The rejected crown

The verdict

~giovanna

The grand hall was thick with silence as the council reconvened the next day, the morning light casting pale shadows on the cold stone floor. Word had spread quickly: Princess Giovanna's fate would be decided today. The crowd, once clamorous, was subdued; they had seen the princess's trial, heard the accusations, and now waited with bated breath.

At the head of the room, Richard Lancaster sat, the faintest smile tugging at his lips as he scanned the faces of the councilors. The senior members of the council, men of age and influence, exchanged hesitant glances. They knew the implications of executing a princess, the realm's only heir. It would be a decision that would echo through history.

Finally, the High Councilor, a man named Lord Caelan, stepped forward. He was tall and severe, his face lined with the weight of years of service to the crown. His voice, when he spoke, was grave.

"The charges against Princess Giovanna are dire," he announced, looking over the assembled nobility. "Yet, as heir to the throne, her bloodline is sacred. To execute her would set a dangerous precedent and bring unrest that our kingdom cannot afford. The people are wary enough, and a royal execution could push them to rebellion."

A murmur rippled through the crowd, some nodding in agreement, others shifting uncomfortably. Richard's face tightened for just a second before he masked it with an expression of feigned understanding. He could see the council slipping from his grasp, and though he despised appearing weak, he knew that challenging them openly would only turn them against him.

Lord Caelan continued, his voice firm. "After much deliberation, the council has decided: Princess Giovanna will be stripped of her titles, her lands, and her inheritance. She will no longer bear the title of princess or hold any claim to the throne."

There was a collective gasp, followed by whispers that spread through the crowd. Giovanna, standing in chains before them, looked at Lord Caelan with a mixture of shock and defiance. She had expected this, in part, but hearing it aloud was still like a blade to her heart. Stripped of her titles, she would be nothing—a commoner, cast aside, her name erased from the annals of the kingdom.

Lord Caelan's voice softened, but his gaze remained steady. "The regency shall pass to Prince Regent Richard Lancaster, who, as protector of the realm, will assume the throne and rule as king. This arrangement is deemed best for the stability of our kingdom, to preserve order and avoid the risks of civil unrest."

Giovanna's eyes met Richard's across the hall. His gaze was cold and triumphant. She knew that look well. She had seen it the night he'd orchestrated the death of Jane's mother, the night he'd begun his campaign to wrest control of the throne. He had finally won. She was to be erased, her legacy smothered beneath his iron grip on the realm.

With the council's declaration echoing in her ears, she stood straighter, her shoulders squared. If they would strip her of her title, she would go out with dignity.

"Thank you, Lord Caelan," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "Though you and the council may cast me out, know this: I may be a commoner in name, but I will never abandon the people of this realm. Titles mean nothing if they are not wielded with honor."

A ripple of murmurs followed her words, a hint of admiration from some in the crowd who saw the strength in her bearing, the fire in her eyes even as she faced such an ignominious fate.

Richard rose, his tone cool and final. "Then it is decided. Giovanna will be escorted to the border, where she will live out her days among the people she claims to love." His words were meant as an insult, but they had no effect. Her steady gaze unnerved him, and he turned away quickly.

As the guards stepped forward to lead her away, Giovanna glanced one last time at the assembled council and nobles, her gaze lingering on the faces of those who had supported her, those who had judged her, and those who had betrayed her. She would not forget. Not any of them.

The grand hall doors closed behind her, sealing her fate.