In a split second, silence fell upon the small area where Commander Iria and the three Generals were standing.
The Masked Commander glanced at the traitor with her gaze remaining impassive while Zire was too stupefied to say anything! Rion was still pointing his sword at Jolene with a torturous suppressed rage.
How he wished to slash her right now and then!
"Commander, what do you... " Jolene's voice trailed off when she felt the tip of Rion's sword at her neck.
"My sword won't hesitate to end a traitor, Jolene," Rion warned in a deadly low voice.
"Aren't you tired of acting, Jolene?" Iria Alewine simply asked. "You must have tried really hard to fool me all those times." Then she turned to Zire. "She is the one who met King Aryan and planned this trap for me. All those letters have my seal on them and it happened while I was sick. Who took my place during that?"
The Commander looked at the traitor and added, "That assassination attempt against me and the poison that left me sick for a month... she knew all along. She planned everything with Aryan Tripas."
Zire slowly turned to the woman whom he admired for years. He couldn't believe it. She won't be such a cruel and despicable being!
"Is this true?" He could barely mutter the three words. "Jolene... you wouldn't do this."
"Zire... " Jolene muttered when she noticed the pain in his eyes.
"This can't be true." Zire shook his head with his gaze never leaving Jolene. The thought was so suffocating that he felt like he was about to go crazy! However...
Captain Callan came to them with two soldiers. Then he opened the lock to the door of Commander Iria's cell while the two soldiers hold the traitor in both arms.
"His Majesty is ready now, Commander," the Captain said to Iria.
Iria Alewine nodded and walked out of the cell. After briefly glancing at Jolene's troubled face, he turned to Rion. "Take Zire back to the camp. I will return once things are settled in the court."
Then she left with Captain Callan and the two soldiers walked behind with Jolene in the middle.
*
Commander Iria made her way inside the royal court once again. By then, almost three hours had passed since she was taken to the cell. She realized that none of the officials haven't left their spot. The King was also on his throne and his gaze was fixated on her as she made her way before the platform.
Confusion was written all over the faces of the officials when they saw two soldiers bringing the General inside the court. When they finally halted, Jolene was made to kneel before the King.
"What is the meaning of this?" It was Minister Julian who asked the question in an almost panicked voice. He narrowed his eyes at the female General in confusion.
"I already know that there is a betrayal in my army, Minister Julian," the Masked Commander started. "Three days ago, I witnessed how General Jolene met the right-hand man of King Aryan. I overheard them discussing their plan to frame me as a traitor."
"If you know it beforehand, you will already do something, Commander Iria," Minister Julian snapped. "Did you try to let your subordinate take the fall for you?"
"Do you even know what Aryan Tripas's original plan was?" the Commander asked the Minister. "He planned to frame me as a traitor and once I fell from grace, he will reach out his hand to me and take me to Nardodia. He wants me to serve him!"
Murmur erupted again as the official's eyes grew wide at the revelation!
King Aryan wanted their most capable Commander? That's insane!
If he indeed succeeded, their kingdom will be in grave danger!
Finally, King Tobias rose from his throne, making everyone turned their attention to him. He slowly walked down from the platform and stood a few steps before the Masked Commander. As he looked at Iria, what his younger son said to him repeatedly echoed in his ears.
"Your Majesty, you shouldn't take this matter lightly. We don't know if Commander Iria is telling the truth. You should investigate more," Minister Julian advised the King with his head bowed.
"Commander Iria is not the type to sacrifice her subordinates, Minister Julian. She won't lie," Prime Minister Dallas argued.
Other Ministers also voiced their opinions but the King stood still, looking at Iria the whole time. Even the Commander was taken aback by this.
Finally, the King stretched out his hand and Captain Callan handed him the letters that they found. "These are the letters found from Commander Iria's mansion," he said to the officials and handed to the Prime Minister.
"Take a clear look, Prime Minister. Do you think the seal is imprinted recently?" the King asked.
Prime Minister Dallas Vareky observed the letter and touched the seal of the Masked Commander on it. After almost a minute, he turned his attention to the King and said, "No, Your Majesty. At least a few weeks would pass since the seal was imprinted."
"A week?"
The Prime Minister shook his head. "Some may be imprinted two weeks ago but... some are almost a month ago."
"A month ago," King Tobias muttered and looked at Minister Julian. "You know where Commander Iria is during that time. She is in one chamber of this palace... poisoned and unconscious." Narrowing his eyes at the traitor, he added, "You also know who take her place during that time, Minister Julian."
"Your Majesty -"
"Speak!" King Tobias ignored the Minister and commander Jolene instead. "Are you the one behind this incident?"
Jolene was still on the floor but she was too anxious to say anything. As such, silence fell upon the room for a while.
"You should know the punishment for betrayal," the King firmly said. "But in your case, you collude with King Aryan. Do you know that can be regarded as treason? That will get you killed but... your family won't be safe either."
The mention of her family made Jolene's eyes grew wide in horror! She quickly pressed her palms against the floor as she lowered her head. "Please forgive me, Your Majesty! I -"
"I'm not interested in your pleas," the King snapped in a cold voice, making everyone felt a shiver running down their spines. "Answer me. Are you the one behind this incident?"
Fearing the rage of the King, Jolene realized that she wasn't left with another choice. "Yes," she finally admitted.
Then the King turned his back at her and retreated to his throne.
"A soldier should never betray his or her Commander, whatever the reason is," he firmly declared. "This is not just a betrayal, it's treason!"
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