Page 144 of The Forgotten Queen
Marx shrugged, feeling the weight of Bryant’s accusations on his shoulders. “I don’t know why. Maybe Stoddard has a plan. Maybe he’s trying to get a lesser sentence. After everything they’ve done, are you really going to believe them over me? They’ve been deceiving the Council for nearly two years.”
King Bryant folded his arms. “Von and Stoddard have nothing else to lose. They know it’s over for them no matter what. They have no reason to lie to us. Whereas,youhave everything to lose.”
“I can’t believe this,” Marx muttered. “I’m not a criminal. Ask Princess Seran. She’ll tell you that I never once treated her unkindly.”
“The princess wants nothing more to do with you,” Bryant said.
Marx’s chest tightened uncomfortably, and his resolve shattered.
“I understand that Commander Stoddard and Doctor Von are liars, and I wouldn’t put it past them to fabricate this entire story,” Bryant said. “But the evidence doesn’t lie.”
Marx straightened. “What evidence do you have besides their testimony?”
King Bryant held up a cream-colored paper. “Stoddard gave us the letter you sent in reply, setting up your very first meeting with him. The date, time, and location.”
“I’ve never seen that letter before.”
Bryant raised a brow. “Really? Because it has your signature on it.”
“It’s not my signature. Stoddard or my father must have forged it.” Marx leaned forward, trying to see the curves of the writing.
Bryant flipped the paper down. “You want me to believe that your own father would betray you like that?”
Marx closed his eyes. How could he explain to a room full of people that his father never loved him the way he loved Palmer?
But maybe this entire thing wasn’t about his father.
Maybe it was about Marx.
He was a screwup. He’d always been a screwup. No matter how hard he tried, he always seemed to fail. That’s how it had been with Palmer’s death. He should have done more to save him. And now, that’s how things were with Seran. Marx should have seen the signs earlier. He should’ve demanded answers from his father or worked harder to find the truth. He’d been lazy, coasting by because he loved her and didn’t want to lose her.
It was his fault he was in this mess.
Everything was his fault, and it was time he faced it. There wasn’t anything he could say that would change King Bryant’s mind. He’d already decided that Marx was guilty. The trial was as good as rigged.
Marx looked up at King Bryant and the other rulers. “I don’t want you to believe anything. I only want to say that I’m sorry for Princess Seran. I’m sorry for everything that happened to her. I’m sorry that I didn’t do more to help her. I only want what’s best for her.”
“Justice is what’s best for her,” King Bryant barked.
“I agree.”
Hushed whispers filed through the meeting room.
“Very well,” King Bryant said. “The rulers will take a short pause for deliberation before casting our votes.”
The six rulers stood and filed out of a side door.
Marx leaned his head down on the table. He couldn’t face his sister. He couldn’t face anyone.
Trev
“Stoddard and Von are liars, and we can’t believe anything they say,” Queen Myka said. Her fists pounded against the table where the rulers sat, her eyes blazing with passion. “Do not trust them.”
Trev shook his head. “I know they’re liars, but I don’t trust King Marx either. At first, he defended himself, but then when Bryant pulled out the letter, he crumbled. It was as if he knew he’d been caught, and there was no way out.”
“I agree!” Bryant said. “He’s definitely guilty. He had no rebuttal for the letter.”
“Yes, but it’s his word against Von’s and Stoddard’s,” Myka said. “Maybe he felt defeat, not guilt.”
