Chapter 27 Deliberation

"Now for the instructions, just like what you all did back at your meeting, I will give you all pens and papers to write on for the vote," said the attorney and with that, he snapped his fingers and papers appeared and ballpen on their respective tables. “But instead of writing an 'x' mark or a check mark, you will write the name between these two defendants who you want to live.”

He smirked at them. “No cheating.”

When he said that, they were surprised when their writing hands moved for them to write. Every prince and princess is really thinking about what they will write on the paper as if they are taking a difficult exam and it is as if the attorney and the judge are their strict teachers who are watching each other's every breath. The two defendants were silent in their seats and instead of anxiety engraved on their faces, their faces were only giving grief.

A few minutes passed,

"Okay, looks like everybody has decided," and at the same time, the papers automatically flew to a drop box and when it was complete, "It may take a while to count the votes of the juries so sit back and relax at your seats.”

He opened the drop box and started counting but,

"Wait," inserts a voice so everyone’s attention was gotten by the speaker.

Yani just looked at the attorney seriously. "May I have a word?"

The attorney looked at her for a while trying to figure out what she was going to say before he replied, “Go on”.

Yani looked at the man directly at his blue hot eyes. "As the leader and the princess of the Eullenum Nation, I want to have a deliberation about this situation with you… only between the two of us."

When Yani said that, everyone was surprised. Even the blue shadow himself was surprised at what she said and while looking back at her, Yani is telling him through her eyes that she's serious.

"Like I said a while ago, this is my court so my rules, my way and I should reject your request by now but…" he smirked at Yani. “…you got my attention when you said that it will just be the two of us. So…”

Suddenly, the judge stood up from his seat and they saw that he seemed to 'absorb' the attorney being his clone so he was alone. “Where will it happen? Lead the way.”

With everything that happened, Yani just gave back a serious look, was able to stand up at her seat and started to walk but…

"Wait," Jethro stopped so the two stopped walking. “There should be no deliberation. Yani, I have a bad feeling about this. This is not a good idea!”

There was silence after that, before one talked.

"It's okay," she said, breaking the ice. "If there's one thing I learned on being a princess, we should think first of what's best for our nation…" turned her head to Jethro giving a smile. “…before we think of what's best for oneself.”

It left Jethro shocked to hear that from her like she's saying her last words to him and not just to him, it left an impact on each and every prince and princess in the room that heard it… even Pearce. They didn’t realize that they were walking away.

"No…" Jethro whispered. "Yani get back here!" he shouted. “Yani, come back! …please… ”

They both went into a room and sat on the seats present in it.

“So, shall we start,” Yani formally said.

The blue shadow gave a grin first.

“First of all princess, I was really impressed at what you said a while ago. Truly what a leader should say, don't you think so?”

"Can we just get to business?" she replied.

“Oh my, how formal. Well, as expected to have a name like that,” he gave a serious smile. "You really have changed, Yani."

Yani was speechless at what the blue shadow did to her and it gave her chills to hear that from him.

"So, what's our business again?" he asked. "Oh right, the troublemakers of your nation but first, we need to look at the votes of our juries so that we can decide easier," as he pulls out the drop box.

Yani spoke. "I think we don't—"

"We don't need to, is what you're going to say princess?" he interjected immediately.

Yani didn’t say a word about what he did.

“Why is that? Oh wait, don't answer that and let me guess,” he said and gave a look like he's thinking.

Yani just sighed. "Look sir—"

"Wait, I think I get it," he grinned at her again. "It's because you already know the results of the votes right?"

Yani was speechless again but it didn't leave her surprised that this guy knew what she was thinking. Yani gave out a sigh again.

"It's already obvious and counting the number of voters, we are even out so naturally the votes are a tie."

“Exactly,” the blue shadow answered.

"And I suppose that you haven't forgotten about what you said that the decision depends on the majority of the votes…" added Yani. "…but since that's the result, we should play it fair."

“Play fair? You mean that both of them should be killed?” he answered.

Yani paused for a bit. "No, that's not—"

"Of course, of course," he cut her off again. “I know what you're proposing. You want me to spare the two of them, correct?”

"Absolutely," Yani answered.

The blue shadow is giving a grin through his eyes… but Yani can feel that it's no ordinary grin he's giving.

"And you would think that I would agree to that?"

Yani didn't mutter a word but closed her eyes first before talking.

"I know you wouldn't and I know we're still under your so-called 'court' but…" she paused. "If I propose that you take my life to spare theirs, is that acceptable?"

Now, the blue shadow was really surprised to hear her question and started to chuckle but not a happy one.

