Fate II

CCXXVI

"Your Imperial Majesty! Outside the city are...!"

A guard hurriedly rushed in and by now, the entire Kou Empire and its people had received the present that Sinbad had kindly gifted them. The incident back in Sindria had been captured on the security devices that Yamraiha and Kaede had planted throughout the Royal Palace and Kougyoku's involvement in it as the perpetrator could not be dismissed. It was clear as day that she was the one who instigated it and had attempted to murder Lucy, claiming the Royal Throne for herself.

The entire Imperial Court was in an uproar as Kouen sat on his throne in silence. Koumei stared down at the ground, biting his lower lip in nervousness, wondering how they would be able to deal with the situation now that there was nothing they could do to turn the situation around. The entire Kou Empire if not the whole world already knew what Kougyoku had done and given the weight of her crime, it was only just for her to be executed. After all, it was not just the Royal Queen of Sindria but the Head of the Heartfilia House that was the target of her malicious plan. Not to mention, she had also attempted to assassinate the young First Royal Prince when he had just been born. There was nothing the Imperial Family could do to protect her. Rather, she had severely tarnished the image of the Imperial Ren Family and the only thing they could do was to save their face by severing ties with her.

"Just what were you thinking, Kougyoku...?" Koumei gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes, unable to see nothing but stupidity in her rash action.

Kouha stood there in silence as he listened to the uproar in the Imperial Court. Opening his eyes, his maroon pink eyes which shone and glistened with clarity stared straight at the person who would make the ultimate decision.

So, what will you do now, Ren Kouen? he narrowed his eyes.

Kouen sat there, his brows furrowed. Balling his hand into a fist, he faced the Imperial Court as he made his decision, his expression dark.

"Ren Kougyoku has committed a sin far too great to be ignored. The attempted murder of the Royal Queen of Sindria, as well as the Royal Family, is a crime that the Kou Empire has no intention of shouldering," Kouen said as thunder rumbled in the skies above, the ministers and officials heeding his words and obeying the word of their Imperial Majesty. "Make this be known. From this day forth, Ren Kougyoku will no longer bear the Imperial 'Ren' Family name. No longer will her name be seen in the family registry of the Imperial Family. Since she has been married off to the Kingdom of Sindria," Kouen pursed his lips, his crimson maroon eyes glistening ever-so-softly with hesitation but he soon resolved himself and closed his eyes, "it is only right for the Kingdom of Sindria to decide."

Koumei slowly widened his eyes, wishing to object but, there was nothing they could do to save her. He could only hang his head low and grit his teeth in frustration as he accepted Kouen's decision.

"...as His Imperial Majesty commands," he complied.

The other ministers and officials did the same, following Kouen's Imperial decree for as much as they favored the Eighth Imperial Princess, her worth and value could not be compared to the previous First Imperial Princess of the Kou Empire, Lucy Heartfilia.

Hakuei and Hakuryuu who stood as subjects remained indifferent to the entire situation, glad to see Kougyoku finally earning her just reward. Though, as much as they tried to hide their anger, the fury in their eyes was clear as day. Rather than information on the many crimes that Kougyoku had committed, they'd rather trade it for reassurance of Lucy's safety. Kouha closed his eyes, having already known this was the decision that Kouen would make.

After all, he opened his eyes and gazed down at the floor, in the face of his ambitions, he is willing to trade anything. Even family.