Chang sat on his throne, looking blankly at the court. He expressions miserable. His eyes visibly sunken from crying and sleepless nights. His hands trembled almost violently that he has to grip the throne's arm hold to make it less obvious.
His guards whispered to them selves how their king now looks like a withered ghost.
Chang Hao's haggard appearance drew immediate notice among the assembled court. Ministers exchanged worried glances while lower-ranking officials whispered anxiously.
"Does His Majesty appear ill?" Lord Aikoku leaned toward Minister Ren in a hushed tone.
Ren shook his head grimly. "Illness would be preferable to whatever burden weighs on him now."
Empress Mei entered shortly afterward, supported by two maids and moving with deliberate grace. Her face wore an expression of righteous concern mixed with triumph.
"My husband looks dreadful," she announced loudly upon reaching her seat. "Perhaps the stress of ruling alone has finally become too great for him."
Her declaration set off fresh waves of whispering through the chamber. Some officials openly wondered if Empress Mei's recent delivery had weakened Chang Hao's constitution permanently.
From his throne, Chang Hao seemed barely aware of their arrival.
He finally spoke. His voice hoarse. "General Kenji, bring in the prisoner."
General Kenji bowed sharply, his expression professionally neutral despite the obvious strain in his own voice. "Yes, Your Majesty. Guards, retrieve the prisoner and escort her to the throne room immediately."
Footsteps echoed through the stone corridors of Ishimuro prison as soldiers unlocked Bella's cell. They found her curled on a thin mat, her once vibrant clothing now dull and stained, hair tangled and unkempt.
"Get up," one guard commanded gruffly, grabbing her arm and hauling her to her feet. "The Emperor demands your presence."
Another soldier adjusted his grip on his spear. "Look at her - skinny as a starved dog. Wonder how much longer she'll last."
They marched Bella through winding passages toward the main palace building. Servants and courtiers lining the halls whispered as they passed - some pitying, others fearful or hostile.
In the throne room above, Empress Mei shifted impatiently in her seat. "About time,"
The door to the throne room swung open. Everyone held their breath as Bella's forlorn body, not just from the harsh and wretched conditions and treatment in the ishimuro, but mostly from the stab in her now empty heart.
Was practically dragged rudely into the room and was forced to kneel before the throne , her back turned to the court. She knelt silently and starred blankly at Chang who tried to avoid eye contact with her from guilt.
Cheng smiled slyly. Wanting to rub Bella's wound more, she puts her hand lovingly on top of Chang's, who twitched uncomfortably as she caressed his hand.
Empress Mei's touch lingered on Chang Hao's hand, her fingers tracing idle patterns across his knuckles. "Poor dear," she cooed sympathetically, addressing both him and the court. "This burden must be crushing you. To have such a dangerous element living beneath your roof..."
Her voice dripped with false concern as she gestured toward Bella's kneeling figure. "Look at her, Your Majesty. So pitiful now. Once she was proud and defiant, but imprisonment has broken even her spirit."
Lord Riku cleared his throat nervously. "Your Majesty, with respect, the people demand justice. Murders cannot be left unpunished."
General Kenji stepped forward, striking a pose of loyalty. " This woman slit a midwife's throat. Pregnant citizens and midwives demand justice . What example do we set if such crimes go unanswered?"
Empress Mei's touch on Chang Hao's hand sent a visible shudder through him. He pulled away subtly, his jaw tightening as he stared past Bella's kneeling figure toward the high ceiling.
"Lady Bella," Mei announced sweetly, addressing the court while keeping her eyes fixed on her rival. "How do you feel about facing justice for your crimes? So many people have suffered because of your instability."
Minister Minato cleared his throat nervously. "Your Majesty, perhaps we should begin with formal charges? According to Empress Mei's testimony..."
"Oh, there's no need for lengthy procedures," Mei interrupted smoothly. "Everyone here witnessed the aftermath of her attack. The evidence speaks for itself."
Several concubines murmured in agreement from their places along the walls. Concubine Momo dabbed at her eyes with a silk kerchief. "Poor innocent midwife," she whispered loudly enough for others to hear.
Minister Ren spoke, "Your Majesty, if I may, I would like to call in the maids who claimed to be withnessed of the bloody act".
Chang didn't reply as he was lost in his own thoughts. Minister Ren had to repeat himself, but louder, which snapped Chang from his trance. He gave a small jerky nod giving permission .
