The Mad Queen

Chapter Seventy-Eight: Three Years Ago

"You cannot expect me to answer that! I cannot condemn my sister." - Prince Niklaus Dulavelle.

"Prince Nikalus, please answer the question." - Master Olav. Master Scholar during the Reign of Queen Oriana Dulavelle and Unbiased Judge in the Trial of Orianna Dulavelle.

"In your opinion, Prince Niklaus, is your sister mad?" - Lord Phillip Drake. The Accuser and leader of the investigation.

"You are asking for an opinion, not a fact! We cannot trust the man who has the most to gain if the Queen is found Guilty!" - Lord Tal Vindor. Queen Orianna's Defence.

"The Prince knows the Queen, his sister, the best. It is only right to ask for his honest opinion." - Lord Drake.

"I will ask for the Prince to answer the question. However, I will not use it as my one and only piece of evidence when it comes to my verdict. I will take into account the possible motives and credibility of the Prince. We have many more days of this trial to come and plenty more evidence to discuss. So please, Prince. Answer the question." -Master Olav.

"Do you think, your sister, Queen Orianna Dulavelle, is mad?" -Lord Drake.

"Yes." -Prince Niklaus Dulavelle.

~The Trial of Queen Orianna.

Three Years Ago:

I dress in our training uniform. Juliet ties my hair. Styling a loose, pretty crown braid with a few free strands. Because we will be going through the city and making a public outing, father has also dropped off a tiara for me to wear. Our most precious jewels stay in the vaults. Both myself and my sisters have a large variety of necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings each. All to go with the various amounts if dresses and outfits we have. Tiaras, however, we have two each. One for formal events and one for casual public appearances. Whoever the wins the Queen's Trial will have a crown made for them. My formal tiara is beautiful. A glittering twirl of sparkling diamonds shaped to my head and designed to go with any gown I wear. It is grand and spectacular. However, it is my regular tiara that I love the most.

The tiara I wear now is gold metal. It twists around three, deep red rubies. The centre ruby is slightly bigger than the others. Sitting on the gold are tiny little diamonds that sparkle in the light. Smaller, rubies also sit dotted around at various points in the metal twists. I love the way the deep red looks against the dark black of my hair.

"I think you're ready," Juliet says once she has put the tiara in place.

"Thank you," I reply with a smile.

Cordelia is already in the stables when I arrive. She pats down her warhorse, Lana.

"Ana," she smiles as I walk in. I go over to Trouble's stall.

"Morning, Cor," I grin. She is wearing her training uniform also and also carries a sword, a bow and a quiver full of arrows on her back. I have the same. The door bursts open and Fallon, Shaelyn and Rayana all walk in at the same time.

"Morning!" Ray grins as she rushes to her warhorse excitedly. Again, we all wear identical training uniforms and carry the same weapons.

"I love forest days!" Shaelyn jumps excitedly. I laugh and walk over to her, throwing my arm around her shoulders.

"I know," I chuckle and give her a kiss on the cheek.

"Yeah, but you get to have more fun. You don't have lessons anymore, you just get to ride and play," she scoffs. I pull her closer to me with a laugh.