"How dare you…"
The guard (the only guard at the altar from whom the pistol was collected from) rushed to seize Adelheid but she pointed the gun at him. "Move," Her voice boomed, earning some gasps "I. Dare. You!"
"D-do you want to kill us just like you killed the emperor?" Tatianka spoke, though still holding her cheek, from behind her. "She did what?" "That's not possible" "The former emperor was murdered?" "Things are getting interesting?" Everyone began talking at once, refusing to interfere in whatever drama was going on. The dark skinned girl had a powerful weapon in her hand, and if it pleased her to kill them all she would do it without hesitation. Besides, that was the only gun in the entire cathedral. The remaining guards with gun were outside the cathedral.
Adelheid's hand faltered a bit as she heard Tatianka's words. The gun suddenly felt heavy. She knew the truth, Tatianka wasn't lying. She had killed the former emperor. Boris had listed him among the people blocking his path to power. He was poisoned by Boris at first, but was eventually killed when it took too long for him to die.
"I killed the emperor?" Adelheid gave a weird laugh, "What proof do you have?"
She sounded so confident. Boris had covered up all their tracks so there was no way anyone would find out. But her insides were shaking as she talked, she hoped it didn't affect her voice.
Tatianka rose up from the floor where she fell, smirking. "Well…" Tatianka started, staring directly at Adelheid "It was reported by the emperor's bodyguards that you were last seen with the emperor before his death. And according to the royal physician's account, the emperor was murdered. Your ladies-in-waiting can also testify that you returned to the chamber with a blood stained dress. That dress has been kept as evidence until this day,"
Adelheid's mouth opened and closed at intervals. She was too shocked to say anything. Majority of what Tatianka said to Adelheid were false claims, but what could she do. She was always on the losing end. Her eyes turned to Boris and she gave him a knowing glare accompanied with a nod as though saying "Well played Boris, well played"
The guards around took advantage of her absent-mindedness and rushed to handcuff her. "Stay back!" Adelheid shielded herself with her hands crossed over her face, forgetting she had a gun in her hands. The guards suddenly tripped as she said that. "False wonders!" Someone from the congregation said. "Sorcery!" Another cried. "She's a witch!" Someone finally spoke what was on the mind of others.
Everyone cowered in fear. Many hid under the chairs while others rushed towards the door to flee. The guards took a fighting stance as they stood before the priests, Tatianka and all others on the altar, shielding them.
"It's locked!" A young maiden announced as she pulled on the door handle and it refused to budge.
Adelheid smiled. This was getting interesting. Everyone feared her, assuming that she was a witch. The guards stepped back, including the priests. Even Tatianka and Boris looked pale.
She liked this false identity, but really wished that she was a witch so that she could put some 'disturbances' in their place.
She had seen what really happened, the bishop who stood directly behind her must have seen it too. The guard in front, while running, stumbled on his own feet and fell backwards onto the others. The young maiden must have forgotten to pull down the handle and then push the door to open it. These nobles were all silly.
Well, since they assumed, she was ready to use it to her full advantage.
Convinced that they couldn't do anything, Adelheid blurted, "So what if I killed the emperor and other nobles. It's not like your precious emperor here didn't have a hand in it. How could I, a woman, kill an emperor without any inside help. How do you think I knew that the emperor would be alone at that time. Aside that, many of you wanted him dead and that includes you too," Adelheid turned to Boris' mother who stood among the congregation of scared nobles "Empress dowager Kira. You know I'm right. You and your son wanted your husband dead!"
"Keep quiet you black witch," The bishop flung an aspergillum -used for spraying holy water on the congregation- at her. It was like a mop head, and it hurt.
"How dare you accuse Emperor Boris of killing his father. You are the real traitor here. Confessing to regicide IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD? This is an abomination" The bishop continued.
Adelheid looked at the man before her with disgust in her eyes. He was here, speaking against abominations when he crowned a concubine empress in the house of the lord. Hypocrite!
"Burn the witch! Burn the witch!!"
The nobles started chanting. The bishop quickly took the gun from Adelheid at that moment, taking advantage of the ongoing chaos. Boris raised his hand in the air, signalling quietness everywhere. His order was obeyed.
The guards rushed towards Adelheid, cuffing her and forcing her to kneel. "Shame on you" One had whispered to her.
Adelheid had her head bowed, regretting what she had just said and how she spoke without thinking. Now, not only do they believe that she is really a witch but they knew that she had killed other nobles.
At this point, Adelheid blamed no one but Boris. That scoundrel deserved to Burn in hell. He used and duped her. Typical him. Before she got married to that 'thing', she had heard stories of his cruelty but believed she was strong enough to tame him. The first few months of their marriage was everything she could dream of and more…but good things on earth doesn't last long. Like the chaff of wheat, her perfect life was blown away before her very eyes. She tried to grab the remaining pieces and glue them together but Boris scattered them all, making the marriage a total failure. No children. No power. No nothing.
"By the order of his Imperial majesty," The herald cried, snapping Adelheid out of her thoughts, "Adelheid, formerly princess consort of Krevia,"
"Formerly?" Adelheid questioned herself.
"You are stripped of all honours, all titles and all rights. You stand guilty of murder, witchcraft and the foulest of crimes…regicide"
The cathedral clergy, consisting of the acolytes (young assistants that carried candles), canons, dean, archdeacon, chaplains and others –all men- surrounded Adelheid and before she could even ask what was going on, started ripping the jewels off her neck.
The sleeves of her gown were torn, robe removed, tiara broken, jewels scattered across the floor. Adelheid bowed her head at that moment. Accepting defeat. Making no resistance. Crying. This was humiliation beyond anything she'd ever imagined.
When they were done, they spat on her and walked away. The guards came next and led her out of the cathedral. As she passed by Tatianka, she could see her holding in a smile. Obviously, this was the outcome she expected.
'Foolish Adelheid,' She cautioned herself, 'You played right into their trap'.
The bells of Sanctus Cathedral tolled as she was led out, not in celebration, but in the gathering of the people of Krevia to witness her death.
"Look on the bright side Adelheid. You still made history"
---
Adelheid was kept outside, at the courtyard, to be mocked by everyone. Then she was beheaded by her beloved. Lovely.
The crowd even clapped after her death, like they just finished watching a good play.
"In my next life, I'm not going to be a good girl" Adelheid had whispered before her death.