Quietly listening, senior lawmaker Giuliano solemnly spoke up.

“Now is a critical moment when the existence of our country is in jeopardy. Lord Rebolant, be cautious about clouding the essence with baseless words.”

Rebolant confidently spoke with a smirk.

“There are witnesses and pieces of evidence. Please give me a chance to explain.”

Delia glared at Rebolant’s serpent-like lips.

Stopping Rebolant now would only amplify suspicions.

Delia’s voice, allowing him to speak, trembled with anger.

“Lord Rebolant, in the world, there are things you should say and things you should not. You must take responsibility for groundless words.”

“If it’s not groundless, then Princess Your Highness should take responsibility and step back.”

With the floor granted to him, Rebolant unfolded his story with a clear tone.

“Our Ioleti faced the threat of the Imperial army’s invasion. Suddenly, the enemy’s army commander demanded a peace treaty. His conditions were recognizing himself as the Subjugation Duke and arranging a marriage between Princess Your Highness and him.”

Delia bit her lip with unease.

Rebolant continued his story unabated.

“At that time, we had no choice but to accept the proposal to ward off the Imperial army’s threat, and a peace treaty was concluded. Thanks to the marriage between Princess Your Highness and the commander, Ioleti found peace. The prevailing view until now was that it was Princess Your Highness’s dedication in accepting the commander’s demands for the sake of Ioleti’s peace. But now.”

Rebolant suddenly locked eyes with Delia.

He stared at Delia with a fierce gaze as if piercing through her.

“If, instead, Princess Your Highness dragged in that Imperial army?”

A heavy silence descended upon the conference room.

Rebolant enjoyed the eerie silence and explained once more clearly.

“If Princess Your Highness used the foreign power due to a desire for power or to drive away Crown Prince Your Highness. What would you do at that time?”

At this unexpected story, some senior lawmakers in the councilroom let out deep sighs.

“Lord Rebolant.”

Delia clenched the chair’s armrest until her hands turned pale.

For what reason did I risk my life escaping from the Imperial blockade?

For what reason did I accept the commander’s proposal?

For what reason did I endure without shedding a single tear in front of my parents’ deaths?

Fury filled Delia’s blue eyes.

With anger permeating the air, Delia spat out words.

“I would like to accuse Lord Rebolant of damaging the honor of the royal family, committing calumnious crimes, and insulting this reverent council with groundless rumors.”

Persuading and leading someone who doesn’t share your intentions requires an incredible amount of patience and effort.

Now, the absence of a gun underwater seemed ironic.
“I have a witness. I request esteemed members of the assembly to permit the calling of the witness.”

Watching the tense confrontation between Delia and Rebolant, the lawmakers looked at each other in confusion. To call Rebolant outright a liar seemed overly assertive.

Yet, Rebolant was excessively bold.

And the dissatisfaction with the hard-to-justify peace treaty and the interference from the Empire.

All these factors moved the lawmakers.

One by one, they started raising their hands in approval.

“Since the majority agrees, we will summon the witness. Bring in the chambermaid.”

Following Rebolant’s order, the guards waiting outside brought in the chambermaid.

The chambermaid, glancing around with a frightened expression, locked eyes with the princess sitting at the center.

Under Delia’s stern gaze, she trembled with fear.

“Do not be afraid and speak only the truth.”

“Well, um…”

Following Rebolant’s advice, the chambermaid began to speak slowly.

“Hello. I am Arena, in charge of cleaning the corridors of Wangseong. When the Imperial army invaded Wangseong, I was scared, so I hid in the chapel.”

The chapel?

A sinister blade plunged into Delia’s heart.

“Hiding under the altar of the High Priestess, I waited for the Imperial army to pass. But suddenly, the door opened. Princess and a man dressed in Imperial army uniform entered.”

“So?”

“I was scared and couldn’t move, so I hid and watched.”

The chambermaid, tense, shrugged her shoulders and extended her words.

Rebolant intimidated the frightened chambermaid.

“If it’s a true story, the gods will protect you.”

Encouraged by Rebolant’s words, the chambermaid slowly continued.

“That man said he would give Ioleti to the princess. He said if she allowed, he would give Ioleti. And then, the two of them, in the sacred chapel, in a chaotic manner.”

As the chambermaid testified, she recalled something, and her face contorted.

Giuliano stopped the chambermaid’s words.

“Enough! That should be sufficient.”

“But…”

Delia recalled the situation at that time and was ashen.

The angelic, sacred face that she had turned away from came to her mind.

There was no hesitation then.

Faced with the thought of her parents being in danger, the despair of being dragged away by the enemy’s commander.