The throne room doors loomed ahead, tall enough to swallow a carriage whole. Two guards swung them open, their polished armor gleaming in the morning light. I stepped inside, my chin high, my heartbeat measured.
The air was heavy with incense and judgment. Courtiers lined the walls in whispering clusters. At the far end, upon the dais beside the King's empty throne, stood Crown Princess Seraphine—radiant as sunlight on glass, and just as cutting.
"Lady Evelyn," she said sweetly, her voice carrying like a song laced with venom. "We've been hearing… curious things about your recent behavior."
I approached with measured steps. "Curious, Your Highness? Or inconvenient?"
A ripple of laughter snaked through the onlookers, quickly stifled. Seraphine's smile did not falter. "Inconvenient, perhaps. I only wish to ensure your… reformation is genuine."
She raised a hand. At her signal, Lady Isolde Harrin appeared from the courtiers' ranks, gliding forward with a scroll in hand. "Your Highness," Isolde said with perfect poise, "I have witness statements claiming Lady Evelyn attempted to interfere with royal affairs during the King's ball."
Gasps. Murmurs. Exactly the public noose they wanted to tighten.
System Prompt:
Critical Decision — Respond to False Accusation
Options:
Deny firmly, risking escalation.
Turn the accusation back on Isolde with evidence.
Play the obedient noble and gain time.
I felt every eye on me, every held breath. Then I smiled faintly.
"Your Highness," I said, "I did not interfere. I prevented a disaster. If my loyalty is in question, then let us summon the King's food-taster and see whose testimony survives daylight."
The room froze. Isolde's knuckles whitened around her scroll.
Seraphine's golden eyes glinted, assessing. "Very well, Lady Evelyn. We will speak of this again—soon."
Permission to withdraw was implied, not given. I turned and left with slow, deliberate steps, feeling the weight of their stares all the way to the door.
Quest Update:
You have successfully deflected the Princess's accusation. Suspicion remains, but your influence has risen.
Outside the throne room, I exhaled for the first time in minutes. One battle survived—but the war was just beginning.
If Seraphine wanted a game, I would give her one she'd never forget.