Chapter 41 The Council
"I can confirm you met with Lady Margot." Maya spoke up nervously from the observers' section. "But I didn't hear what was discussed. I arrived as Prince Theo went missing and interrupted your conversation."
"Convenient that your only witness heard nothing of substance." Margot's voice dripped false sympathy. "Lady Lila, I understand you're desperate. Facing execution for murdering your own sister would drive anyone to wild accusations. But inventing conspiracies won't change the evidence."
"You told me you were abandoning our alliance because Garrett had powerful allies. You said you had to survive." Lila's voice rose. "You admitted you were helping Celeste gather evidence against me and Adrian. You said."
"I said nothing of the sort." Margot looked at the council with concern. "Your Majesty, councilors, I must speak. For weeks now, I've observed Lady Lila's deteriorating mental state. She's approached me multiple times with paranoid fantasies. Claims of conspiracies. Accusations against Lord Garrett that have no basis in fact. I tried to be sympathetic, thinking grief and isolation were affecting her judgment."
"That's a lie!"
"It's true!" Margot's voice was gentle, pitying. "Lady Lila, I know you've suffered. The desire for someone you can never have must be agonizing. Living in this palace, watching the King with your sister, unable to fulfill what your desire demands. That kind of torment breaks people. Makes them do things they'd never normally consider."
"I didn't break. I didn't murder anyone." But Lila's voice wavered. Because part of her wondered. Had she been breaking? Had the years of torture pushed her toward madness without her realizing?
"I've heard you speak about the Queen." Margot continued, each word landing like a hammer. "Overheard conversations where you expressed frustration. Resentment. I remember specifically." She paused for effect. "You said you wished Celeste would disappear. That everyone would be better off if she just vanished. I didn't think much of it at the time. Assumed it was just venting. But now, with everything that's happened."
"When did I supposedly say this?" Lila demanded. "Where? Who else heard?"
"Six weeks ago. In the garden. You were talking to yourself, didn't realize I was nearby tending roses." Margot's expression was sorrowful. "You said, and I quote, 'Everyone would be happier if Celeste just disappeared. Adrian. Theo. Even me. We're all trapped by her presence.' I should have reported it then. I see that now. Maybe I could have prevented this tragedy."
"That's not. I never." Lila's mind raced. Had she said something like that? She'd been so miserable those weeks after Theo's injury. Had she spoken her darkest thoughts aloud without realizing? "Even if I said something like that, thinking isn't the same as doing. Wishing isn't murder."
"No. But it establishes motive." Thorne's voice was cold. "Combined with the poison, the hairpin, the sedatives, the circumstances. Lady Lila, the evidence paints a clear picture. You wanted the Queen gone. Wanted access to the King and Prince Theo. You drugged her tea to make her sluggish. Shot her horse with poison to ensure she fell. Then attended the hunt to watch your plan succeed."
"That's not what happened!" Desperation made Lila's voice crack. "Why would I attend the hunt if I planned to kill her? That makes no sense. I'd stay away, establish an alibi, do anything except put myself at the scene of the crime."
"Unless you couldn't resist watching." Margot spoke softly. "Unless the bond of sister hood drove you to witness her death. To ensure it happened. To be there when Adrian was finally free."
"You're twisting everything. Making innocent actions sound guilty." Lila looked around at hostile faces. "Can't you see what she's doing? She's manipulating you. Using truth mixed with lies to destroy me."
"The only truth here is evidence." A councilor held up the poison vial. "You possessed the murder weapon. You had motive. You had opportunity. You were present at the scene. What more proof do we need?"
"Proof that I actually did it! Not circumstantial evidence that could be explained other ways. Not speculation about my mental state. Real proof that I drugged my sister's tea, shot her horse, planned her murder." Lila's voice broke. "I loved Celeste. Despite everything between us, I loved her. I would never. I could never."
"Love and hate are closer than most realize." Thorne stood, his face grave. "Especially between sisters trapped in impossible circumstances. Lady Lila, do you deny you wanted the King? Do you deny the mate bond that's been whispered about for years?"
"I." Lila's mouth opened but no words came. How could she deny what everyone already knew? What the bond itself proved?
"Your silence speaks volumes." Thorne turned to Adrian, who'd remained frozen throughout the proceedings. "Your Majesty, the evidence is damning. Your wife's sister murdered the Queen. What say you?"
Adrian looked like a man being torn in half. His face was gray, his eyes hollow, his hands gripping the council table hard enough to crack wood. Through the bond, Lila felt his absolute devastation. Felt him drowning in impossible choice.
Believe the evidence and condemn his mate to death.
Or believe his mate and reject obvious proof of guilt.
"I." His voice came out rough, barely audible. "I need time. Time to think. Time to."
"Your Majesty, with respect, time is a luxury we don't have." Thorne's voice was firm. "The Queen's funeral is tomorrow. The kingdom demands justice. You must make a statement about these accusations."
"Then I'll make one tomorrow. After the funeral. After I've had time to process everything." Adrian's voice gained strength. "You're asking me to condemn someone I." He stopped. "Someone close to me. Based on evidence that, while damning, could potentially be explained other ways. I need time."
"The evidence doesn't require explanation. It requires acknowledgment." A councilor stood. "Your Majesty, we understand this is painful. But you must separate personal feelings from duty. The law is clear. If Lady Lila murdered the Queen, she faces execution. Your relationship with her, whatever form it takes, cannot interfere with justice."
"Justice requires proof, not circumstance." Adrian's eyes flashed gold. "And I will not execute anyone without being absolutely certain of their guilt."
"Are you defending her?" The councilor's voice rose. "After everything we've presented? The poison in her chambers, the motive, the presence at the hunt? You still defend her?"
"I'm defending the principle of fair trial!" Adrian's control cracked. "Of requiring actual proof before condemnation. Of not rushing to judgment because the evidence appears convenient."
"Appears convenient? Your Majesty, the evidence is overwhelming."
"Then give me one more day to verify it. One day to ensure we're not executing an innocent woman." Adrian's voice was steel. "Tomorrow, after we bury my wife, I'll make my decision. But not now. Not while emotions run high and reason is clouded by grief."
Thorne looked ready to argue but something in Adrian's expression stopped him. This wasn't a request. It was a royal command wrapped in diplomatic language.
"Very well. We reconvene tomorrow evening." Thorne turned to the guards. "Lady Lila remains confined. No visitors except her servant. Incre
ased guard. If she attempts escape, you have permission to use force."