It was unexpected, but Ronald Ohniz broke free and ran toward the hall where all the other nobles were gathered.
The man's secret weapon was a special powder that irritated anyone who exhaled it; he had pulled it out at just the right moment, and although he would soon be recaptured, he would have had time to cause confusion. Ronald threw open the closed doors of the hall, striking the nearest guard before the others grabbed him. He began screaming at the top of his lungs, claiming that the queen was a witch and in league with the demons; he had tried to save the kingdom of Arran from the clutches of the wicked witch, but no one had listened to him, and now he was a traitor, an enemy!
"You are trapped! The witch will bring the kingdom to its end! The demons will eat the souls of all the people, including you—" At that point, he was silenced with a blow to the head from a soldier, but rumors began to spread, and the nobles present became even more agitated.
"How could she have captured that deer alive if not with the use of magic? Did you see her wounds?! How could she have survived such injuries?"
"They are holding us against our will! What if she wants us to be eaten by demons?"
"So it's true?!"
Ohniz's words, coupled with the dangers of the day, had sparked the circulating conspiracy theories. Not even the guards could calm the situation and were forced to use force more than once, attempting not to harm the foreign nobles by order of the royal advisor. A riot was about to break out in the hall, and the soldiers' shots had incited the nobles, igniting their fighting spirit and exacerbating relations with the law enforcement.
"Everyone, stop!" The imperious, powerful voice of Duke Helmholtz stopped the din, almost magically. The man with a shabby appearance -his always perfect hair was even disheveled- pushed his way through the crowd, and when he had their attention, he positioned himself in the center and spoke:
"What do you think you're doing? Can't you see that this man is guilty of a very serious crime, and you're supporting him! If you're noble, show it! A little restraint—"
"Haven't you wondered how it was possible for the queen to capture a live deer? You saw it with your own eyes!" A man spoke, seeking the approval of those around him. He had been impetuous, but for a good cause, he was convinced.
"Baron Patterson, have you forgotten that our queen comes from the north of the continent? If you'd paid attention during your years at the academy, you'd know that the northern countries are known for their great hunting skills and understanding of the animal kingdom. Their worship and rituals carry meanings we cannot fathom. They allow their people to connect with beasts in ways completely unknown to us."
"But she was heavily injured!"
"It's obvious you've never been to war and haven't fought. Those wounds are visibly dangerous but not fatal. Blood loss and infection would surely have killed her, but she was found before that happened."
The murmurs that spread through the group once again alerted the guards, who remained tense and ready for conflict as the Duke spoke calmly. Unbeknownst to those present, Councilor Federik had arrived, having heard the commotion and rushed to assess the situation. He was stunned by the duke's words and his attempt to restore calm and defend the crown.
"What's happening?"
"Your Highness!" The most responsible nobles were ashamed of their behavior, and as soon as they saw the princess, they bowed in respect, keeping their gaze downcast out of deference. The duke in particular stared at Snow White with renewed, if unspoken, admiration. Astrael smiled joyfully when he saw the chaos with his own eyes: he was strongly tempted to make the situation worse, but he held back for the greater good: seeing the chaos that Ohniz's trial would create.
"Your Highness, the situation is under control now..." One of the guards who had been at the front of the crowd and had attempted to quell the riot came forward to inform the princess of everything that had happened. Some of those present wondered in hushed tones what would happen, whether they would all pay for the small but significant riot. What would the queen say, knowing what had been discussed? She had been insulted by many nobles, and their shame and guilt would not be enough to forgive their actions. tions. In their hearts, they expected the harshest retribution, even though their minds deluded them that no one was as singularly responsible as Ronald Ohniz.
"The situation has degenerated further than I expected," the princess commented, turning softly to Federik and Astrael. The councilors looked at each other and took charge: the man with glasses and youthful, sober elegance stepped forward, regarding those present with renewed contempt. Their behavior was not only unacceptable, but yet another attack on the crown. Were these really the men of the Council who wanted to lead the country? They didn't even deserve to open their mouths!
"In light of what has transpired, I believe you will understand why you have been kept within this hall, with plenty of food and drink to while away the time. I wonder why you have offended not only Her Majesty, but also the princess of our kingdom. You were offered protection, and you refused it, when a murderer and traitor to the kingdom roamed the woods, ready to do anything to carry out his plans." Federik swept his gaze over the nobles, appearing impassive, then settled on Ronald Ohniz. "Do you recognize this man, Marquis Quentin Sorton?"
At that point, those present became aware of the Marquis of Terran's presence and stared at him in fear. The man was in serious trouble.
"Yes, Councilor." Quentin looked confused, his eyes glazed and unfocused; only Snow White knew the Marquis was so responsive under Astrael's influence. Devilis received a push from the nearby guard and took a step forward, under everyone's gaze: his shame masked the immense anger he felt toward Sir Demitrik, who was apparently Ronald Ohniz.
