How To End This Marriage-Chapter 167: Broken Lullaby

"What has befallen the Emperor? Why does he appear in such distress?" the jury inquired with concern.

Crown Prince Maximus, unable to mask his worry, replied, "We haven’t a clue, Your Honor. When we discovered him like this, the Imperial doctor arrived to treat him, but the cause remains unknown."

The jury, eager to proceed, dismissed the Emperor’s situation and declared, "Let us not delay. We shall continue with the proceedings."

Turning their attention to the Princess, they addressed her directly. "Imperial Princess Vixara Jessica Belenus, we demand you reveal the truth about your birth. As we understand from Duke’s testimony, you were raised in the Duchy. Tell us, how did you end up there?"

The Empress, unable to contain herself, interjected, "How can a child be expected to recall the circumstances surrounding her own birth?"

Vixara, however, remained composed. "Your Highness, with due respect, the one who rescued me on the night of my birth revealed everything to me when I turned ten. She also left a letter, which I present to you now, in hopes of bringing the truth to light."

With a resolute gesture, she handed the letter to the jury.

"But before you open it," Vixara continued, "I wish to recount what transpired that fateful night. May I proceed?"

The jury, intrigued, granted her request. "Yes, Princess, you may speak."

Vixara began, drawing upon her memories. "As far back as I can recall, my nanny would regale me with a story every night before sleep."

The Empress interrupted once more. "Princess, this court is no bedtime story. We seek facts, not whimsical tales."

Vixara, undeterred, replied, "Your Highness, I understand. However, could I please finish what I started? If not, I will gladly remain silent and await the judgment."

The Empress, unable to find further words of objection, allowed the princess to continue.

"The story," Vixara resumed, "spoke of a delicate princess who married an Emperor for political gain. She craved love, but her husband found solace in another concubine, neglecting her. As time passed, the Emperor’s affection waned. When the Princess, now Empress, discovered she was pregnant with the heir, she was initially overjoyed."

"However, the news reached her rival, and the joy turned to despair. She learned that the concubine was also expecting, but more ominously, that they both plotted against her life. Even on the night of her childbirth, no doctor came to her aid. She delivered the heir alone, but the peril didn’t end there."

"The Emperor and the concubine stormed into the blood-drenched chamber, the Empress still clinging to life. The heir was healthy, but their cruelty knew no bounds. Guards with swords followed, and a massacre unfolded."

Vixara’s voice trembled with emotion as she described the horrific scene. "The knights mercilessly cut down the maids present, while the concubine shrieked, ’Hold the baby! She must not live!’ The terrified cries of the newborn filled the air as a maid, determined to protect the child, fled with her precious cargo."

"But even in her escape, she witnessed the Emperor plunging his blade into the Empress again and again, her screams echoing through the chamber, a chilling testament to the most gruesome death our history has ever known."

Vixara’s voice fell silent, the weight of her story hanging heavy in the air. "So, tell me, what do you make of this tale? And why did my nanny entrust me with such a burden, even as a child?"

"This is nothing but a fabricated tale," the Empress declared with disdain.

Princess Vixara raised an eyebrow. "And how can you be so certain it’s a mere story?"

The Empress scoffed. "Because, Princess, it is. A story, nothing more."

Frustration flickered in Vixara’s eyes, but she quickly composed herself. "Very well. Your Honor, would you please open the envelope and read its contents aloud?" she addressed the jury.

"Indeed!" the jury chorused in agreement.

Jury cleared her throat and began reading the letter: "I, the loyal maid of Empress Jessica, hail from her homeland. I served her with unwavering devotion, but witnessing her suffering in this land has broken my heart. To this day, the memory of her demise haunts me. On that fateful night, the Empress lay bleeding after childbirth. Before she could gather her strength, the knights, ruthless wolves in steel, cut down every maid in their path. Fear gripped me, driving me to seek refuge beneath the bed. From my concealed vantage point, I saw the baby placed in the concubine’s cruel hands."