Minister Ren clapped his hands sharply, signaling guards stationed outside the throne room doors. "Bring forth the maids who witnessed this tragic event! Let them testify under oath before the entire court!"
Within moments, two trembling young women were escorted into the chamber.
They wore simple servant uniforms and kept their heads bowed submissively as they approached the throne platform.
"Kneel before your Emperor," General Kenji commanded sternly, pointing his sword toward empty spaces on either side of Bella's kneeling form.
The maids obeyed instantly, pressing foreheads to cold marble floors. Their hands shook visibly as they waited for questioning to begin.
Empress Mei leaned forward eagerly from her seat beside Chang Hao. "Let us hear their accounts directly," she suggested with theatrical concern. "These poor girls have carried this burden long enough."
The elder of the maids, a girl named Aiko, lifted her head tentatively. Her face was pale and drawn, dark circles visible beneath her eyes.
"Thank you for allowing us to speak, Your Majesty," she began in a shaky voice. "On that day, we were attending Empress Mei in her chambers when Lady Bella suddenly burst inside. She looked... wild. Her eyes were unfocused and she was speaking nonsense about revenge and stolen children."
Aiko paused, swallowing hard before continuing under Empress Mei's encouraging nods. "The midwife, Lady Akemi, was examining the Empress's condition when Lady Bella attacked without warning.
She screamed something about punishment and grabbed a knife from the Empress bread tray."
The younger maid, Mika, chimed in timidly.
Mika added quickly, her voice cracking with fear. "Yes, Aiko-sama is correct.
Lady Bella screamed terrible things about wanting to kill our poor empress , then unborn child.
When Lady Akemi tried to intervene peacefully, Bella... she stabbed her multiple times before we could even react."
The courtroom fell silent except for Empress Mei's soft sniffles of pretend sorrow. Several noblewomen fanned themselves dramatically at the gruesome details.
Minister Toshi rose from his seat. "Your Majesties, these testimonies paint a clear picture of premeditated violence driven by mental instability. The evidence against Lady Bella grows stronger by the minute."
Chang Hao's fingers tightened around the throne's armrests, his knuckles turning white. He glanced briefly at Bella's unmoving back before quickly averting his gaze toward Minister Ren.
"Continue questioning them," he ordered hoarsely. "Ask specific details about timing and positioning in the room."
Minister Ren nodsand then continued. "It was evident that the weapon was a dagger not a bread knife."
"The bread knife was still sitting on the bread tray untouched. How could one make such a flimsy mistake in recounting such details, hmmm? "
"Did you perhaps loose memory or were you really absent during the murder?" He squints his eyes suspiciously at the girls who starts to trembling in fear of being arrested for false withnessing.
The was a tense aura in the throne room. As ministers either agreed or disagreed to the notion. Cheng seeing that it is possible, the court might rule in favor of me , spoke up
Empress Mei's sharp intake of breath cut through the tense silence. "Minister Ren, how dare you accuse these innocent girls of fabrication! They are merely frightened by the trauma they witnessed."
She rose from her seat gracefully, placing a protective hand over her stomach. "Of course Aiko and Mika might be confused about minor details - they were terrorized by a deranged attacker while trying to protect their Empress."
Concubine Sakura stood abruptly. "Your Majesty, I remember seeing the bloodied dagger on the floor near Lady Akemi's body myself! It definitely didn't appear to be a common kitchen knife, not one intended for baking."
Several other concubines nodded vigorously in agreement, their faces filled with righteous indignation.
General Kenji stepped forward cautiously. "Your Majesty, may I suggest recalling the palace guards who responded to the initial distress call? Their reports might clarify weapons used and positions within the chamber."
Chang Hao's head snapped toward General Kenji, a flicker of hope igniting in his hollow eyes. "Excellent suggestion, Kenji-san. Bring Captain Riku and Sergeant Hiroki to the witness stand immediately. Their professional observations will carry more weight than emotional testimonies."
Empress Mei's perfectly painted lips thinned into a line. "This is ridiculous! Are you implying my personal maids are liars while trusting guards who were likely bribed by that criminal?"
Several ministers shifted uncomfortably, debating internally whether to support the Empress or risk offending their powerful general.
Captain Riku arrived shortly thereafter, his uniform immaculate despite years of service. He saluted respectfully before approaching the throne platform. Sergeant Hiroki followed close behind, looking somewhat nervous but composed.
"Your Majesty," Captain Riku began without preamble.