Chapter 36

“It's okay. You can talk,” Alpha Karl said, his voice measured but strained.

Sandra took a deep, theatrical breath and began, her voice earnest.

“Your Majesty, I have always been deeply concerned with the safety of the royal sextuplets. Even if I cannot have a child of my own, I feel it is my custom to watch over your children. And today, one of my maids who also works at the North Palace discovered something truly disturbing—something that could gravely hurt the sextuplets.”

Sandra paused, carefully watching Alpha Karl. She was gratified when his head snapped up, his gaze fixing on her. She had his attention.

Clearing her throat, she continued with practiced distress: “My maid found that Lois has been using an unprescribed drug from outside the palace for the sextuplets.”

She stopped again, letting the words hang in the air. Alpha Karl's gaze was instantly bright, his jaw rigid, and his fists clenched into hard, white knots.

“She gives them an unprescribed decoction? What is that damned wench planning?” Alpha Karl’s voice was a low, terrifying rumble. “How sure are you?”

“She found the drug in Lois's wardrobe while cleaning,” Sandra pressed, sounding wounded. “And another maid confirmed she saw Lois mixing it into the sextuplets' approved infirmary decoctions.”

“I feel this is far too risky for her to do,” Sandra stated, leaning into the King's known sensitivities. “She is utterly undeserving to be the children’s governess. Her constant impertinence and nonchalance towards your rules make her a threat.” She knew Alpha Karl couldn't stand being reminded that he had put a "sinner" in charge of his heirs.

“And she knows full well she could be putting them in danger?” he asked, a vein throbbing at his temple.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Sandra replied, trying to appear mournful.

Alpha Karl still seemed to harbor a flicker of doubt, unable to reconcile Lois’s apparent devotion with an act that could harm the boys. Why would she hurt them?

“Your Majesty, you are leaving your children in the hands of an unworthy person. She poses a threat to them. I suggest she be banished immediately, and a new governess be appointed to ensure the children’s safety,” Sandra urged, playing her final card. “It is clearly her way of trying to use the sextuplets against you to get what she wants.”

Alpha Karl shot to his feet, a storm brewing in his eyes. “Wolfe!” he thundered.

Wolfe appeared in the doorway almost instantly.

“Take as many guards as you can and bring Lois to me right now,” he ordered. Wolfe bowed and left with urgent haste.

Back at the North Palace:

Lois was curled up on a couch in the castle’s grand living room, reading a book, enjoying a rare moment of peace while the children were upstairs, busy painting in the art room.

The front door burst open. Wolfe and a contingent of armed soldiers stormed into the room.

Lois’s jaw dropped in shock.

“You are arrested by the King,” Wolfe announced, his voice devoid of emotion.

“How… can… I help you?” Lois stammered, scrambling to her feet.

“The King orders us to arrest you and bring you to the West Palace right away,” Wolfe repeated, his tone formal. “Please, cooperate with us to ensure your safety.”

Lois swallowed hard and stepped out, surrounded by the stern, silent soldiers.

They reached the West Palace, and Lois was led directly to the interrogation hall. Detectives and mages were already assembled.

This time, Alpha Karl was going to take everything literally, leaving the law to do its work. If Lois survived this ordeal, she could remain the governess. If she didn't, the sextuplets would know he hadn't directly hurt her. He quietly nursed the guilt that they would resent him for failing to protect her.

Lois stood alone in the interrogation hall, the focus of dozens of hostile eyes.

“We don’t think we need much time to talk,” a female detective began, emerging from the crowd. “Lady Marrok, you were found to be feeding the royal sextuplets with an unprescribed drug which was later confirmed to be lethal for their age.”

A male Royal Mage stepped forward, holding a scroll.

“The rule of the law forbids that any food, drug, water, or intake given to the royalty must have passed strict review. No drugs, decoctions, or treatments from outside the palace or from a non-royal physician or apothecary are permitted,” the Mage read, his voice ringing with authority. “Lady Marrok ignored these rules, rendering them nonsense. This has proven that she is impertinent and unworthy of being the governess of the heirs. The penalty for this act is to be sent into exile.”

“Do you, Lady Marrok, have anything to say about your crime?” the detective asked, leveling a hard stare at Lois.

Lois stood completely still, watching the proceedings in utter confusion. The Mage’s words were a blur of shock.

“I ask again. Do you have anything to say?”

“I do not know anything about this,” Lois said softly, finally finding her voice.

A ripple of shock and murmurs ran through the assembled group.

“And what proof do you have for that claim?” the Mage challenged.

“I have always been at the North Palace. When did I have enough time to go out and get drugs into the palace?” Lois asked, looking genuinely lost.

“That does not prove your innocence. The drug was found in your possession,” another male detective opposed sharply.

“What proves that I kept it there? I could have been set up,” Lois countered, her voice gaining strength as the idea solidified.

“What if she was set up?” Alpha Karl thought from his observation perch, a flicker of doubt finally piercing his anger.

The detectives paused, looking toward the King for guidance. Alpha Karl gave them a curt nod to proceed.

A different detective emerged from the crowd, holding a tray. He walked to the first Mage, who took the small, suspicious package. “Why didn't they bother to inspect the label and all in the first place?” Lois wondered, watching them closely.

Everyone stared as the Mage began to inspect the drug. Sandra’s focus, however, was entirely on her mother, Lady Vetta. Sandra looked increasingly uncomfortable that the Mage was inspecting the drug. “Shouldn’t they just punish her already?” she thought, her anxiety mounting.

The Mage suddenly rose, holding the package aloft. “I have made a thorough inspection of the drug,” he announced. The hall went silent.

“Inspecting the drug wasn't needed to solve this,” he continued, confusing everyone.

“Why is he confusing me? Shall I rip his intestine out already?” Alpha Karl thought, his patience wearing thin.

“The formulas used in preserving this decoction are a newly designed one, used exclusively by an apothecary right here at the palace. This is from the palace,” the detective declared.

The people in the hall gasped in collective shock.

“But that doesn’t prove her innocence yet…” the detective started, only to be cut off.

“Maybe it does,” the first Mage interrupted, drawing all eyes back to him.

“She has always been confined to the North Palace. If this is a new design, she couldn't have possibly gotten her hands on it. That means this was truly a set up,” the Mage concluded triumphantly.