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Hakan
The silence of the throne room was so thick it felt alive.
I stood upon the raised platform, the golden pillars stretching upward like silent witnesses to my fury. The opulent red carpet—once a symbol of royal dignity—seemed now like a path leading straight to judgment.
A few days had passed since I tore Lucina out of the hell she'd been trapped in. But the echo of her trembling voice, the sight of her bruised wrists, the memory of her calling out my name from behind those iron bars… all of it still burned me from the inside out.
And today, every ember of that fire demanded a reckoning.
"THOSE WHO DARED TO FRAME MY WIFE…"
My voice struck the hall like thunder, vibrating through marble and bone.
The courtiers swallowed their breath. The guards straightened. I could feel the ripple of fear, the way even the air seemed to retreat from the edge in my tone.
I flicked my fingers once.
"SEND IN GILLAI."
Heavy doors dragged open with a groan. Two guards entered, gripping a man whose entire body sagged with resignation.
Gillai.
His steps were uneven, his breath shallow. The moment he reached the foot of the platform—
Flop.
He collapsed to his knees. His head hung so low his forehead nearly brushed the carpet. I stared down at him, letting the weight of my fury press against him like a blade.
"GIARET."
The sister's name cut through the room like a curse.
Gillai flinched so violently his shoulders trembled.
Good. Let him understand fear—just an ounce of what Lucina endured.
I leaned forward slightly, letting my voice drop into a deadly softness.
"You—jealous, envious, blinded by spite—had the gall to frame Lucina. To twist the truth and declare she used black magic… when you were the real mastermind behind its use."
Gillai's head snapped up, his eyes wide, frantic.
"THAT'S NOT TRUE, YOUR MAJESTY!" he cried, voice cracking. "I—I don't have anything to do with that! My only sin is not stopping my brother—"
I didn't let him finish.
"So you're going to lie to the bitter end, are you?"
The hall chilled. He could feel it too; his breath hitched, his hands trembling.
Behind my anger, one image replayed over and over:
Lucina, curled inside that freezing cell…
Her dress torn…
Her spirit dimmed but unbroken…
Her eyes widening with disbelief when she saw me…
Nobody frames my wife and walks free.
"GILLAI." My command cracked the air. "GIVE YOUR TESTIMONY."
His denial crumbled like wet parchment.
"I've been using black magic for a very long time… under my sister's orders," he whispered, as if relieved to finally surrender. The hall rippled with shock.
He continued, each word a nail in the coffin of their schemes.
"I used black magic to throw Lady Adar into confusion… and to prevent Lucina from receiving your affection, Your Majesty."
Gasps fluttered among the courtiers. Their murmurs were faint, but the shame and fear in their eyes were unmistakable.
Gillai swallowed hard.
"My heart condition… it's a side effect of using black magic for so long."
I shifted my gaze to his sister.
She stood rigid, like a statue about to crack. Her complexion had drained to a ghostly white; her lips trembled even before she spoke.
"GILLAI HAS CONFESSED TO EVERYTHING," I announced, voice like steel.
I turned my head slightly and locked eyes with her—cold, merciless.
"ARE YOU STILL GOING TO DENY WHAT YOU DID?"
Her lips parted in a desperate gasp.
"T-those are… all lies. I have proof that he's lying—"
I raised a hand. The gesture alone sliced her words in half.
"YOUR MAIDS HAVE ALREADY TESTIFIED AS WELL."
A death sentence delivered without needing the word.
Her eyes widened in horror, her last hope shattering in silence.
---
The throne room felt like it was holding its breath. The air was heavy with tension, the kind that pressed against your chest and made every heartbeat a drum of reckoning. Secrets had been torn open, lies laid bare, and betrayal had been exposed in its rawest, ugliest form.
I stood tall on the platform, the weight of the crown pressing against my brow, yet it was nothing compared to the fury coursing through me. Gillai's confession had shattered his sister, and I had no intention of letting her escape justice.
I locked my gaze on the former Queen, who now resembled a fragile porcelain doll on the verge of shattering. Her eyes darted around the hall, panic-stricken, desperate.
"ARE YOU STILL GOING TO DENY WHAT YOU DID?" My voice was calm, dangerously so, each word a scalpel cutting through her last defenses.
She stumbled over her own fear. "T-those are… all lies. I have proof that he's lying…" Her hands shook as she clutched at her flimsy argument.
My stare never wavered.
