124 King Bayard's Verdict 1

Her gaze became fierce as she looked at her brother.

"If it's evidence you want brother, evidence you shall get. Do not think I would come before the king with just mere words."

With that, she got up from her seat and went to half kneel before her father on the throne. 

"Your Majesty, with your permission, I would like for the people that were with me that night to be sent for."

"Very well."

"Thank you father." 

She rose up and looked at a guard by her side. 

"Go to the troops and have the soldiers that went out with me come over now. And you," she pointed to a second guard, "Go to my chambers and send for the two men there. 

"Yes, Princess."

They chorused and rushed out to carry out her orders. 

She turned back to her father's side and her gaze met her brother's.

"I know you are eager to see my downfall, brother and nervous somehow because you hope things wouldn't go south, but rest assured, it has only just begun," She said in her head. 

Subsequently, Princess Cyrena turned her gaze back to the Lords and Ministers, obviously her mother had sent them here to aid her in any way possible, but here they were, letting Lord Raymond act against her and they couldn't do anything.

"Of what use are these old geezers mother sent if they cannot be of any help at all, scratch that, I would handle this myself, with or without their help. Just you wait and see brother."

Her mind was her best tool and ally right now and not these bunch of old men. She walked back to her seat at her father's right hand and sat down like the Princess she was.

The doors opened some minutes later with two men and two soldiers walking in. As soon as they got into the throne room, they all bowed before the King and greeted.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. Your Highnesses and My Lords."

"Rise," they did as he commanded of them. "As you may all know, you were summoned here to bear witness for the claims of Princess. You would say the truth and nothing but the truth," King Bayard added. 

"Father, may I?"

"Carry on."

With that go ahead, Princess Cyrena began her plan. She gestured for one of the men to step forward. He was none other than Void's apprentice and looked not more than twenty years of age.

He looked frightened a little bit, one wouldn't blame him, it was his first time standing amongst prominent figures like these, let alone the royal family.

"Your Majesty and the court," her hand gestured towards the Ministers and Lords with a smile.

"Or whatever is left from it at least," she murmured.

"This is the apprentice of the one who stole back the money, Sebastian Cruz. He was there as a witness the day his master signed the contract with Mr Brandon here. Please tell everyone here present about what you know."

"What was the nature of the work?" Minister Clifford finally spoke up.

"He told him about a gambling and said my master was to steal back all the money he and his friends won through that day's game and he agreed. There and then, a contract was signed by the both of them and I stood as a witness."

"Do you have the contract here with you?"

It was Prince Owen who asked next.

"Certainly, Your Highness."

"One question though, why didn't your master come but rather sent you?" Prince Owen asked again. 

Sebastian stopped in his tracks; his eyes left what he was bringing out from his bag and went straight to Princess Cyrena. 

She saw his nervousness through his eyes. This was one thing he feared, when they asked for his master. She knew she had to help him out here, he didn't want to betray his master and he shouldn't. 

"He was busy," she quickly spoke up. "He refused to show his face here. He said he had played his part in setting things right and sent his apprentice with the evidence to fill in for him," she explained. 

No sooner had she finished talking than Prince Owen slammed his palm on the handle of his chair.

"Such imprudence! How dare he not show his face here, what is the meaning of this? Did he take this for a joke? If he didn't steal the money in the first place, none of us would be here by now."

She threw a sharp look at him. What was wrong with this prince? Was he that stupid? 

"Give me the contract boy," King Bayard instructed. 

Sebastian lowered his head and quickly took a deep breath as he took two steps forward and presented the contract to the king with his two hands stretched out. 

King Bayard reached for it and took it from the trembling boy's hand. Not wasting a second, Sebastian quickly retreated back, away from the throne and the deadly Prince. 

"Ohh come on, he's all bark and no bite. Let's see him rage on," Princess Cyrena said to herself. 

King Bayard opened the scroll and scanned through it. After a minute, he looked up at the eyes staring at him and said, "Indeed, it is signed by both parties."

"But there is no way to attest that either of them signed it," Prince Owen quickly added. 

He was really hoping Lord Raymond would continue to side him and make Princess Cyrena look stupid, but he didn't get the response he hoped for when suddenly the doors opened and in came... 

All heads turned at the intrusion, who had dared to interrupt His Majesty without he giving a go ahead? 

"Oh my, it is…"

"The Lady Lorelei!" some of them gasped when they saw her.

Their gazes were filled with shock upon her arrival, she ignored the stares she received and walked elegantly, yet dangerously forward. 

"Why yes, Prince Owen, there is a way to."

Her gaze was deadly and sweet. She stopped and turned her gaze away from the cowering Prince to King Bayard. 

"I do not bring greetings, Your Majesty; we have important things to discuss." A slight smile danced on her lips as she awaited him to dismiss them.

"Lady Lorelei, you cannot just barge in when the King is in the process of handling a case and about passing a verdict," Lord Edwin cautioned her. 

"Really now? I would pardon such insolence before me because I don't have time, but the next time you so much as caution me again... You wouldn't like the outcome."

He felt a cold chill run down his spine from just her words alone. She didn't bother turning to face him, but the cold aura she emitted was enough to place fear in their hearts and convey her message quite well. 

"Now, I assume this matter is important why?" She turned to one of the detainers and asked. 

He gulped when he noticed her gaze upon him. His skin felt as though something was crawling on it. Finally he found his voice, "the theft incidents that has been occurring..." he manage to blurt out. 

"Just that and Prince Owen can't handle that?" Sarcasm was evident in her voice, making Prince Owen grit his teeth at being the center of attraction. 

"Well he did, My Lady."

"Good, so what are we doing here?"

Everyone was quiet, no one answered. 

Ahem! 

Lady Lorelei's gaze moved to the one who cleared his throat and arched a brow at him.

"This is because, Princess Cyrena disputed the fact that Prince Owen caught the right person," Minister Clifford replied. 

Her mouth curved into an 'O' shape as realization dawned on her. 

"No wonder the bratty Prince is looking for all angles to pull her down," Lady Lorelei mentally noted.

"Okay, back to your earlier claim Prince Owen, there is a way."

"How so?"

"Getting documents previously signed by them for starters."

Immediately, there was murmuring behind her as the Lords and Ministers discussed the issue. Prince Owen on the other hand began to sweat as more and more clues popped up to prove Princess Cyrena's claims.

She stretched forth her right hand and said a spell, "El tuego videtur signatum librum."

A dark light flashed before her eyes and the next thing they knew, a scroll appeared right on her outstretched palm.

"Gerald, please check its authenticity."

Gerald who had been silent all these while, looked up at the mention of his name. He never expected to be involved anymore, so that had apparently shocked him.

He got himself back and walked up to her. She handed him the scroll and he opened it, he squinted his eyes as he went through the scroll in his hands. 

After sometime, he turned to the King. "Your Majesty, it matches the one on the contract."