The blood drained from the former Lady Manning’s face as Rosaleen emerged from the back of their group.
“Do you still deny knowledge of what you’ve done?” King Edmund asked.
The woman didn’t answer as her gaze slid to Sophia.
Caspian let his hand rest on top of hers where she clutched his arm.
“Do you deny it?” King Edmund asked again, his voice louder now.
“I have only ever done what is best for the Manning estate,” the woman screeched, venom in her voice as she flung the words at Sophia. “She would have run it into the ground long before its time.”
The king nodded grimly. “So it’s true. And instead of owning up to your treason and apologizing, you choose to pretend as if it never happened. You are not repentant, and I have no inclination to treat you accordingly. You are hereby stripped of your title, your wealth, and your lands, and they will be restored to the rightful owner.”
“I am the rightful owner,” she began to say, but King Edmund shook his head.
“As for you, the punishment should fit the crime. You are hereby sentenced to as many years of service as you forced the rightful Lady Manning to endure. Though I’ve no doubt that you’ll find more leniency in your servitude than you granted to Lady Sophia.”
“You ungrateful wretch,” the former Lady Manning hissed, turning to Sophia and Caspian with hatred in her eyes. “I’ll have you all killed for this.”
“I don’t suppose death threats toward nobility come with an additional sentence,” Kellan said lightly from his place beside Caspian.
The king turned to them with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “You are right, Lord Kellan. I don’t take threats to my favorite members of court lightly.”
Caspian fought the urge to grin. Maybe he should have told Edmund sooner that he’d been serving in the guard for the past two years. He’d assumed that being king would have changed him, but he was still the good friend he’d remembered from his childhood.
“Lady Sophia, how many years did you spend as a servant in your own household?” the king continued.
Sophia turned to Rosaleen.
“Twenty, Your Majesty,” the cook answered.
The king nodded. “I think we’d best double the sentence. And to make it easier to remember, I think it best to bring the number of years to fifty.”
She opened her mouth to protest, and King Edmund cut her off. “And if you don’t wish to serve for fifty years, I could be convinced to make it fifty years in the dungeon. Is that your wish?”
She shook her head and King Edmund nodded regally. “Do you have anything to add, Lady Sophia?”
Sophia stared steadily at the woman who had held her captive for so many years. “I wish you peace,” she said. “Your heart has long been twisted by wickedness. I hope that as you live out your sentence, you may find peace and comfort.”
Caspian looked down at the woman he loved. How could she be so forgiving? He certainly wasn’t. If anything, he thought Edmund’s sentence was light after the years of pain she’d put Sophia through. But he wouldn’t complain. As a member of the Royal Guard, he knew that prisoners who chose to work out their sentences instead of languishing in the dungeons were highly guarded and had no opportunity to cause trouble.
And right now, that’s all he wanted—to have peace for the rest of their lives.
The former lady was led away by the guards and Caspian turned to Edmund with gratitude coursing through his veins. “Thank you,” he said simply.
“Of course,” the king said, smiling at him and Sophia. “I always love the opportunity to see justice done—even more so when it’s on behalf of a friend. Please let me know if you choose to stay on as a member of the Guard. I would welcome the chance to have you closer.”
Caspian looked down at Sophia and released her grip on his arm to take her hand in his. “I am considering resigning, but I will let you know my final decision.” He turned to his sovereign. “Whatever the outcome, I am thankful for the honor of serving in your Guard for the past two years, my king.”
“I am proud to have had you as a member,” King Edmund said. “I’m sure you have many things to do, but please, send word when you are in Riyel again. I would love to invite you all to dinner.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Sophia said softly. “For all of it.”
“I cannot wait to watch your return, Lady Sophia,” the king said, nodding his head to her.
Sophia squeezed Caspian’s hand and looked up at him. “Can we go home now?” she whispered.
Caspian grinned. “Yes, we can go home.”