"GILLAI HAS CONFESSED TO EVERYTHING. YOUR MAIDS HAVE ALREADY TESTIFIED AS WELL."
Her face fell, the defiance draining away like water from a broken vessel. The mountains of evidence loomed over her now, undeniable and suffocating.
I let the silence stretch, heavy and judgmental, before speaking again. My words carried every ounce of righteous fury I felt as I recounted the full scope of her treachery for all the court to hear.
"You chose to take in my mother… so you could hide the fact that you used black magic on her… AND YOU EVEN PREPARED COUNTLESS PIECES OF EVIDENCE IN CASE I QUESTIONED YOU."
The hall echoed with the weight of her crimes. Every courtier's eyes widened as the enormity of her betrayal sank in. This was not just an offense against me or Lucina—it was an affront to the entire lineage of the Tayar Kingdom.
I paused deliberately, letting the gravity of the next words hang over the court like a sword waiting to fall.
"FOR THE USE OF BLACK MAGIC AGAINST MY MOTHER, AND ME, THE KING, WHICH THREATENED TO THROW THE TAYAR KINGDOM INTO CHAOS…"
My voice rose, fierce and commanding, carrying the authority of a sovereign whose patience had been tested beyond endurance.
"…GIARET WILL BE STRIPPED OF HER POSITION AS FORMER QUEEN… AND WILL FACE EXECUTION."
Her eyes went wide, a silent scream frozen on her lips. Justice, though delayed, had finally arrived.
Gillai, led forward by the guards, approached the center of the platform. Each step reverberated against the red carpet—Step… Step…—as if announcing the final moments of his freedom.
"GIVE YOUR TESTIMONY, GILLAI," I commanded.
He spoke, voice strained but carrying truth. "I've been using black magic for a very long time under my sister's orders. I used black magic to throw Lady Adar into confusion… and prevent Lucina from receiving your affection, Your Majesty."
A low murmur spread through the court. Shock, disbelief, and unease rippled like waves through the assembly.
"My heart condition is a side effect of using black magic for so long," he continued, his eyes downcast, filled with the burden of confession.
I turned my gaze to the accused woman. Her eyes were wide, filled with panic and denial.
"GILLAI HAS CONFESSED TO EVERYTHING," I stated firmly, letting my authority weigh down on her. "ARE YOU STILL GOING TO DENY WHAT YOU DID?"
She clutched at her last thread of defense. "T-those are… all lies. I have proof that he's lying…"
I dismissed her protest with a cold, unwavering look. "YOUR MAIDS HAVE ALREADY TESTIFIED AS WELL. You chose to take in my mother… so you could hide the fact that you used black magic on her… AND YOU EVEN PREPARED COUNTLESS PIECES OF EVIDENCE IN CASE I QUESTIONED YOU."
The truth had been laid bare. I felt the weight of my judgment pressing down—not for vengeance, but for the security and future of the Tayar Kingdom.
"FOR THE USE OF BLACK MAGIC AGAINST MY MOTHER, AND ME, THE KING, WHICH THREATENED TO THROW THE TAYAR KINGDOM INTO CHAOS…"
"GIARET WILL BE STRIPPED OF HER POSITION AS FORMER QUEEN… AND WILL FACE EXECUTION—"
A sudden interruption cut through the hall. Gillai, still bound, lifted his head.
"PLEASE WAIT A MOMENT, YOUR MAJESTY."
The murmurs rose again, louder now, the court reacting to the unexpected plea.
"I'm also at fault for obeying her orders to use black magic… and she has devoted herself to the Tayar Tribe for a long time. PLEASE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION."
Another wave of murmur swept through the room. "HE'S RIGHT. HER PUNISHMENT IS TOO HARSH. PLEASE RECONSIDER, YOUR MAJESTY."
I paused, absorbing their words. Justice demanded severity, yet even kings must weigh mercy with judgment. Taking a slow, deliberate breath, I fixed my gaze on the former Queen.
"FINE."
The revised sentence rolled from my lips with unwavering authority:
"She will be stripped of her position, branded so she never forgets her crimes, and confined in isolation."
Her despair was palpable—her twisted mercy granted only through her brother's confession.
Turning to Gillai, I declared his fate.
"AS FOR GILLAI, THOUGH HE DESERVES EXECUTION FOR TAKING PART IN GIARET'S CRIMES… he has confessed to all of his wrongdoings… SO HE WILL BE BRANDED AND SENTENCED TO LABOR."
