Chapter 97: Past Incidents

Minister Tudor smiled, his response not related to Cian's questions. "Glad to see you back safely, Your Highness."

"I am not sure if Minister Tudor will say the same thing after this royal court session ends," came the mocking words from the sapphire blue-eyed prince, who looked no less intimidating than his father.

"How can I not be happy to see our Crown Prince safe and sound?" said the minister as the light smile on his face turned into an awkward one. Cian's mocking words and gaze didn't fail to intimidate him.

Cian kept looking at him. "I am waiting to hear this so-called misfortune, minister." 

Minister Tudor explained, "The Third Princess practiced black magic, and many people not only within the palace but outside the walls had seen the unusual black smoke coming out from her tower. Soon after, her practice of dark arts started to show its ominous effects by various means."

Cain gave him a questioning look. "Such as?"

"You yourself Your Highness was abducted. At the same time, we received news that a plague had spread in various parts of the kingdom in the south, which was then followed by the disaster inside the palace…"

"Abduction… Plague… Disaster in the palace?" Cian repeated. "Everything started due to that black smoke?"

"Yes, Your Highness," the minister agreed.

"How will you explain the fact that I was abducted the day before everyone witnessed the black smoke coming out of that tower?"

"She must have done something else to bring misfortune to the kingdom, and later to make it worse," the minister replied. "Alas! Who knows how many evil arts she had practiced in her tower before the black smoke incident?"

"Seems like my sister didn't put all her efforts into her black magic since I have returned safely," Cian commented with a dry chuckle.

The ministers went silent.

Cian continued, "You are all old, experienced officials of the royal court, yet you spread rumors without basis. The black smoke you all are talking about was her failed attempt at cooking as her personal servant, Miss Martha, had to leave the palace for personal reasons. When something burns, it creates smoke. If we think black smoke is a product of black magic, then all the blacksmiths and other businesses who cause black smoke should be responsible for all kinds of black magic."

"That is different from—"

"Huh?" Cian interrupted the minister. He shook his head, forcing the older man to stop, knowing what he would say. "You wish to say the smoke caused by a blacksmith is different from the one caused by burning food?"

"It can be due to her practice of black magic and not cooking."

"Are you sure about your claim? Have you personally seen it?" Cian asked as he glared at the minister.

"No, but we all know what witches can do."

Cian scoffed and looked around the royal court, walking from one row of ministers to another row. "Let me remind you all that this royal court doesn't work on mere guesses and accusations. Do not let the entire kingdom look down on you. Wise people believe in hard evidence, and as my father wishes to rule our dear kingdom just and fair, thus the entire royal court would not move on baseless accusations!"

The minister turned silent, and Cian continued to speak in a cold tone.

"Our investigation yielded proof that someone had plotted against the Third Princess. In my name as the Crown Prince, I will make sure to punish the person behind this severely."

Cian looked at all the ministers from the left. "No one saw the Third Princess perform black magic. What made you jump to that conclusion? Rumors from the commoners? If rumors are all that's needed to shake the foundation of justice in our kingdom, then I am afraid there are many matters that most of the ministers present here would not want me to bring out for fear of crimes not backed by evidence."

The entire royal court was filled with silence. The resolve of those who had weaker wills started to falter as they realized the hidden threat in the prince's words. 

Darus Count looked at one minister and signaled him to say something.

That minister stepped forward. "Your Highness Prince Cian, please hear us out. We are but normal people, and affairs related to magic and curses were beyond our scope of understanding. Still, this does not mean we are blind from reality. We do not wish to offend the royal family, but we cannot ignore the voice of the suffering people. What of the other disasters within our kingdom? Don't you think this is too much of a coincidence?" 

Cian smirked playfully. "Ahh! I was wondering why the Minister of Human Welfare, Minister Warin, hasn't said anything yet when the innocent ministers here are suffering from the disasters."

Minister Warin bowed lightly and said, "We can't deny the fact that the Third Princess's curse is the reason our capital does not allow any kind of flower to blossom. What kind of proof is needed? Experience, Your Highness. Two decades ago, our city was just like any other city in the kingdom, yet upon her arrival in the royal palace, no flower ever bloomed even during spring. What explanation do the common people need? That black smoke from her tower was proof in itself! There is no such thing as coincidence in this world. Our kingdom is suffering misfortunes, and we all believe this is all related to the Third Princess—your abduction, the war, the plague in the South, and the disaster in the palace..."

Cian nodded lightly as if showing he understood what the minister wanted to say. "As Minister Warin is disregarding the fact that I was abducted the day before everyone saw the said black smoke, let me put forward some other things."

"We all are willing to hear what Your Highness has to say," Minister Warin said humbly.

"Most of you had been working for Abetha for decades," Cian started. "From what I heard from my father, His Majesty King Armen, I was abducted when I was just a year old. During that time too, the plague had spread widely throughout the entire kingdom, much worse than what the South is currently experiencing now. More than ten thousand deaths, as well as poverty and high crime rates for roughly half of the territories, took over the kingdom. You should consider this misfortune too, minister? The interesting part is, both these things happened when the Third Princess didn't even exist yet in her mother's womb. Will you defend this saying she had planned this before she even came into existence?" Cian's eyes turned colder. "Or have you all already decided to blame every misfortune on her existence ?" 

"Prince Cian!" the Minister of the Royal Treasury cried out with a red face. "We are all here for the sake of the kingdom! Do not belittle our wish to protect the innocent citizens that the Third Princess has harmed. We are not saying that all the troubles in our kingdom are her fault. We are merely asking for her to be punished for the misfortune her existence has caused, and we cannot deny the fact that the things happening lately are all caused by her." 

"Is that all, or do you have more to say, Minister Tudor?" Cian asked after giving a deep sigh. The loggerheads were still adamant on the same thing—proving an innocent girl was a cursed witch.

Minister Warin added. "Alas! What about her cursed scream to bring disaster inside the palace? Innocent people were injured, and many buildings in the palace were damaged. In terms of damage, it was as if our palace experienced an invasion from enemies! Imagine the destruction she could have caused to the entire kingdom if all the royals and nobles working in the palace were to be injured or killed! Thankfully, no one died this time, but what if next time, it will cause more than just minor injuries? What if next time, not only the people inside the royal palace but also the entire capital are affected? Being the Minister of Human Welfare, I can't help but worry about it."

Cian was the same, calm and composed. "According to our sources, wasn't someone else responsible for making her scream? That means the one who made it happen is the one to harm the people residing in the palace. That mastermind deserved to be executed!"

Cian's counter could only leave the minister speechless. 

Darus Count, who had remained silent till now, could no longer stay back as this was the last chance for him to conduct the order given to him by the Queen.

"What Prince Cian said is right, but the punishment should be given to all parties who had caused harm to our people. We can't ignore the fact that the Third Princess is like a living weapon inside the palace. Just like the current incident, anyone can use her powers and curses against us. Her existence is a threat! Despite the fact that she has been trained to control her emotions since she was a child, the Third Princess failed to follow her teaching and ended up in the trap led by others. Being cursed is her fault, and putting others' lives in danger by failing to control the power of her curses is also her fault. Why should innocents suffer due to her curse?"