The Chosen Heiress

Chapter Thirteen: The Trial

Dawn's POV

Sitting in a stone bench outside the vast field next to a lake. The peaceful sound of birds and the water current, the cold breeze of wind despite the bright sunlight.

"Why did you not tell me who you really are?" I turned to look at Sora, already have her travelling cloak on. Sun shining on her face.

"If I tell you earlier than I should be and things did not go as planned, I might risk myself and get caught." She answered, a friendly smile on her face.

I pouted, wondering how much I did not know.
"Then..you're not...an illiterate?"

Sora chuckled, shaking her head no.
"The thing that you have to remember about me is that I don't exist. Once the Tiger's Den and DiaCorp finds out that Joshua have a sister, they will look for me."

I nodded my head. After a few seconds of silence, Sora stood up, fixing her cloak.
"I need to get going, I have to face trial due to your disappearance. Anyway, this place is heavily concealed by magic. This place doesn't exist on the maps nor on the satellites, you'll be safe as long as you stay."

I stood up and walked alongside her back to the manor. Opening the back door to the drawing room where Joshua and Seungkwan is waiting.

"You're leaving?" Joshua asked.

Now that they stood side-by-side, their resemblance is not obvious but their vibes are. Both have cheshire sparkly eyes and the look of someone kind yet dangerous.

"Yes. The King wants to meet me for trial."
Sora gave Seungkwan a small smile seeing his worried expression.
"Would you be okay?"

"Don't worry. There's nothing in there yet that I cannot handle."
She went to the corner of the room, a glowing gold flower that Dawn remembered to nearly knocked her out was produced on the palm of her hand, with a snap, Sora disappeared into the drawing room; leaving a trail of flower scented air.

I forgot to ask about her powers! How did she got them?

Seungkwan sighed beside me, "Joshua, aren't you worried?"

I turned to look at Joshua's face, he have a mysterious and unreadable facial expression, "I've already talked to Sora a while ago. I don't think he will let them accuse her."

He? Who's he?

"I don't think it's safe to trust Jeonghan, Joshua. He is unpredictable." Seungkwan muttered, dropping his body on the couch. He also tapped the space next to him, so hesitantly, I took a sit.

Joshua stared at Seungkwan then to me, then to Seungkwan.
"I don't trust him, but what I trust is their friendship. He thought he knew her the longest doesn't he? The man of wisdom is fooled."

I cannot understand a single thing that they are saying.
Jeonghan and Sora are friends? Does Jeonghan knows about her reality? Is he part of Eagle's Command?

Seungkwan just sighed. He have this frown on his face.
"Is Sunny coming in today?"

Joshua clicked his tongue, "Doubt that. She hasn't been responding to our signals lately. Hansol won't be going back until tomorrow."

Joshua left the drawing room to go to the library. I am left alone with Seungkwan who seemed to grow more worried every passing second.

I cleared my throat, "Uh...who is Sunny?" Thinking that this is the best way to initiate conversation and fill myself with information.

Seungkwan looked up to me, startled, "Oh..she's one of our members. Sunny, Hansol, Sora, me, and Joshua. There is only a few of us but we're still as strong as them on combat fighting."

"You've fought before?" I don't remember reading that on the biography.

"Yes, we did. Thrice, except Sora never participated in them or else she'll blow her cover, Jeonghan and the King doesn't too. The last one happened nearly 7 years ago, sadly...it never happened again."
Seungkwan have his mouth in a straight line.

This guy is friendlier than I thought.

"Who won then?" I hugged one of the pillows, making myself comfortable.

He squinted his eyes as if trying to remember,
"No one. It's always a tie. Joshua nearly killed them off the last time, because of that Joshua never fought again. It's never our intention to kill but more likely a fight of pride."

I nodded slowly. Weird.

"How did you get in here? You're from Earth too, right?" I asked, watching his facial expression suddenly become hesitant.
"Uh..well it's a long story....ANYWAY, time passes by differently in Earth and here. One day on Earth is 12 hours here. Seems like a small difference right? But we need to be mindful of our parents because they grow older faster while we are away."
He flashed me a friendly smile. In which I returned shyly.

===========
Hoshi's POV

The maiden stood in front of me, wearing the brown robes for trial. The sun shining brightly as we stood in the middle of the grounds.
Soldiers and maids lined up on each side.

"Come forward!" Dani yelled. The sound of heavy chains  being dragged filled our ears. I watch as the accused woman have a neutral expression on her face.

She stopped walking a few feet in front of me.

"How do you plead?" The newly appointed general spoke,

The maiden dropped her eyes to the ground, "I'm not guilty, your majesty."

I signalled at Jeonghan who is standing beside me, he nodded his head and walked in front of the woman.
"As a part of the trial, I will have to read your mind and look back on your memories. If proven guilty, we will have you face consequences."

The general opened a scroll of parchment, "Under the King's orders, the accused if proven guilty, will have to face 45 days without food and water and to stay inside the underground cell where she will be tortured and soon will face her demise."

Hesitantly, she looked into his eyes. They both have an emotionless facial expressions.

I watched them without uttering a word. After a minute that passed by, Jeonghan walked back next to me. A dignified look on his face,
"She was telling the truth, Your Majesty. The maiden was sent away by the heiress hours before dinner and when she got back to fetch her as per Junhwi's instruction, the heiress had already disappeared without a trace."

I frowned, looking at Jeonghan's face who displays a neutral expression. Glancing back to the maiden, eyes still on the ground.
If it's not her, then who could it be? On the other hand, she's just a maiden without power, she cannot possibly have done that.

I bit my lip, eyes cannot help but glare in frustration, following Jeonghan's statement.
"Release her."