63: Theory But No Proof

Theory But No Proof

"The Third Princess," King Armen corrected.  2

He didn't like his daughter being called a 'witch', and one needed to give respect to the Third Princess of Abetha. 

Lord Eudes stepped forward with an amiable expression. "Minister of the Left, do be careful of your words, lest the royal court misunderstands you that you are blatantly showing disrespect to the royal family and your entire family earns the ire of the crown."

"Apologies, Your Majesty! That is not my intention." The old minister lowered his head lightly and unwillingly, but he did not look defeated. He was sure soon the King would not have anything to say. "What happened in the palace the previous night, we all know it's because of Her Highness the Third Princess's scream. Countless innocent people within the palace can attest to the truth of this. The incidents from the past are proof that the Third Princess is capable of doing so as even us old ministers all had witnessed the effect of her scream when she was a child." 

The King couldn't deny it as it was the truth. 

"But have you considered the possibility of what must have happened to make her scream like that?" the King asked. 

One more minister stepped forward. "We all wish Your Majesty to hear us all this time. We, your loyal subjects, all know the Third Princess is His Majesty's daughter, and as her father, you would try to protect her, but His majesty can't ignore his responsibility towards the kingdom and its people."

Another minister stepped out to bawl in exaggeration. "Your Majesty, I had sent my only daughter to the palace as an attendant to the Queen, and she is but a child not yet fifteen, yet last night, she has fainted from extreme blood loss and is still currently being nursed to health. I can only thank Her Majesty for looking after my poor daughter, but...but we must deal with the person who caused harm to the innocent! Not only me, but many of us in this room also have family and friends affected by last night's incident. This time, His Majesty should listen to our pleading even though the one we are talking against is the Third Princess. His Majesty should not forget the kingdom and its people come first before anyone else."

Many of those in the noble faction started to say the same thing about their relatives being hurt in unison, but King Armen remained unaffected and simply watched them in silence. 

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Darus Count, signaled everyone to stop and talked, "Your Majesty, your loyal subjects beg you to continue protecting the kingdom and its people. We only seek justice for the innocent people affected by such a tragedy, and we wish for no more life to be harmed, or worse lost, in the future. We beg for Your Majesty to make a decision to appease the troubled and terrified hearts of your people.  Your Majesty, please punish the culprit not to let this incident happen again!"

One more minister added, "Not just the previous night's incident, but all the unholy incidents happening in the kingdom since the Third Princess had performed black magic inside her tower."

The Minister of the Left sighed. "Your Majesty, first, her black magic is a practice unacceptable in itself. Not only that, but she also brought misfortune to this kingdom. Due to the Third Princess, the Crown Prince, who is the sole heir to the royal family, got abducted, then this disaster in the palace where she no doubt hurt innocent people. Just today, we have also received news from the territorial lords of the western part of the kingdom that they are under a pandemic as the plague is spreading over. All these misfortunes at the same time after she performed her black magic are no coincidence, but all her doing." 

Before King Armen could reply, Minister Darus Count added the final nail in the coffin.

"And we finally found proof of the Third Princess's utter disregard for human life. Last night, the two royal knights protecting her residence were found badly mutilated inside her place, where no one but her could step in.  Two strong men, what inhuman strength must be needed in order to subjugate them? Is this not the work of a demon, or a witch? Your Majesty, will you still protect an evil woman who practices black magic by using human sacrifice?"

"What proof?" King Armen asked in a cold tone. "What proof do you have to show that it was her doing?" 

Minister Count did not back down. "Your Majesty, we all know that the Third Princess  is a witch and only witches can—"

"Mere words of accusation? That is your proof?" King Armen could not help but sneer as he interrupted the minister. "Did anyone among you personally see her doing your so-called 'black magic'? Can anyone within the royal court bring me a witness who had seen her kill anyone?"

Before anyone could reply, King Armen continued, "Minister, you yourself have admitted that it is common knowledge for our people to know that my daughter's scream could wreak havoc. Have any of you considered the possibility that when the security around the tower was weak, someone had plotted against the Third Princess to scare her and use her powers against her?"

"Your Majesty, why would anyone do such an act against the royal family when the entire kingdom is worried about Prince Cian's abduction?" one of the ministers countered.

"How timely, is it not?" King Armen remarked as he tapped on his armrest. "How timely that such an incident happened after we got the news that the Crown Prince was rescued. Although the fact that my son had been rescued was not yet made public to the common people, it is also not kept a secret to those who have the ability to inquire about this news. Moreover, the preparator must have found it as a good opportunity when the entire attention was shifted towards my son's rescue and the  attention paid towards the tower had been at its lowest."

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