Waking up, you felt stiff. Your back was in slight pain from lying against a hard surface for a long time. You sat up and looked around your surroundings but recognized where you were. The metal bars, cold cobble floor, and only a single barred window told you everything; you were in a cell. Before standing up, you stretch your body to eliminate the stiffness you feel in your joints. You took care not to disrupt the bandages around your body, afraid your wounds would open. Finally, you stood, turned to the window, and looked through the bars at your location.

   ' We're back in Vumaedal. No, this isn't good. Where's Arlutrix? '

Around you, the cells were empty except for one or two people, but neither resembled Arlutrix. No guards stood within the hall to watch the cells, leaving you alone. With nothing left to entertain, you sat back on the floor, thinking of a plan.

   ' If we're back in Vumaedal, there will be a trial for Arlutrix. They'll trial him for murder and kidnapping, and the king will most likely take into account his magics. You can't be executed for Magic, but you can be evaluated. He may not even get evaluated if everyone believes he kidnapped me and murdered those guards in the woods. '

What irritated you the most was Arlutrix's location. From what you knew, there was nowhere in the castle he could have been placed except for the cells you resided in. No room was created to hold magic users unless you didn't know something only the king knew. The waiting game wasn't one you enjoyed, but without your sword, you could do nothing except sit in your cell and wait for the trial. You did wonder if the prosecution would be together for you and him or if it would be separate. Your answer soon came, with the doors to the hall opening and two guards walking in, with cuffs. The guards walked to your cell and opened the metal bars, but before stepping in, they spoke.

   " Ms. Y/n, please do not struggle while we cuff you and then take you to the trial to be tried for your killings. "

You did as they said and didn't struggle from their hands. They cuffed your wrists and pulled on the metal chain between your wrists upward so that you would stand. You now knew the weight of your trial. The two men in the woods you had sent to the ground bleeding had died, or at least one of them, in order for you to be tried for murder. 

Walking out of the hall, you were brought into the sunlight. The sunlight was warm as the cold air bit your skin. The cells were placed far away from the castle so that no one would threaten the king. Like every criminal in Vumaedal, you had to be transported to the court. In a carriage that was made out of thick iron bars. It was like stepping into a cage, and when the doors slammed shut and locked, the situation felt more real to you. The carriage started to move, with horses pulling it away from the cells and into the kingdom.

Going through the town was the worst thing you had ever felt. People stared at you like you were an animal on display, some even throwing tomatoes at the cage, spitting curses at you for rebelling against Vumaedal. But, on the other hand, you did see some glances of sympathy, especially from your friends who stood in the crowd. 

Jin, Cecilia, and Genevive were in the crowd, looking at the carriage as it passed, with you sitting inside. Though, you couldn't see Genevive's face as she buried her face in Jin's chest. Cecilia looked worried, and it seemed her stern demeanor diminished, watching you ride close toward the castle. Jin looked like he had committed a crime, looking at you with such gilt. The man felt slightly guilty for telling you to embrace your desires because it ended with you going to a trial.

The carriage stopped at the front of the castle, and you were allowed to leave the carriage. The guards tightly grip your chains, dragging you inside the castle. You entered the palace and were led to the throne room, where the trial would take place, but when the doors opened, you realized the prosecution had already started. The doors opened, revealing ARLutrix sitting on his knees on the red rug.

The rug clashed against the castle's white, gold, and light blue colors, but it made it clear who would have the attention. The king sat atop everyone on his throne with his fiance at his side, now looking at you.

Everyone turned their eyes to look at you, and you spotted people you wished you had never seen again. Lord Isembart stood in the crowd looking at you with his brows creased together. Your mother stood opposite him in the room, with a fan covering her mouth, as she glared at you. Your poor father stood beside your mother, but instead of scowling, he looked worried to death as you were led down the red carpet and to the king. Arlutrix didn't look at you until you were pressed to the floor, sitting on your legs as he was. You looked out of the corner of your eye at him and noticed his turquoise eye looking at you, also worried. 

   " Continuing, you kidnapped Ms. Y/n from her wedding to Lord Isembart. Is that correct? "

   " No. "

   " Then why did you take her with you when you left the Church of Axtarr? "

   " Ms. Y/n had confided in me about how desperately she didn't want to be married. She even threatened her own life, and I didn't want that to happen to her. I also disagreed with the union between Lord Isembart and Lady Y/n. When given the chance, I escaped with her, so that she may be free of her marriage. "

   " Why did you disagree with their union? "

   " I disagreed with their union because I knew Lord Isemabrt had sexual interactions with Lady Eve the night of the ball. I didn't want Y/n to enter a marriage where an affair was under Lord Isembart's belt. She deserves better than that. "

   " She deserves you? " The king asked, raising a brow.

