Chapter 198: Dealing with a beast.
Ren looked up at Kai, her voice a cracked whisper. "How could you let this happen?"
"This is what a true King does to protect his people from a royal menace," He replied. "This is retribution, and Josa chose it of her own will."
Gloria reached for Ren’s hand and held it tightly. "He’s right. Sometimes... you just can’t save everyone."
"We’re on the verge of war, this huge rift in the court..." Ren murmured, her voice distant, strained.
Gloria shook her head, her tone resolute. "No. We’re already in it. And they..." she glanced toward the weeping minister and Rebedina, "...they’ve been helping the enemy all along."
A hollow ache opened in Ren’s chest. This wasn’t the justice she had wanted for Ara. Not like this. And for Josa. The girl had lost everything. How could anyone expect her to choose peace? Or forgive Ara.
Ren’s tear-filled gaze drifted to King Benkin. He was watching her, not the others, not the chaos, only her, as though the world had vanished and only his daughter remained.
This man... her father.
And in his eyes burned a single truth: he would destroy anyone who dared threaten her. And her husband helped him. They orchestrated this because Ren was too forgiving. As long as he drew breath, no menace who crossed Ren’s path would live to regret it.
~*~
The feast had turned into a funeral.