Fantasia looked at Captain Honey, Emilia and Vanessa with worried looks. Thick, black chains bound their wrists and necks. They were in the official court of the castle, where crimes of very dangerous criminals were decided fairly. Fairly...under the laws of Melodia and Fantasia's hand. She'd never decided somebody's fate, let alone fight for Vanessa's life with her closest two friends. The fate of their lives rested in Fantasia's hands. The princess had been taught and studied the laws and rules of Melodia for seventeen years. She'd taken many tests and quizzes given to her by Midnight and the queen herself. Fantasia read the ancient Laws of Melodia every night like it was chapter book and recited the rule of that section, page or paragraph.
Chapter Three of Twenty-Five chapters. Title, Crimes of Melodia. Subtitle, Settling Crimes with Other Kings and Queens for Prisoners.
This is your final test, Fantasia heard Midnight say in her head, Do what you must and do what you will.
The queen sat in her throne as Fantasia took a deep breath. Back in her black dress and black flats, she felt comfortable and a little brave. In this court, the queen would decide the fate of the chained women. But if all went well, the Imperial City would need a new ruler.
---
Fantasia looked over her small journal, reading a few important Laws of Melodia from the book that she wrote down over the years.
The queen tapped her golden staff on the ground, the room became deathly quiet. "Begin," She spoke loud and clear.
"King Mateus," Fantasia said with a smooth curtsy and in return he bowed his head in acknowledgement. "What exactly is the knight wanted for?" She asked. "Well," He began," Killing both my heirs the the throne, my son and daughter. She stole from my treasury, used the money to build a wall to protect a village of evil people and killed fifty-five of my men."
"A rogue, a killer and a so called righteous knight," Fantasia said, putting a hand to her chin," Punishment, I would say death by beheading." Vanessa wide eyed the princess and the evil king smiled, How—Why would she do this?
"What did the Captain do?"
"She stole a royal ship before raiding my treasury and giving part of it to a few evil peasants who'd threatened to overthrow and kill me. Along with that she was tried for treason."
Fantasia's eyes sailed upon the archer," What did she do?"
"She aided them in all their crimes, even planned the one to ship several books and scrolls from a library of outlawed magic in the Imperial City out to an group of so called wise men."
Wrong move...Fantasia thought," Did it work?"
"Unfortunately,"
"Punishment for the archer, death by hanging. Punishment for the pirate and her men, locked in cells where no light enters." Fantasia declared with a smirk as she closed her book.
Thud.
King Mateus smiled and said with bow," Thank you princess Fantasia." But before they could leave, the brunette remarked," Your majesty, I'm not done yet."
"Oh yes of course," He added, going back to his spot in the middle of the court next to his guard. "King Mateus," She began," You said those books and scrolls in that library were outlawed, correct?"
"Yes," He quickly answered," But I don't see how—"
"Don't interrupt her majesty," Midnight warned. "When magic is outlawed in another land, your part of the Melodian Agreement was to ship every book on magic to Melodia. Which you did not, instead you planned to burn the books without a single word sent to my kingdom. Luckily, they sent the books to one of my sacred outposts in Belk. Those books are now in the royal library of the castle. I caught one of your guards reading the Ways of Fire a few minutes before the trial."
The Secret Alliance...Vanessa thought, looking at Babylonia and Emilia.
"You've already broken one rule of the agreement, which would've been a call for your dethronement."
King Mateus swallowed hard. Fantasia held her composure no matter how much her inner child wanted to be free and laugh at him.
"The Golden Knight stole from your treasury and build a wall to protect a village of evil people...From records I read from a scout of mine to look over your progress as a king to reform the crime ridden land of Gravel. I found out you sent soldiers to kill every last magic wielding man, woman, child and infant in that village, correct?"
"Your majesty, I—"
"It is true," Midnight stated," I was the scout and had seen them with my own eyes."
"But luckily for Vanessa, she helped protect the citizens and send them to Melodia. One of those citizens being my own royal guard."
"Your majesty," Hera said with a bow. "Another rule broken," Fantasia added," I'm not sure your father would've been proud to know that you turned out to be such an unworthy king. But he was killed the day before he could revoke his decision and it was done by you of course. I had my scout watch over you that unfortunate day of October 13. A knife's silver blade to his chest as my guard said. Two of the most forbidden laws of the agreement you've broken. One a week after the other. The first, taking over an outpost and reforming a Melodian citizen."
"What?" Vanessa breathed, looking over at Fantasia. "You took over the outpost of Tilmer in an outrage of the knight's escape with her archer and pirates. In doing so, my father, General Michael Diamond, of the Melodian defense was killed." The princess added, clenching her fists," Then, when you found a single family survived the attack, you killed the child's parents. Patricia and Alfred Roy Carey were both part of the Melodian defense, best two soldiers. They were found dead, several arrows pierced their bodies but their child, gone. You reformed her entirely, leaving her no memory of her parents except her name. Vanessa Sunny Carey."
The knight's eyes widened, as shock and sadness set in. Tears clouded her vision but she shut her eyes and didn't open them.
"But your majesty—"
"King Mateus, you can't try these prisoners of your war without having a pure heart and good reason," Fantasia stated," As stated in section three of page forty-five in the Laws of Melodia."
"I was not aware,"
"Another rule has been broken. If you ever planned to set foot on Melodia, you would've read the ancient rules and turned your ship around. But since you didn't, at least you get to face your crimes and pay the price." Fantasia said," The prisoners crimes will be seen as deeds to aid Melodia and its goal of peace. They are forgiven and will do as they please under my rule. Your punishment, death by royal execution by the princess."
"What?!"
Before he could move, Fantasia shoved her sword through his chest. He looked at her with wide eyes full of shock. Blood began to seep through his royal fabrics and stain his red cape to a darker shade. His blood dripped to Fantasia's royal, custom made sword. She gripped the hilt as it glowed a pale blue but her eyes changed to a soft, light blue. With a voice of calm and no trace of anger or sadness, she said," It is with great honor that I, Fantasia Diamond of Melodia dethrone you and release your grip of evil from my kingdom. May the gods have mercy on your soul."
