?"

"How dare he?"

"Such imprudence."

"Silence!" The King silence the noisy ministers and Lords who just came in. 

"Thirdly, you made someone else take the blame so you could go scot free. Fourthly, even when that failed and you were approached to turn yourself in, you refused and thought to bribe the thief."

"Your Majesty, that is not true. I didn't do those. This is all a set up," cried Mr Brandon.

"What does he mean by that?" Lord Edwin asked. 

"You still have the effontery to utter lies? I see you are as sly and cunning as ever. You would say virtually anything to set yourself free."

Princess Cyrena had enough of his rubbish. She turned to Gerald and said, "Grand Advisor Gerald please continue and do not stop under any circumstances."

"Yes Princess. Fiftly, during your meeting with the thief, you had assassins try to kill the Princess and flee. Mr Brandon, you have been seen to have tried to pervert justice, prey on the weak and steal. That would be all your majesty," Gerald said as he rolled the scroll in his hands and looked up at the king. 

"Anything anyone has to say before I pass my judegement?"

"Yes father. I simply cannot believe he master minded this whole thing himself. He simply doesn't look that smart," Prince Owen quickly replied. 

He was looking for a way to make Cyrena fail in her assignment. 

"What do you mean Owen?"

"Why didn't she bring in the thief as well. Be it for whatever reasons, he stole and put the palace in a dire situation when he could have reported everything from the start. I demand that she bring the thief. Eerything is based on her words alone."

"On my words? Two soldiers were with me the previous night and they saw it all happened with their eyes. What other evidence do you need."

"How about a proof that Mr Brandon paid or hired the thief and something to link him to all these? What if you arranged it, so as not to look stupid?" Prince Owen suddenly asked. 

"Why am I not surprised. The culprit and the stupid Prince, you should have just shut up like a puppet and watch everything unfold, brother. Now you've forced my hand," she said in her head.