Her voice was small but unwavering. The second maid clasped her hands, trembling, yet stood beside her in silent solidarity.
"I saw it with my own eyes," the first maid said, her words carrying across the hushed chamber. "It was General Turik who entered the queen's chamber that night. He—" her voice caught, then hardened—"he assaulted Queen Miranda. And when she fought back and after he was done, he drove his knife into her heart."
A horrified murmur rippled through the gathered court. Ministers looked away. Generals shifted uneasily.
The maid lifted her chin, eyes glistening but proud. "Even if I die today," she said, her voice rising, trembling between terror and defiance, "the world will know what kind of monster our new king truly is."
For a moment, the entire hall stopped breathing.
