Chapter 32 The interrogation
The meeting door blast opened as Isabella walked in, eyes ahead, chin raised. The whispers from within the room paused as everyone turned back to see the intruder.
“Ms Thorne?” Lord Sloane was the first to recover. “I believe you're in the wrong place.”
Isabella hid her smile as she walked ahead, ignoring the whispers. “I hate to think so, Lord Sloane. I believe this meeting is being held on my account.”
Sue walked to the center. Her breath hitched when she came face-to-face with Lucien. “Your Majesty,” She curtseyed.
“Council elders.” She returned her attention back to them, paying her respects.
“I apologise for the rude interruption.” Her smile was bright. Too bright, and Isabella hoped it betrayed the messy way she felt within herself.
“...but I believe we are all gathered to discuss my involvement in the attacks of Lord Casmir.”
Lord Sloane opened his mouth to object, but a wave from Lucien made him sigh in resignation. “You are right, Ms Thorne. However, we have not concluded on the whole proceedings.”
“Oh, Lord Sloane.” Isabella batted her eyelids in a singsong voice. “We both know these are all formalities. As before, the evidence on the ground points to only one person. Me.”
The words tumbled out in a rush, making the other members of the council murmur.
Lord Sloane's sigh was layered in defeat. “What do you propose, Ms Thorne?”
“That the investigations begin now,v with me present in it.” Her smile was victorious.
Lord Sloane hesitated. “I doubt you know what you're asking for, Ms Thorne. There is already a lot of evidence proving you're guilty. Why don't you allow the council members to deliberate on this and decide on a fairer judgment? This is hasty and harsh.” Lord Sloane tried to reason.
Isabella shook her head, unrelenting. “Which is exactly why I need to be involved in the whole process.”
She looked around, studying the faces of those seated intently before her gaze returned to Lord Sloane.
“You think I do not know the magnitude of all these?” Her laughter was self-deprecating.
She paced. “There are only a few members of the council who genuinely like me.” She paused to allow the whisperings die down.
“Very few, so few that I can count them with my fingers.” Most of the elders looked away guiltily.
“And the truth is, I do not blame you. I do not.” The hall was silent as everyone listened to her with rapt attention.
“You've seen the patterns, you know the dangers of the moonlit blood and so, you are wary which is understandable. Heck, you are custodians of the kingdom.” Her voice raised slightly.
“Don't try to patronise us, Ms Thorne.” Someone spoke from the back. The voice was unmistakable.
Harlan.
“You think that's what I'm doing? You think I'm trying to downplay the magnitude of this offence?” Her voice was icy, affecting the temperature of the room.
“Lord Casmir and I.” Her hands shook as her voice broke.
Isabella closed her eyes to regain herself. When she opened them, they were bloodshot; a result of the tears she was trying to suppress.
“We started off on a bad foot. Of course, you all are aware.” Her laugh was hollow. “Yet, he is one of the few persons, who has had my back in the council. One of the few.” She smiled bitterly.
“And you think,” her hands were pointed at the audience. “You think I'm going to attack one of the very few persons who has had my back? How wise of me.”
She was breathing hard, her face set in stone and red as she dared them.
Lord Sloane cleared his throat. The onus to speak was on him as all the other members of the council looked away in guilt.
“Your observation has been taken into consideration. And from the deliberations that were noted, before you rudely interrupted us, we can say that your alibi checks out.”
Isabella tried to hide the relief that she felt.
“But this realisation begs for one question. The Moonlit blood. Why is it found on the scene?” Lord Sloane continued.
Isabella’s eyes lit up. “That is a very important question, Lord Sloane. One that I've had to ask myself in these few months, till I deciphered it.”
The once quiet hall became noisy in an instant.
“Ms Thorne?” Lord Sloane whispered. “I don't think we understand what you're saying. Can you speak in clearer terms please?”
The old man looked like he had aged by twenty years in milliseconds.
“Very well then, if you insist.” Isabella obliged. “I'm saying that I know who exactly has been framing me. Actually,” her lips curved into a cunny smile. “He’s seated right here with us.” She dropped the bomb.
