Murder
I felt like I was in a nightmare the moment I heard rumors going around the palace. Janice was the first person to break the news to me.
At first, I didn't believe her. But after hearing everyone whispering the same thing, I became dazed.
“The princess is dead?” My eyes were filled with intense shock. “How is that possible? I mean, she was well and alive during the competition.”
“Yes.” The reports also took Janice by surprise. She couldn't believe that a well-alive person was gone like that.
Although she hated the princess, her hatred wasn't to the point that she wished her dead.
“She was found dead in a pool of blood this morning. How could someone murder a person so cruelly? I know that the princess might have offended many people, but this has gone too far.”
The other ladies around also nodded to Janice's words.
“It's you!” Natasi crazily charged at me. “You killed her. You are the one who murdered the princess.”
Before she could get to my side, Xinger instantly apprehended her.
She twisted Natasi's arms backward and spoke. “Will you please stop with your groundless accusation when you have no proof that she did it?”
Though she was stopped, Natasi's momentum didn't subside. “Groundless accusations? Everyone here knows that Zanillia and the princess aren't on good terms. She even fought with her yesterday. Besides that, don't forget her character.”
Natasi looked at me with a fierce gaze. “She is a thief. A thief who would do anything to achieve her aim. Perhaps to get revenge on the princess, she went ahead and murdered her.”
“Shut up!” Janice shouted. “Enough with your blatant claims? Why would Zanillia kill the princess? You had better watch your words or else--”
'Bang!'
“Enough!” Gia's loud slam shut everyone up.
The six lords sat above the platform, an unpleasant look on their faces.
They didn't know who had the audacity to sneak into the palace and commit a murder under their nose.
Aside from that, how are they going to explain this to their eldest brother? This is a very troublesome problem.
Eason's current look was very chilling. A dangerous atmosphere encircled him.
He looked down at the young ladies like a meat being served on a platter. Their bodies trembled as they met his gaze.
He soon shifted his gaze away from them and spoke. “I've already dispatched the special guards to search around the palace. Even if the murderer had the time to run away, there should still be some evidence that he or she wasn't able to clean off.”
The moment he finished his sentence, a group of guards entered the hall.
“Greetings, immortal lords.” They all made a bow.
“Arise,” Gai said to them, with a graceful wave of his hand. “Have you found any evidence?”
“Yes, my lord.” The leader of the special guards stepped forward and stretched out a long gown stained in blood.
My pupils dilated the moment I saw the cloth he was holding. Isn't that the dress I changed out of this morning?
Before I could think further, the guard had already continued his speech.
“We went around and searched through the palace, which includes the maiden's abode. However, nothing suspicious was found in their rooms, apart from Lady Zanillia's room.”
“What do you mean?” San already had a bad feeling in his heart the moment he heard the guard mention Zanillia's name.
“This dress was found in an inconspicuous corner inside her room. It was heavily soaked in blood. There were also traces of washed blood in her bathroom.”
“See, I told you. I knew she was the one who killed the princess. She's a murderer!” Natasi shouted crazily.
The six lords didn't mind about Natasi’s crazy scream, but instead turned their focus to Zanillia, who was pointed out.
“Can you answer if the evidence against you is true or not?” Gai, as the judge, questioned.
“I…” Fear began to emerge on my face. “I don't know. This morning, I woke up on the floor and found my dress stained with blood. I didn’t think much about it and went to the bathroom to change out of it.”
“The blood on the dress could be her period blood,” Xinger defended me.
But she knew that she was just fooling herself. The deep scent of blood on the dress can be smelled across the room. How can it be a period blood?
Janice saw her actions and also joined in. “Yes, that's right. A woman's period can be heavy sometimes. The blood on the dress might just be Zanillia’s period blood.”
The head of the special guard saw the two ladies putting up their best to protect their friend. Unfortunately, his next words killed their hope.
“The blood on the dress had already been examined by a doctor. According to the result, it's confirmed that the blood on this dress belongs to Princess Xiao Wu.”
“No. That's not true.” Tears streamed down my cheeks as I hurried to defend myself. “I… I…”
How am I going to explain myself? I didn't murder the princess. It wasn't me.
“Where were you last night, Lady Zanillia?” Gia remained calm and continued to ask.
“I…” My tongue became lost for words to say.
How am I supposed to know where I went last night? Could it be that Zanillia actually killed the princess?
No, it can't be her. She's too stupid to kill anyone.
Then what happened? How did she end up soaked in blood last night?
At that moment, I began to regret ever leaving for Feiye's residence. If I hadn't gone there, I wouldn’t have found myself in this situation.
“Lady Zanillia.” Gia's voice rose, a hint of anger evident in his tone. “I said, where did you go last night?”
“I…” My tears continue to fall freely. “I'm so sorry, I can't remember anything. But I swear to God, I didn't murder the princess. I didn't kill her. I can't even hurt a cockroach, much to talk of killing someone.”
“Take her to the cell.” Gai waved his hands, directly sealing my fate.
“I didn't. I really didn't do it. San. Please save me. I don't want to die.”
The guards walked towards me and held my arms. Janice and Xinger tried to fight against them, but how could they match these strong men? I was dragged out by them.
San looked down at the crying figure who was being taken away by the guards.
‘No. I believe her. Zanillia would never kill someone.’
He must find the murderer as soon as possible before any judgment is passed on her.
Because he knew that the sentence for murder was death.