Gillai's gaze met his sister's, and he gave her a small, tight smile.
"GILLAI, HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME…?" she whispered, voice broken.
"THIS IS IT. THIS HAS SETTLED MY DEBT TO YOU FOR RAISING ME," he replied.
The guards stepped forward to lead him away. I watched them both disappear into the hallway, the throne room finally exhaling, cleansed of lies and betrayal.
The former Queen trembled on the dais, her wide eyes reflecting desperation as the guards led her brother, Gillai, away. The sound of his restrained footsteps echoed through the throne room—STEP… STEP…—a steady reminder of the consequences that awaited those who betrayed the crown.
I fixed my gaze on her, unflinching. "You chose to take in my mother… so you could hide the fact that you used black magic on her… and you even prepared countless pieces of evidence in case I questioned you."
The courtiers had heard everything. Gillai's confession, the sisters' conspiracy, the damning details of her manipulations—it all weighed heavily in the air, an undeniable verdict hanging over the former Queen.
"For the use of black magic against my mother, and me, the King, which threatened to throw the Tayar Kingdom into chaos… Giaret will be stripped of her position as former queen… and will face execution—"
Suddenly, a voice broke through the tense silence.
"PLEASE WAIT A MOMENT, YOUR MAJESTY," Gillai called out, halting the proceedings.
He spoke with a tremor, yet his words carried sincerity:
"I'm also at fault for obeying her orders to use black magic… and she has devoted herself to the Tayar Tribe for a long time. Please take that into consideration."
A collective murmur spread through the court. "HE'S RIGHT. HER PUNISHMENT IS TOO HARSH. PLEASE RECONSIDER, YOUR MAJESTY."
I considered their words carefully. Justice demanded severity, yet mercy—even a small measure—was still within the bounds of fairness. After a deliberate pause, I nodded once.
"FINE."
The execution would not proceed. Instead, I delivered the revised sentence for the former Queen:
"She will be stripped of her position, and she will also be branded, so she never forgets her crimes, and she will be confined in isolation."
Turning to the accomplice, I spoke with firm authority:
"AS FOR GILLAI, THOUGH HE DESERVES EXECUTION FOR TAKING PART IN GIARET'S CRIMES… he has confessed to all of his wrongdoings… SO HE WILL BE BRANDED AND SENTENCED TO LABOR."
Her whispered question trembled in the air. "GILLAI, HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME…?"
He met her gaze with a calm resolve. "THIS HAS SETTLED MY DEBT TO YOU FOR RAISING ME," he replied. My guards guided him away, each deliberate STEP… STEP… a final separation from his sister's shadow and a step toward a life unbound by her manipulations.
A Few Days Later…
The dark shadow of the trial had finally lifted, and the sun filled the room with warmth. I entered, finding Lucina waiting, her eyes reflecting a mixture of relief and lingering unease.
"A FEW DAYS LATER…" I began, offering a small smile.
Lucina mom exhaled, her voice hesitant. "I'm glad they exposed him for his crimes, but… why does this make me feel so uncomfortable?"
I gently took her hand, letting my warmth and reassurance speak louder than words. "I'm sorry that I've only given you bad news, so here's some good news." My chest swelled with pride and love.
"IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT YOU WILL BE GRANTED THE POSITION OF INTERIM QUEEN."
Her eyes went wide with surprise and joy. "WHAT? REALLY?"
"Exactly," I confirmed, smiling. "It was decided during the meeting today. Considering you're now pregnant with a descendant of the Guardian Dragon, it's an appropriate step."
Leaning closer, my voice softened, tinged with playful secrecy. "I'VE ALSO PREPARED A SURPRISE PRESENT FOR YOU, LUCINA."
"HUH? WHAT IS IT?" Her curiosity was immediate, a sparkle of excitement lighting her features.
A subtle creak announced the opening of a large, ornate door. A tiny figure appeared, her head bobbing slightly.
"ADI!" I called.
The little girl gave a small nod and ran toward us. Right behind her came the woman who had cared for her, Lady Adar. Lucina's mom face reflected surprise and joy.
"A-ah… I mean… Lady Adar. How have you been?" Lucina mom stammered.
Lady Adar's response was gentle but confused. "Adar? Who's that, Miss?"
I murmured softly to Lucina mom , noting the lingering effects of black magic. "It seems she was under its influence for too long."
