Alexa sat quietly in her room, facing the balcony.
Her face was calm, yet filled with quiet anticipation.
The balcony window was open, letting the gentle breeze wash over her.
Her silver hair swayed softly with the curtains, dancing together in the morning air.
She took a few deep breaths, trying to release the storm of thoughts within her.
Today… she would stand trial for her actions during the attack on the capital.
After the decision to annihilate both the monsters and the city's inhabitants, and with the Sirens losing half their military strength, there was no avoiding it.
Her choices had to be questioned—her true intentions laid bare.
Iris had been the one to request the trial himself, claiming his right as a witness to the events.
Alexa could hardly believe it.
That Iris—her own husband—had truly called for her trial.
Perhaps… she had trusted him too much.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door.
A gentle voice came from outside.
"Alexa. May I come in?"
Alexa answered immediately.
"Yes…"
The door opened slowly, and Alexa turned her head to see who it was.
It was Athena.
Athena stood behind her, eyes lowered to the floor. She didn't know how to say what she had come to say.
"I'm sorry, Alexa. But I have to escort you to the trial."
Alexa smiled gently at her friend.
"Don't worry. It's just a ridiculous formality, nothing more."
Athena pulled a pair of restraints from her pocket.
Alexa decided not to make things harder for her.
She stepped forward slowly and placed her hands inside the cuffs.
"Don't hesitate, Athena…"
Athena fastened them around Alexa's wrists. Alexa's face twitched slightly from the pain as the cold metal bit into her skin.
She walked ahead, leaving the room first.
Athena followed behind and closed the door.
Their footsteps echoed softly through the long corridors of the royal wing—
the same halls that had once belonged to Alexa's family.
Family...
If that word still meant anything, it referred only to Ethios now.
Her husband, Iris, was the man who had requested this trial.
Her father, Valiar, had been the first to reject Ethios and order his execution years ago.
Her mother, her siblings, her friends—
all of them stood against her now.
Her desire to protect Ethios had cost her everyone she loved.
Few still supported her cause—very few.
In truth, there were only two.
Athena… and Seraph.
Seraph was Alexa's elder sister, four years older—strong in both body and spirit, yet gentle at heart.
Originally, Seraph had been the rightful heir to the Siren throne.
But she had relinquished that right, believing Alexa more suited for the crown.
And somehow, even now, Seraph still believed in her.
Not even Alexa's actions had shaken her faith.
Back in the royal palace of Aetherion, Alexa and Athena continued their quiet walk toward the Grand Hall—
the place where the trial would be held.
Athena tried to find something to say, something that might comfort her friend before they arrived.
But no words came.
Alexa let out a slow sigh, sensing the unease coming from Athena.
"You're trying to comfort me, aren't you?
Don't trouble yourself. You've already done enough.
If Ethios survives this trial, you'll take care of him… and that's more than enough for me."
Athena turned her gaze away for a moment before looking back at the silver-haired woman walking in front of her.
"I just wish I could help you too, Alexa."
Alexa chuckled softly.
"You're innocent, after all, aren't you, Athena?"
Athena winced slightly at the words.
It pained her that Alexa was the one easing her heart instead of the other way around.
The feeling of helplessness gnawed at her.
She hated it.
After several silent steps, the two women reached the massive gates that led to the throne hall.
They were forged from black volcanic stone and gilded with pure gold inscriptions—
telling stories of the ancient heroes of House Aetherion.
The gates opened slowly from within, revealing the scene beyond.
The first thing Alexa saw was her father—Valiar—sitting upon the throne, his gaze filled with disappointment... and perhaps hatred.
On either side of the throne sat Seraph and Via, Alexa's mother.
They would serve as the three judges presiding over the case.
The guards bound Alexa's cuffs with heavy chains and led her toward the center of the grand hall.
The hall itself was vast and resplendent.
Its golden walls shimmered beneath the light of three massive crystal chandeliers.
Paintings framed with diamonds adorned the walls.
The floor beneath her feet gleamed white as quartz.
