Chapter 14: The King cares

She responded softly, careful not to raise her voice.

"I only wish to repay your kindness, my lady. If it weren't for you, my mate and pup would have perished. You risked your life to save them when the kingdom was under attack. You didn't care that we weren't humans, you helped us." The guard explained.

A Lot of attacks had happened in the past, and Genevieve could remember that she saved a lot of people and she never thought he was one.

"It was my duty as a citizen, but saving me isn't your duty." I smiled at him, but his face fell.

"It's alright. If this is my fate, I won't run away from it, nor will I drag others into my misfortune," She responded firmly.

She vividly remembered saving the guard's mate, but I didn't do it with the expectation of being repaid. She had acted out of a sense of duty as a child herself, so it was normal.

"Don't worry, I am prepared to face whatever they throw my way," she reassured him. She had made up her mind to enter the judgment hall, plead not guilty, and forget defending herself. She believed in her own innocence, and that was enough for her.

Immediately after she entered the hall, she noticed that it was packed with people. The council of elders occupied the front podium, while the rest of the attendees stood behind them.

She briefly scanned the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of the one person she desperately longed to see. However, he was nowhere to be found.

Evelyne and the queen dowager sat together, wearing triumphant smiles, positioned just beside the empty seat.

Her gaze lingered on them for a while, and then she looked everywhere trying to avoid their gaze but she could still feel them on her.

"Today, we gather here for the trial of Lady Genevieve," the officiator announced, and the hall fell into a hushed silence.

"Lady Genevieve is faced with allegations of having an affair with another man, and colluding with the enemy to overthrow the Alpha, and leaking information about the pack to the enemy. How do you plead?"

Then was salience.

"Lady Genevieve, do you plead guilty for having an affair with another man and planning to dethrone the king?" It was Lord Thomas that asked this time.

It was not a surprise to her she knew that he never liked her so this was indeed an opportunity.

"I plead not guilty," she muttered without flushing.

"Do you have any proof that you are innocent?" The other elder, Lord Joel asked.

"No," she muttered again and they all eyed themselves.

"The accusations against Luna have been supported by substantial evidence. I call upon the 3 witnesses to testify," the officiator declared.

"We call on the first witness." The officiator said.

"I saw Lady Genevieve and her lover kiss each other. I heard them talking about dethroning the king by poison."

Praise to the gods this was so funny.

Why didn't they call the name of my so-called lover?

The second was a maid who claimed I had given her a letter and map of the palace to hand over to my lover.

It was well thought out.

If I wasn't the accuse I was have believed too

The last was the queen dowager, she brought out the stroll with my fack letter and after her maid read it out she went back to her seat.

"Lady Genevieve has been found guilty of her crimes. She will face public execution by beheading."

After considering the evidence, the verdict was delivered with a chilling declaration.

I looked around searching for my mother, father or him… I just wanted to see them once. The king probably believed everything and wanted me dead too. Why would he be here?

"After seeing all the evidence, Lady Genevieve has been found guilty of her crimes. She will face public execution by beheading."

After considering the evidence, the verdict was delivered with a chilling declaration.

Beheading was the swiftest method of punishment, leaving no room for delay or reprieve. It showed that they were eager to dispose of me as quickly as possible.

I understood the rushed proceedings. Everything had been orchestrated to ensure my swift demise, and I was grateful for that at least.

"Lady Genevieve, do you have any last words?"

The officiator offered me a final opportunity to speak before leaving this world like an ant.

"UHM…"

"I would like to know why she would have the last words when she can't die? In fact you can't kill her" I heard his voice, as usual it was low but horribly dangerous.

Everyone began to shiver and even alpha Thomas stepped backwards.

"Queen dowager who gave you the right to create such a stupid plan to get rid of my mate?!" He roared, turning to his mother.

Genevieve turned to him because she had thought he believed them and also wanted her dead. At that point all she wanted to do was hug him.

But how did they get the writing on the latter to look just like hers?

Only her family members have seen her write. Wait, Alaric?

"How dare you?" The queen dowager said as she tried to sound firm but her voice betrayed her.

"I will deal with you later." He said and she looked everywhere.

"The lady would be under house arrest until her innocence is proven. No one dares harass my mate!"

With that he took her by the hand and dragged her out of the hall with him.

He felt so angry at himself for not being there she must have suffered a lot.

He received news of an intrusion and had to leave for the borders only to get there to find out that it was a set up.

He wanted to kill someone, anyone, just to get rid of his anger.

He knew it was his mother but he could not kill her, he promised.

The Queen Dowager presents false evidence that Genevieve plotted against the throne. Edric, torn between his instincts and duty, is forced to hold her in confinement until an investigation is completed.

Genevieve suspects someone close to her has betrayed her.

Alaric visits her in secret, offering to help her escape—but for a price. She should marry him and they would bring Edric down.

Edric is confronted by his court, demanding he annul the mate bond.

Genevieve is sentenced to execution.

Edric wasn't around.

As soon as they got to the room.

Slam

He closed the door behind her and pulled her into a hug.

"I'm so sorry I thought… I thought… goddess, little black are you hurt?" He pulled away to access her but before he could ask more questions Genevieve felt her eyes spin as they became blurry and then darkness.