Lazarus clenched his jaw and his fists on the side as he stood in front of his father.
Viktor growled, "Jade was murdered up north. It was a perfect opportunity for you to kill him. But Lazarus—" Viktor glanced at Jasper. "That was the nastiest action you could ever take. You sent your people to attack the vampire guards during the day when they were most vulnerable. You broke the code of moral conduct. This was a cold blooded murder with full intentions of eliminating your brothers. And you took help from Emma's father who is the rebel leader!"
Lazarus heard Jasper growling from behind. It was as if he was left, he would attack Lazarus any time. Lazarus picked up his chin and said, "Your Majesty, I killed two of my brothers to save Emma because they had attacked her when I was bringing her to the palace. Emma is my mate and I am sure you know how when your mate is in danger, you get riled up." Lazarus said that as a jab at his father who visibly shifted in his chair.
Viktor clenched his teeth, angered by Lazarus's double meaning, because Lazarus's mother was his mate and he killed her deliberately. But at this time, he couldn't go against Lazarus's statement.
Lazarus smirked. "In the last trial the reason was stated and the matter was cleared. There is no reason to bring up a matter whose decision you had already given." That was another jab at Viktor because this time Lazarus questions his judgment.
"If Emma is your mate—" Viktor growled, frustrated at Lazarus's shrewdness. "—then why isn't she here? Why haven't you marked her yet? Are you playing games with us?" He leaned forward and rested one hand on the armrest of the throne while the other on his thigh. "Emma isn't your mate. You have brought her here so that you could control Drogo and his rebel and use him whenever you wanted for your benefit. You are the person behind the rebellion."
Lazarus chuckled but it didn't reach his eyes. He didn't want to reveal that he had marked Emma because he knew that the moment he revealed it, Viktor would try to kill her in order to get to him. He was waiting for the right time to reveal it, but his patience was waning every day. "If I remember, you were the one who wanted me to marry Olya. You organized a ball for us to announce that she would be my betrothed. How can I mark Emma when my father doesn't want it? And if I have obeyed you to that level, why would I fuel a rebellion against my empire? It only shows that I have always obeyed you. You know that mate is revered in the Lore. And still I conceded to your demand. So your accusation that I am behind the rebellion in the village is absolutely baseless!"
There was gasp amongst the courtiers at the way Lazarus spat the word 'baseless'. Only Lazarus could speak in this manner with King Viktor. Had it been anyone else, the king wouldn't have thought twice before beheading him.
Little did they know that because he was speaking a lie, Lazarus's throat was burning like hell. But he had to take the chance for the sake of protecting Emma.
Viktor was growing out of arguments. Furious, he shouted. "Why did you kill Jade?"
"I didn't kill Jade!" Lazarus growled. "I wasn't even present there. You can ask the villagers." He looked at Jasper who was glaring at him. His muscles were bulging with tension. "Why will I kill Jade? Jade was no threat to me. Not only because he was much younger but because his strength was nothing in front of mine. If I wanted to kill him—" he snapped his eyes to Viktor. "I could have killed him in the palace!"
"Lazarus!" Jasper yelled and traced to stand right in front of him. He spat on his face, "It was you who ordered his killing up in the north. Jade died because you had instructed!"
Lazarus scoffed. "I didn't do it, but now that you are insistent, do you have evidence which says that I killed him? You've questioned all those villagers one by one and none of them has taken my name. So on what basis are you saying that I killed Jade. From what I heard Jade died because of his foolishness. He traced to the weapons room and stayed there to get more weapons, when all you should have done is get out of there in your dark carriages! You had gone out there to collect taxes from villagers who don't have food to eat. What do you think they would have done?"
Jasper's anger blasted. "You think that you are very strong?"
Lazarus crossed his arms across his chest. "Yes, I think I am very strong physically and mentally."
"Oh!" Viktor sneered. "So you are on the villagers who killed Jade?"
Lazarus knew that Viktor was pinning him, trapping him. No matter what arguments he gave, Viktor was going to arrest him and throw him in the dungeons. It was a matter of time. Inside, he thanked the stars that Emma wasn't here. He took a deep breath in and said, "I am not on anyone's side. I am stating the facts. While Jade and Jasper shouldn't have been sent to collect taxes from poor villagers without giving them prior notice, I do say that the villagers shouldn't have gone to the extent of killing Prince Jade. It was wrong."
"You are implying that I, the king of Wilyra, gave wrong decision to collect taxes?" Viktor yelled. "Do you mean to say that I was the one responsible for my son's death?"
Lazarus glanced at Jasper and chuckled. Jasper's brows furrowed when his father's words weighed on his shoulders. His face paled when it made sense. His Adam's apple bobbed. He remembered the conversation he had with his father. Even though Viktor had discussed with them that it was Lazarus who wanted the throne and they had assured him that they wouldn't let Lazarus snatch it, he realized that his father played with him.
Vampires couldn't speak lies. He looked hard at his older brother and saw only truth in his eyes. His gaze went to his father whose face was drawn back in anger. The necklace on his skin got slightly dimmer than usual, which was a clear sign that it was giving its magic to him to heal. Did that mean that his father was speaking lies?
A shiver ran down his body and goosebumps pebbled when he realized that his father was not interested in the safety of any of his sons. He hated Lazarus because he was the only son who challenged him and he was using his other sons as pawns in his games. All at once, he recognized the game. Jade and Jasper were just means to get at Lazarus. Before he could voice his protest, his father announced, "If you think that you are stronger than Jasper, I order you to fight with him and give him a chance to show his strength instead. Your defeat will prove that you used shady means to kill Jade!"
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