Chapter 23 — A Princess Who Refused to Kneel.
“What are you talking about, in the name of God?” the Vice Priest snapped. “Your maid, Moon— is loyal to you without officially proof.”
“Your Holiness,” Rynvaris interrupted calmly, “ Even if she is loyal to me. she is not my maid. I already told you that.”
A faint tension cracked through the hall.
The Vice Priest’s eyes narrowed.
“And what about the money?” he pressed.
Rynvaris did not flinch.
“I would have believed this accusation,” she said evenly, “if they had found gold close to two hundred and seventy coins. Or two hundred. Or even other number.”
She lifted her hand slightly.
“But they found exactly three hundred gold coins.”
A murmur spread.
Too exact.
Too perfect.
“You can all see the problem,” she continued, her voice gaining quiet force. “which money did I supposedly travel between two cities? Why didn’t I pay Moon even a single coin? Why wouldn’t I hire more servants to help transport three hundred heavy bags of rations?”
Her gaze hardened.
“And why,” she finished coldly, “would I store stolen relief money openly in my own room?”
She spread her hands.
“Am I an idiot?”
The insult landed like a slap.
She paused deliberately, letting the sacred silence stretch.
“If you answer these questions honestly,” Rynvaris said, “you will understand that someone is trying to frame me.”
The Vice Priest’s jaw tightened.
“Why are you asking so many questions?” he said sharply. “The proof is against you. You will not prove yourself innocent by questioning everything.”
Rynvaris met his gaze without blinking.
“Your Holiness, what proof is truly against me?” she asked quietly.
She gestured toward the chained man.
“The man who claims I ordered him—he has never even met me.”
She gestured toward the nobles.
“Finding exactly three hundred gold coins is not evidence of guilt. It is evidence of staging.”
She gestured toward Moon’s place in the hall.
“And the person you call my maid—she is not even my maid. This crime happened a month ago. And for the last two months, I have not ordered Maid Moon to do anything, she is free person.”
A hush fell.
“What is she trying to do?” First Princess Sylvaris whispered under her breath. “Is she sacrificing her maid?”
If things go like this, she’ll escape… and my plan will fail. Prince Draven’s fingers curled slowly at his side.
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His smile did not reach his eyes.
Did Her Highness sacrifice me?
M–No… that can’t be.
Only I know that she lost her memory. She trusts me.
As far as I know her, maybe she’s putting the blame on me because of the First Princess’s order.
The First Princess must have told her she’ll save me… yes, that must be it.
Maid Moon whisper.
All the nobles believed she was merely trying to escape punishment by sacrificing her maid.
“So, Princess,” the Vice Priest said coldly, “are you saying that, it is your maid who did this?”
“No,” Rynvaris replied firmly, without hesitation.
A ripple of shock moved through the court.
“Maid Moon,” the Vice Priest commanded, “step down and stand before me.”
Moon obeyed, her steps slow, her head lowered.
“Maid Moon,” he asked, “did you act on Princess Rynvaris’s orders?”
“Your Holiness,” Maid Moon replied respectfully, her voice steady, “she did not order me. I served her of my own free will. I am a free person, not bound to her by duty.”
A murmur rose again.
“Your Holiness, if you forgive me for this rudeness,” Prince Draven said politely, stepping forward, “Maid Moon is a commoner. She cannot be judged by the Court of the Great God Auriviel. She must be judged under the laws of the Orimvess Empire.” Rayvaris’s head exploded with pain.
Not physical—no, this was worse.
A memory tore open behind her eyes, raw and merciless.
[ Flashback — The Eastern Training Hall. ]
Cold stone bit into her cheek as she hit the floor.
The sound came first.
A dull, wet thud—flesh against marble.
Then the pain bloomed.
Rayvaris gasped, fingers clawing weakly at the ground as her vision swam. The taste of iron filled her mouth.
“Get up.”
Draven’s voice was calm.
That was the cruelest part.
She tried. Her arms trembled. Her knees buckled.
A boot slammed into her ribs before she could rise.
“Ugh—!”
Her body rolled across the floor, breath tearing out of her lungs. She curled instinctively, small, defensive.
Draven stepped into her field of vision. Tall. Immaculate. Royal blue cloak untouched by dust.
His expression was not angry.
It was disgusted.
“You half-blood,” he said quietly, as if stating a fact. “You don’t deserve this royal treatment.”
Rayvaris forced herself to look up at him.
“Y-Your Highness…” Her voice cracked. “I… I didn’t do anything wrong…”
He crouched suddenly and grabbed her hair, yanking her head back.
Her cry echoed off the empty hall.
“You were born wrong,” he hissed into her ear. “That’s what you did.”
He released her only to backhand her across the face.
Her world spun.
“You should have died with your commoner mother,” Draven continued, rising to his feet. “You were never meant to breathe palace air.”
Rayvaris pressed her palms to the floor, trying not to sob.
“I’m still your sister…” she whispered.
Draven laughed.
A short, sharp sound.
“My sister?” He kicked her stomach.
She folded in half with a broken sound.
“You’re my father’s mistake,” he went on coldly. “A stain he was too weak to erase.”
Another kick.
Her side.
Her back.
Each impact punctuated his words.
“Every time you walk these halls—”
Kick.
“Every time people bow to you—”
Kick.
“You remind me of his shame.”
Rayvaris tried to crawl away.
He grabbed her ankle and dragged her back across the marble.
“You think pretending to be royal will save you?” he sneered. “You think wearing silk makes you one of us?”
He raised his boot again.
Rayvaris squeezed her eyes shut.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m sorry… I’ll stay out of your way… I promise…”
The boot came down anyway.
Present — The Courtroom
Rayvaris staggered.
Her breath hitched.
Her knees nearly gave out.
So… it’s him.
Her fingers clenched into fists at her sides.
He’s the one trying to frame me.
The man who hated her since birth.
The man who enjoyed breaking her.
The man who smiled when she cried.
Her chest tightened.
Not fear. Not this time.Hatred.
Cold. Focused. Burning beneath her ribs.
Of course it’s Draven.
The court’s whispers faded into a dull roar in her ears.
The same man who told rayvaris ,she should have died.
The same man who called rayvaris a mistake. Her gaze lifted slowly toward the nobles’ gallery.
Toward him.
So you’re still trying to erase rayvaris, she thought.
Her lips curved—not into a smile, but something sharper.
But why is he helping Moon? Or… does Moon know something about this?
I can’t make a wrong guess.
Moon has always been loyal to me. I have to believe her.
Rynvaris whisper to herself.
“Your Holiness, if you also forgive my rudeness…” Rynvaris said.
Everyone smiled faintly, but no one spoke. The air was heavy with tension.
“What is it that remains?” the Vice Priest said impatiently. “Speak quickly.”
“Your Holiness,” Rynvaris continued, “the Queen of the Empire is present here. She herself is the law of this land. With her presence, she can give judgment for Maid Moon—and you can serve as a witness.”
That half blood, What is she trying to do?
Prince Draven whispered to himself.
What are you doing, Ray…?
First Princess Sylvaris whisper
The court fell into a deep, uneasy silence.
Everyone wondered what was truly going through Princess Rynvaris’s mind.