"You know princess, you're really… something," he laughed. “You really deserve your place in this nation and frankly I really appreciate that attitude of yours. I can see that you're born a leader but are you really just doing this just to end this situation already or…” he looked at Yani. "…you have a different reason?"

Yani looked back at him but staring at him is not really a good choice after she saw his eyes so she quickly looked away without answering him.

"Well then," the blue shadow said. “Just correct me if I'm wrong but are you blaming yourself princess that this is all actually your fault given that you're the one who pushed Pearce to live here in this nation and even the same reason why the electric princess was pushed to have a deal with me?”

Yani still didn't say a word… but he was right. Yani was not surprised because she knew that this blue shadow would also know and the reason why she could not look at him… was because of shame.

"That's actually reasonable," he said. “But I have a question for you princess…”

When he said that, Yani looked at him in no time. They were looking from eye to eye.

"…aren't you wondering about your position?"

When he mentioned that, it made Yani confused but the next question left her shocked.

"Are you even worthy to be the princess of this nation?"

She paused and gave him a serious look. "What do you mean by that?" she asked back.

"Oh I'm sure you understood well enough what I mean, princess."

Yes, she does. "The king chose me," she added.

"I know that but aren't you confused or even asking yourself… why you?"

Yani was speechless.

"Aren't you curious that you just arrived here and you were introduced to this nation by only a few months and suddenly you were chosen to be the next heiress?" he asked. “Come on princess, be rational. If you were in the last king's position, wouldn't you choose one of your own children?”

She was shocked as if he’s telling her something he knew… that she should know.

"What do you know?"

He looked at her and smirked again.

"Why won't you reminisce about those days… at his dying breath… remember your last conversation with each other..."

At that, memories started to come back to Yani and couldn't mutter a word because it's like she's finishing a puzzle and the pieces are on the next words on what he will say. She wanted to ask but she couldn't find the right question to ask. She has a lot of questions on her plate and she doesn't know what to ask first but one thought is in her mind that made her glare at him while tears are running down on her face.

Maybe he knows all of it because…

"What?" he said. “Are you thinking that I was the man he's talking about? I may be the bad guy here but I always tell the truth and the truth is I'm not that man who killed him.”

Yani was stopped because he seemed to answer the question which she didn’t ask just by glaring at him.

“But let's forget about that first and dive into the real problem here. I said those things because I'm leading you to a different truth that I know you wouldn't believe at first but well, it's the truth.”

"You know," he added. “If you're out of the picture for the candidates of the next heiress, being the king of this nation, the last king should choose one of his own sons but he can't because if he do, no one will take care the certain cabin he is ruling so who do you think would be worthy, princess?”

Yani was silent and had no intention of answering because she also didn't know the answer.

“Come on. You should think harder. It's right around the corner.”

She tried to but to no avail. Her brain is confused now because of everything that is happening to them so she can't think clearly.

"No idea? Okay, I'll give you a clue,” he said. “Finding the answer to this question would really help you. You see princess, I think you know that actually all the princes are only thinking one reason why their king chose you, don't you think? And what would that reason be?”

Reason… one reason why King Gabi chose her? She thought hard enough only arriving at one answer that find her confusing. If she is right, she knows that reason is that she can control all the elements but how is that related?

The blue shadow sighed. “If only the king has another son worthy to be next on the throne, you know someone with the same ability as you…”

At those words, it already shocked her. "…then he wouldn't have a hard time choosing, wouldn't he, princess?"

Yani was stunned by everything he said to her and because of that, she was able to put the pieces together that really surprised her.

“Are you saying that…”

"That what, princess?" he smirked at her.

Yani clicked her teeth. “No that can't be. How's that possible? He wasn't even mentioned in their stories.”

"Is he, Yani?"

Surprised, shocked or if there is another word that is worse than that, that is how she feels now.

“You just heard the story from the princes' point of view. Look at a different angle, princess. You should know the real story from the king's point of view.”

She was completely silenced. Everything he says has a point, and it is wrong for her to talk to someone like him.

“So you see princess, if you're out of the picture you're nothing but a replacement. Now you know why I'm here and who I'm aiming for.”

It's nice that she talked to this man because she learned a lot but… she started to get scared. It's good that she thought of talking to him but she never thought it would take more courage to face this guy.

"So are you even worthy to be called princess?" he asked. “Of course we already knew the answer. So is your life even valuable enough to be a sacrifice to the two troublemakers? Of course not. So what is really your role here in this nation, Yani?”

Yani still couldn't speak and she was trying her best to back away but she stopped at her place when the guy was grinning at her again… but a devilish one.

“A nothing. You think you found the place where you belong?”

She didn't answer, and hell yeah why would she bother?! She hoped she just listened to Jethro earlier. He was right, this is a bad idea.