“No!” She heard Lucien's whisper through the bond.
She turned subtly to him. “Don't do it. You don't have to do this.” He shook his head, the look in his eyes, that of worry.
“Are you aware of the punishment of falsely accusing an elder of the council?” Lord Sloane's voice came up, interrupting the silent communication between her and Lucien.
“Yes, I am.”
“Ms Thorne? This punishment will not be rescinded because you're His Majesty’s mate and the mother of the Crown Prince.”
“I do know that.” Her voice was calm.
The tension in the room was thick as everyone was silent. She could sense the battles going on in the crowd. Everyone was suddenly suspicious of the person seated beside them.
“Alright.” Lord Sloane conceded. “Who?”
“Isabella?” Lucien's voice came out again, laced with warning. “It's not too late.”
“It is.” She muttered back at him.
“Ms Thorne?” Lord Sloane called out impatiently.
Isabella gulped. This was the moment. The most defining moment. If she did this, everything would go back to normal.
“Lord Blackburn.” The heavy words left her tongue and descended into the crowd.
The sound of everyone's heartbeat could be heard, loud and clear.
Lord Blackburn was the first to react. His laugh was harsh as he immediately stood up.
“This is preposterous.” The veins in his neck bulged and threatened to burst. “I understand you have the King's protection, but I would advise that you tread carefully here, Ms Thorne.”
Scattered sounds of agreement echoed in the hall.
“You are not only accusing me of all the attacks carried out in the past months,” he pointed at her. “You, Ms Thorne are also saying that I am responsible for the attack on Lord Casmir. My own Lord Casmir. He was like a brother to me.”
“Is, Lord Bakckburn. Lord Casmir is still alive.” Isabella corrected immediately.
“However, if you put it that way, Lord Blackburn, then you are absolutely correct.”
Loud gasps could be heard from around the hall.
“Ms Thorne?” Lord Sloane's voice held warning and something else, a tinge of desperation.
Isabella held his gaze. ‘You can stop now and it still will be safe.’ she read the message.
“Sorry,” she mouthed and looked away, returning her focus to Lord Blackburn.
“Deny this all you want, Lord Blackburn but there are evidences that proves that this was you.”
“Oh really?” He teased. “I really hope you're right, Ms Thorne because I would hate to see you killed for something you can end now.”
“I would love to see you try,” Isabella retorted sharply, the challenge in her eyes becoming more evident.
Lord Blackburn took a step forward. “Enough!” Lord Sloane said hastily, mediating between both of them.
He turned to Isabella. “Let's hear what you have, Ms Thorne.”
“This is not needed,” Blackburn spoke instead. “Why would any of you think I did this?”
He was met with silence as his allies in the council looked away.
“Ms Thorne?” Lord Sloane urged.
“Can the honourable elders of this council ask Lord Blackburn as to why his personal attendant has been found visiting the Royal clinic to collect vials of my blood?”
“Is that the evidence?” Lord Bakckburn looked genuinely amazed. “This…” he burst into laughter.
“Lord Blackburn. This is the court.” Lord Sloane warned.
“I'm sorry,” Blackburn waved as he tried to stop the laughter.
“My personal attendant is his own man.” He began, his expression serious. “...and he makes personal decisions of his own.”
He looked around, studying the faces of everyone in the room.
“Can you hear him?” It was Isabella's turn to giggle. “He thinks you're fools. That you do not have the capacity to think for yourselves.”
She paused, taking a few steps to close the distance between her and Lord Blackburn. “The moonlit blood is the only thing that has tied me to the crime scenes, yet Lord Blackburn says here that he is not responsible.”
Her voice boomed all over the hall.
“That…that is not…you're mistaken.” Blackburn stuttered as he realised his folly.
“The court knows you're guilty, Lord Bakckburn…”
“I am not working…”
Swish!!
The sound of the sword slicing through the air halted his words. Blood splattered on her face and dress, as Blackburn’s head rolled off his neck and fell a few feet before her.