Arlutrix closed his mouth, remaining silent. But, he sat straighter and raised his head from the bowing position it had been in to look the king in his eyes.

   " No. She deserves better than me. I almost let her marry a horrible man. If I were better, I would have helped her sooner and kept the heat off our backs while we left Vumaedal. I can only provide what I have. "

   " Alright. So you claim you have no control over her; you did not kidnap her, but let us talk about your magic. Have you recently learned the magic, or have you had these abilities for years? "

   " I've had them since I was born. My father trained me in magic, until he died. "

   " I see. What deeds have you exactly done with your magic? Be specific. "

   " In my younger years, I stole food so that I could eat, but Lord Isembart found me. I was young and desperate for help. Lord Isembart offered me a deal. He said that I would work for him and he would provide me with all the necessities I needed. I was bound to him through a spell after that altercation. Then I would take care of people that threatened the peaceful life of Lord Isembart as well as his business. "

   " Specifics, I said. Define 'take care of' so that people may hear it. You cannot hide anything from this court any longer. "

   " I would kill people. "

   " And did you do this of your own will? "

   " No. As I said, I was under a spell, bound to Lord Isembart. If I did something he did not want, I would be punished without the strength to retaliate. I did as Lord Isembart wished, to survive under his iron grip. "

   " You're not still bound to him? "

   " No, the morning of his wedding, I relinquished the spell. "

   " Why have you not done this before? If you claim life was hard as Lord Isembart's servant, then why not relinquish the spell sooner? "

   " I didn't think anything left in my life worth doing. I had no family, lover, or friends; I had nothing. So when Lady Y/n was introduced to me, I thought nothing of it until we became close. I realized that I had someone worth staying for and caring over, especially since Lord Isembart was never around to be with his lady as a husband or fiancee should have. Only when I saw the dead look in her eyes I knew that I had to help her from the marriage. "

The king listened to Arlutrix's every word but rubbed his eyes, his frustration tolling him. His wife moved to comfort him, placing a hand on his arm. The king looked toward his wife, holding her hand, nodding as thanks before turning to look at the two criminals in front of him. 

   " Did you ever have control over Ms. Y/n? "

   " No. She was of her own mind. "

   " Then that leads to terrible consequences. Ms. Y/n, you will be executed for killing two of my guards. "

   " But it was self-defense! " You yelled to the king.

   " My guards did not raise their swords until you raised yours, Ms. Y/n. You attacked Jeremy, then killed two guards in the snow. I must abide by the laws, and you must be executed. Guards, her trial is finished, take her back. "

The two guards that brought you inside the castle grabbed your arm and started dragging you out. You struggled to get out of the guard's grip and managed to do so once or twice, but you wailed in pain when one of the guards grabbed the bandages under your injured arm.

   " Stop struggling! " Arlutrix yelled. 

Due to the pain in your arm, you had to stop struggling, but you looked toward Arlutrix, curious at why he yelled to stop. 

   ' Has he given up? '

   " I'm afraid I lied, your highness. I did control Y/n. She left the church willingly with me, but I put a spell on her after that so she wouldn't retaliate against my words. I will take it off if you will let me. " Arlutrix spoke solemnly. 

   " You may. "

Slowly, Arlutrix stood from the floor and approached your figure on the floor. When he was beside you, he gestured for the guards to let you go. With hesitance, the guards let go of your form, and Arlutrix held you close. Black wisps danced around his fingers, and he pressed his fingers against your wound under your arm. 

   " Play along, my lady. "

   " Arlutrix, they will execute you if you play that game. "

   " You will not be executed and released after my execution, you are free to do as you've always wished. "

   " Not like this, Alrutrix. I don't want--"

   " My lady, it's time for my adventures to end. My mother and father were friendly people, but friendly people don't get treated as they should. Even though our intentions were good, and we were defending ourselves, there was a king and court against us. "

The wound underneath your arm had healed. The black wisps disappeared from your form, and Arlutrix smiled at you.

   " I would rather die than live without you, my lady. Your life is my priority. "

Arlutrix turned his head toward the king, with his smile disappearing.

   " The spell is gone, but it will still have some gravity with her. It will take time to wear off. I suggest keeping eyes on her, until my execution. "

   " Okay. Guards. "

The guards started pulling you away, and you tried grabbing Arlutrix, but you couldn't reach him. The mage smiled at you as you were dragged away from him and out of the castle. You were placed back in the metal carriage and returned to the cells as the trial continued.