Markham tried to change the subject to prevent her tears and also his.
"How did your visit to the Cornelius family go?"
"They agreed to have their son marry into our mansion," Emilia replied, her voice cracking.
"But that may not matter now." she muttered.
They both fell into silence, expressing their fears through their eyes and breathed.
Tears rolled down Emilia's cheeks slowly afterwards.
Markham reached through the bars and wipes them gently, as he did when she was a child. He also never thought he would have to do that again.
"I brought something," she said, unwrapping a small bundle.
"Your favorite, braised pork. I forgot to bring water."
Markham smiled, taking the bundle from the floor and wrapping it again.
"You always think of everything."
"You should go," he said softly.
Emilia nodded, fighting the urge to stay longer. As she turned to leave, Markham called out.
"If things go wrong and the King pronounces... remember the royal edict I gave to you for safekeeping."
Emilia blinked her eyes for a few seconds realizing he is talking about the edict pronouncing her as one of the candidate to marry the King.
Aside from the one containing the decree to become the Queen, the late King made her decree that each family is allowed to make a request of the King. Whatever it is, will be granted.
"Father," Emilia called softly, fresh tears rolling down her cheeks but she didn't turned to look at him.
Her father mentioning the edict only means bad.
"No matter what, make sure you honor the engagement between you and the King." Markham told her and Emilia is confused.
"Father, what are you saying?" Emilia asked, turning abruptly to him.
"Take the edict, and go to the King. Make sure you become the Queen. That's the only way you can be safe. By the King's side." Markham continued while Emilia shook her head in disagreement.
"I don't want to marry him." Emilia refuted lowly and Markham grabbed her arm tighter.
"Listen to me Emilia, use the seal to save your mother and siblings. Once someone is sacrificed, the ministers will be satisfied."
"It is an order!" Markham snapped, startling Emilia a little
"You must." He insisted.
Emilia swallowed hard and nodded once before disappearing away from the prison yard with tears in her eyes.
~
True to Markham's deduction, all the ministers flood the court room early than usual to discuss Markham's fate.
"Your Majesty," Collins, spoke up first as soon as Lucas arrived and sat.
"Concerning Markham's treason, we should decide on him and his family's punishment immediately to serve as an example to others so they don't ever think of threatening the throne."
"You are so eager to have him killed?" Lucas asked, a scoff curling from his lips.
"Your Majesty. We have been trying to find the rebels who is responsible for threatening the peace of the country for so long." Another said and paused, earning approval of his words from the rest.
"Now that evidence is clear in front of us. We must not delay to capture and deal with everyone involved."
"Your Majesty. Only by melting out punishment strictly can fear be instill in the hearts of everyone not to mess with the royal family." Yet another voiced.
"How can a bunch of rebels will evidence that someone is trying to overthrow the royal family?" Lucas asked sternly.
Collin stepped forward, bringing out a file and represent it to Nathan who passed it to Lucas.
He opened and checked it and found Markham's seal on the file then sighed, dropping it on the table.
Another minister from the Windsor family stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, it's clear this rebellion had been long in the making. I suggest the entire Markham family be eliminated to prevent future threats."
Lucas narrowed his eyes, seeing through their carefully veiled ambitions.
"You want me to kill the Markhams? To erase the only candidate left to become the Queen before she even entered the palace?"
"Your Majesty, we dare not think that," Collins replied quickly, bowing his head deeply.
"The appointment of the Queen was made by the late King but we can't be lenient because of it."
"Really?" Lucas stepped down from the dais, his eyes burning as he stared at them.
"You were not this passionate when Queen Henrietta died few months ago. You were so eager to have her buried early. Or do you also believe the rumors that Jurua is responsible for her death?" he questioned.
The room fell into uneasy murmurs and they couldn't answer his question.
"You still haven't been able to get to the root of the late Queen's death and yet you are quick to convict the Markhams."
"The Queen's death is suspicious, yes," the Prime Minister answered boldly,
"but we can't ignore current threats."
Lucas's voice cuts through the air.
"Current threats? What a joke."
A month ago, Thomas bought him a report that one of the Queen mother's trusted men had disappeared the same night Queen Henrietta died only to resurface in his hometown. He had him arrested and has been trying to get a confession out of him but failed until now.
Lucas knows the Queen mother had long resented his father's decree, pushing him to marry from her extended family.
But for her to go as far as killing each Queen crowned, is just crazy.
The timing is too convenient. This accusation, it's all designed to bury the truth behind Queen Henrietta's murder and cover up the investigation.
The confessions from the captured rebels also align perfectly, it took no time for them to confess to the crime and points out the evidence hidden in Markham estate.
Their plot is simple to figure out. It definitely to cover up the truth behind Henrietta's death and also get rid of the last candidate to become the Queen.
Killing two birds with one stone.
Even if he wants to refuted them, they would push him till the end.