At the center, a raised circular platform awaited.
That would be the place where Alexa stood trial.
Lining the sides of the chamber were generals, nobles, kings, ministers, and councilors.
Every prominent figure of the Highblood nation had come to witness the trial of the Siren Queen.
Alexa ascended the marble steps with unshaken poise.
Even in chains, her regal presence filled the hall.
She reached the center and raised her head, meeting her father's gaze.
The chains around her clinked softly, binding her from every direction.
Even so, many who looked upon her could not help but admire her.
Regardless of what they thought of her actions, Alexa's charisma was undeniable.
Then, silence.
Valiar's voice echoed through the chamber.
"Alexa Tedrosi. Today you stand trial so that we may uncover your true intentions toward your people."
Alexa did not answer.
Some looked at her with growing admiration—others with disgust, believing her silence was mockery.
In truth, Alexa did disdain this farce of a trial.
But her silence came from another place entirely.
Valiar spoke again.
"According to the witness, the fall of the capital lies heavily on your shoulders.
You hastened the decision to eradicate both our military and the innocent civilians within the city."
He glanced down at the papers in his hands.
"Furthermore, your defense strategy focused on protecting the royal palace—while abandoning the rest of the capital."
He looked up again.
"Do you have an explanation for this?"
Alexa's calm voice spread clearly through the hall.
"I know that sacrificing the capital was not a perfect decision, and I am truly sorry for the innocent lives lost.
But yes, I prioritized the palace—because it held a secret that could have triggered the Third Akimo War.
I did what I could to prevent greater loss."
By now, everyone knew the truth about Ethios—
the child of Highblood descent that Alexa had hidden for four years.
Valiar responded swiftly.
"As we know, the attack on the capital was caused by suspicions surrounding the boy's existence.
You tried to protect a secret that caused the war in the first place.
A secret that you created.
That alone makes you guilty, Alexa."
His final words carried deep disappointment.
All eyes turned to Alexa.
What would she say?
Before she could speak, Valiar's voice cut through again—harsher now.
"Ethios is of Highblood lineage.
His birth violates every term of the truce between us and the Alliance.
If there is to be a Third Akimo War, the blame lies with you—
you and the devil you call your son."
Alexa said nothing at first.
The trial was turning against her quickly.
Then she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I have faith… that he will one day be a reason for peac—"
"Enough of that nonsense!" Valiar's voice thundered across the hall.
"Ethios will never bring peace!
His birth means war!
His existence is war!
You, more than anyone, know what the Union sacrificed to end the Second War—
and yet you would risk everything for your own feelings!"
Alexa fell silent again.
Via turned her gaze aside, unable to watch.
Seraph clenched her hands tightly, struggling to maintain her composure.
Without a solid argument, even she could not defend Alexa here.
The audience waited in tense silence.
Finally, Alexa spoke.
"Father... may I ask you a question?"
Valiar sighed with irritation, then nodded.
"If the Alliance had attacked the capital during your reign—
and their goal was to take me—
would you have let them?"
The hall fell utterly still.
For a moment, every person there felt as though the question had been directed at them, not the king.
If you had the power to protect the one dearest to you…
Would you simply let them die?
Valiar's voice came firm.
"That's different. The Alliance had no reason to kill you."
Alexa shouted suddenly, her voice echoing through the hall.
"They had no reason to kill Ethios either!
You're condemning a child—judging him by his blood!
Even if he's Highblood, does that make him a monster?
Reasons? You speak to me of reasons?
Even if the Alliance had a reason to kill me, you would have fought to your last soldier to stop them!"
Her gaze swept across the hall, meeting every eye.
"All of you would have done the same.
Sacrificing one for the many is not courage or logic—
it only means you never loved that one enough."
Her eyes finally met Iris's among the crowd.
He lowered his head, unable to deny her words.
The hall grew tense as whispers spread.
Some began to waver.
Some… even agreed with her.
And in that moment—
Alexa Tedrosi began to turn the tide of the trial.