The Debt Of Fate-Chapter 287: leave unstrash

King Edward heard the news before the chapel bell had even stopped ringing.

The report was delivered in hushed tones: a man had confessed with his life, a duchess had cried injustice before the heavens, and the city had already begun to choose sides. Edward’s expression remained unchanged as he listened, his fingers resting lightly against the arm of the throne.

He dismissed the messenger with a single gesture.

At once, an order was sent.

Duchess Anita was to be summoned to the palace—immediately.

By the time she arrived, night had fallen. The corridors were lit with tall lamps, their flames steady, their silence heavy. Duchess Anita walked with her head held high, grief carefully arranged on her face, every step measured as though she were already standing before the eyes of the world. She understood that this was the most critical step.

King Edward did not keep her waiting.

She was ushered into the audience chamber, where he stood by the tall windows, his back turned to the doors. Only when the guards withdrew did he turn to face her.

"Your Majesty," Duchess Anita said, sinking into a deep curtsy.

"I heard you rang the bell and cried injustice?" His gaze was not friendly.

"Your Majesty, the act of ringing the bell might seem extreme and lowly, but I am still human. The struggle of a stepmother is not easy. Every act is read as malicious. Back then, I even entered the palace to advise her not to leave, but she did not listen. Heaven bears me witness—even if I have not been the best mother to Anastasia, I did not plan to hurt her, especially using such despicable means," Duchess Anita said. As she spoke, tears rolled down her eyes, but the king only felt disgusted.

His mother was the one in charge of the matter that day; she would not deliberately harm Anastasia and send someone like Elizabeth to the room.

He did not believe a word of what she said. "You keep pointing to Lady Anastasia. Do you have any evidence that she was the one who framed you?" King Edward asked.

Duchess Anita paused. "Your Majesty, although I have no direct evidence, I have looked closely. I have no other enemies who would target me this way. She has both the motive and the means. Given the way the news spread so fast, she is the only one I can think of who could make such a thing happen," she said carefully.

"I have heard your cry. A council will be held in two days’ time. I will personally preside over it. You know the punishment for falsely accusing anyone?" King Edward responded.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Duchess Anita bowed.

The king noticed her confidence and felt relief. As long as the rumors were cut off at the root, Lord Aureline’s excuse would no longer count, and he could be labeled a traitor and killed without worry of objection.

...

Ernest’s residence

The couple lay in bed that evening. Ernest had no plans to return for a couple of days, given that he was preparing for the worst-case scenario should the rebellion grow, but hearing the news forced him to return. He wanted to comfort Anastasia, but seeing her remain calm worried him.

"Do not worry. I have my men sent out to investigate. Although the man has died, I am sure we can still find witnesses," Ernest comforted Anastasia. He felt that she had learned to rely on herself so much, which showed the environment she grew up in.

"I am not worried. I did not pay any drunk man to say such things. She is accusing me without evidence. It is just a matter of who knows how to tell a better story," Anastasia remained calm.

Ernest sighed. "I am worried things might not be that easy. This time, her innocence benefits the king. He might stand on their side."

Anastasia felt it was possible. Having been married once to Edward, she understood his selfishness. "Anyway, without evidence, my punishment should not be that serious."

Ernest pulled her closer. "Don’t worry. I will protect you."

...

The next morning, the couple were just about to have breakfast when they received news from the palace.

"By His Majesty’s decree, Lady Anastasia, wife of General Ernest, is to appear before the royal council," the palace attendant delivered the notice.

Anastasia stepped forward and accepted it. "I will appear right on time," she bowed. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Time passed quickly, and it was soon the next day. Worried about Anastasia, Ernest decided to follow her into the palace.

The council chamber was already filled when Anastasia arrived.

The last time she had appeared before a royal concill was when she demanded a royal divorce. Although this time it was not the high priest precideing over it, he was still present. A few council members besides him to bear witness and judge

Anastasia walked calmly, her back straight, her expression composed. Ernest followed half a step behind her, his presence unmistakable. Several councilors glanced at him with unease; others with relief. A general of his standing was not someone easily dismissed.

At the high seat, King Edward sat upon the elevated throne, dressed in dark formal robes, his face unreadable. To his right stood Queen Elizabeth, pale but composed, her hands folded tightly in her lap.

"Your Majesty," Anastasia and Ernest bowed at the same time.

Watching Anastasia bow to her, Elizabeth felt that her uncomfortable days in the palace were worth this moment.

"Rise," king Edward respond with calm gesture.

Anastasia raised her head and her gaze rested on Duchess Anita who was seated in a position below the dais, her head lowered, though her posture held a quiet resolve.

Whispers rippled through the hall among the nobles who had come to witness the prosses after all, this had been the gossip on everyone’s lips in the past few days.

"This council has been convened to address the matter of the chapel bell," King Edward began, his voice calm but carrying authority. "A man confessed before his death to spreading false rumors that have shaken the palace and the city. Accusations have since followed."

His gaze shifted to Anastasia.

"Lady Anastasia, you have been summoned because your name has been raised in this matter."

Anastasia stepped forward and bowed. "I am present, Your Majesty."

Edward nodded. "Duchess Anita claims you orchestrated the spread of those rumors, using the man as a pawn. What do you say to this?"

Before Anastasia could speak, Duchess Anita fell to her knees with a heavy thud.

"Your Majesty," she cried, her voice trembling, "this subject would never dare slander a royal without cause. I have raised Lady Anastasia since childhood. I treated her as my own. Yet she has always resented me. She had every reason to ruin me once she left the palace in disgrace."

A murmur swept through the hall.

"She speaks boldly for one without evidence," a councilor muttered.

Anastasia turned to look at the king, Duchess Anita move to speak without permission was an offend, she wanted to see how the king would handle it. Of course Anastasia was well aware of the king Favoring Duchess Anita, she just wanted to know if he would try to hide it

Seeing Anastasia’s gaze fall on him, the king suddenly remember that Anastasia was not to be treated as ordinary woman, she would rather die with her head high than live with a lowered head.

"Duchess Anita, you are before the royal concill, you can only speak with permission. I will let you go this time knowing you are overwhelmed by your emotions but such behavior would not go unpunished if repeated," King Edward said

"I apologize, your Majesty," Duchess Anita realized she had over stepped.

Anastasia on the it had had a faint smile on her face. She understood that whatever happened in the concill she would not leave unstrash.

King Edward nodded and turned to Anastasia, "lady Anastasia, you may speak," he commanded.

"Your majesty, I am not guilty of this accusations. I do not know the drank man, neither do I know how the rumors spread. I understand I am a step daughter, I have never expected Duchess Anita to treate me like a daughter but I do not think I should be treated as an enemy. If she accused me, then I demand evidence," Anastasia State plainly.

King Edward turned to the Duchess, "Duchess Anita, present what you have."

Duchess Anita lifted her head. "The man confessed that he was paid. Lady Anastasia is the only one who benefited from the rumors. After all we all know the rumors and her reputation. The incident a few months ago seem to benefit my daughter but her reputation was also ruined, after all we were already discussing her engagement. In this current situation only you have the motive, Who else would wish to destroy my reputation?"

Several eyes turned to Anastasia as Duchess Anita’s point was valid

Anastasia remained calm. She stepped forward slowly.

"Your Majesty," she said evenly, "I have one question."

Edward gestured. "Speak."

"The man confessed that he was paid," Anastasia continued. "Did he name me?"

The chamber fell quiet.