"Rebels? What nonsense! Who accused him?" Emilia asked angrily.
Sophia stirred awake, whispering Emilia's name and she came over to her bedside, clutching her frail hand for the first time in years. Everyone else also turned to Sophia, relieved to see her awake.
"Emilia… you have to do something to save your father," Sophia gasped.
"You don't have to worry, I am sure there is a mistake. He will be cleared as soon as possible." Emilia assured but Sophia shook her head strongly, tears falling from her eyes.
"It's not that simple." she told her but Emilia doesn't believe it.
Her father has long stopped caring about the affairs of the royal family and never meddle in anything that has to do with the court. There is no way he will be convict of a crime such as treason.
"The prime minister and his men bought evidence against your father in front of the King this evening. The King's soldiers also came over to the house and found men that your father gave shelters to. Turned out they are not refuge but rebels from the last uprising and followers of Jurua." Sophia explained to her and Emilia's face draw into a deep frown filled with fear.
Sophia coughs violently unable to continue and Emilia shout for medicine to be bought to her.
"The King sent people over to check, evidence was found against your father and the guards took him away after placing us under house arrest." Sophia continued, declining the medicine bought to her.
Emilia sighed, upset and worried. She had warned her father severally about taking in strangers, but he believed he was helping the King relieve his worries and helping the commoners but now he has been implied by the same people.
"Take your medicine first." Emilia said after a short silence and fed it to her.
Her maid helped her with some water and the rest waited anxiously, scared of what would become of them. If Markham is convicted of treason, the entire household will be executed.
"Where is Catherine?" Emilia asked, seeing that Sophia is a little better.
Margaret speak up this time.
"She's in locked up in the palace as well"
"Why is she also locked up?" Emilia asked bewildered.
"That stupid girl" Margaret uttered in anger.
"She dared to drug the King and was found in the King's bed while my lord was being accused." Hannah revealed, her voice filled with disgust at Catherine's action.
Emilia raised her brows, confused by what they meant so Margaret told her flatly.
"She used aphrodisiac on the King."
Emilia's mouth dropped in shock and she scoffed.
"That fool."
"Because of her, no one believed my lord has no bad intention towards the King." Hannah finished and Emilia spat in anger.
"Nonsense!"
"What did the King say? What would happen to her?" she questioned.
Hannah shook her head.
"We don't know yet. He was taken into custody along with Catherine."
Emilia stood frozen, her world unraveling.
Half a day. She was gone for half a day and everything had fallen apart.
"I need to speak with father first," Emilia said, already heading for the door when a servant rushed in, breathless.
"My Lady… someone from the palace has arrived."
Emilia's heart thudded and she paused in her track.
"Let's go," she said and they all stepped into the main hall together. Sophia leaned on Emily and another servant for support to walk and they arrived to meet with Nathan, who unrolled a parchment and they all dropped to their knees.
"In accordance with His Majesty's order," he began slowly.
"Lord Markham had been found aiding the enemies of the King and is imprisoned pending investigation. Until further notice, none of his family are permitted to leave the manor."
He announced formally to them and a suffocating silence followed after.
Emilia was first to stand to her feet and she stepped forward to receive the edict from Nathan. Her trembled as she took it and she exhaled slowly.
"Miss Emilia, please do not worry too much. I am sure the King will get to the bottom of this and find out the truth." Nathan told Emilia.
Markham was once a tutor to King Lucas when he was little and Nathan is also familiar with him. Especially because Emilia's late mother was also from a royal bloodline who was exiled long ago to keep the King safe.
Nathan made his way out of the house, and a small detachment of royal guards takes position around their estate to stop anyone from coming in or going out of it.
"We're in trouble," Margaret gasped, clutching her hands to her chest.
"Are we all going to be killed?" she asked.
"Young mistress, what do we do? How do we get out of this situation?" Hannah shrieked, grabbing Emilia's dress in desperation.
"My lord's mistake is going to destroy us all." she cried and Emilia shook her off angrily.
"Mistake?" she repeated in disbelieve. Surprised they are doubting her father.
"You never cared about my father, only your own safety!" she snapped.
Hannah recoiled, retracting backward.
They never accepted it when Father named her heir. They fought it bitterly, arguing that their sons deserve the position instead. But now that there's danger, they look to her to save them.
Emilia spinned on her heel.
"June. Help me change. I'm going to the palace, I need to meet with the King"
Her voice left no room for argument and both rushed away to do as she said.
With her maids' help, Emilia slips past the guards under the cover of dusk, exchanging a big pouch of phoenix for their silence.
The palace gates had more guards than usual moving left and right, probably because of the fear that the rebels might be in the city but Emilia managed to bribe her way in again and made her way straight towards the King's quarter but couldn't go further near the place because of the strict guards there.
Emilia waited at a distance, her heart pounding as she is stuck in one place for a few minutes with no way to get close.
Left with no choice, Emilia decide to risk it but someone spotted her and pulled her back before she rushed out.