Verdict and Banishment

The trial became grim as witness after witness spoke against the princess piling up evidence against her. The princess stood there with disbelief on her face at the amount of evidence against her. She knew she was innocent but somehow all the evidence pointed to her as the culprit.

Finally, the judge took a short gap to make his judgement. Everyone started whispering about the turn of events. They had never expected that their favorite princess would be accused of trying to assassinate her own parents. They did not want to believe the evidence. It broke their hearts to see the princess in this situation. There was a pin drop silence as the judge gave his decision.

"Based on the evidence presented by the chief witnesses and the undeniable facts to prove their evidence, it appears that the accused, Crown Princess Mounika, is guilty of treason."

There was an audible gasp at those ominous words. Mounika's face was drained of all color as she knew her fate was sealed at that moment.

'To think all that effort to meet the expectations of my parents and my people amounted to nothing!' she thought sadly as a sour taste rose in her mouth.

"As per the laws of Amba Puram, the accused has one final chance to speak before the verdict is pronounced." everyone turned towards the diminutive princess who always seemed to punch above her weight. After all, she was really tiny - just six feet tall when compared to the normal standard of 60 feet for a royal female. "Does the accused have anything to say?"

Mounika cleared her throat, an indication that she was prepared to speak. People became silent, their ears intent on catching every single word that this Lilliputian sized princess had to say.

"Yes, Mister Justice, we (royal we) wish to speak." she took a deep breath steeling her nerves and expelling all emotions from her voice. As a royal, she was not supposed to show any emotion in front of the subjects she ruled over.

"Amba Puram has always been proud of being a nation full of people who never lie. But it is really tragic that the reputation is now in shambles!" there was a murmur among the crowd at this since the princess was openly accusing the witnesses of lying! This was something unheard of before!

"When the accused is a crown princess, the evidence presented has to be convincing. Strong evidence need not be convincing." the emperor's brow rose for a fraction of a second at this, a movement that did not escape Mounika's hawk eye.

"A just trial is one where both sides of the coin are examined thoroughly leaving no scope for doubt regarding the crime." everyone nodded at those words unable to understand what their princess was trying to say.

"It is tragic that such a basic principle of justice seems to be absent in this trial!" that was a bombshell that Mounika had thrown in. The shell-shocked faces of the people in her view screen she was supplied with as a princess almost brought a smile into her face. The people were listening to her and that was all that mattered despite the outcome of this trial.

"The trial did not deem it necessary to establish beyond doubt that no conspiracy was involved!" though she spoke normally, the words sounded like a whiplash to those present. The witnesses, sitting in the witness area that was hidden from the princess, were starting to sweat.

"Do you realize what you are saying princess?" Ambassador Jaideep was not one to be cowed; definitely not by one who was even younger than his own youngest granddaughter! The audience was getting a far better entertainment than they had bargained for. So, each pair of eyes was watching the show afraid to even blink!

"We (royal we) are aware of our choice of words, Ambassador!" Mounika replied cooly making the youngsters in the crowd admire her secretly for her gallant defense. even the elders seemed impressed by her argument. "We (royal we) don't mean any disrespect to the seat of justice, nor do we (royal we) wish to downplay the legendary laws of this great empire!"

Mounika noticed a nano level twitch in her mother's lip, something only the former or her father could have noticed. That meant that her mother was relieved that Mounika had not rebelled openly by denouncing the laws of the land.

"It appears to me that we place a blind trust on the testimony of the witnesses and their ability to speak the truth!" she looked the emperor in the eye, a gesture that seemed to bring a coldness to the eyes that were already cold. A shudder ran down her spine as she knew how ruthless this emperor could be when he was on the seat of justice.

"Father," the crowd gasped at her audacity of addressing the emperor like that in such a situation, "you are not the acting justice and hence I have to say this to you." Mounika summoned her hidden reserves of courage to say what she was about to say for she could not falter at this moment.

"You display a maturity that belies your age princess!" Ambassador Jaideep's remarks brought a smile on the emperor's lips, and the spectators gasped at the double miracle.

"I hope I could learn enough, Guruji!" the day seemed to throw in punch after punch making the crowd wonder if this was real or just a dream. They sincerely hoped it was a dream.

Mounika faced emperor Manoj again. "How can we trust the testimony blindly after what happened during my birth father?" the crowd gulped down in fear, afraid to breathe, sweat trickling down their foreheads. It had suddenly become impossible to breathe.

Mounika failed to notice a change in the emperor's countenance despite her best efforts and her heart sank. It meant only one thing - her father had shut his heart out to her forever! She turned to look at the empress and she had already become a living statue, dead to her daughter.

"After due consideration of the facts and testimony of the witnesses, we find the crown princess Mounika, guilty of treason." this did not come as a surprise either to Mounika or to the audience since they knew that she had committed suicide when she referred to the incidents during her birth.

"Since she is a royal, she is hereby banished permanently from Amba Puram. Her royal codes and seals are to be confiscated and she is to leave this kingdom and find her new home among the lowly humans!"

The crowd gave the princess looks of sympathy for this was the cruelest punishment that a convict could ever get.