Chapter 5 - THE EXILE’S TRIAL
By morning, news of the assassination attempt had swept through the capital like wildfire. The noble houses were divided, and tension hung in the cold mountain air like a drawn bowstring.
Instead of keeping Lord Vance in a cozy cell, Draven stripped him of his titles and ordered a public confrontation on the Great Courtyard before the entire council and the citizens of the realm.
Snow began to fall softly, dusting the cobblestones in white.
Lord Vance stood in heavy iron chains, flanked by royal guards. Beside him, Seraphina wept bitter, angry tears, her fine silk robes ruined by the slush.
Draven stood on the high stone steps, dressed in full battle plate, with Rowan at his right hand. She no longer wore the gray rags of an Omega; she was clad in armored silver leather, her hair braided with obsidian beads, her glowing marks visible to all.
"Lord Vance of House Vance," Draven’s voice echoed across the crowded courtyard. "You stand accused of forging divine lineage, conspiring to deceive the crown, and ordering a lethal strike against the True Luna."
"You have no proof!" Vance spat, his eyes bloodshot. "Those assassins were mercenaries! You are framing my house because you are besotted with a servant girl!"
Draven motioned with his hand.
Beta Marcus stepped forward, dropping a heavy leather bag at Vance’s feet. It spilled open, revealing written ledgers sealed with Vance’s personal wax ring—orders detailing payment to the shadow assassins and dark alchemy recipes for scent-masking poisons used to keep Seraphina’s weak aura artificially inflated.
The crowd erupted in angry shouts.
"Traitor!" a noble screamed.
"Disgrace to the Goddess!" shouted an elder priest.
Seraphina fell to her knees, sobbing. "Father, do something!"
Lord Vance’s face turned gray as he realized his empire of lies had collapsed.
Draven stepped down the stairs, stopping a few feet from Vance. "By the law of the First Alpha, your lands are forfeited to the crown. Your titles are stripped. House Vance is dismantled."
He turned his gaze to Seraphina.
"Lady Seraphina," Draven declared coldly. "For your role in suppressing the True Luna and conspiring against the throne, you are hereby banished to the Northern Wastes. You shall live out your days among the ice, where no sun or moon shall comfort your ambition."
"No! Draven, please!" Seraphina shrieked as guards seized her arms, dragging her away. "I loved you! I was meant to be your Queen!"
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Rowan watched her former friend being dragged toward the heavy iron gates. There was no joy in Rowan’s heart, only a heavy, lingering sorrow for the girl Seraphina had once been before greed consumed her.
Draven turned to Rowan, taking her gloved hand in his. "The path to the Moon Spire is clear. Let us claim what was foretold."
