After the elder left, Moros appeared. He was nervous, she could see it in his shifting eyes and quick movements.
"How are you feeling?" Moros asked with concern in his voice.
"Fine, I'm over it now. Where's Jefre?"
"He's gone, he's nowhere to be found. I don't know if that's good. He wasn't supposed to be hanging around the court until the trial was over." Moros nervously rubbed his chin and then sat down on Setia's bed.
"He was supposed to disappear, but he's gone. We need to interrogate Aktis's servants; maybe one of the girls will break down and testify against her." Setia rose from her sickbed and leaned comfortably against the back of the bed. "You said she wanted to run. That's very good, that will work against her. We have to handle this quickly. Tomorrow's the preliminary hearing, and the day after tomorrow's the execution. We'll bring another 20 mercenaries to the city for security."
"Aren't you afraid she'll start talking about Jefre and blaming him for everything, for collaborating with us?" Moros finally decided to voice his concerns.
"No, brother, Aktis isn't stupid. What if she says she sent a hitman after us? I don't think she would. And if she did, Jefre worked for her, deceived us all, and now he's gone," She said, a little more quietly. "Moros, everything's fine, it was supposed to be that way. Tendred didn't feel a thing; it was a good death."
Moros nodded silently, stood up, and headed for the exit.
"I'm going to take care of the maids," He said without turning to face her. His voice was laced with weariness.
Dawn was approaching slowly as she was watching the sky change color through the window. Sleep didn't come for a long time, and when she did manage to fall asleep, it was only for short, nervous dozes. She was tired, yet she couldn't sleep. The worst part was the uncertainty. She had no idea what was about to happen. Aktis rose from the floor, where she had been sitting, leaning against the bed, and went to the window. She had to devise a strategy. Outside, she observed a semblance of normality: guards yawned at the gate, a servant girl was carrying a bucket of water, and a moment later another passed the yard with an armful of wood. The activity in the courtyard was increasing, just as the sun was rising up in the sky.
A new day.
Aktis shook herself. She had water in a basin, so she washed her face, sat in front of the mirror, and untied her hair. Then, with a practiced, even motion, she combed her shiny golden locks. She had no servants, so she couldn't count on help with her morning toilet. Perhaps it was for the best; with her hair loose, she looked like a statue, more innocent. She went to the clothes chest and found a white dress with silver trim, Fenigrid's colors. This is how she would present herself, the white, innocent Queen Fenigrid. She took a deep breath and looked at her reflection. After all, she was the queen, no one had the right to simply kill her. There would be a trial according to the law; they had to prove her guilt. And yet, they had nothing but slander. She had to be strong and confident. Jefre, her faithful Jefre. She had no doubt who had poisoned the wine, but if he had wanted to carry out her mission, he wouldn't have chosen this moment. He would have waited for her to leave. He wasn't carrying out her mission, the one-eyed viper must have bewitched him. She felt a pang of regret, despair, and hatred. He had abandoned her for that scumbag from nowhere. She has to expose that evil woman.
It wasn't until around noon that the door to her chamber opened. Two guards dressed in black entered.
"You'll come with us," the guard's voice was firm and impersonal.
"Where?" Aktis stood and approached the men. "I don't think I have the right to know where I'm going?"
"To the audience hall, where the trial will take place." The guards grabbed her arm and unceremoniously pushed her toward the exit.
"Easy, soldier, you don't have to tug at me. Mind who I am!" She said, giving him a haughty look. "I know the way."
They set off with a soft clatter of boots on the floor. Curious servants stood along the way; some shook their heads at the sight of her, and two women even spat at her feet. Aktis felt a chill creep over her.
The audience hall was filled with people. They were residents of Emfer, ordinary townspeople, sweat-smelling laborers, and dirty women. What a spectacle, but what could one expect from this simpleton? She was placed opposite a row of chairs occupied by city councilors and the duchess's brother.
"We welcome you, Queen Dowager," Moros began. "We are gathered here to learn the truth."
Aktis looked at the court members again, then, lifting her head high with a smile, said.
"The court cannot be held. As Queen Dowager, I have the right to be judged by someone of my own birth. No nobleman sits on your council," Then she looked defiantly at Moros.
"But the Princess will sit." At these words, Aktis turned and saw Setia, supported by a guard, slowly dragging herself, with a pained expression, to the seat her brother had given up in the council. She sat down, placed her hands on her stomach, breathed for a moment, eyes closed, and then ordered loudly, "Let us begin. It's time to learn the truth. Does the Queen Dowager wish a legist to represent her?" Setia asked, pointing to a man Aktis found unfamiliar, a portly man who was constantly wiping sweat from his brow. "No," Aktis replied arrogantly, without hesitation. "I have nothing to hide."
"Then we begin." Setia shifted in her high chair and nodded to the man standing to the side with a scroll of paper in her hand.
"We invite the elder who assisted the princess and examined the remains of the feast to testify in front of the Council." The legist's voice rang out, and it wasn't Marwin, but another man with a short beard and a long face. The elder entered the hall, and Aktis understood that they had decided to humiliate her by standing in the middle, unable to rest on a chair.
"Please introduce yourself and state the essential facts concerning the poisoning of Prince Tendred and Princess Setia."
"My name is Lanifor, I am an elder of Emferu. Yesterday I was summoned due to the princess's ill health. Upon arrival, I discovered that Prince Tendred was dead and the princess was fighting for her life. She was saved because of vomiting, the color and consistency of which revealed traces of a poison . After serving the princess herbal infusions, I examined the food and drinks left on the table, which had been previously preserved. I found poison in the goblets of the princess and Prince Emfer."
"We thank Elder Lanifor, does the Queen Dowager wish to ask the Elder a question?"
"Yes," Aktis replied firmly. "Where exactly was the poison found?"
"In your goblets." The Elder calmly repeated the information.
"And was the wine in the carafe also poisoned?" Aktis continued.
"Not yours."
"I understand. Can we say with certainty that the goblets themselves weren't poisoned?" Aktis triumphantly glanced around the assembled group.
"I suppose so, Elder," the Elder continued, not losing the thread. "The poison stains the silver, and it's difficult to place it on the goblets without being visible."
Aktis fell silent. He seemed to be considering something. After a moment of silence, the legist broke the silence.
"Do you have any questions?"
"No."
"We thank Elder Lanifor, and we invite Karisa." The legist called for another witness.