Chapter 4

Viviana knelt at the base of the palace steps, desperately kowtowing. "It's her... Natalia! She's jealous of me! She bribed the imperial physician, bribed everyone! This is all her scheme!"

"Enough!" Maverick thundered, his voice cutting through her hysteria.

He knew that if she kept arguing, the entire Matthews family would be dragged down with her.

He slammed his head to the ground, his voice hoarse. "Your Majesty! I failed as a father. I was led astray by my own foolishness! Viviana is still young and doesn't know any better. Please, show mercy and spare her life!

"I'm willing to put my own head on the line, give up all my titles and positions, just grant her mercy, even if it's outside the law!"

He took all the blame upon himself, desperate to win Viviana a slim chance at survival.

But he forgot that he was facing the ruler of the realm.

To deceive the sovereign and falsely claim military achievements. These were grave offenses, unforgivable in the eyes of the law.

"Mercy outside the law?" Kristopher snorted coldly, his laugh making the whole hall feel even colder. "Maverick, you've got some nerve."

"Falsely claiming credit for saving the throne, deceiving the Emperor, stirring up trouble in the royal family, any one of these crimes is enough to destroy your entire bloodline. And you still dare to beg me for mercy?"

Maverick shuddered, slumping to the ground, his face pale as death.

Kristopher turned his gaze to Everett, who had remained silent throughout.

"Everett, how do you think this matter should be handled?" Kristopher asked.

Everett looked even worse than Maverick, his face pale and drawn.

His lips trembled, and he glanced between me and Viviana, who lay collapsed on the floor, before finally dropping his head in resignation.

"Father... I was blind, unable to see through people. I almost let a cunning traitor fool Your Majesty. Please, let me bear the punishment," Everett said.

His voice was full of defeat and shame.

All the things Everett had prided himself on, his sharp instincts, his unwavering love, now felt like the punchline of a bad joke.

The woman he'd been obsessed with marrying, the supposed savior, turned out to be nothing but a fake.

And the "vicious sister" he'd hated and made life hell for was the real hero who'd saved his uncle.

That slap to his ego was deafening and brutal.

"Punishment, huh?" Kristopher's voice was icy, not showing a hint of emotion. "I put you in charge of Ardving City's defenses, and you let an assassin slip right under my nose.

"Afterward, I told you to get to the bottom of this, but you couldn't even tell who actually saved me. You nearly let a fraud who lied to the Emperor become your crown princess, the future queen.

"Everett, tell me. Do you really think you deserve to be the crown prince?"

Every word was a heavy blow, hammering Everett's heart.

He dropped to his knees with a heavy thud, his forehead pressed against the cold, gilded tiles.

"Father... I've failed your expectations. I... I'm useless," Everett choked out.

Even Everett couldn't protect himself anymore, and Viviana realized that her last hope had vanished.

Suddenly, as if struck by a bitter realization, she jerked her head up and fixed her gaze on me, her eyes full of venomous hatred.

"Natalia! You knew all along, didn't you? You waited until today, my wedding day with the crown prince, just to spill everything! You just wanted to see me crash and burn, to watch me go from the top straight into the gutter! You're so vicious!" Viviana spat.

I finally looked her straight in the eye.

I met her venomous glare calmly and said, "Yes."

I owned up to it.

I did it on purpose.

"I waited until you were at the height of your triumph, when you thought nothing could touch you, just so I could crush everything you had with my own hands," I said. "Viviana, when you stole my credit, did you ever imagine you'd end up here?

"Did it ever cross your mind, as you wore the wedding dress my mother hand-stitched for you, soaking up the glory that was meant for me, that this day would come?

"When you and your parents stomped me into the dirt, mocked me, and used me as nothing but a stepping stone for your family's rise, did you ever think you'd face this moment? All of this? You have no one to blame but yourself."

My voice wasn't loud, but every word struck right where it hurt most.

Viviana was left speechless, her eyes practically dripping poison as she locked her gaze on me.

If looks could kill, she would've shredded me a thousand times over.

"Enough," Kristopher's voice rang out, laced with impatience.

He didn't even bother to spare another glance at Maverick and Viviana, who were still sprawled on the floor.

"Maverick, for your failure as a father and for shielding your daughter's wrongdoing, you are stripped of all ranks and positions, reduced to a commoner, and permanently barred from government service," Kristopher declared.

"Viviana, for falsely claiming military honors and deceiving your king, your crimes cannot be forgiven.

"But in respect for the heavens' mercy, and because today is a day of celebration... I grant you a strip of white silk, so you may take your own life and leave your body whole."

"As for the rest of the Matthews family..." Kristopher's voice trailed off, leaving everyone in the hall holding their breath.