The massive door swung open, and the royal guards rushed in, holding a golden-colored box. They hurried into the hall and bowed before the king with no emotion evident on their faces.
"Your majesty, the royal seal has been found," one of them reported, and the emperor quickly stood up from his throne, then signaled to Bronco to receive the box from them.
Bronco nodded and made his way down the stairs. He stood in front of the guard with the box in hand and took it from him, then turned around and began to walk back up the stairs. He stood beside the emperor and gave the box to him while in a bowing position.
"Keep it." The emperor said, and he carefully placed the box on the golden-colored table with carved characters on it. The Emperor glanced at everyone in the hall with contracted eyes and adjusted his seating, then unlocked the box and pulled the cover open. He looked inside it and, seeing the royal seal, fine and neat as though it hadn't been touched, his eyes narrowed into a thin line.
He covered the box and relaxed back on the throne, then folded his arms, his eyes fixed on them. "Where did you find it?" he questioned the royal guards, and the one who seemed to be their leader, bit his lower lip, then slowly turned his head to look at Layah.
Lsyah's eyes fluttered vigorously, and she glanced at her sides to make sure it was actually her that they were looking at. Why were they looking at her?
"Your majesty, the box was found in the princess's room," He reported, and the emperor glanced at Elva and Layah. "Which princess?" he questioned, and the royal guard looked at Layah yet again. "In Princess Layah's room. We found it in the massive jewelry box she possesses. " The instant the guard announced, everyone in the room, including Layah herself, stilled.
Mishak, who was also present there, glanced at the guard who reported it, then at Leia, and his brows furrowed deeply. That's impossible! He instantly denied it in his heart as he knew the princess would never stoop so low.
Layah, who was extremely confused and still wasn't getting the fact that she had been reported to have committed treason, looked around and at the ministers in utter confusion. What exactly was going on? This is a joke, right? Or is she dreaming? What sort of trash are these people talking about? She never took anything? I mean, what would she even do with it?
She glimpsed all of them and turned to look at the emperor. "Father, I do not know what they are talking about. There is definitely a mistake her-"
"Did you take the royal seal, yes or no?" The emperor cut her off and questioned her with a straight face.
"No! I didn't. " She replied in a tone filled with displeasure, and the emperor shifted his gaze to Elva with narrowed eyes. "Then how was it found in your chamber? Did it magically appear there?" he questioned further, and Layah turned to look at him with a stern expression on her face, not even bothering to bow her head in respect.
"Father, you don't really think I did it, do you? The royal seal means nothing to me, and as for how it got into my room, I have no idea. But what I know is that someone is definitely trying to frame me!" She said the last part with resentment apparent in her tone and glanced at Elva from the corners of her eyes.
The emperor, who knew she wasn't lying when she said it meant nothing to her, shifted his gaze to Elva and looked intently at her. "Do you know anything about this, Elva?" He asked, and with a sad expression on her face, Elvs shook her head at him. "Of course not, father. I do not know anything concerning the royal seal," she replied, and the emperor's eyes contracted into a thin line as he stared at her before averting his gaze.
"Layah, do you perhaps have evidence that you didn't take the royal seal? If you do, then I shall hold a trial for you to prove your innocence." He turned to Layah and inquired, but instead of answering, Layah remained silent.
Is he joking with her or what? How is she supposed to have evidence concerning this? It's not as if she knew the damn thing was in her room! She would be so stupid not to know that the emperor doesn't care and is only pretending to care to look good in front of his subjects. Humph!!
Her hands balled into a tight fist and she lifted her head to look at him. "Father, if you really believe I did this, then sentence me to death," she said with no emotion in her tone, and the emperor gazed at her, not uttering a word as though contemplating something in his mind.
Could he actually sentence her to death? Of course, he doesn't believe it at all! He knows Layah and knows she is not in any way interested in the throne, and even if she was, with the great pride she has, she would never stoop so low as to steal the royal seal. What would she gain from it?
He took a deep breath and grabbed the paper and feather on the table, then dipped it into the ink cup and began to write on the paper.
Everyone gazed in anxiousness except for Layah, whose hands were balled into a tight fist, with a deadly expression on her face.