Newton's head snapped violently. "Do not say that." His voice came out harsher than he intended.
He took a step closer. "I do love you." The words left his mouth before he could stop them.
He hesitated. His gaze softened. "As a sister, and maybe a little more."
Sonia's eyes widened slightly. Her voice cracked. "Then why can't you bed me?"
Her hands gripped the bedsheet tightly. "Why can't you save me from Ryli?"
The question hung in the air.
Newton stood there for a moment. Then something unexpected escaped his mouth. A soft chuckle. It carried no joy. Only bitterness. "Easy for you to say," he murmured.
He shook his head slowly. "You were not born a bastard."
Sonia blinked. Newton turned away again. His voice grew quieter. "You won't be the one who will bear the brunt."
His fingers curled slowly. "Lady Bianca lost her joy because of me."
He swallowed.
"She had a premature birth because I existed." The words came out slowly, like wounds reopening.
"And now… now that she is beginning to be happy because you are about to become the Queen of the Nine Kingdoms."
He looked back at her. "You want me to steal that away too."
Sonia's lips trembled.
Newton exhaled deeply. "I am sorry." His voice softened. "I cannot do what you are asking of me."
He turned, and walked toward the door. His hand rested on the handle for a moment. Then he opened it and stepped out. The door closed behind him.
Inside the room, Sonia did not move. Her hands slowly tightened against the bedsheets. Her jaw hardened. Tears continued sliding silently down her face.
Elsewhere in the castle, footsteps echoed sharply through the stone corridors. Queen Freya walked beside her son. Ryli's face was swollen now. A bruise had already begun forming across his cheek.
His lips remained pressed tightly together. They did not stop walking until they reached the great hall.
The massive doors opened. Inside, Edmond Woodland still sat on the Ice Throne. Most of the guests had retired already. Only a few guards remained.
Freya marched forward without hesitation. "You raised a wild thug to attack the Crown Prince?"
Her voice cut through the chamber like a blade.
Edmond's brows immediately furrowed. He slowly rose from the throne. His eyes locked onto Ryli's bruised face.
Something dark flashed across his expression. "Who did this to you?" His voice carried a low growl.
Freya answered without pause. "Your bastard." The word echoed through the hall.
Edmond's heart slammed against his ribs.
"He attacked and bruised the Crown Prince."
Freya inhaled slowly. Her eyes burned with fury. "The boy has to die."
For a moment Edmond did not move. Then suddenly he stood up from the Ice Throne completely. The veins along his neck rose sharply.
His fists clenched against the arms of the throne. The hall seemed to tighten around him. "Bring Newton before me."
His voice exploded across the chamber like thunder. The guards immediately bowed. "Yes, my lord."
They turned and rushed out of the hall at once.
The doors of the great hall burst open after a few minutes. Heavy boots struck the stone floor as the guards dragged Newton inside.
Two of them held his arms. Another pushed him forward. They stopped before the Ice Throne and shoved him down.
Newton's knees hit the ground with a dull thud.
The hall was nearly empty now, yet the silence felt heavier than it had during the celebration. Torches burned along the walls. Their flames flickered against the carved ice pillars that held the roof of the chamber.
Edmond Woodland stood before the throne. His tall shadow stretched across the polished floor.
Ryli stood several steps behind Queen Friya. His jaw was tight, the swelling on his face already darkening into bruises.
Bianca stood near the side of the hall, her fingers clasped together.
Newton slowly rose from the ground. The guards stepped back.
Edmond's voice cut through the chamber. "How dare you lay your hands on the Crown Prince?" The growl rolled through the hall like distant thunder.
Newton straightened. His chest lifted. His eyes met Edmond's directly. "He placed his filthy hands on Sonia."
His voice came out sharp and steady. "He deserves more than a beating." Newton's fingers tightened. "He deserves to die."
The words settled into the air. No one spoke. Edmond watched his son carefully. He saw the fire burning behind Newton's eyes. Not fear. Not regret.
But anger. Real anger.
Something inside Edmond shifted slightly. He knew that look. Newton did not raise his voice without reason.
"Lies." Ryli's voice snapped across the hall. "The bastard is lying. I am a Gentle and noble man. I will never lay my hands on a woman."
Newton did not even turn toward him. His eyes remained on Edmond.
But Edmond finally spoke. "He does not lie. He has never lied."
The sentence dropped quietly into the chamber.
Queen Friya's head turned sharply. Her hands clenched at her sides. "Are you now suggesting the Crown Prince is lying?" The question carried a dangerous edge.
