Chapter 109 (2/2)
He pushed me down and tried to grab the ring from me. I fought back as hard as I could and screamed.
“How dare you place your hand on the emperor’s wife, you traitor!”
The dowager empress sneered at me.
“Emperor’s wife? Who? There is no emperor, so what is the point of his wife?!”
At her cruel joke, Marquis Toruka and other traitors laughed at me.
“Arrg!”
It didn’t take much for Marquis Galisia to take the ring from my hand.
When he handed it to the dowager empress, she grabbed it with pure joy on her face. The ring shined brightly under the light.
“Finally! It’s mine. It took so long. The former emperor wouldn’t let me even touch it when he was alive.”
I screamed emotionally, “Give it back to me! That does not belong to you!”
The dowager empress laughed at me.
“You are right. It isn’t mine. I am just holding it until the real owner comes in.”
She then clapped her hands. Suddenly, the door opened, and a pale girl was dragged in by a knight.
“Princess Liliana!”
The dowager empress grabbed Liliana’s hand and forced the ring onto her right-hand finger.
“Finally, the royal seal has found its true owner.”
Liliana became even paler as she screamed, “Please stop! Stop this, mother!”
She was sobbing, but no one cared. Liliana was helpless just as I was.
I shouted at the dowager empress, “This is wrong! You are a traitor! You are committing treason against the emperor!”
Her loud laugh sounded like broken glasses.
She smiled at me and replied, “You are wrong. I have never harmed the FORMER EMPEROR Lucretius.”
“What do you mean, former emperor!”
Some of the noblemen protested as well, but the dowager empress ignored them.
“The reason why I ordered Marquis Galisia this attack was to arrest the real traitor who murdered former emperor Lucretius.”
“What?”
I suddenly realized what was happening. It couldn’t be…
“Make the traitor kneel.”
At her order, Marquis Galisia pushed me down onto my knees.
The dowager empress smiled at me sharply and announced, “Sa Bina le Cransia. You murdered the emperor and tried to take over the throne.”
“What… what nonsense are you talking about?”
This was ridiculous, but she continued seriously, “This is the truth. You tried to take the throne by murdering your husband.”
I trembled in anger as I shouted, “That is a lie! Do you have a proof?”
“There is no need for a proof. It simply is the truth and that is what matters.”
“This is ludicrous…!”
However, my protest was ignored. When the chancellor and a few of the noblemen protested, they were kicked in the faces.
I realized there was nothing I could do. The dowager empress was the one with all the power. I was weak and useless.
She laughed again.
“Now, that we have established this… The only thing left to do is make the decision.”
Decision? What decision?
I tensed as she continued to smile at me.
Before I could say anything, she raised her hand and ordered, “As the regent of the new ruler Liliana, the heir to the former emperor Lucretius, I, Katleyanira le Cransia, order the following.”
As soon as she started her announcement, Marquis Toruka dragged the scribe to the table and made him write down her order.
She continued sharply, “The crime of murdering the emperor and attempting to take the throne cannot be forgiven.”
“That’s a lie!”
I screamed despite knowing it was hopeless.
“This is treason against Cransia, and therefore, I order Sa Bina le Cransia to be executed.”
I fought against the knight who held me down. The dowager empress laughed at me as she stamped the royal seal on this order.
My execution order was now official.
She looked around the room and asked, “If anyone objects to this, please tell me now.”
No one would dare.
Marquis Toruka bowed his head and announced, “We are all impressed with your highness’ wisdom.”
The other traitors murmured their agreements.
The dowager empress added confidently, “The execution will take place tomorrow morning at sunset in this hall.”