Heart Over Sword-Chapter 293: The Trial (4)

It was a simple statement. But there could be so many meanings behind those words. Evanna continued to stare at the woman just as the guards finally returned to their posts between them.

"You already knew I was Selvin’s child."

The court had suddenly grown extremely quiet. Evanna thought it was because she tuned everybody out, but it only occurred to her then that they were watching them interact.

"If you knew I was Selvin’s child... Then you must know that the attempts on my life are an act of treason..."

The nobles started to stir once more.

"Why did you try to have me killed if the consequences are so dire? You must know what this means. Did you..." Evanna trailed off as her mind raced with possibilities, and she calculated how best to get a reaction, an answer that would finish this trial once and for all. "Were you in love with King Selvin?"

Eleanor gritted her teeth before she scoffed. "Selvin? Please. I am in love with his majesty-"

"But you were originally engaged to Selvin, no?" Evanna interrupted.

"The Princess is right. Before his death, her majesty was betrothed to King Selvin." The nobles began conversing about the previous King.

This was normal within the imperial family. If they desired for a certain noble lady to take on the role of Queen, for their noble family to back the royal family, then she would be betrothed to the next in line to the throne if the previous King passed away before their marriage.

Eleanor chuckled. "You should know, princess. Not all marriages are full of love. I was engaged to Selvin, but that does not mean I loved him-"

"No? But you tried murdering me and my mother? You knew this entire time that she was never your husband’s, the King’s, mistress. Yet you have made it your mission to make our lives miserable. Why? We hadn’t done anything, Eleanor. I’m quite certain that if someone has such a desire to kill the former wife of King Selvin and their child, that it has taken many attempts and then the use of poison... You were either in love with Selvin, or it was for power.

"Now, it wouldn’t make sense to kill my mother. You have the throne already. You have sons that ensure the future of the empire. So, I’ll say it again. You were or still are in love with Selvin. To cause my mother such pain through the use of poisons that nobody knows of... Hmmm..."

"Will you shut up, Evanna!" Eleanor snapped. "You are just like him! Too smart for your own good! And you love to hear yourself speak!"

Evanna bit her tongue to stop herself from smiling as she started to tug on a stubborn knot of string. Slowly, it was becoming unravelled. However, it didn’t stop one side of Evanna’s lips from tugging up into a smirk. Fortunately, it seemed to annoy the Queen more.

"I get the sense that there is more to this than a simple assassination of both Selvin’s widow and his daughter..." Evanna continued, her eyes gleeful as she watched the Queen. "You wanted to be Queen... You were always going to be Queen... Unless..." Her mind spun again as she tried to slow down her thoughts. "You discovered Selvin’s love for Loraven. They did marry in Lyvaria... If Selvin didn’t die...You would never be Queen."

The whispers started to grow louder, all negative commentary directed at the Queen.

"What are you trying to say, Evanna. Address the court," King Osian’s voice rumbled through the Great Hall.

Evanna’s gaze moved across the court before landing on her mother, who was clutching the ends of her seat tightly, her eyes wide. Her mother was a smart woman. Evanna could tell Loraven already figured out where she was heading with this. Still, her hands gripped at the armrests, waiting with bated breath for Evanna to continue. Sliding her gaze away, they fell on the King.

"If King Selvin had not died, then Eleanor would never have become Queen. My mother would be ruling beside Selvin right now. So... it is highly advantageous for Queen Eleanor that Selvin died when he did. The crown prince dies, and so does the story about his new bride and unborn child." Evanna spun to look at Eleanor, whose fists were clenched, her gaze a storm and neck and jaw tight.

Eleanor remained quiet; her mouth opened and shut a few times until, finally, she sat down on the chair that had been previously provided for her. Unlike before, where the Queen was the epitome of regal power and grace, now sat a woman whose shoulders rounded. The years of royal etiquette slipped away as she seemed to shrink under the limelight of the nobles. Evanna had her, and she had nothing to say.

This trial started with finding justice for her mother and herself, but it turned into something so much more. So much more so that the Queen would be punished severely for her crimes.

"Fine," Queen Eleanor sighed. Her body sagged, the air leaving her. She suddenly looked tired and had aged. "You have already made up your minds... Evanna, you are very... annoying. I never liked you."

And? Evanna already knew this.

"There is something you missed..." The Queen continued.

"Oh?" Evanna shifted from one foot to the other. Not in any sense of nervousness or curiosity, but because she’d been standing so long, and her body had been so tense the entire time. She could feel this was exactly what she had been waiting for. The finale to finish the Queen.

Again, Evanna’s thoughts turned to William and George. Their lives were about to change, and Evanna would never be looked at the same again. Her heart hurt at that idea, but this was all Eleanor.

"The King’s death was never investigated for long... They couldn’t find out how it was possible someone managed to slip in poison." The Queen started to regain her composure once more as the hall remained quiet, everybody’s attention on the Queen. "You can easily point the finger at me, Evanna, because you’re right. I was always meant to sit on the throne beside a king. To prevent..." Eleanor waved her hand at Evanna and Loraven. "This from happening. Half-human, half-elf."

Evanna’s eyebrows shot up then, shocked by the hatred radiating from the Queen. It wasn’t even because she was Selvin’s daughter but because she was part elf?!

"There is a reason the previous kings kept the elves from our lands," Eleanor hissed. "And now not only is there a halfling among us, but she will then marry into the Flori!"

The sounds of heels clicking and a flash of colour passed the corner of Evanna’s eyes before a loud slap rang out in the hall. No, it wasn’t a slap but a punch! Loraven had lunged for the Queen, her hair loose by her shoulders. She was now positioned behind Eleanor, one hand gripping her hair as Loraven’s sharp, jewelled hairpiece pointed at Eleanor’s throat.

"In Lyvaria, your tongue would have been cut out by now," Loraven hissed darkly, piercing the Queen’s skin until only a small trickle of blood ran down her throat and dyed the top of her dress dark red. "How dare you insult a royal of Lyvaria."

Loraven tugged on Eleanor’s hair until she cried out, her eyes stinging, bottom lip wobbling as she looked to the King for help. "This is for my mate, my husband, my life..." She raised the hairpiece, her intention clear. The guards jumped forward at the same time as Evanna, who manoeuvred past them swiftly and forced Loraven’s hand to stop.

The mother and daughter stared at each other, silent messages passing between them. Evanna could feel Loraven was transfixed on killing the Queen then and there, but she worked too hard for her mother’s reputation to drop once more. Although it was reasonable.

"Enough." King Osian clapped his hands once, snapping the pair out of their position.

Queen Eleanor stared at the King in relief until she saw his expression. "Let Eleanor finish her little story first. I want to know what made my wife gloat so much about killing my brother."

Loraven didn’t move for a few seconds. Evanna could read what she was thinking. Fortunately, her mother released the Queen, shoving her head forward before stepping away. The nobles had been gobsmacked to the point they didn’t whisper or chat with each other about what they witnessed.

Not only had Loraven gotten to the Queen in a matter of seconds before the guards could react, but her pointed ears were on show.

Eleanor cleared her throat, touching it, paling when she saw the blood on her fingertips. That didn’t stop her from finishing her sentence and watching as the King’s angered face grew heavier. "I made the order, but it was Sir Hugh who managed to get the job done for me."

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