Chapter 118
There was a big announcement just two days after the ruined ceremony in the palace.
Guards started beating the huge gongs early in the morning, even before the sun could hit the horizon, and the sound echoed for exactly seven times throughout the entire capital city. It indicated there would be an execution in seven days‘ time. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
Punishing a person in such a high profile manner would only happen when the crime they committed was far too incomprehensible, so the people couldn’t help but wonder what actually had that person done to deserve it.
However, they didn’t need to beat themselves up about the details of the culprit or his crime for too long, because the royal warriors and guards did a good job updating every single person in the city.
Even before the sun could reach high above their heads, no matter if it was a high ranking shifter or the common man, the only news on their lips was how someone from the royal council committed treason.
There wouldn’t even be any investigation for such a crime and usually the culprit would be executed publicly at the gallows in a week after they were found to be a traitor, tied to an execution pole on a high platform, where they could be seen by everyone clearly.
Naturally, there was an uproar among the people both because it had been quite some time since they saw someone getting punished in the gallows and also, it was soon revealed that the attack by the rogues on the palace during the coronation of their new queen was actually instigated by this person.
“They say he did such a thing because King Micah didn’t reject his own mate and take his daughter, Ruby, as hi chosen mate.”
“Someone said he sneaked in a few rogues to abduct the new queen because he failed the first time…”
“Fortunately, there was a fire, which caused them to fail again and get caught.”
Along with this, a few other versions of the turn of events circulated among the common people as they couldn’t help but feel that the traitor should be punished harshly, which played out in Micah’s favor.
After all, half of what people believed to have happened was ‘unintentionally‘ let out by him.
Even though Leon made it easy for the rogues to enter the palace and wreak havoc on the day of the ceremony,
the attack wasn’t planned by him at all.
Micah was well aware that the actual mastermind was Calpin, but he spun the story this way because it would help what he planned out for the near future and also to get rid of Leon cleanly.
No matter what, he had once served this kingdom as the royal beta, next only to Arthur, the then King, in power and of course, had plenty of connections. His circle of influence might help him escape if the crimes pinned against him were too weak.
But now, along with trying to harm the queen, Micah also made sure he was held accountable for harming the entire kingdom by trying to kill the king and all the important people of this kingdom.
In a nutshell, it looked like he tried to usurp the throne, which would leave him no way out now. Not only him, his entire family was now labeled as traitors and were waiting for their punishment.
“King Micah, killing my entire family wouldn’t end so well for yourself,” Leon rasped, looking more than lethargic in the middle of this cold dungeon cell.
In the dead of the night, the former beta was captured when he was trying to flee his pursuers. He was then locked up in the dungeon, not too far from the rogues that were being tortured now. They fed him the rottingbane leaves to prevent himself from shifting into his beast.
Even though he was an elder they respected until last night, the elite warriors only answered to Micah and Leon couldn’t escape the special treatment one would get when they were brought to the dungeons.
In fact, the former royal beta was beaten to an inch of his life several times, under the king’s special orders, until the man looked like he aged more than ten years overnight, his usual vigor as a high ranking shifter in the palace nowhere to be seen.
Micah came to interrogate him as part of his today’s schedule, however, no matter how much they tortured him, Leon didn’t budge at all. “I know nothing… I have never met him.”
It was his only response whenever they asked him what he knew about Calpin. However, he did say that he knew there would be an attack on the palace. “I was in contact with a few rogues who told me how they would storm the palace. So I planned to take advantage of the chaos and abduct the queen.”
“Why did you try to take her away?” Micah asked, his face blank but the way his eyes flashed with malice gave away how angry he was.
“I don’t know why they want her, those rogues were sent to me and I’m supposed to hand over your mate to them,” Leon said, sounding more than convincing.
But Micah knew it was not that simple. Calpin simply ordered for a woman he wanted dead to be kidnapped and sent to him? No way.
Just like Abby suspected and explained to him, this whole situation had more to it. They knew what Calpin wanted better. This matter was anything but simple.
“Leon, are you positive that you aren’t holding any more useful information?” Micah asked him one final time, but when the man only stared at him while saying nothing, the king walked away from his cell.
It wasn’t clear what he was thinking, but the guard around Leon’s cèll loosened a little, giving him a little room to breathe in the following days.
“He says he doesn’t know why the rogues had to take you away.” Micah said to Abby after returning to their room late at night, but his voice had this hard edge, which didn’t go unnoticed by Abby.