“You're nothing, darling. And everything like you…” the expression on his face changed that made Yani shiver in fear.

“…should die.”

And the next thing happened, as fast as before she could even move her foot to fall back… she felt pain, excruciating pain.

…

While the deliberation of the two are on-going, there was a dead silence in the room. No one really talked and even though others already felt the awkwardness of the silence, there was no one who had the intention to speak… but fortunately it was also broken.

"I'm sorry," she says, so she got everyone's attention, except Pearce.

Elesa raised her head and looked at everyone.

"I'm really sorry for everyone," she continued while tears were running down her cheeks. "I know what I've done was really unforgivable, especially to you Femme and Zoltar…" She said this while looking at them and at the same time, she gave her look to her fellow defendant. “…but most especially to you, Pearce.”

“I do admit that at first, I was just really using you. I was aware from the start that you have that curse in you and that is why I was trying my best to be close with you so I can devise a plan to use that curse in you to break them up but…” Elesa began to sob.

“…I was selfish. I know I am and I know it's no excuse that I was just broken hearted that time, that's why I was not thinking straight. But reminiscing those times we were together, I saw the struggles you have been through and yet, here's the stupid me to still use that curse of you to break them at that time after your tour with her in the Water Cabin. I only realized my mistake when you got hurt after the plan worked so at that time, I cut off immediately from the deal I had with the blue shadow… but I did not know what he was really planning and that he's capable of multiplying the number of cages to use it against us.”

"I know I really made a mistake that's why I'm so sorry…" she cried and she was just looking at Pearce but she was ignored by him because he never even glimpsed at her while she's asking for forgiveness.

Although it was not good for an electric person to cry too much, Elesa didn’t mind. It hurts so much more for her to be ignored like that but she understands. Maybe the pain Pearce is experiencing now is even worse after that revelation so it’s okay for Elesa to even use her energy to cry.

"I know you won't be able to forgive me Pearce after everything I have done to you but I'm truly… deeply… sorry…" she continued crying and now this time, she faced the princes and princesses.

“I hope that all of you have decided to write Pearce's name in all of your papers for him to live because he deserved it. Don't be swayed by what the blue shadow said about his curse because even if it is true, believe me when I say that I know one day he will be able to get through it. He just needs your help… everyone's help so that he can overcome it because if you do, one day you'll understand how a great guy Pearce is,” Elesa cried.

"I should be the one who should be killed, not him."

The princes and princesses were surprised by what Elesa said and they even looked at each other. Elesa continued to sob even though she’s getting weak while Pearce was still dumbfounded at his place. No one knows what he is thinking now because of his face and his silence.

That silence was only broken when the blue shadow came out of the room, and only the blue shadow walked to the front.

“Okay. So based on the results of the votes, the one who will live is—“

“Wait. Where's Yani?” Jethro interrupted so the blue shadow stopped.

He glanced at him and looked so serious. "Can I finish myself first?"

"But—"

"She said she wanted to be left alone in the room," he replied. “Give her some space would you? Besides, she has decided anyway.”

At those statements, others breathed a sigh of relief to hear that but for Jethro, deep inside him, he was actually worried while he was looking at the closed door of the room where the deliberation happened.

"But before I proceed to state the names of who will live and who will die," he looked at each and every prince and princess in the room. "…first of all, I would really like to congratulate to all 16 of you for how clever you all are for making the votes even so that I wouldn't be able to neither kill nor spare the other..."

They were surprised when he mentioned that because again, he's right. He paused and gave a look. “But you all have one mistake…”

He grinned at them through his eyes, a devilish one. "You are all playing in my court."

Shreek!

The door of the room where the deliberation happened suddenly slowly opened so everyone turned their attention to the door and the only person left in that room gradually came out…

…but almost everyone gasped when they saw her slowly walking her way to the door, full of blood in her mouth and holding her aching stomach from the stabbing.

The others were shocked by what they saw but Jethro started to struggle to get free from his seat just so he could approach Yani. Yani gave a serious look at the blue shadow first who is giving her back a serious look too before she finally fell to the floor.

"Yani!" Jethro screamed. “Release Me! You got what you want so please release me!”

"But I have words to say first and she will be fine," replied the blue shadow. "It's just a stab in her stomach, she will live," he said this full of sarcasm.

Jethro did nothing but continued to struggle from his seat and did not listen to the blue shadow just to go to the lying princess.

"Well since you all voted so evenly," he looked at what was happening in the room at the same time. "…and it looks like you all can't focus on the words I am saying," he looked at the two. "…maybe I'll let the defendants choose their fate for themselves."

Swoosh! At the same time, he disappeared from the room with Pearce and Elesa, also at the same time, releasing all the princes and princesses to approach the unconscious Yani.