The rejected crown

Beneath the Weight of Judgment

~edweyn and giovanna

Edweyn leaned against the polished stone wall of the castle corridor, arms crossed casually over his chest, though a tense energy simmered beneath his calm facade. Beside him, Giovanna moved with a regal purpose, her gaze sharp as she surveyed the corridor with wary scrutiny.

"Well, now that I've managed to silence William, there's one less thing to worry about," Giovanna murmured, her voice quiet but laced with satisfaction.

Edweyn raised an eyebrow, though his tone remained light as he replied, "Speaking of trouble, have you heard the latest gossip about the witch trial?"

"Naturally," Giovanna replied, dismissively. "But I couldn't care less about a witch and her mother. They broke the law; that's all that matters." A glint of cold satisfaction flickered in her eyes.

Edweyn shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "You know, I actually knew one of them—Jane. We were friends as kids. It's strange seeing her in chains now, but I suppose that's what happens when you make dangerous choices."

Giovanna's gaze turned skeptical, a smirk crossing her face. "Friends with a witch? How quaint. I'd have thought you'd outgrown such associations."

He chuckled dryly, though there was no humor in it. "We were children, Giovanna. Back then, it was just... dreams and games. We didn't understand magic, nor the danger it would bring."

"Dreams and games." Her lips curled in disdain. "And now those 'dreamers' have put themselves in this position. You should have thought twice about your little escapades. Rules exist for a reason, and it's our duty to uphold them."

Edweyn met her gaze, unflinching. "Is that what you truly believe? That the law has no room for mercy? What if they were wrongfully accused?"

Giovanna huffed, a sharp smile curling her lips. "If they were truly innocent, they wouldn't be here, would they? It's a waste of time to pity them when we have a trial to oversee. Spare me your sentimental memories."

His gaze softened as he watched her, a hint of sadness creeping into his voice. "It's easy to forget that people aren't just their choices. They have stories, Giovanna. Jane was just a girl trying to survive."

"Survive?" she echoed, raising an eyebrow. "And what of the lives she's upended with her so-called survival? Witches like her deserve no sympathy. This is the real world, Edweyn. Spare me your nostalgia."

With a frustrated sigh, he turned his gaze away, feeling the weight of her coldness. "Maybe so, but I refuse to see someone I once cared for burned at the stake without question. You may follow the rules to the letter, but I'd like to think there's more to leadership than strict adherence to law."

Giovanna shrugged, her indifference palpable. "Leaders make hard choices, Edweyn. It's not about sentiment; it's about order. Remember that when you watch the trial tomorrow."

As she strode away, Edweyn felt the sting of her words settle in. In that moment, he realized how deeply divided their worlds had become, each tethered to a different truth, and how those truths would collide with devastating consequences.

Edweyn took a deep breath, fighting against the swell of frustration and desperation rising within him. He pushed off the stone wall and hurried to catch up with Giovanna, who strode purposefully down the corridor, her regal demeanor unyielding.

"Giovanna, wait," he called, urgency lacing his voice. She paused, her back to him, and he could almost feel the tension radiating from her. "Please, listen to me."