Mated To The Cruel Prince novel Chapter 730

Chapter 730: Revelation

A huge tension enveloped the courtroom after Andre brought up the issue of Lady Elena murdering Lord Karle of the Winter Court. The shockwave of the accusation was palpable, reverberating through the grand hall. All eyes darted nervously around the room, faces twisted in confusion and disbelief, and whispers began to spread like wildfire.

Lord Raysin, Elena’s father, sprang to his feet, his face contorted with fury. "What is the meaning of this?" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls. "Are you trying to mock my daughter’s death?"

Andre, maintaining his composure, replied, "I assure you, Lord Raysin, I am neither mocking nor taking any pleasure in your daughter’s death. Our intent is to settle every issue that occurred in the Winter Court to prevent an all-out war from breaking out."

His words, calm but firm, did little to placate Lord Raysin, who still bristled with anger, eyes blazing as he scanned the room for support.

However, the same ministers who had been on his side moments ago, chanting for Aldric’s arrest, now exchanged uneasy glances, looking everywhere but at him.

The tension in the grand hall was so thick it seemed to crackle in the air, every murmur and whisper amplifying the strained atmosphere.

As if the first accusation wasn’t shocking enough, Andre continued, his voice firm and unyielding. "Furthermore, Lady Elena also stands accused of witchcraft and using a charm on royalty, specifically on Prince Aldric. Such actions, if proven, carry the punishment of death."

The courtroom erupted into a cacophony of gasps and outraged murmurs. Every high Fae in the room exchanged bewildered glances, and a collective growl of disapproval rumbled through the assembly.

They had not heard of these accusations before, and the shock was evident on their faces. The accusation of witchcraft was a grave one, and no one wanted to be associated with it.

Queen Maeve sat composed, her regal facade unbroken. But inwardly, she was seething with anger. Her eyes, though calm, blazed with an inner fire as she watched the unfolding drama, her mind racing with the implications of these revelations.

She glanced at her husband and if her power were invisible and covered such a wide range, King Oberon would be dead by now. No wonder, Aldric’s case was so easy.

She should have known this was her husband Oberon’s plan to save that damned son of his, Aldric. Each accusation against Elena was a calculated move, a strategy to shift the blame and protect that dark Fae son of his.

The accusations had thrown the entire court into disarray, and the ministers had no idea how to proceed anymore.

Lord Raysin was left in utter confusion. His wife broke down in tears beside him, mourning for her child while he scanned the room, taking in the reactions of those around him. There was so many conversations going on for him to understand the currents of power and opinion flowing through the court, to predict what to do next. He was left enraged instead.

He stepped into the middle of the hall and approached the dais when the guards attempted to move, King Oberon signaled them to stop.

Lord Raysin did not climb the rest of the stairs, having the sense to stop. His face had turned a dangerous shade of red.

"These are baseless accusations, your majesty!" he shouted, his voice trembling with rage. "My daughter Elena was a strong and promising child and would never engage in such dark arts!"

King Oberon, who had been a silent observer, his expression inscrutable, finally spoke. "Are you saying I lie, lord Raysin?"

"Of course not, your majesty!" He bowed his head quickly as a show of respect. He lifted them a little to say, "It’s just that Prince Andre must just be a little mistaken."

"But Lord Raysin, have you forgotten that every accusation must be proven with evidence, just like earlier?" Andre’s voice dripped with sarcasm as he leveled his gaze at the furious lord.

Andre had clearly taken offense at Lord Raysin’s implication that his investigation was flawed. He took his job seriously, and nothing irked him more than having his achievements belittled. In a low, taunting tone, he added, "Our aim is to ensure justice for all parties involved in this little accident. Have you forgotten?"

Lord Raysin let out a threatening growl, his fists clenched at his sides. The muscles in his jaw twitched, but Andre remained unfazed, his expression calm and calculated. He had orchestrated this moment meticulously, knowing that the outcome, while uncertain, was a pivotal point in the unfolding drama.

Andre knew that Lord Raysin was well aware Elena had been possessed by the witch Lola before the incident. Their investigations had uncovered the truth, even if they had chosen to obscure it. But with Queen Maeve’s involvement, the Raysin family was likely to leverage this opportunity to claim Elena’s innocence, accusing King Oberon of trying to shield Aldric from prosecution, as was often rumored.

Andre anticipated the attacks on Aldric wouldn’t cease. The Raysin family, possibly rallying other noble houses, would press King Oberon to surrender Aldric for prosecution, leaving the king with few choices but to comply. Andre’s plan was to preempt this by framing the narrative differently: rather than argue that Lola had possessed Elena, he would instead present Elena as a willing practitioner of dark arts. Thus, Lady Elena, entangled in witchcraft and manipulating royalty, was culpable for her actions, including the murder of a high lord. Aldric’s actions could then be seen as a rightful vengeance, freeing him of any charge.

The lengths he went to for Aldric—though the brooding prince hardly appreciated it—were necessary. Andre knew this move would stir trouble with Queen Maeve, but he could not idly watch Astaria plunge into chaos. He had seen Aldric’s capacity for destruction and preferred an honorable duel to a devastating war. A war would leave nothing but ashes and ruin, erasing the kingdom they were trying to save.

Andre turned to the assembly, his voice ringing with authority. "I, Andre, Prince of the Autumn Court, stand as witness to testify that Lady Elena dabbled in witchcraft."

The courtroom erupted into a cacophony of gasps and murmurs. Shockwaves of disbelief and outrage rippled through the hall, which seemed to shrink under the weight of the unfolding drama.

Queen Maeve’s eyes met Andre’s, and for the first time, her regal facade cracked, revealing a death glare aimed squarely at him. Her fury was palpable, a silent promise of retribution. However, Andre would think about that one later.

He went on to say, "I was unfortunately kidnapped by Elena in the winter court after I get too close to the truth. She intended to get rid of me, before I released Prince Aldrc from the spell she held him under. Her intention was to finish me off after she was done with Aldrc. But the gods were on my side."

"And why would Elena do such?" Queen Maeve finally spoke, her fierce gaze boring into his. "Why would Elena do all this you accuse her of?"

"With all due respect, your majesty, the Queen, but this is not accusation but facts. Also, you ask me what her intention was, what do all members of the royal family fight for? Power? Authority? I’ll leave that to you to guess."

Bullshit! Fucking Bullshit! Queen Maeve’s hands were balled into a fist. She could have argued that but Andre already held the attention of the assembly and it would seem suspicious if she knew too much.

"And as far lord Karle’s murder, here’s the evidence." Andre clicked his hand and a bed was wheeled in.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify