Chapter 639: CONDEMNATION
Queen Rose wasted no time.
She began her investigation that same afternoon, summoning maids, guards, stable boys, anyone who might have seen even the strange thing.
She intended to do it on her own or just because she didn’t want a wrong judgement, but because she held Jasmine close to her heart.
She saw so close in ways she would never understand.
More than she saw her own Niece Auburn, the crowned princess.
The mage was coming tonight and she felt as thought everything wanted to fall apart.
Her voice was firm, sharp, but beneath it all there was an exhaustion she tried to hide.
She dreaded how overwhelmed she felt.
She questioned the staff one by one in the great hall, sitting with her back straight and her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
Auburn stood in the corner of the room, pale and restless.
Cherry watched with that smooth unreadable face.
Coral lingered nearby, twisting her fingers anxiously.
Belle was nowhere to be found.
Belle she had noticed, wasn’t fond of Auburn.
She knew it was due to the rivalry for the throne.
It filled Rose with dread and horror to admit that she didn’t think either girls were deserving of the throne.
They were both reckless and a growing cruelty that shocked her to the core.
She sighed and told herself that the Mage coming together would set her mind at ease.
Tonight.
I waited inside the throne room, my stomach twisting with sickness and a dread so thick it felt like I was breathing Ice.
My knees trembled weakly and I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was my downfall.
I had been called in by the Queen a few hours later after going back to my room.
She seemed furious although something told me it had nothing to do with me.
Regardless, I couldn’t help being bothered about the fact she was the one handling the investigations.
It baffled me that someone had even taken Auburn’s necklace.
I knew for certain I had seen it on the dresser and not touched it.
What could I have even done?
Hours passed.
Names were called.
Servants filed in and out.
No one had answers.
Until one trembling maid stepped forward.
Her voice was small, terrified darting around like a trapped rabbit.
“I…I saw her,” she whispered.
I paused in disbelief.
The whole room froze.
“Who did you see?” Rose asked quietly.
The maid swallowed hard, tears gathering in her eyes.
“J… Jasmine, Your Majesty.”
My heart dropped through the floor.
Rose’s brows creased. “You saw her where?”
“T…. this morning. In Princess Auburn’s chambers. I saw when she was leaving. She hid it in her pockets quickly but I saw it.”
My mind began to spiral
Auburn’s lips curled into a triumphant smirk.
Cherry’s eyes shone with something darker.
“I said it.” Cherry shook her head. “She is the devil and-
“SILENCE!” Rose hissed and the room went hush.
She slowly turned to the girl.
Her eyes were glowing in anger.
“Girl. Do you know what you’re saying? Are you sure of what you’re saying?” Rose asked the girl. “Do you know the punishment for false accusations?”
The girl shook.
“Your tongue would be cut.” She informed. “And you shall be forced to eat it.”
I shivered.
The girl shook, but nodded.
My heart was beating so rapidly I felt as though it would leap out of my chest.
“What proof do you have to this claims?” The Queen demanded.
“I know where she kept it.” The girl lied.
~~~~~~~~
Soon we were heading down the hallway and I found myself on the path that led to I and Hildegard’s bedroom.
I was too ferried to say a word.
They wouldn’t find anything.
I knew for sure.
Whoever had told this girl to set me up?
Queen Rose stepped into the room and we saw Hildegard smoking some pipe.
Hildegard rose a brow and set it aside.
“What’s going on?” She asked.
It was obvious Hildegard had not heard.
Before she could reply the girl went to our dresser and opened my own compartment.
The Queen walked to it and her breath paused.
She closed her eyes in sadness.
I rushed to where she stood and I found it lying amongst my clothes.
The necklace.
The diamond still sparkled.
Still beautiful.
Still cold.
I stared at it in shock, my chest tightening so painfully I thought my ribs would crack.
“No…” I whispered, shaking my head.
“No, no, no I didn’t… I didn’t put that there. I didn’t touch it. I didn’t do anything.”
Hildegard rose to her feet. “What the fuck is going on?”
The tears were flowing down my eyes as I was now terrified.
Hildegard pulled me behind her and she set her menacing eyes on the Queen.
But Auburn was already speaking.
“There! What did I say? I told you!””
Cherry simply smiled.
A small, satisfied curl of the lips.
The Queen stepped forward, very slowly, like someone approaching a grave.
She looked at the necklace.
Then at me.
Then back at the necklace again.
Her face remained calm…
But her eyes—
Her eyes shattered.
“Jasmine,” she whispered, her voice breaking in a way I had never heard.
“Tell me the truth.”
“I am telling the truth!” I choked out, tears burning my eyes. “I never touched it. I never stole anything. I swear on my life, Your Majesty. I swear-
Rose turned away from me.
Cherry walked up to her and I heard her sneer. “If you let her get away then you would be unjust to everyone that looks up to you.”
Queen Rose’s throat moved slowly as she swallowed
And then, with a voice shaking from sorrow rather than anger, she gave the order I feared most.
“…Take her,” she whispered.
My knees buckled.
“No please Your Majesty, please I didn’t. I swear I would never do anything like this to you. Please-
She looked away and what I suspected were tears.
She couldn’t even look at me.
And that hurt more than the guards’ hands gripping my arms.
As they dragged me out of the room.