When King Alfred II stormed Crescent Keep with his knights, Elena collapsed at his feet. Blood stained the Gryphon ring on his hand.
"She tried to kill me!"
Isabella tossed the bloodied knife away.
"I demand a Knight's Trial."
The hall fell silent. Under the Chivalric Code, nobles were entitled to duel in defense of honor.
Alfred narrowed his eyes, the silver mask's strap cutting deeper into his burned cheek.
"Your reason?"
"Your lady laced my wine with poison," Isabella said, pointing to the eaten-away carpet. "And confessed to murdering both former queens."
Lily stepped forward.
"I swear by the Virgin!" she cried. "I heard her say: 'Beneath the irises lie enough foolish women to fill a chapel.'"
Elena's scream was drowned out by a blaring horn.
Richard de Clare burst through the doors, bloodstained and battle-worn.
"Sire! A French cipher intercepted at Dover!"
He handed over a scroll bearing the crest of House Valois.
Alfred broke the seal just as Elena lunged for the hearth to destroy it.
His blade met her neck mid-flight.
"Your father traded three cities to make you my mistress," he said coldly. "Now he trades my life for Flanders?"
Isabella stood frozen as Lily unfastened her collar.
Across the maid's scarred chest was a brand—the Templar Cross.
"I served the last Queen," she said. "I saw Elena drip iris poison into His Majesty's wine."