Early the next morning, King Nyxen met with his eldest son before the beginning of the council meeting.
"Did you interrogate Xavier?" the King asked.
"Father, he has already accepted the charges," Ciaran replied. "An intensive interrogation was not required once he admitted that he was behind the arson of the Spencer family."
"Why did he do it? Was it truly because of what August claimed?" King Nyxen questioned.
"Xavier denied that completely," Ciaran explained. "He claims August simply hates the Queen, which is why he tried dragging her name into the matter. Beyond that, Xavier has refused to state his true motive. He merely said he would accept the sentence of death by hanging."
"Hm." The King looked out toward the horizon at the rising sun, keeping a heavy silence.
"Father, do you think August—"
