Chapter 155: CLEARING HER HUSBAND’s NAME
The fire had barely died down when the dragon rose, its wings beating a storm through the courtyard. The crowd gasped as its shadow passed over them again. Then it was gone, soaring into the sky until it vanished among the stars.
For a moment, everything was still. Then cheers broke out. People fell to their knees, crying and laughing. The dragon had flown again though they didn’t know the reason they hadn’t been seeing the dragons.
But they still believe the royal was in charge and must have kicked them away for safety... Several festivals are the only time they call them out, seeing it for once looks like a blessing, a sign Drakonia had not been forsaken.
Adam, who was excited at the same time as his plan to sabotage and make Ashen look bad, decided to step forward before the joy could settle. His voice carried like a bell over the noise.
"The Dragon had finally stood tonight so as not to forsake the people even though some people are like curses," he announced and everyone cheered.
"We cannot ignore the truth that someone tried to disgrace this Realm." A smirk appeared on Queen Sephora’s lips at hearing her son.
Murmurs spread like fire across the courtyard. Adam’s eyes swept over the crowd, then stopped on Ashen. He didn’t say the name, but everyone understood.
"The Crown Prince must be talking about the cursed prince," someone whispered. The word moved from mouth to mouth until the whisper became a low chant.
Lumina felt the air tighten around her. She stood still for a moment, her hand brushing Ashen’s sleeve. Then she took a step forward.
"Enough," she said again, her voice clear despite the noise. "You speak as if you saw my husband with your own eyes near the fire channel." Every way turned to Lumina as the King let out a small smile, he knew at that moment that having Lumina by Ashen’s side wasn’t a bad choice.
"You call him cursed without proof.... He was born by the king and queen... are you calling them a curse too?"
Adam’s smile flickered but stayed on his face. "Princess Lumina, regarding the royals as curses is a big disrespect, please don’t cross the line.
"I don’t do anything unless mine or my people’s lines are crossed also." Just then a lady moved forward, her hands wringing as she bowed before them.
"As you can see she is not one of my people but directly from the palace, one of the ladies the queen herself had ordered to help with the decoration of this venue." Adam’s eyes narrowed while Ashen was left confused.
"What are you doing my lady?" he asked worriedly.
"Tell them what you saw!" Lumina let out and the girl turned to the king.
"I saw Cyres near the fire path, sabotaging it." she cried. "He told me to keep quiet when he saw I knew about this.. He also threatened me that if I spoke, he would make me disappear."
The crowd turned toward Ceryeat at once and his face went pale, but someone scoffed.
"She’s lying. She’s only a servant girl." This brought a small hope to Cyere’s face.
"She is not lying," Lumina said. Her blindfolded face turned toward where she heard Cyres breathing. "If you claim innocence, swear it on the Dragon’s Breath."
A ripple of fear went through everyone, they knew what that meant. If a man lay on the Dragon’s Breath, madness would take him before sunrise.
"You little princess! That is so wrong of you!" Queen Sephora yelled out.
King Aden had no time to waste standing from his seat, his deep voice carrying over the assembly.
"The princess is right. Swear it, Cyres, or be taken as guilty." Lumina smiled seeing how the king had backed her up at once.
Cyres dropped to his knees, shaking. His voice cracked as he looked toward Adam.
"My lord — I... I did it. I had no choice, I had done it without your order. Forgive me!"
Adam’s face which was pale now understanding the game, his aide quickly shed. He strode forward and struck Cyres hard across the face.
"You dare act without my order?" Adam spat. "I will punish you myself."
Then he looked toward Ashen and Lumina. His voice was calm.
"I am sorry for what has happened. I will see to it that Cyres receives his punishment."
But Lumina saw through his game already, of course she knew this would happen because the bile had told her before the ceremony, but she had planned to use this as revenge against Adam for hurting his girl.
She spoke out before he could finish.
"My husband has been mocked and shamed by this court," she said.
"You all called him cursed when he had done nothing. Tonight you nearly made him the villain."
The king’s gaze softened at this as he said could feel the anger coming from her.
"Princess, I am sorry if this night has caused you pain. As Crown Prince of this realm," Adam began, "I give you my word Cyres will be punished properly."
"No," Lumina cut him off, surprising him.
"What?" Adam turned to her, startled. So did everyone else.
Then Lumina faced the king’s direction hoping she was going to play this game safely.
"Your Highness," she said, bowing her head slightly. "You once told me you owed me a life debt for saving you."
A gasp ran through the court. Ashen’s hand closed over hers, a warning squeeze that she was crossing the line now but she only straightened her back.
Queen Sephora’s voice rang out "Ashen! Control your wife. She insults the king!"
"Enough," King Aden said, raising his hand. "Little princess, what do you want?"
Lumina’s words were calm, but there was fire in them.
"My husband is the Arbiter of Law. His name was stained before he even stepped into this courtyard. I will not let anyone ruin his honor again."
"Little princess... I will make sure that no matter what your reputation doesn’t get ruined." But Lumina was not in for that.
"Your Highness... As the first daughter and most likable heir to the throne of the Celestial realm!" Everyone’s eyes widened at this moment and Rhynera felt a bit embarrassed it was the truth.
Legitimate or not the first of any born is the rightful heir to the throne so this kind of reminds everyone that Lumina isn’t just a princess to be messed with.
Even though she isn’t treated well in her own realm she isn’t about to allow anyone to know that after all her sister wouldn’t want to say a word against her knowing how cunning Lumina can be.
"Anyone who dares step on my dignity will pay for it. So, Your Highness, I want my husband to deliver Cyre’s punishment with his own hands."
"Princess Lumina!" Adam barked, his voice rising and she turned toward the sound of his steps.
"Crown Prince, you are meant to be an example to your people," she said. "Your aide nearly destroyed the fire channel tonight. Do you even know what disaster that could have brought? Unless..." She tilted her head slightly.
"You never meant to punish him at all. Perhaps it was your order from the beginning."
A sharp gasp swept through the court. Adam’s fists curled tight, his face twisting in rage.
"How dare you speak to me like that!" he shouted, striding toward her.
But Ashen moved first now stepping between Lumina and Adam, his voice a low, dangerous growl.
"Touch one hair on her," he said, "and I will forget you are the Crown Prince."