The letter continued, vividly painting a scene of unimaginable horror: "Her eyes blazed with fury as she hissed, ’This child should never have drawn breath. I shall send her back to the void from whence she came!’ With a malicious intent, she sought to force the newborn back into the womb. The Empress’s screams, filled with agony, pierced the air. Unable to bear witness to such barbarity, I emerged from my hiding place and snatched the child away from the concubine’s grasp."

"’No harm shall befall the princess,’ I declared, my voice echoing through the chamber. But the knights, shadows given form, pursued me relentlessly. I fled through the night, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs. As darkness deepened, I sought refuge in the forest, knowing that venturing further would be foolhardy. I remained hidden until dawn painted the sky, then used the first rays of light to guide my steps towards Ablia. There, I knew I could find sanctuary, and indeed, I did. The Duchess, a beacon of compassion, offered me refuge and allowed me to raise the princess in the Duchy, disguised as my niece. Both she and the young Duke are privy to the truth. Now, as my life nears its end, I leave this letter to serve as a testament to the Princess’s true identity and to expose the heinous crimes perpetrated by the Emperor and his conniving concubine, who now masquerades as the Empress herself."

The letter ended, leaving a stunned silence in its wake.

The Empress erupted in a fit of fury. "Lies! All of it! A fabricated tale spun to weave a web of deceit and cast blame upon me!" she shrieked.

Princess Vixara remained calm and collected. "If your words hold any truth, Empress, then allow the letter to be aged. You will find it predates the events of today by over fifteen years, long before the thought of submitting it to the court even crossed my mind. It serves only to reveal my identity and expose the web of deceit woven by the Emperor and his former concubine, the current usurper of the throne."

The jury, their faces grim, studied the letter and Vixara’s unwavering demeanor. Finally, their spokesperson spoke. "We believe you, Princess Vixara."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the courtroom. "Guards, arrest the Empress!" the jury commanded.

The Empress, her face contorted in rage and disbelief, continued to deny the accusations. "This is a farce! I am innocent!" she screamed.

"The truth has been unveiled, Empress," the jury declared. "You stand convicted of the most heinous crimes: the murder of a child and the Empress, the very mother of this empire."

"Maximus! See! Your mother is falsely accused!" the Empress cried out, her voice cracking with anguish. "Save me! You are my only hope. I did everything to protect you, and now this unknown girl claims your birthright, lusting only for the throne. Maximus, save me!"

Crown Prince Maximus held up a hand, silencing the chamber. "Your Honor," he addressed the jury, "while what I’m about to say may seem contradictory, especially given my role in bringing the Emperor to justice, I cannot believe my mother capable of such cruelty."

He paused, his gaze flickering to Vixara. "I rejoiced when my sister returned, but now doubt gnaws at me. How can someone recall such detailed memories from infancy? And could the concubine be someone else? Whispers abound of exiled concubines deemed useless to the Empire. Why must my mother bear the blame? Might not one of those ostracized women be the true culprit?"

The jury remained unmoved. "Crown Prince, the letter clearly identifies the current Empress as the concubine. Such evidence cannot be dismissed simply because it rests in our hands. Moreover, Princess Vixara corroborates the tale through her recollection of the maid’s story."

Their tone hardened. "Do you possess any counter-evidence to refute the accusations against your mother?"

Maximus clenched his jaw. "No, not at present. But I urge you to grant my mother the same opportunity you offered the Princess. Time to gather proof of her innocence."

The jury hesitated. "Yet, she must remain in custody for now, unlike the Princess."

Outraged, Maximus shot back, "Why? Wasn’t the Princess allowed her freedom? This proves my point, Your Honor. You yourself cannot trust your own pronouncements!"

Vixara met his accusing gaze. "Maximus, you have unwittingly validated what I said before. You doubt even your own words."

"I am merely siding with what I believe to be just," Crown Prince Maximus stated, his voice firm.

"Nay, you have succumbed to the same corruption that tainted your father," Princess Vixara countered, her eyes flashing with accusation.