"My lord... Lord Lucian," Erin said with a worried voice.
Lucian stirred. His head was pounding as if it got hit by a hammer. He groaned, slowly turning his face away from the light seeping in through the velvet curtains.
"What…?" he mumbled, eyes still shut. "Where am I?"
"You're back in your quarters," Erin said gently, stepping closer. "You were found unconscious by the east garden. The servants thought you had fainted or drank too much so they brought you here."
Lucian's eyes snapped open.
East garden?
He blinked at Erin, confusion and panic washing over him. "No... no, I wasn't—I wasn't drunk," he muttered, sitting up with effort. "I went outside to clear my head. Then…"
His breath hitched.
Blood.
The fall.
Reniel's face twisted in fear.
Lucian clutched the sheets, his palms sweating. "I saw him fall... Reniel. He fell."
Erin's face went still. "What did you say?"
"There was someone else… in a black robe. He pushed him. Erin, I swear I didn't do anything, I just i saw it happen. I tried to stop it, but I was too slow…"
Erin swallowed hard. "My lord... the robe you wore last night, it was covered in blood. I hid it before the others saw. I didn't know what to think. I hoped it wasn't true."
Before Lucian could speak again, the heavy doors burst open.
Three guards stormed in, followed by a man in silver armor bearing the royal crest.
"Lucian Throne," the man barked, "by the King's order, you are under arrest for the murder of Reniel Storme, Royal Tutor."
"Wait, what...., I didn't kill Reniel he was pushed by an unknown figure, I really didn't do it." Lucian shouted, stumbling back as the guards advanced. His heart was racing. "What is happening"
His voice cracked, but he didn't care.
The commander didn't blink. "Save your breath for the court."
The guards seized him roughly, twisting his arms behind his back. Erin stepped forward in alarm.
"Please! You're making a mistake!" Lucian tried to fight, but the grip on him was too tight.
They dragged him through the grand halls of Claremont, the cold marble beneath his feet contrasting sharply with the heat rushing to his face. Servants stopped and stared. Whispers buzzed like hornets:
"Did you hear?"
"They say he killed the Royal Tutor…"
"But why would Lord Lucian?"
"I always knew he was strange."
Lucian lowered his head, shame prickling his skin like needles. But not Erin.
The young servant followed closely behind, his face set with quiet resolve.
"I believe you, my lord," Erin said lowly, almost in a whisper only Lucian could hear. "No matter what they say I know you wouldn't do it."
Lucian looked over his shoulder briefly, catching Erin's eyes. That single moment grounded him.
They reached the dungeon a place reeking of damp stone and mold. The air was heavy. The guards shoved Lucian into a chair bolted to the ground, iron cuffs clamping his wrists. He winced.
A stern man stepped forward, parchment in hand. "Lucian Throne. You are accused of high treason and the murder of a royal official. Confess, and you might be granted mercy."
Lucian raised his head slowly. His voice was calm, but laced with trembling.
"Confess what!!, I said I didn't kill him," he said. "He fell because he was pushed. Someone else was there. I tried to stop it… but I was too late."
They didn't believe him.
No one did.
"Haha, it's better you confess Lord Lucian. Stop making up lies, The servants that found you said that they were blood stains in your clothing" the commander said to Lucian.
"I know but the blood stain wasn't there because I killed Reniel, he fall from the balcony and I rushed to know if I can help him so his blood stains touched m cloths". Lucian replied with tears in his eyes.
"Alright, let's believe what you are saying that the stain got there because you wanted to help but I want to ask why did you flee the crime scene since you wanted to help Lord Reniel, you could have shouted or look for help but no you decided to flee the crime scene" the commander asked with a mockery smirk on his face.
Lucian didn't know what to do, his body was already trembling in feat. They won't believe anything he is going to say.
"Talk, Lord Lucian. Why did you flee the crime scene" The commander asked aggressively.
Lucian was already in tears."Please, I didn't do anything. Am innocent, I wasn't the one that killed Lord Reniel."
"Lord Lucian crying won't help you now, just admit to what you did." Commander said holding up Lucian face as tears runs down from his face.
"I said I didn't do it, why would I kill Lord Reniel". Lucian replied back angrily.
"Now, you are shouting back at me". The commander said slapping Lucian really hard.
"And am I supposed to know why you killed Lord Reniel, every murder has a hidden agenda to any crime they committed. Lord Lucian."
"But, I really didn't do anything. Am not a murder." Lucian said with a shaking voice.
This isn't supposed to happen in the book, Lucian never got accused of murdering anyone. He wasn't even noticeable in the book and why is he being involved in a murder case. Lucian muttered
"What are muttering, Lord Lucian. Are you not ready to confess to your crime." Commander said bending down to look at Lucian face.
"I really didn't do it." Lucian said crying.
"Well, seems like you don't want to talk, Lord Lucian. I would have to make you talk then." The commander said as he head over to the table filled with tools.He ran his fingers along the rack of tools, pausing at one with rusted edges.
"Let's start slow... make sure you don't forget this day."
Lucian's heart thudded.
He already knew. They wouldn't listen. They wanted him broken. Confession or not.