Lady Adar clarified, "She hasn't fully recovered yet. She'll need a lot of help before she regains her strength completely."
Lucina's mom smile warmed the room. "I'll do my best to help. I'll stay by her side and keep her company."
I asked, concern lacing my voice, "Are you really fine with that?"
"Of course," she replied, squeezing Lady Adar's hand gently. "You're going to be staying with me from now on. Is that alright?"
I gave Lucina an encouraging smile, confirming the news. "It has been decided that you will be granted the position of Interim Queen." I also explained the small stipulation: she could only live in the Queen's palace after the wedding ceremony.
Lucina was stunned, her mind racing to process the sudden elevation in rank. "I may be pregnant, but to be called Queen…" she murmured, her voice barely audible, still grappling with the enormity of the announcement.
Leaning in, I lowered my voice, a conspiratorial tone threading my words. "I'VE ALSO PREPARED A SURPRISE PRESENT FOR YOU, LUCINA."
Her curiosity immediately ignited. "HUH? WHAT IS IT?"
A soft creak announced the opening of a large, ornate door. I gave a small nod, and little Adi ran in, her steps quick and excited, followed closely by Lady Adar.
"A-ah, I mean… Lady Adar. How have you been?" Lucina stammered, surprised at the unexpected reunion.
Lady Adar's brow furrowed in confusion. "Adar? Who's that, Miss?"
I realized the lingering impact of Giaret's black magic. "It seems she was under its influence for too long," I murmured to Lucina, my gaze hardening at the reminder of past crimes.
The woman caring for her added gently, "She hasn't fully recovered yet. She'll need a lot of help before she can regain her full strength."
Lucina's mom eyes softened, determination shining through. "I'LL DO MY BEST TO HELP. I'll stay by her side and keep her company."
Concerned, I asked, "Are you really fine with that?"
She simply smiled, squeezing the older woman's hand. "OF COURSE. You're going to be staying with me from now on. Is that alright?"
The older woman returned a warm smile. "Okay, pretty lady! I'll set up a bedroom for her in the palace."
Lucina mom nodded gratefully, then hesitated. A new thought crossed her mind. "Thank you. Also… won't we need Gillai… if your mother is going to recover?"
I frowned, considering the convicted man. "Why would we need him? Someone who can use black magic… should also know how to dispel the effects of black magic." My mind weighed the risk, but the potential benefit for my mother's recovery was too great to ignore. "Even if only for a short while, getting his assistance will accelerate her recovery."
Lucina mom nodded slowly, trusting my judgment. "Okay…"
I gave her permission, my tone firm yet gentle. "You may proceed, Lucina."
I stepped away, leaving Lucina to her compassionate work. The soft PACE of approaching footsteps caught my attention. Outside the grand doorway, I spotted a familiar figure, a woman pacing anxiously.
"WHERE ON EARTH DID THAT BOY GO…?" she muttered.
"VELLEN!" I called out.
STEP… STEP… Her eyes widened in recognition and shock as another woman approached, flanked by guards.
"YOU'RE…!" Vellen gasped, her voice trembling with disbelief.
The blonde woman smiled chillingly, a wave of menace accompanying her greeting. "Long time no see. I hope you've been well."
Vellen's face twisted with fury. "WHAT DO YOU WANT AFTER DUMPING YOUR DAUGHTER ON ME AND TAKING OFF?" Her voice shook with rage. "ARE YOU HERE TO REPORT MY HUSBAND'S DEATH OR SOMETHING?"
The blonde woman let out a cold scoff, her words cutting through the tension. "I would've come sooner if it were for that." She stepped closer, her tone venomous. "SINCE YOUR HUSBAND DIED A LONG TIME."
Vellen's body froze. "W-WHAT?" Her voice trembled, disbelief and horror coiling in her chest.
The blonde continued, mocking and cruel. "SUCH A PATHETIC WOMAN. YOU HAD NO IDEA… THAT YOUR HUSBAND AND SON ARE DEAD… SO YOU COULDN'T EVEN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT."
A CLACK echoed as she stepped forward, pressing the psychological attack further.
Vellen's horror erupted into a shriek, her hands clutching her chest. "THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN! HOW DARE YOU UTTER SUCH NONSENSE WITH THOSE FILTHY LIPS OF YOURS—?!"
Suddenly, the chilling sound of a STAB rang out.
"URGH!" Vellen gave a choked cry, collapsing in a heavy SLUMP onto the ground, wounded.
