After the death of Arthur du Camille, news spread like wildfire through the kingdom.
Papers were published, gatherings were held, and questions were raised.
It wasn't long before Queen Charlotte was forced to address her court about the issue.
The date was soon set.
The parliament building was prepared.
And her majesty…
Stood tall before her court.
— — —
"Order! Order in the Hall!"
The speaker slammed down his gavel, the echoing sound doing little to calm the rising tide of voices.
Dozens of nobles and representatives shouted at each other. Some furious others rattled, but all were frustrated.
"An execution in public? By the royal Pathfinder core?!"
"This is outrageous!"
"Her majesty did what was necessary!"
"Necessary?! You call murdering a girl's father before her eyes necessary?!"
"Arthur pulled his weapon first!"
"What were the charges?!"
Watching the chaos unfold was her majesty.
She sat at the dais with her legs crossed, flanked on either side by royal pathfinders.
They were draped in red ceremonial garbs and armed with first-issue Muskets, a relic compared to current rifles.
It's been decades since a noble died at the hands of the crown.
And it had never happened under Charlotte's reign, as she understood the unpredictable nature of those who fell under threat.
But the crown is never easy for anyone.
And though she rarely wore one, she could feel its full weight bearing on her.
Charlotte sighed softly as she watched the crowd bickering amongst themselves.
Some defending her, others questioning her…
It all seemed so overplayed.
And yet, she continued to watch in silence.
After a moment of sitting in silence, Charlotte slowly stood up.
As she did so, the speaker quickly turned around.
"Your majesty…" he whispered with a hard swallow, his golden hair falling over his bright orange eyes. "…are you… ?"
She gave a subtle nod to his unfinished question, stepping towards the long wooden bench.
The speaker turned to the rows of elites sitting before him, who now had fallen silent.
He slammed down his gavel with force, the sound echoing off the walls and high domed ceiling.
"Order, parliament is now in session!"
As he stepped aside, Queen Charlotte approached the podium with measured elegance.
The nobles in the gallery tensed.
The atmosphere shifted with a hush that seemed like a thick fog.
It was a battlefield of words, and all eyes were focused on her majesty.
Queen Charlotte, stood with her delicate hands wrapped around the polished wood of the podium.
Her cold gaze loomed over all in attendance.
Lords and ladies of various houses.
The esteemed judges of the Ministry of Justice.
The decorated officers of the Ministry of War.
And lastly, the most dangerous faction of all, the church.
The priests and bishops sat far back, clocked in white robes and not uttering a word.
They didn't have to, as Charlotte knew the consequences of crossing them.
Charlotte raised a hand to clear her throat before speaking.
"Members of this esteemed parliament, I come to you not as an executioner… but a defender."
Her voice was calm, confident, and direct.
"I wished not for the death of Lord du Camille, but for his arrest. He, along with his allies plotted against not me, but this realm. And when confronted by its protectors, he chose not to come quietly, but to draw his weapon and endanger the lives of hundreds."
She paused briefly, letting her words settle before continuing.
"Most of you were there to witness his behavior, his recklessness, the madness in which he operated.
You show anger towards the crown, but not to the man who chose to gamble with the life of his daughter.
Ask yourself, who would align themselves with such a man but the most vile of traitors."
Her voice was sharp.
Like that of a blade wielded by the D'élite.
"If you believe I will allow a man such as that to threaten this realm, you are not only mistaken, but misguided.
No one is above the law.
Not commoners.
Not the military.
Not the nobility.
And certainly not the crown."
A wave of murmurs flooded the hall, yet Charlotte stood firm and resolute.
Her words were not to punish, but to enlighten.
She didn't want enemies in her court, she couldn't afford them.
And luckily for her, the biggest threat on the board, the church, seemed rather satisfied.
They didn't utter a word, but the priests and bishops gave her a subtle nod in unison.
"I chose not to walk this path because it is my birthright, but because I understand what it means to rule.
I demand order, and I will not, cannot, defend chaos and incompetence because I wear silk and inherited a title.
I will not apologize for my actions, nor the actions of the enforcers.
However, I will extend my apologies to Lady Chloe and her extended family.
It is not my wish to punish a child for the sins of her father, as such, she will receive royal honors and protection.
She is not to be questioned on this incident, she is not to be blamed, and she is not to be taken advantage of.
Any who defy such a ruling will answer to me."
Then, with a final glance over the gathered audience, she concluded.
"Let this parliament forever remember its purpose, we are servants to the realm, to its people. You are nobles, not cowards hidden behind privilege… act on it."
A long silence followed.
Most look conflicted, and others are unable to hide their dissatisfaction.
The military personnel seemed uncaring, and the men and women of the MOJ were disappointed but silent.
The clergy, however, seemed rather pleased with the outcome.
They had no care for finding justice or pleasing the nobility.
But they did crave certainty.
Certainty that her majesty acted not out of personal fear, but in preserving stability.
Charlotte turned from the podium, her steps steady and regal.
She didn't look back, and as she stepped out of the hall what followed wasn't applause…
…but a tense fog.
The balance of power had shifted, yet still seemed to be holding.
For now.
— — —
Meanwhile, in an underground facility in the south of the kingdom, a man sat shrouded in darkness.
Before him was a woman cloaked in black robes. She was armed with a spear strapped across her back, and though her face was hidden, her golden eyes shone bright.
"Lord Arthur du Camille is dead, My liege."
The shrouded man chuckled softly, "So Charlotte finally removed the veil from her eyes… took her long enough."
The woman sighed softly. "My liege, this is not a matter to take lightly. She wasn't supposed to find out, you ensured–"
The shrouded man raised his pale hand, "I ensured nothing… I only planned." He said quietly, his voice low and steady. "But plans fail, what makes a true leader, is those who adapt."
The woman hesitated, before nodding. "You always know best, my liege."
Her voice lacked confidence, not in the man, but in herself.
A long silence followed.
The man then shifted with a soft groan. "I suppose this is the start of her cleansing. Ripping out the rot I installed in her court."
The man laughed coldly. "She'll be chasing a shadow that has long receded into the darkness, a fool's errand."
The woman shifted to the left. "But the Grail, we still need the resources of her court to—"
The man cut her off with a whisper. "I have it handled, the colonies in the new world are more than self-sufficient." He then sighed, "In fact, I believe now is the time to fully move our operations, this kingdom has nothing more to offer."
"But the child… we still haven't—"
The man chuckled softly, before reaching a hand out to the woman. "You worry too much, my dear paladin… remember the words of the goddess."
The woman sighed softly, hesitant before reaching for the man's hand. "Nothing is uncertain, everything has reason…"
"Good girl."