The Princess's Dangerous Vampire Mate-Chapter 311: The Justice of the King - II

It would be wrong to say that I remembered each and every face of the person that I had met the night I had betrayed the person I loved. But it would also be wrong to say that I did not recognise any of them because I did recognise a few...

A few faces that had looked at me with gratitude shining brightly in those eyes before running for their life. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

One of them was Rula and the boy.

The others I recognised but did not know much about, not even their names. The only expression that everyone was supporting in common was the fear and the tears in their eyes.

Something that was blatantly obvious.

"W-what?" How, was what I wanted to say too.

How are they all here? I had helped them to Escape and I was sure that in the few weeks that we had spent away from the palace, they had reached into the different parts of the country that they live in. Then how were they here, in front of me?

"Don’t be so cruel, Genevive." Tristan teased from where he stood. "You must remember at least some of them."

The taunt hit where it was supposed to hurt and it was successful.

He neared me and goosebumps erupted all over my skin before he whispered, "because you helped them escape from my Palace."

My eyes closed. The moment he said ’my’ a shiver ran itself to my body.

A reminder that he was the king and he was the one who had power, all of it, in this situation.

I gulped as I looked at each and everyone of them, trying to remember if all of them were here or one or two of them had maybe been caught and ended up in the worst condition they could be in.

But by the looks of it, almost everyone was here. Everyone was huddled together trying to make themselves appear smaller in front of the man that could kill us all within seconds.

Multiple footsteps that I heard behind me made me turn around and a small army of men, vampires, entered the great courtroom before the doors were closed behind them.

Now my fair spiked higher. Being alone with Tristan was something I was scared of but being alone in a room filled with humans and a small vampire army... it was a good reason for a heart attack.

"Now," Tristan said loud enough to make me jump and hold everyone’s attention, "I think it is the correct time to lift the veil of surprise and tell you all why you are here today."

I watched him from where I stood. He was in front of the chairs of the king and queen, the thrones. How ironic.

It was mesmerising to see how a merchant had turned into a king without actually changing anything about himself. Because to me, Tristan was the same man I had met as a merchant to the same man that I was today looking at working in front of me like a king, the change was but this time I did not hold admiration instead I have to fear for him.

"The reason why you are here today is," He kept on casually walking around in front of the small elevated stage where the thrones were kept as he kept on talking, "to discuss your punishment for betraying The crown, for betraying me."

The word ’discuss’ was thrown around very casually. Because I don’t think Tristan would take any of our opinions into consideration.

"What should it be?" He wondered out loud and I saw a few servants jump.

"because I don’t want it to be heard, but I don’t want anyone else to think that this can’t go unpunished." He hissed in irritation, "I’m afraid I cannot achieve both of them, can I Vaughn?"

"No, sir." His Reply was instant.

"Hmm," Tristan nodded, "then we need to decide on something somewhere. I think it would be better to leave a long lasting impression about what would happen when it comes to betraying us."

His eyes met mine for a brief second but he put them away on my shoulders sad in relief. The weight of his eyes for something I could not hold on to.

Perhaps it was the fact that they were now looking at me with nothing but who knew what it really was.

"What should I do?" He asked after sometime, to no one in particular. "I have so many ideas in my mind but I just cannot pick one."

"maybe we should just kill them all," That was Alan. "Why should we keep traitors alive anyway? The previous Queen would have done so in seconds."

"maybe we should just punish them all by whipping," Solomon said dryly, "I mean that should Instill enough fear in their hearts."

"I would like to think more like Alan," someone said, "we need new staff anyway. These people step out of line far too much to not to kill and get rid of."

That was enough for a few people to start crying loudly.

I, on the other hand, was paralysed with fear.

"Noted," Tristan said dryly. Like he was interested in playing a game but did not appreciate the open participation of his peers. Why was he playing in the first place? I had expected him to be so angry to kill all of them in a second before turning his anger out on me and lashing out.

But on the contrary, Tristan was controlling it very well. In fact no one could tell that he was angry.

He tsked again, shaking his head as if confused. "This is the first time someone has done something like this. Maybe that is why I cannot decide. Perhaps I should try various methods and see which one works out the best."

"What do you say, Genevive?" He asked me but it did not look my way. "What do you think I should do?"