"I recognize him too."
"Have you met this man before then?"
"Yes, but I was not involved in his plans! You must believe me."
"We will verify this. We are here to invite the nobles of the border kingdoms to follow us... we have prepared carriages for the return journey and will personally ensure your safety as far as the border, but first your cooperation with the investigation will be requested." Federik turned to the strangers who had remained on the sidelines during the rebellion; they nodded silently, surprised and shocked by what had happened in the last few hours. No one had the courage to protest their treatment; after all, assassins were roaming nearby! This was intolerable and unacceptable, and they wanted to leave immediately.
"Please follow me... this way." Federik addressed the foreign nobles, questioning them to confirm they knew nothing of Ronald Ohniz's plan. They could have lied, but there was no way to stop them: they couldn't risk offending the foreign regent. This was not the time to complicate relations with neighboring countries. The advisor, after verifying everyone's alibi, led them to the carriages.
Meanwhile, the princess and Astrael had finished handling the most urgent situation: the nobles had calmed down and collaborated with the guards to obtain further information regarding Sir Demitrik's false identity. It was discovered that he had contacted several nobles, but only a few sincerely confirmed that they had immediately rejected the sect leader's advances. Astrael made sure there were no liars and was instructed by the princess to chase away the nobles who were not involved in the affair. The demon longed to torture a few souls, but settled for harsh interrogations, accusations, and threats against those guilty of the betrayal. Many nobles concluded the councilor's interrogation with fear, swearing they had seen something inhuman in Astrael's gaze, but none would say anything aloud. A visceral oppression remained rooted within them.
Ohniz was imprisoned, while Devilis, Quentin Sorton, and two other nobles accused of collaborating with Sorton, providing support with soldiers, weapons, and supplies, were held in the marquis's residence. Obviously, in the coming days, administrative controls would be carried out in the provinces of the kingdom, targeting corrupt nobles; the princess decided she would discuss with the queen the possibility of stricter regulations on the income and expenditure of every region of the kingdom. Laxity had caused some of the problems, and they would remedy that as well. Furthermore, the nobles would protest less, having witnessed the conspiracy in progress.
If it had been up to Snow White, she would have dissolved the Council of Nobles immediately, knowing that some of its members had been involved in the act of rebellion, offending the royal family. Betrayal was unforgivable, and in times like these, It was necessary to be harsh and decisive with the punishments. Snow White hated what was happening and what she was supposed to do, but being the head of a kingdom could mean making bitter decisions.
It was late, but Snow White would not rest far from Grimilde. During those hours, she had been reluctant not to go over to check on her, but she knew she was in good hands: the royal guards had never left the area where she rested, watching over her without interruption, and they would not allow anyone near the queen's chamber without a valid reason. Snow White met the doctor on the way and was informed that after a further check, it was safe to say the queen was out of danger and would recover without problems. This comforted the princess greatly, but she had to see Grimilde with her own eyes before she could let go of any of her worries.
"I thought you'd come..." These were the first words the queen spoke to Snow White when she entered the room where she lay. Grimilde looked at the night sky visible from the bedroom window and sighed. "What has happened these past hours? You look exhausted... come here." Her pale eyes seemed deeply concerned and invited the girl to sit on her mattress. Snow White didn't hesitate, and as soon as she was near the queen, she stroked her blond hair and placed a kiss against her temple. "We have captured the leader of the sect. Ronald Ohniz. He comes from the kingdom of Hermania. He infiltrated our lands under the name of Sir Demitrik, starting his own sect, and found the cooperation of some nobles of the Council... including Quentin Sorton."
"I heard shouts. Did the nobles protest?"
"You're not missing anything... you should have rested, but I admit that's not easy in this situation." Bianca couldn't help but kiss Grimilde again, pressing her full, red lips against the blonde's pale cheek.
"You took charge of the situation, you took care of an urgent matter that threatened the royal family's power, and you're still here, strong, stable, determined... I'm proud of you, Snow." Grimilde smiled softly, raising her eyes to the princess. She was so beautiful, even though signs of fatigue were evident in her eyes and posture. When the princess blushed, the queen raised a hand to caress her cheek and bring their lips together. The kiss was sudden but sweet, something truly delicate; the princess could feel all of Grimilde's comfort and pride in it, so as soon as their lips parted, she brought them together again. Again, she continued to seek that softness and panted into the blonde's mouth. Grimilde took control, savoring that rare but much-appreciated confidence that Snow White was often shy of displaying. The queen's fingers threaded through Snow White's dark locks, and when her tongue attempted to slip between the girl's lips, a hand rested on her chest, pushing her back against the pillow.
"Darling?" Confused, the queen let it go, but when the princess lay down beside her, she blushed too.
"May I rest with you?"
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A/N: should I keep updating? : 0