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Both lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound. “You will answer that question.” Cornelius slammed the table.“No” Both answered in unison. Cain tried to struggle one last time, “but that was not part of the operation I was responsible for.”“You were aware and participated….” Cornelius’s lips curled in disdain, “just not responsible… did I understand correctly?”Cain felt his body burning red hot from shame… that was exactly what he meant but he didn’t expect to be bared openly in front of everyone…“Being aware but not participating…” Cornelius paused in deliberation before continuing, “…in itself is a crime. Knowing yet not stopping… putting everyone in danger… how exactly does it make you innocent of the crime?”He didn’t wait for anyone to answer and continued, “Either way, that dilemma doesn’t exist in your case, you were aware and you participated.” He enunciated each word of the last part of his sentence.“Your highness…” Both Cain and Cole called out in unison, “We wer
The historians who were quietly scribing the events, sitting at the back of the chamber, nodded in unison, acknowledging the order.The soldiers who were punished were led out in an orderly manner by the leading guards.Silence returned to the chamber as the courtiers lowered their heads to review the scrolls distributed to them. The evidence was clear, in black and white. The chain of events related to the smuggling operation was documented with precision. Soldiers were transported from the East Kingdom to the gypsy lands under the guise of caravan trading, then distributed throughout the various duchies disguised as slaves. Dates, locations, transit points, and the number of people involved were all meticulously recorded.No one could refute the overwhelming evidence. There was also witness accounts from the gypsy tribe, with the one with the greatest weight being the one from the chief of the Lovari tribe who brought in more than a dozen to the spies in chains to open court.Howeve
Silence reigned supreme as everyone waited for someone else to bear the weight of the judgement.As everyone deliberated, the man Alex sent had returned and handed over a paper. Alex eyeballed the paper and passed it to Baldwin who was about to sit back. He glanced at the paper, before turning his gaze to Alex who nodded subtly. He then turned his gaze towards Cornelius who too gave a subtle nod of approval.“Those whose names are called, please step to the right side of the hall.” Baldwin announced before calling out the names listed on the scroll.The soldiers looked at one another in bewilderment, but all the same they stepped to the right obediently as their names were called.“Crime of passion and crime of necessity…” Alex slowly opened his mouth, “Although they aren’t the same, the effect of both is the crime itself. And while our hearts may go out to those who acted out of necessity, necessity does not excuse the crime itself. Had it succeeded, the end result would have been no
“Some might while others won’t, so I will let my commander brief you before we proceed.” Cornelius sat on the throne as he gestured towards Parker to speak.Parker stepped forward into the center of the chamber.Before him sat not only the crown, but the surviving Grand Dukes of the founding clans. Many eyes unconsciously drifted toward the elevated seats surrounding the throne.The seating arrangement within the Chamber of Justice differed greatly from that of ordinary court sessions held in the throne room. The Founding Dukes, also known as the Grand Dukes, sat facing the court alongside the crown. Their seats were elevated above the rest of the chamber, second only to the throne platform itself.Of the original founding clans, only the Ambertons and Worthingtons still occupied their positions in full legitimacy. The Haribeorts had been erased from history—or so they thought. The Asters had been banished, though their seat remained, a silent tribute to their founding ancestor. There
Alex hooked a brow towards Zelda, who had reappeared in the room.Zelda didn't bother with formalities either. "Blood Curse Illusion.""What the hell is that?" Cornelius frowned, turning to Alex."No idea." Alex shrugged."It is an ancient enchantment," Zelda began explaining without waiting to be asked. "One believed to have been lost to the passage of time.""It allows the faces and fates of two people to be exchanged.""Can it be reversed?" Thomas asked curiously."Very simple... call the person by his birth name.""That simple?" Humphrey wrinkled his face in disbelief. “Just anyone can call to break the curse?”"Yes, but it must be his birth name, not merely the name he is known by.""What's the difference?"“Birth name is the name whispered in your ear when your senses fully develop.” Zelda spoke matter-of-factly, as though it were common knowledge. Judging by the expressions around the table, nobody else shared that opinion."Bruce would know that, right?" Cornelius mused aloud.
“Here…” Annemarie stood up looking like a cat that had her head down the chimney.Martin snatched it first to look, his intention pure. He didn’t want his little sister making a fool of herself in front of everyone. But he was pleasantly surprised.“It’s him… that’s him…” He lifted the scroll, a soft whisper escaped his throat, “Not a strand of hair out of place.”Alex’s lips curled up in a knowing arc.The scroll was passed around and finally reached Alex. Alex stared at the image for a long moment.The resemblance was undeniable.Too undeniable.The face looked exactly like a younger version of Bruce, but it couldn’t be… not with his age. Those eyes… he had seen them… where… he couldn’t place them but definitely not on Bruce.Lost in thought, he blurted, something buried in his memory, something his father told him a long time ago, “If something defies logic, then there isn’t one… if there isn’t any logic, then it must be an illusion.” His whole being stilled for a minute before turn
“That reminds me…” Listening to the siblings bickering, Cornelius suddenly remembered an incident that happened years ago when he was desperately searching for Alex, refusing to believe that he passed away.“After I cleared the Zumerongs of any wrongdoing and invited them back, a man who looked like
Everyone’s expression brightened before it fell once again with Oden’s question “Wouldn’t that arise suspicion towards Jack’s identity?” “I didn’t mean anything else…” Oden explained as he saw eveyone’s gaze stopping on him “I assumed that we were keeping his identity under wraps till the whole thi
Jack’s lips curled up, looking at the awkward Martin “No rush. Sit down.” He rang the bell to summon Harrison and ordered “Serve some tea and nibbles.”“Why are we …” Martin grumbled as he rubbed his hands impatiently; he was a man of action, he fidgeted as he ran all that he had gathered from conve
“We had an instance where the farm we usually buy chickens from, had all died suddenly. This was just before we had a very important luncheon where we were supposed to entertain both your royal sovereign and the delegates from the northern tribe.” Samuel smoothly continued with his explanation, taki







