Trial

If you wish to rule the world, I will make it so...

If you wish to end the world, I will kill it...

And If you wish to save the world, I will save it...

- Sebastián.

***

Selene watched as people shuffled in out of the rough looking hall until it was silent.

She recognzed some of them as nobles she met on her first day here. the looks on their faces were less than friendly.

What was she expecting?

she shifted her weight slightly to relieve pressure as her knees dug into the gravel floor. the movement causing sharp pain in her sides.

She barely held in a wince.

Her head perked up as new set of people filed in, taking the seats infront of the other nobles.

It didnt take a genius to recognize them. These were people she had only heard of in books. She had never met them in the entirety of her stay here.

They were widely known as "The great Hero families."

They were descendants of the four wolves that played great parts in the supernatural and internal war that took place centuries ago.

The wolves of Red Scalãnz' family, sat to her right with their trademark bloodlike hair and glowing green eyes.

The Wynecker family, warriors of the south were seated beside them. Blonde hair cascading from most of their shoulders.

To the left were the Treslen scholars, the best healers in all the the four territories and to their side were those from the Biřche Family who were also known as the white wolves, mainly because of their fur which was said to be as white and beautiful as snow.

The nobles from these families seemed annoyed at the events taking place. Rather than stare at her with animosity, some looked at her with intrigue, pity and boredom.

She'd rather not dwell on wether that was good or bad for her, she was too mentally exhausted.

It was noisy. Like they all started talking at once.

She closed her eyes and tried to drown out their voices, it didnt work so she focused her attention elsewhere.

The only empty seat at the top of the platform, above all the seated nobles.

Coincidentally enough, someone walked out from behind the seat as if having materialized from thin air.

He was dressed in an all black robe.

Selene peered at him through hooded eyes.

He was a middle-aged male with dark grey hair wrapped up in a ponytail, with glasses perched up on his nose. With a disposition that mirrored an apathic version of carlisle.

If the situation was any different she'd have laughed at the resemblance.

"The lady selene has been accused of the attempted murder of the ascending Emperor and as such will be judged by the Northern nobles and ranked members of the respective territories, with the General preceding as head in place of all the Kings." A voice announced from behind her.

''Lets begin.' The bespectacled judge said as the noise quieted down. "Selene-"

"General." A voice interrupted from the crowd. The tone with a twinge of warning.

The General looked over to the source and narrowed his eyes.

The one in the center of the scalanz family smiled.

"She is our masters beloved, decorum is required."

The General looked like he was about to say something but was interrupted by a sharp laugh from the left.

A noble stood up, green hair tied messily behind him. A Treslen noble.

"Our master is currently dying because of his so called beloved, decorum? What does that useless crap have to do with anything?" He glared openly at Selene.

"Dien Biřche! Watch yourself."

He diverted his eyes from her and scoffed at the Scalanz noble.

"Why would I? When it seems we're all focusing on the irrelevant. I have no idea why you would utterly betray our lord and agree to a trial instead of releasing her to me. In a day I would've tortured the cure out of her-"

"Dien!"

"Enough!"

The General ordered abruptly cutting them off.

Selene was startled when both sides calmed down and all killing intent vanished without a trace.

Judging form his ashen hair he wasn't from any of the four Great families....so how...? Who was this General?

"She will be treated with respect until a decision has been made." He announced with finality.

"Then I suggest we come to one fairly quickly as this situation leaves a rather bad taste in my mouth." Someone from the wyneck family grumbled.

Dianne finally decided to speak up now.

"Yes, you're right baān wyneck." Dianne interjected.

Selene scowled unconsciously.

She addresses him formally. It seems even as a princess she's ranked below members of the great families.

"As expected it seems majority of the nobles have already come to a suitable solution." The General said, taking his glasses off as he perused over the folder infront of him.

Dianne all but smiled with twisted glee as she stood and bowed her head slightly out of respect.

"Thank y-"

"However, the final verdict shall still be decided by me."

Dianne's head shot up so quick, selene thought she actually heard it snap.

"What do you mean General? A noble trial like you said is for the nobles to-"

"Are you stupid, Dianne Roosevelt?" Someone from the birche family spoke up.

"You're on the cusp of losing your status as princess and yet you still don't know your place." Another member of the scalanz family shook his head.

Dien Birche sighed, " It seems this is your first noble trial, so I'll explain it to you. The General has always been given the final say on every verdict to take place in place of the kings, so whatever decision in that envelope doesn't really matter. It is but a mere formality"

Dianne smiled softly.

"Oh, forgive my insolence, I ofcourse trust your judgement completely."

Impressive, Selene thought.

She could see the chaos behind that slim facade of hers. She was frustrated to the point of shedding blood. Not only was she insulted and humiliated by members of the hero families but she also realized that her entire plan might fail should the Judge pronounce her innocent.

Things were finaly gettng inetresting, she thought.

After that Dianne and some other trashy nobles that she couldn't even hope to remember began spouting various events to suport the claim. They brought up her jealous and violent tendencies including the death of heather as an avid example.

