Sylvian walked over to Iliana and took her hand in his. "Tell me, how do you wish for them to be punished? I believe thirty lashes each for speaking such falsehoods against you would be appropriate," he asserted smoothly.
"Please have mercy on us, Your Highness! We were in the wrong, but we meant no harm," the women cried out in unison.
One of them turned her desperate gaze upon her. "Iliana, please, tell His Highness to forgive us this time. We are your neighbors."
"Do you truly wish to forgive them?" Sylvian asked, searching her face for an answer. "They pointed fingers at your honor."
"They questioned my family's upbringing," Iliana said, her voice trembling slightly with anger. "I have lived in this neighborhood my entire life. I have never once done anything disgraceful to bring shame upon my family's name. I cannot forgive them."
