"We are gathered here today-," it almost seemed like a wedding but it wasn't as the announcer continued on to say that it was for my judgement. The court was smaller than yesterdays and I was surprised that we were still here alive and nothing had happened overnight. Well...apart from Daniel and I, nothing bad had happened. 

"Can the defendant rise." There was silence as I looked around 

Daniel nudged me, "That's you."

Oh shit. What was I defending?

I stood up quickly clasping my hands in front of me. Am I meant to say that's me. 

The lady went on about the claims against me, I nodded to each one. Well...she wasn't wrong. I did kill those people but the way she was saying it made it seem like I was a bored serial killer. Not acting in the defence of protecting the royal blood line.

In the crowd I met the eyes of the king, and his glaring eyes that made me shiver. God he did not look happy and judging by the bags under his eyes he hadn't got much sleep himself.  I was almost surprised that there was no murder against me last night. 

Maybe he was as tired as he looked, or he gave up, or a mix of both.

"Do you have any last pleads?"

I shook my head realising that the question was directed at me. 

"You may sit." 

I sat back down and Daniel reached for my palm, placing it between his. I looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Why are your hands shaking?" I asked. Shouldn't it be mine that are shaking?"

"I had too much coffee." 

"Mhm." I nodded. Daniel opened his mouth to say something else but was cut off by the judge talking again.

"The jury has come to a decision this morning with all the gathered evidence. We have reached more than one verdict that will not only impact those that were found guilty, but all of us in this room."

"What does she mean?" I asked.

Daniel's grip on my hand tightened and it was almost uncomfortable, yet I let him  hold it. He seemed more nervous than me. I felt nothing, well a little cold since it wasn't that warm in this room but apart from that I was just going to take the verdict as it came.

I knew one of these days karma would get me, maybe it was today.

"Nikolevich please stand."

"What?" I asked confused looking at Daniel, why is Nik being asked to stand? Was he even here? I turned around and sure enough a pale faced Nik was seated three rows behind next to his mother who unlike him had all the colour to her face. She had her hair down in a perfect bun, eyes attentive and not a strand of loose hair out of place.

"Please proceed to the panel."

I watched as Nik stumbled forward, he was dressed in a navy suit, looking nervous as he looked around. His eyes met mine and I noticed the fear in them. Why was he scared?

Daniel however seemed more relaxed, his grip on my hand loosened and I looked at him, he knew something I didn't. Before I could ask him what it was the judge had already started speaking again.

"From this day forward Nikolevich the third is crowned the ruling prince as per being the legal heir."

"What." I asked, a bit too loudly earning a few looks from people around me.

I still hadn't fully gotten over the plot twists form the day before. I saw Nik cast me a worried look and I was pretty sure that meant he wasn't too happy with this. But that was a different matter to deal with. 

The judge had continued to state the rather obvious of how the legal hair according to their rules is now crowned and the King is wait...the king is being imprisoned?

"What?" I asked and Daniel squeezed my hand.

"...for plotting the murder of the prince."

"Which prince?" I asked.

"Nik, the legal one, keep up Sandy." Daniel said with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"I can't...I don't know what the fuck is going on."

"Shhhh. You shouldn't swear in court."

"Sorry."

"You're cute." 

"Shut up. I'm trying to listen."  I said pulling my hand out of his. It was kind of distracting when his thumb kept rubbing circles against my hand. 

"...will remain as the legal advisor till Prince Nikolevich is of adequate age to rule."

"Why isn't his mother the queen?"

"She doesn't want this life." Daniel said.

"But Nik doesn't either." I said, just looking at the kid made me feel bad for him.

"I think he's just nervous about it. I'm sure there's a part of him that wants to be king otherwise he would have objected and abdicated right on the spot." I guess what Daniel was saying did have a little bit of point.

"And for Isandra." my heart stopped when the judge said my name, "The jury has taken into account all the misconduct by the guard as well as breaking rules and orders assigned by the then at legal King. The murder of the then legal prince was taken into account as serious misconduct and a crime worth to be hanged."

I knew it, I knew one of these days I was going to get hanged.

"However given the circumstances, the blindside by the royal family and the plot to kill the true legal heir, she is pleaded as not guilty."

"Oh fuck there I go." I muttered and then froze, "Wait, did she say guilty or not guilty."

"Not guilty you baboon."

"But she said plead." I said as my heart started to beat faster."

"Court is adjourned." 

There seemed to be chaos once the judge had stood up, guards rushed to seize King Jonathan, men rushed around Nik and his mother. Everyone moved except Daniel and myself.

"Is that it. Is it over?"

Daniel looked at me with a confused look, "Well obviously Sandy, do you want her to come back and say she changed her mind?"

I shrugged, "I don't know that as very anticlimactic."

Daniel, "Not for me. We were pretty sure of the outcome on the evidence but Carter and I were still worried there for a moment. You can never trust if the jury has been bought out o the judge got all the facts correct. But I'm glad that you're still here sitting next to me. And for as long as I can help it I'll keep it that way."

I looked at Daniel's brown eyes as he spoke, they were pulling me in closer and his words made my throat tighten. I didn't know how to reply, but luckily I didn't as two arms engulfed me.

"Alex! You shouldn't in your condition you'll just hurt yourself,"

"My sister is still alive shut up Carter." 

"Thank god I was going to blow up this place if you were found guilty." Alex said pulling back.

"You shouldn't say stuff like that while we are still here." I said rolling my eyes as he kissed my cheek. The man was showing far more affection since he was off his death bed and I was  too in a way.

"True, let's get out of here. I think Nik wants to meet us."

"The future king. Wow..." I said shaking my head, "I can't get over this."

"Sleep it off Sandy."

I looked at Daniel, "Still feels a bit of a dream"

Daniel shrugged wrapping a hand around my shoulders and started walking behind Alex and Carter, forcing me to walk by his side, "You shooting me always felt like a dream too till I woke up at three am with pain in my shoulder."

I ribbed him, "You're just a jerk."

Daniel, "But you still love me though."

Yay finally an update. not long to go till I wrap it up, maybe one chap and one epilogue?

Instagram: nihapupzy