Selene felt sick to her stomach. Not because of the uncredited lies they were saying, but how they were saying them. They brought up incidents she thought was just between her and Dante.

How long had her life been on display like this? she didnt need anyone to tell her the answer to that.

It was when she first entered this forsaken place. She was a no-heritage orphan with a birth defect and a naive personality.

She had been quite a laughingstock. Entertainment for the nobles.

Selene let rage overcome her as the notion struck her...it was the only thing that kept her from crying.

"Lady selene?"

She snapped out of her reverie and reacted.

It was the General.

His eyes were on her.

Pale blue eyes stared at her like they could see her thoughts, it was unnerving.

"Yes?" she answered in raspy voice as her throat dried up.

"Did you poison your mate the King?"

There were a few audible gasps from the crowd, who could blame them, she herself was shocked by the sheer directness of the question.

The General waited for the answer unfazed by her reaction.

What answer was he looking for? He had an honest aura around him, that could be another reason why Dianne was frazzled by his appearance.

If he wasnt being influenced by the roosevelts, and his sole aim here was just to come to a decision, why ask that question infront of everyone.

Selene smiled....

How refreshing, that he didnt watch her with scorn on his face, nor pity.

She leaned back on her knees and faced him squarely.

"Does it matter?"

She felt the temperature in the room drop considerably.

Icy glares were directed at her, practically screaming, "How dare she act so smug and rude!" But she ignored them all and kept her eyes on the General.

He stared at her as if trying to discern her intention. Seemingly satisfied witht that answer, he asked his next one.

"Do you have anythig to say for yourself with the charges hat have been levelled against you?"

What a loaded question...

Selene wanted to say something snarky with a boat load of sarcasm but decided against it, instead she settled with silence.

The audble gasps in the crowd turned to loud murmurs now.

The General simply raised a brow.

"You are being suspected of the attempted murder of the Ascending emperor?" He phrased it like question, emphasising the crime to make her understand the seriousness of the situation, but still she said nothing.

"Despite your status this act is punishable by death, do you still wish to not speak on your behalf?"

What was he expecting?

There was nothing she could say here, the minute she tries to defend herself, she loses.

She could admit to behaving stupidly for quite sometime but she wasn't that stupid.

There was no need for a trial this early into the kings respite, so she understood the main gist of her appearance here.

The Nobles must have pushed for it. It seems the territorial prejudice as well as her background still grated on them and now they had her right were they wanted her.

On her knees infront of them, expected to plead.. no

..Beg for her life?

She'd rather die and all things considered, barring a miracle, it seems that was already the only glaring option.

So if she was leaving this world anyway, she was going to leave with whatever dignity she had left.

She had entertained them for far too long.

Shows over guys.

She squared her shoulders and raised her head proudly, offering the General a hardened look imploring him to read her reaction. 'My fate doesnt scare me.'

The General leaned back in his seat and studied her, his deadpan expression undecipherable.

After what felt like an eternity under his scorching gaze, he spoke up.

"Alright." He finally drawls, coming to the inevitable decision.

"For the attempted murder of the ascending emperor, Queen selene will be sentenced to death as soon as the fate of the king is decided."

Dead silence.

Selene could barely contain her reaction.

To say she was shocked, wouldn't do her justice.

Did he just...buy her time?

To fully decide the fate of the king, healers would have to be called from far and wide until there was no other option than to denounce him and crown someone else.

The whole process could take months.

Why?

The whole court seemed to have processed this as well as it was now in uproar, voices erring grievances cllapsing on each other.

"Silence."

It was a member of the Scalanz Family.

.

"Since when do we question the General's decisions. He has been appointed by the king himself, lets compose ourselves."

His eyes looked fierce as they drifted to selene. Contrary to hs words, this man wanted to hurt her very badly.

Selene stared him down, her inevitable death settled like a cloak on her shielding her from fear.

This new development giving her some atom of courage, she spoke up hesitantly.

'My subordinates...are innocent, I ask for their release." She kept her eyes emotionless as she faced the General once more.

She didnt care if people believed she had hidden intentions but if she couldn't save herself, then she could at least try to save them.

"You don't seem to realize your position here, Lady selene."

This time it was a noble from the Biirche family.

"What do you think gives you the right to-"

"I'll allow it." The general cut him off rudely.

The Biirche noble stared at him.

His face, one of total shock, gobsmacked to be honest at the disappointing turn of events.

Selene held in a smile and simply nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

She felt thanking him would be too much when her people did nothing wrong in the first place. It was only natural they be released

Her gaze slid directly to Diane who sat behind the Scalanz family.

She brought to life the phrase 'If looks could kill' for the way she stared at the general wasn't exactly subtle.

"lady selene." The general called.

"The release of your subbordinates...is that what you really want?"

His gaze held a kind of deep meaning she couldn't take apart or understand it so she just nodded slowly and while he hesitated a little at the movement, he uttered a silent very well.

"The court is now adjourned."

"Return the Lady to the main palace where she shall be confined to her room awaiting her execution."