chapter 7 episode 3
"my lord, words reaching me is that your sister has been placed on house arrest by lord shark"
"why is that"
"according to our spy she tried to poison his majesty "
(tray drops) causing him to turn towards the direction
"madam grace you see my sister isn't that different form me after all" nellie brother said as he walks up to madam grace grace who had drop the tray out of shocked as she heard about nellie predicament .
"ready the men it is time to reveal the treaty"
* * * *
Days went by swiftly , nellie investigation was over. it was time to bring justice to the Shawn man even if it was once in a life time
"nellie you ask for time to prove your innocence and if i am not mistaken you called us here because your investigation is over" Derek asked
"yes"
" why are we even listening to this am sure she just want to play damsel in distress " Andriana said
"greetings my lord" nellie said ignoring what Andriana had just said" before i go any further i will like to make a request "
"you have some nerve , because his grace gave you enough grace, you stand here and wish to make a request"
"speak" lord shark said wanting to know what she has up her sleeves, he has become fascinated with her lately and the progress of her investigation amazed him a lot he had no idea that shawn land still had educated fellows
"thank you my lord" nellie said with a mischievous grin" if i am able to prove my innocence, his grace will have to do two things firstly, my nanny who had taken care of me madam grace i will like to bring her over here, and secondly he grace would not be permitted to have any mistress within the palace not even Andriana "
when Maya brought up this plan i was so scared but seeing the shock on their faces most especially the look on Andriana, like a teenager whose parent has just told to end her relationship with her high school sweetheart.
" what! you have not right, you have no right to tell his grace who to take to bed and who not to" Andriana said with so much fear" you cant agree to that who knows if this was her plan all along"
"silence" lord shark yelled "agreed" nellie could only but smiled she and release the breathe she had no idea she was holding
"thank you my lord "
"you can now present your investigation"
After giving details account of all the maidens that handle her tea time with lord shark,nellie went further to prove she had not committed the crime because she had not stepped out of the palace and the only time she did she was with his grace.
" oh please you think we are stupid , you could have sent someone in your place"
" that brings me to my next evidence"
maya hands over a file to lord shark, not that he isn't aware of the whole investigation, darain had secretly filled him on the process
"there are 12 stores in the whole land that sell sliver borne, 5 are within the Shawn land 4 are scatter around white land the rest are petty shop not far from here the closet is kilometers away by foot if you would see there in that file is the records of all their sales from the beginning of the year till the day of the investigation" nellie explain so confidently that not just was she able to get the attention of everyone but she spoke with all confidence that even lord shark couldn't help but smile
" how sure are we you didnt make this up" lord shark asked to further test her skills
"yes that true for all we know this could be false we need a physical evidence"
" true Andriana, if you look closely at the nearest shop one of their recent costumer happens to be nellie shawn man " whille nellie was still speaking darain came in with a man probably in his sixties, he was very chubby and had a bald head, he had a mark across his face a mark that one would only get from wars
"your grace " he greeted " i am the store owner of the store miles away"
"and is this your sales records "
"yes your grace"
" it says here that you sold to one nellie Shawn "
"yes my lord"
" can you point to her "
" am sorry my lord but she isnt present here today"
"are you sure you seem pretty old , and maybe your memories had juggled "
"i might be old my lord but i cant forget the face of my costumers , not quickly my lord" while the man was still speaking xena was ruthlessly dragged in by some of the guards
" over there my lord , that is her i can never forget the face"
" it a lie this is a set up , my lord nellie is trying to set up xena because she is my maid , to get back at me "
" where were you eight nights ago" darain asked this time around
" i went to visit my mother she was sick"
"really" every one attention was distracted as a elderly woman walked in side by side with maya
"mama" xena said with a look of surprise and fear . when maya had predicted xena would lie about visiting her mother and they wouldn't have any choice but involving her , nellie refused she didnt have any problem with the mother and wouldn't want to break her heart seeing her daughter tied up
" how can you be so heartless huh nellie bring her mother here to witness her daughter being humiliated" Andriana said and nellie could help but look sad she only wished it didn't come to this
" please leave my mother out of this "
" ma'am did xena visit you of recent " maya asked
"no she always send me money but hardly visit home and when i ask why she always says she is busy and couldn't visit " she replied with her elderly tone
"oh mamà" (mama) xena said
"this was found in her room"darain said " the remaining sliver borne
" oh child" xena mother said as she staggers to get her position but was supported by maya .
"do you want to deny this , xena" lord shark asked
xena looked at Andriana for a long time with so much fear and pleading for help
"Andriana has the cat got your tongue now " maya said
"please my lord my mother and my lady has nothing to do with this it was all me, i just couldn't bear my lady face the rejection she was feeling when you started becoming fond of lady nellie, please spare my life" she broke down in tears
" that is still not an excuse to try to take his grace life " derek said with so much anger
"no i didnt believe me , please my lady please"
"well this had lasted long enough , derek darain see to it " lord shark said and walks out
* * * *
" my lord please she only did it for me, spare her life , think of her mother, no mother will be able to stand the death of her child no matter the offence she committed" Andriana pleaded
lord shark sighs and looks at darain who understood immediately and leaves to carry out the his order
"you can leave"
"thank you your grace" she stands to leave but paused and perhaps you will always be honouring your words to nellie"
" you know me better than anyone Andriana , i am a man of my words"
* * * * *
Andriana walks angrily down the dungeon where maya was kept
" this is your fault , i told you to be careful"
"my Lady am sorry , i just wanted to please you"
"well, Well done at that cause i just lost my love to that stupid shawn man and it is all your fault ". Andriana said
" yes but it isnt over yet"
" what do you mean"
"i sent message to her brother that she was arrested, and you know it is against the treaty that was signed"
" what are you talking out "
" if you can get me out of here i will find a way to make it look like her brother was behind it "
" how will that be of any help dummy it not her brother sleeping with his grace but her"
" leave that to me , just get me out"
* * * *
nellie sat on her bed for the first time in her entire life she stood up for herself , if only her mum could see her now she would be so proud. she vowed not to go down with out a fight anymore.
( knock ,knock )
she walks to open the door only to be shocked to see lord shark
"your.... your grace" she stammers as he makes his way in. she quickly shut the door as she stands before him , he took the opportunity to look around
"do you need anything my lord" he paused for away before giving up a mischievous smile
"yes , you"
"what !" nellie said with so much shock
* * * *