Morena felt her legs weaken, tears welling up.
"It's not fair…" she whispered, her voice breaking.
— I gave myself body and soul for this kingdom for years...
—And this is how you thank me?
Asher remained impassive.
— It's not because you've done a lot for the kingdom
— that you have the right to take it with you in your fall.
He paused.
—After all, your quarrel with Alastor does not concern us.
—Why should we sacrifice the kingdom for your misunderstandings?
—Misunderstandings?! Morena choked.
—Are you going to deny your complicity in the attack on Miria?
The room froze.
- What ?
—Miria?!
A man suddenly stood up, Lord Kaelthar, father of Morena.
"Sir Asher," he said in a trembling voice, "
—What are you talking about?
Asher slowly turned his head towards Morena.
—I'm talking about the fact that your daughter joined forces with Alastor to harm Miria.
—And when that failed...
— They chose to destroy each other.
"Morena…" Kaelthar murmured.
— Tell me it's not true.
Morena lowered her head.
The Council gasped.
"And that's not all," Asher continued.
"Years ago, you had Kira raped by Prince Eiden.
"You drugged them both to blackmail Eiden.
Lysander stood up, livid.
— But… stammered Councilor Lysandre,
— we thought it was an accident...
"It wasn't," Asher said.
—We hushed up the affair to avoid a scandal.
He inhaled.
—But what about the attack on Miria?
—Orchestrated by Alastor under the orders of Morena?
The room became chaotic.
— the first fault was tolerated.
—But the attack on Miria?
— Attack which allowed Varek to intervene.
— Attempted murder of Prince Eiden.
— Endangerment of Prince Bryan.
—How is this possible? asked an advisor.
"There is a traitor," Asher replied.
—Someone who informed Fishlegs of the plot.
A heavy silence.
"Now ask yourself a question," Asher said slowly.
—If Miria had been kidnapped...
—If Fishlegs had tortured her to obtain the ancient grimoire of the Founders...
—What would have happened?
Nobody answered.
—Morena, Asher concluded,
— you put all the clans in danger for your whims.
He moved forward.
— Normally, your sentence would be death.
—But I cannot kill Lord Kaelthar's child.
He took a deep breath.
—Your punishment will therefore be as follows:
— You are stripped of your title.
—And you will be married by contract to Prince Alastor.
A muffled cry ran through the room.
Morena collapsed to her knees.
— No...
— Not that… pity…
"It's irrevocable," Asher replied.
He turned to the Council.
—Is anyone opposed?
Morena searched for a look.
Even his father looked away.
"Very well," Asher concluded.
—Contact King Astarion.
Morena stood up, broken, and ran out of the room, her sobs echoing through the corridors. Her father watched her leave, heartbroken.