The Romantique Times

Chapter 10 - The Verdict

Chapter 10: The Verdict

*Edited* 

Victoria's POV

"Everyone in this room now has the right to contribute to the decision that will be made at the end of the trial. Today's trial will not end until this decision is made. Agreed?" Prince Wilfred said and everyone in the room agreed.

"Now, let us all allow Miss Victoria, the victim of this incident to explain what she remembered before continuing to the other bystanders. Miss Victoria, please," he said continued and supported me to stand. Maria then came and exchanged positions with him and I started my story.

"I was at the celebration two days ago with Prince Wilfred. After we entered the ballroom, so many people came crowding around us and soon, I was pushed away, out of the crowd," I said saw some looks of pity from around the room.

"I wandered around the room and found someone that accompanied me. That someone also brought me outside, and beside the pond," I continued, feeling a shiver going down my back.

"Could you name that particular someone?" Prince Wilfred said.

"Miss Danielle Travensky."

I heard a couple of gasps in the room, and people shifting their attention to the snobbish lady that sat opposite me.

Funny how people change so quickly. At that moment, I really thought I had found a friend.

Right after that, I heard a chuckle and someone remark.

"Nonsense! Why would my daughter do something like that?" Sir Thomas Travensky laughed out loud, and Danielle followed.

"Does anyone even believe that I would be an acquaintance with a commoner? Allow me to ask, why did a commoner attend a royal celebration anyway?" she said, looking at me with a stare that could kill.

"Miss Danielle, it is not your turn to speak," Prince Wilfred said in harsh tone, making Danielle snort and tilt her head away, and her servant came forward and frantically waved a small fan in her direction.

Prince Wilfred nodded towards me, gesturing me to continue.

"We went out to the garden, spoke a little, and I told her who I was, a commoner," I stated. People in the room whispered and I saw the King straightened up from his seat.

I ignored the murmur in the room and said, "But right after that, she said some disturbing things and before I could react, I was already in the water."

With that, even more whispering filled the room. I looked at Prince Wilfred and he nodded at me with a kind smile. Having him look at me like that really warmed my heart.

"Silence!" a voice boomed across the room and everyone turned to look at Prince Wilfred.

"Thank you. Let us proceed with the trial. Next, let us hear from Charles Harrison, the bystander of the situation, and also the person who saved Miss Victoria from drowning," Prince Wilfred continued.

Mr. Charles stood up and cleared his throat slightly as I sat down and he started.

"Good afternoon everyone. I am Charles Harrison, son of Peter Harrison, well known doctor in town. I attended the Easter celebration in place of my father as he was unwell on that day. When I was there, I left the ballroom as I couldn't stand the crowd. When I was outside, I heard quite a commotion. I went over to the source of the sound to find Miss Victoria struggling in the water and Miss Danielle standing by the side, saying rather hurtful things," he said, lowering his volume at the end.

"Do you remember what she said?" Prince Wilfred inquired.

"I wasn't sure exactly, but she said something like that was where Miss Victoria belonged. In the waters where no one notices her or something," he continued.

"I never said that!" Danielle protested.

"Let him finish," Sir Thomas said suddenly, face turning very sullen.

"As a doctor, I couldn't just stand and watch, so I moved forward to save the life in front of me. After I got her back on land, Miss Danielle was gone," he said and suspicions were all averted to Danielle once more.

She panicked slightly, probably because even her father was starting to doubt her.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" Prince Wilfred said, spitting out every word in disgust.

"They're lying! I never did that! Nor did I say that!" she said, her voice going so high that she started squealing.

"Miss Danielle, why are panicking? You should be calm if you honestly didn't do anything," a calm voice came across the room. It was the King who said that, and everyone fell silent.

"I...I'm not panicking or anything..." she said, eyes on the ground and wandering about.

Everyone was whispering and Danielle was tugging on her father's sleeves with puppy eyes, as though begging him for help.

"Sir Travensky, your daughter had just been pointed out to have attempted to murder someone that was with me on the day of the celebration, and hence, I believe that she also has the intention to hurt me in one way or another. Am I then to say that she is attempting to hurt a member of the royal family? Or even more, could this be an attempt to rebel against the royal family?" Prince Wilfred said, looking fiercely at Sir Travensky.

"Absolutely not! I do not approve my daughter's doings and I definitely do not have any intentions of going against the royal family!" Sir Travensky said as he stood up, looking at his daughter who was now kneeling at his knees.

"Please, Father! Please, not you too! I'm your daughter! You have to believe me and not those commoners! Those stinking rats, you should all go back to your rotten village and stay there! This is not a place for you all-" Danielle screamed at us, but was cut off when her father slapped her across her face.

Silence flooded the room, perhaps shocked by Sir Travensky's actions, or Daniellle's ruthless words.

"I do not have a daughter like you," Sir Travensky said, walking away from her and towards Prince Wilfred.

"I am terribly sorry about what happened your highness. And I am even more sorry for raising such a useless daughter that does not even care about the people in the kingdom! I hope to seek your forgiveness for my incompetency. You have the right to do whatever you want with her and I shall pledge my loyalty to this kingdom once again," he said while kneeling down towards Prince Wilfred.

"Then, what do you think should be done?" Prince Wilfred asked.

"She deserves to be locked up with real rats, in the dungeons, your highness," he answered, bowing his head even lower.

"Even your father is disappointed in you, Danielle. And I believe everyone in this room feels the same way too. Who thinks that this is the best way to put an end to this?" Prince Wilfred asked out loud.

Everyone in the room started to cheer and came around me as Mr. Charles, telling me something like we stood up for the commoners, and that we are humans too or something like that.

"Guards! Take her and lock her away!" the King announced, and the guards barged into the room and dragged Danielle away as she screamed and cried but to no avail.

Sir Travensky then bowed once more to the King and left the room with his head hung low.

People continued to cheer and I saw Prince Wilfred coming towards me.

"Thank you, your highness," I said and curtsied, but he stopped me.

"Just call me Wilfred, and there is someone else whom we need to thank," he said and smiled towards another direction.

Doctor Charles Harrison.