I watched the horror unfold, my heart pounding with grim determination. Even amid this chaos, one thought anchored me: Lucina and my child were safe. My eyes narrowed, resolve hardening.
Lucina mom pov
I watched in frozen horror as Vellen, struck by the mysterious woman's brutal attack, collapsed onto the polished palace grounds with a heavy SLUMP. The crimson stain spreading across the stone seemed to mock the calm serenity of the palace. My mind narrowed, focused entirely on one unshakable thought: Lucina's child is safe. Nothing else mattered more in that instant.
The blonde woman—the orchestrator of this violent scene—spoke again, her tone dripping with venom. "I have no idea why you're so surprised, Vellen." She looked down at the fallen woman with utter disdain. "AFTER ALL… YOU WERE ALREADY A WIDOW, WEREN'T YOU?"
Her long red gown swirled behind her as she turned, a deliberate, predatory grace in her movements. "WELL, I GUESS I'VE SAID ENOUGH."
"JUST YOU WAIT, YOU COWARDLY—" Vellen tried to choke out from the ground, her voice shaking with rage and pain, but the blonde woman ignored her completely. She gave a subtle signal to the guards who flanked her, dismissing the scene with the air of someone utterly untouchable.
With deliberate STEP… STEP… STEP…, she walked away, her presence exuding control and lethal confidence.
I felt my fury crystallize, sharp and ice-cold. Watching her disappear, flanked by her loyal guards, I knew immediately: this was no random attack. She operated with terrifying authority and power, and her confidence hinted at careful planning. This was more than malice—it was strategy.
There was no time to hesitate. I had to act.
I barked a sharp command to the nearest palace guards. "GUARD! QUICKLY CALL THE DOCTOR!"
The urgency in my voice left no room for delay. Vellen needed stabilization immediately; her wound was deep, and the shock of the sudden revelations about her husband and son's deaths had left her visibly reeling.
"YES, YOUR MAJESTY!" a guard responded, rushing off to follow orders.
I knelt beside Vellen, who was clutching her wound, blood soaking the pristine stone beneath her. Her eyes, wide with pain and disbelief, met mine.
"YOU'RE GOING TO BE FINE, VELLEN," I reassured her, my voice tight with urgency. I needed her alive, coherent, to understand the full scope of this woman's plan. "SO, PLEASE… TELL ME EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT HER."
Vellen struggled to breathe, her words ragged and shallow. "U-URGH… THAT WOMAN… SHE'S THE ARCHDUCHESS OF THE TAYAR KINGDOM…"
The title hit me like a physical blow. The Archduchess. A political rival I had not properly anticipated, stepping into the power vacuum left by Giaret. This was no longer just a personal vendetta; it was a potential coup, a calculated power play within the kingdom itself.
"ARCHDUCHESS…?" I repeated, the word heavy on my tongue as my mind raced to process the identity and intent of this dangerous new adversary.
I smiled, a slow, venomous curl of the lips that felt less like joy and more like the sharpening of a blade. The fools. They believed their petty maneuvering had saved them.
"So, I no longer need your family."
My voice was a low, silken purr, a sound that only I could truly appreciate. The air in the room seemed to grow thick, tainted with the dark energy that swelled beneath my skin. They had been useful, a disposable stepping stone. But their utility had expired. A means to an end, and that end was finally in sight.
A dark, swirling haze of red energy began to coil around me, the power I had cultivated for this very moment. It pulsed with anticipation, mirroring the wicked, satisfied beat of my own heart. This wasn't just about survival; it was about dominion.
My eyes narrowed, catching the reflection of the crimson aura. All the sacrifices, all the manipulations, all the tedious waiting—it was all about to pay off. The biggest, most glorious piece of the puzzle was about to fall into my waiting hands.
I took a deep breath, the sheer magnitude of the plan thrilling me to the core. This was the true endgame.
"Once Lucina's child is born..."
The thought alone sent a shudder of icy triumph through me. That child, the one who carried the powerful dragon lineage, was the key. A pawn far more potent than Lucina herself, a bloodline bridge to the ultimate prize.
My smile widened, transforming into a chilling, triumphant smirk that promised ruin to all who stood in my way.
"...the Tayar Kingdom will be mine."
The power would be absolute. The crown would be mine. And the age of my true reign would finally begin.
Would you like me to create an expansion from Lucina's point of view reacting to these words?
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