It was just two weeks before the start of the third term when Duke Ravenloft was captured trying to flee the country, disguised as a common man.
Aurelius was moved to the deeper cells so that he would never see anyone but Alexander and Elias, and Arthur, if he was permitted to visit by Elias.
The next day, Alexander called a trial for all the conspirators.
Every member of House Ravenloft who had been present on the day of the poisoning was pushed to their knees before Alexander. He sat regally on his massive, gilded throne, his gaze a cold, hard glare directed at all the Ravenlofts, especially his former consort.
Elias was seated just a level below Alexander in the throne reserved for the Crown Prince.
Matheas and Caelum stood behind their men, their postures protective and their eyes keenly observant.
Aristotle tried to argue back, his voice a desperate plea. He claimed he was forced and coerced into poisoning Elias, and that he had been against such an action from the beginning.
Elias smirked, a subtle, sharp curve of his lips. "Are you absolutely sure that was what you truly felt?" he asked, his voice dangerously smooth.
"Of course, Your Highness," Aristotle insisted, attempting to look completely innocent, his eyes wide and earnest.
Elias nodded slowly and pointed to Arthur, who was standing quietly beside him, shrouded in a deep hood so that no one in the court would easily recognise his youthful features. "Remove the hood, my dear, and explain to the court what happened that day," he instructed, offering Arthur a small, encouraging smile.
Arthur took a deep, steadying breath and slowly pulled back the concealing hood.
Aristotle gasped audibly, the sound sharp in the silence of the court. He knew, with a sickening certainty, that he was utterly doomed.
Arthur stepped down from where he had been standing beside Elias and moved to the floor, coming to stand beside Aristotle.
He bowed slightly, placing his hand reverently over his heart. "May I speak, Your Majesty?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Alexander simply nodded, granting permission.
Arthur rose and looked directly at Aristotle, his expression grave. "I saw him a year before Prince Elias was chosen to be the crown prince. He demanded that he be named Prince Elias' personal knight and mage.
Prince Elias wisely rejected him, guessing correctly that he would be forced to work according to this man's manipulative rules if he accepted him into his service.
So, Aristotle went directly to Prince Aurelius, and asked him the very same thing. Aurelius, who desperately needed to be seen and supported, allowed him to be his knight and mage, welcoming him into his inner circle.
A year later, His Majesty announced that Elias would be formally named the crown prince during a grand dinner at the palace.
I was hidden in the room. I overheard Aristotle complaining bitterly to the former queen, stating with indignation that he was the firstborn child and that he was destined to be named the crown prince, feeling intensely wronged.
I didn't know exactly what I had to do, but I never held any negative opinion about my brother Elias, so I immediately tried to stop them from planning anything treacherous.
That was when Aristotle walked over to me and told me, with chilling certainty, that Elias would kill me the very moment he took over the throne.
Aurelius then showed me his fabricated wounds from the mock battle he had with Elias, presenting them as concrete proof of a violent attack.
I was merely twelve years old and completely believed their terrifying lies.
I regretfully helped them capture Elias, but I swear I didn't know Madam Isolde would be taken as well.
Elias took the poison because they threatened him with Madam Isolde, sacrificing himself for her safety.
They continuously made more and more vicious comments about Elias being a monstrous tyrant and that he would leave no person from the royal family alive if he took over as king, and I became absolutely frightened.
They even convinced me that Sir Caelum wasn't a good influence on my brother. Aurelius wanted Caelum for his own service and kept telling me how much of a perfect and loyal guardian Caelum was, repeatedly attempting to plant seeds of doubt in my mind.
I wanted Caelum for myself.
I tried to make my own desperate plans but I was swiftly caught," Arthur concluded, his voice heavy with self-loathing.
Elias could see the profound guilt etched on Arthur's young face, and Alexander could see it too.
"Do you have anything more to say, Aristotle?" Elias asked, turning his gaze to the accused.
"Nothing of that sort ever happened," Aristotle argued weakly, trying to maintain his façade of innocence.
Arthur shook his head emphatically. "May I now present the proof to the court?" he asked Alexander.
Alexander nodded with a small, appreciative smile. "Matheas, please go with Arthur and help him with the evidence," he commanded.
Matheas nodded once and walked smoothly to Arthur, gently guiding him out of the royal courtroom.
Matheas pulled Arthur into a comforting, reassuring hug. "It's truly alright, Arthur," he murmured softly. "You've done a brilliant and brave thing."
"Will the recording spheres be enough to convince them?" Arthur asked, pulling away slightly and wiping the tears that were streaming down his face with the back of his hand.
Matheas nodded, offering a soft, encouraging smile. "They will be more than enough," he assured the boy.
He helped Arthur bring the glowing spheres back into the court and played every one of them, meticulously, one by one.
It took a total of four long hours, but everything Arthur had carefully explained and confessed was clearly and undeniably shown in the vivid recordings.
Alexander looked at the duke, his former queen, Aristotle, and the rest of the Ravenlofts who had participated in the treacherous scheme with undisguised contempt and profound disdain.
He then looked at his court, waiting for them to make their decision.
He formally adjourned the court to privately listen to the severe statements and recommendations from his trusted court officials.
Every single one of them vehemently demanded that the Ravenlofts be either publicly hanged or summarily executed for their crimes.
"What is your judgment, Elias?" Alexander asked, looking intently at Elias, who had been sitting in his chair with a quiet, emotionless composure.
"Execution," Elias stated plainly, his face devoid of any discernable emotion. "In public," he clarified. "I want to ensure that no noble ever gets the treacherous idea of planning such elaborate, wicked schemes against us Ingris ever again," he pronounced with cold finality.
Alexander nodded, his expression grim.
The people were then called back into the courtroom, and Alexander solemnly passed the final sentence. "Every individual who had any part in the poisoning of Crown Prince Elias will be executed in two days, in public," he announced, his voice ringing with authority.
People gasped in shock and awe, but deep down, they knew the persecutors deserved this harsh retribution. Such an evil, premeditated scheme truly warranted an equal and public punishment.
Two days later, they were executed in public, and massive crowds of people gathered to witness the execution.
Elias purposefully skipped watching the gruesome event. He simply did not want to see it.
"Too much blood and gore, my Prince?" Caelum asked gently, leaning against the intricately carved railing right beside Elias on the wide balcony of Elias' room at Emerald Manor.
Elias shook his head slowly. "I want to consciously push those awful memories far, far to the very end of my mind and instead focus entirely on the brilliant future that is yet to come," he explained, looking out thoughtfully at the lush garden stretching below. "I want to genuinely enjoy these next two years before I have to worry myself sick about the ruling and the safety of the people of the entire nation," he said, letting out a weary sigh.
Caelum smiled warmly as he took Elias' hand in his own. "We'll be absolutely fine, my love," he assured him. "As long as we faithfully follow His Majesty's and Matheas' wise path, we will navigate all challenges successfully," he promised.
Elias smiled back, a genuine expression of relief, and nodded his agreement. He leaned in towards Caelum, who immediately turned towards him, readily accepting the chaste, tender kiss with a soft, enduring smile.