Page 90 of Bride of the Black Dragon
48
ELAINA
Now I see why I was “invited” to the Coronation and dressed in the revealing red dress. Dorian must have been planning this all along—planning to call me out and accuse me before the entire Court.
The guards drag me to the middle of the Great Hall like a criminal, though I’ve done nothing wrong. My wrists are bound with iron cuffs, and the trailing chains rattle against the marble flagstones dramatically.
Rows of Nobles crowd around me on either side, whispering like vultures around a carcass, preparing to hear my trial.
At the far end, the Queen sits beside Dorian on the dais. Her posture is ramrod straight, her expression grim. Beside her, Dorian lounges in his new throne, one leg crossed over the other, the crown tilted rakishly on his pale hair. He looks far too happy and pleased with himself for a man who has just lost his father.
The guards shove me closer to the dais and force me to my knees. My knees hit hard stone. The sound echoes through the chamber.
“Let the trial of Princess Elaina begin,” Dorian announces, his voice slick as oil. “Royal Prosecutor, state your case.”
He gestures to a man in black robes standing to his right. The Royal Prosecutor steps forward—a tall, thin figure with a face like a ferret and thin, claw-like hands which he uses to gesture dramatically.
“Your Majesty,” the Prosecutor says, bowing low. “This woman stands accused of regicide and treason. She has conspired with the disgraced Prince Xaren to poison His late Majesty the King and usurp the throne.”
A murmur of shock ripples through the Court.
Usurp the throne? That’s madness.
“I didn’t—” I start to protest, but the Prosecutor lifts a bony hand.
“You will speak when spoken to, girl,” he snaps, and the guards’ hands tighten painfully on my shoulders.
Dorian’s lips curve in that cold smile again.
“Please, let the accused have her say. I wouldn’t want anyone to think I’m unfair.”
The Prosecutor nods solemnly and turns to me.
“Very well, Princess. Tell us then—how did you come to be in the King’s private chambers on the night of his death?”
“I didn’t mean to go to his rooms at all,” I say quickly. “That was never my intention.”
“You expect us to believe that?” he interrupts smoothly. “When you were found skulking through secret corridors—corridors that lead directly to the royal apartments?”
“I wasn’t skulking!” I protest. “I was just?—”
“She was just now caught attempting to flee justice!” he declares, raising his voice for the audience. “And she would have succeeded, had not one of our loyal Nobles spotted her cowardly escape attempt during His Majesty’s coronation. Why would she flee if she wasn’t guilty?”
The crowd hisses their disapproval.
Cowardly escape? My face burns. They’re twisting the situation to suit their own ends! I only ever wanted to find the key to Xaren’s collar… to free him before it’s too late!
I look toward the Queen, but she won’t meet my eyes. Her gaze is fixed somewhere above my head, as though she can’t bear to see me.
“Tell me, Princess,” the Prosecutor continues, pacing in front of me like a vulture circling prey. “You claim innocence, yet the poison bottle was found in your possession.”
“That’s not true!” I exclaim. “It was in Dorian’s hand because he was?—”
“In His Majesty’s hand, you say?” he cuts me off again. “Please—do you really expect us to believe that?”
“It’s the truth!” I say stubbornly. “I wasn’t trying to get into the King’s room—I was trying to get to the Queen’s room!”
“Why?” he demands. “So you could poison Her Majesty?”
