What? My gaze flickered to my father. Tears welled up in his eyes.
“It wasn’t because I betrayed her, it was because she forced me to leave this world with the one thing she always wanted. Believe me, watching her give up her one month old daughter was the hardest thing your queen ever did. She shouldn’t have. She deserved to be a mother, and not be questioned because she gave every part of herself to you.” Tanya looked around. “And now you dare question that.” She glared back at the five judges sitting up at the podium. “Others might roll around and jump at the snap of your fingers, but I remembered when the kings hardly summoned the five of you. It’s like Paegeia lost its balls.” She looked at King Helmut. “Stop fighting against each other and be the kings that the Malones made you.”
She didn’t even look at me.
“If I deserve to die for that, then so be it. But this hearing is over.”
She got up and walked away.
“Seize her,” Duclin yelled and guards grabbed her.
“No,” I yelled, and jumped from my chair. My hands gripped the smooth wooden railing in front of me tight. Everyone fell silent. “Please, your honors, don’t. She is the only connection that I have to my mother. I’m begging you.”
A tear rolled down my cheek as they all just stared at me.
“You want me to claim the Rubicon to save not just my world but yours too, then you need to show me that this world is worth saving. Spare the woman that saved my life, and the man I know as my father, please. Show me the kindness of your world. I know the value of saving the other side, but I don’t know yours.”
The one on the end that stared at me smiled. “No one is going to kill anyone here today, child. I heard the truth in their statements.”
Everyone gasped as they stared at him.
“Adolph,” Duclin.
“You might be blind, but I see not just Albert standing in front of us, but also Catherine. I heard the truth. You dare to question my ability?”
Warmth tingled down my body. I couldn’t help but to like him.
“It’s not what I said.” Duclin’s tone changed as I sat back down in my chair and flickered my gaze back to Dad. He smiled at me as my heart pounded in my chest.
“Then I dismissed the hearing. Welcome home, Jako, and you are free of all allegations against you, Tanya Anagon.” He nodded. His gaze flickered to me. The tight knot in my stomach disappeared. “Welcome home, princess.”
“There isn’t enough proof,” Duclin hissed.
“You want to call the Rubicon? He can easily set it straight.”
Duclin said nothing.
“Just as I thought.”
Duclin glared at Adolph as Emanual’s shoulders bobbed, and King Helmut bumped him. His shoulders stopped moving.
Adolph’s gaze flickered to Dad and the only woman I knew was my mother. “I dismiss this hearing.”
Emanual got up and reached out his hand to me. “Let’s go, Elena.”
I got up and followed him. I looked back. Dad and Tanya’s seats were empty.
We exited the door on the side and ran down the steps we came up with.
Paintings of the five judges in various stages of their lives lined the walls.
“What you did in there—”
“Was scary. I have never done that before. I don’t know what came over me.” My muscles trembled.
“It’s in your blood.”
“What is?”
