The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 95

CH95

Tsunco

I led Anya towards the kitchen. The memories Tarufu had shown me were all horrible. I knew that Ari had a history of being quite mean to the palace staff, but I had never imagined it had all been so violent. The worst of it had been while I was pretending to be unconscious. I hoped that some of the other victims would be willing to testify against her. None of them had heen hurt as badly as Anya, but that didn't matter.

As we entered the kitchen, the servants looked up, their eyes wide with surprise. I cleared my throat, my voice filled with a mixture of determination and resolve.

"Listen to me," I said, my voice echoing through the room. "I am putting Ari on trial for her crimes against the palace. It's staff and other miscellaneous crimes. I want you to be heard. I apologize on behalf of the royal family for the abuse you have endured, and I want proper justice to be administered."

The servants exchanged uneasy glances. A murmur ran through the group of them. They kept looking at Anya:

"If you testify against her," I said, my voice filled with a mixture of hope and determination. "You will be compensated in full accordance with the law. What can be made right will be made right."

"Who will agree to testify against her about her abuse?"

The servants hesitated, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear and anger. But then, one by one, they began to nod.

"If you would come stand with me, please?"

A few of them stepped forward.

There were more than enough to testify.

"Now," I said, my voice filled with a sense of urgency, "I need you to tell me about the things she has stolen from the palace... from you if applicable. I'd like to facilitate the return of those items. quickly if they haven't already been returned."

"She stole from me," one of the servants finally said, her voice barely a whisper. "She took my necklace, the one my mother gave me...." She looked down. "She said it was too nice for at

servant."

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CH95

mother's wedding robes." She sniffled. "I... I couldn't

married."

servants began to speak. They described the items Ari had stolen and the valuables she had taken from them. Some of them knew about the robes and pieces of jewelry that Ari had taken from my mother's chambers, but I had no idea that she'd also taken things from my chambers. As I listened, I couldn't help but feel

gesturing toward the doors. "Her trial will begin in

out the door. I

"If anyone dares to complain about

the rest of the staff out of the kitchen. I stopped to tell a guard

up anyone else who might have been abused, forced to do something

otherwise had a realistic grudge against Ari. He nodded and headed

room for these items. If you find them, bring them to the hall. If there is any

guards nodded

more came to join the procession, including a knight. As I entered the grand hall, I was met with a cacophony of voices. The Elders were gathered, their faces etched with concern and anxiety. My father, sat on the throne, his eyes scanning the room.

you all can make it

to discuss the Convening of the Celestial Compass," one of the Elders began, her voice barely audible over the din. "What are all these servants doing

Prince Tsuneo has determin

will take precedence. It is the

uneasy glances. "Nothing could be more pressing than

these years, and likely many citizens as

expect us to try a member of

on the fact that she is guilty of several crimes and should be punished accordingly." Another scoffed. "That's all well and good, but no one knows where she is. She's vanished. You can hardly try someone when

disappeared. She's simply been detained." I turned to the servants. "If

take a seat, we'll get started as soon as

grumble among themselves. I could hear

you have Elders