Edmond did not answer immediately. His gaze moved slowly between Newton and Ryli.
Silence stretched across the hall. Then Edmond spoke. "Fetch me Sonia."
The command was calm. But it carried weight. The guards bowed instantly. "Yes, my lord."
They turned and hurried out of the hall. Ryli let out a short snort. "You are going to test my words against your bastard's?"
Edmond turned his head slowly toward him. His eyes hardened. "You better pray he is not telling the truth." His voice dropped lower. "Because if you have laid a finger on my daughter…"
He paused.
The hall held its breath. "Consider that finger off." The words landed like steel against stone.
Ryli's throat moved slightly. For the first time, his legs shifted uneasily beneath him. The silence in the hall grew thicker.
"Are you threatening a future king?" Friya groaned.
Edmond turned, and smiled. "This is the North. We don't threaten. We don't break our words."
Elsewhere in the castle, the guards arrived at Sonia's chamber. Bianca followed closely behind them.
The door opened. Sonia sat on the edge of her bed where Newton had left her. Her eyes lifted when they entered. "Your father wants you in the hall," one guard said.
Bianca moved quickly toward her. "Help me dress her," she ordered the servants. They worked quickly. A cloak was wrapped around Sonia's shoulders. Her hair was brushed back into place.
Bianca knelt in front of her daughter. "He slapped me, Mom," Sonia whispered quickly.."Newton didn't do anything."
Bianca's eyes widened for a brief second. Then her finger rose to her lips. "Shiiiii." Her voice came out low and urgent.
"If your father asks you, you must lie. You must support your future husband, even though he is wrong."
Sonia blinked. "Tell him Ryli did nothing." Bianca's voice hardened. "Tell him Newton attacked him unjustly."
"But Mom!" Sonia's protest barely left her mouth.
"Shut up." The words came sharp. "Do what I asked you."
Sonia fell silent. Her fingers tightened slightly on the arm of the wheelchair. She said nothing more.
But something had already settled in her chest. She had made her decision. She would tell the truth. "I will support Newton, even if he was wrong. But he isn't even wrong now." I will not betray Newton.
The guards rolled Sonia into the great hall. The large doors opened again. Everyone turned..The wheels of the chair echoed softly against the stone floor.
Bianca walked beside her. They stopped before the Ice Throne.
Edmond did not speak. He simply looked at her.
Carefully.
His eyes moved across her face. Then lower. He saw the marks. The red bruise across her cheek. The faint discoloration around her throat.
His jaw tightened.
Bianca waited. Her eyes moved toward Edmond. She expected the question. But it never came. Edmond simply continued staring at Sonia.
Silently.
The hall remained frozen.
Bianca's patience broke. "Newton attacked Ryli unjustly," she said quickly. "The girl confessed it to me."
Edmond's head lifted slowly. His gaze slid toward his wife. "I did not ask you." His tone was calm, but cold. Cold enough to silence her instantly.
Bianca's lips pressed together.
Edmond looked away from her again. He walked slowly back toward the Ice Throne. The steps echoed through the hall. He sat down. His hands rested on the frozen arms of the throne.
"You should all go to bed." The words came quietly. "Tomorrow I will give my verdict." Ryli's teeth clenched. His fists tightened beside him. He turned sharply and walked toward the exit.
Queen Friya followed him. Bianca followed the guards pushing Sonia's chair. Newton remained still for a moment longer. Then he turned and walked out as well.
Soon the great hall emptied. Only two figures remained: Queen Friya, and Edmond Woodland.
Friya stepped forward slowly. Her voice dropped into a dangerous whisper. "You have to behead your bastard."
Edmond leaned slightly back against the throne.nHis face showed no emotion.
"If you don't," Friya continued, "I will have the King do it."
The threat hung heavily between them. For a moment Edmond said nothing. Then something unexpected appeared on his face.
A smile: slow, and calm. "I might be forced to give a trial by combat."
Friya's eyes narrowed.
Edmond continued. "Let the two settle their dispute the old way." He tilted his head slightly. "Do you think your son stands a chance?"
The color drained slightly from Friya's face. Her legs shifted. She had heard the stories. Everyone in the northern kingdoms had.
Stories about Newton Ice and the sword he carried. The triumph he had achieved. A boy who was barely seventeen, but feared by great warriors.
Her fists clenched. "Of course I won't accept that." The words came quickly. Too quickly. Then she turned sharply. Her footsteps echoed as she walked out of the hall.