Beauty in the beast world

Lyra had thought that the trial would be a small-scale event with only a few important people in attendance. Judges of the council, some elders, witnesses from the Eagle tribe, and the Kings of major tribes were what she was expecting. However, the scenario here was completely different. It would not be an exaggeration to say that almost every single person from the city was here.

She saw many Kings she had never seen before and people from tribes she had never heard of. Lyra felt ashamed. She decided to put effort into studying about all the tribes residing in the Beast city when she returned from the trial. If only she were not pregnant every month of the year. Now that she thought about it, she didn’t remember having a proper break since coming to the Beastworld. Either she was in some kind of peril or was pregnant. She should really look into contraception methods after this pregnancy. Alas, she doubted the Witch masters and healers that encouaged having babies like it were their religion would ever know something about stopping it. Well, she could always try. It didn’t hurt that she and her mates were kings and many witch masters were at their beck and call.

An involuntary smile came to her face but she soon chided herself for her boasting. That smile very soon died down when the council announced Xavier’s arrival.

"King Xavier please stand in the witness podium" They were careful enough not to address him as the accused. It was an immortal Beastman they were trying to convict. He could blow up the entire place if he so wished. The elders had to tread this very carefully. Xavier was once accused of the same crime in the past. Killing a female. It was blasphemous to even think about it but Xavier had done it not once but twice by now. The first time, his father paid a heavy price of relinquishing all his tribe’s winter rations to the city council and exiling his son to a remote place outside the city.

The Fox tribe lost many of its own due to the hunger that winter and barely survived. Many hunters failed to return and succumbed in their tribe. The other tribes that took pity on them were not allowed to lend them any help. Although some might have done so in secrecy. This was the price the late Fox king paid for his son’s life. The councilors didn’t know what price the son would pay this time around and that too for his own crime.

Lyra ignored the pointed look directed at her by Xavier and instead chose to wait for the first word from the councilors. But it was hard overlooking his obviously extravagant and shiny outfit. She couldn’t help but frown. Was this man insane? He was wearing Indigo colored luxuious robe only those in royalty could afford with precious gems studded along the golden rim. He looked like a male peacock out to impress a female. She could never get used to this Xavier guy. He was the opposite of his past life. Xenon rarely dressed this colorfully as he mostly liked Black colored outfits. It was like he was in a constant mourning.

"Your majesty is accused of killing a female of the Eagle tribe. Is it true?"

She sat up straight when the council started their questioning. She briefly looked at Xavier waiting to see how he would respond. To her absolute disgust, the man caught her glance and gave a menacing smile in return before parting his lips and answering.

"It’s true. I killed that Female"

The audience gasped.. Those who didn’t witness it first hand and only heard about it from the gossip looked appalled while those who saw it with their own eyes looked at Xavier like he had gone mad. Why was he accepting the accusation so readily? Even Lyra and her mates thought the same.

"What is he thinking?’’ Victor asked Blake meanwhile the latter had a serious look on his face while replying, "I don’t know" How would he know what was running inside that mad Fox’s mind?

Victor turned away after not getting a proper answer and saw that the ccouncilorswere just as baffled by Xavier’s reply. One of them quickly recovered before following up, "So you do admit your crime?"

"Yes, I do"

What else could they do? He was not even trying to argue against the accusation, "Please leave the podium" They ordered him to leave and turned their attention to Kyrell.

"King Kyrell, please stand in the witness podium"

Lyra looked at her mate in worry. Kyrell gave her a reassuring smile and walked towards the podium.

"Please explain what happend on the day the female of your tribe was killed"

Lyra saw as Kyrell explained everything from his perspective. From bigger things like Alice trying to murder her and torturing Nathan to smaller things like her trying to take over the authority of the Eagle tribe and committing crimes with that power. Although the council seemed to think the latter was more of an offense.

It was funny really. The elders were downplaying Alice’s attempt at murdering her saying it was just a momentary lapse of judgment by an emotional female. Lyra didn’t think she could see misogynists here too.

The elders other than the ones from the Silver Wolf tribe and the Lion tribe were talking discriminatigly saying she was an outsider and was the cause of many problems inside the city. Lyra couldn’t argue about that. She did cause many mishaps in this place but never on her own. The beastmen here did all that on their own. She didn’t ask to be kidnapped or plotted against.

This trial was a joke, she was mostly zoning out until she heard a familiar voice, "I’ll not stand any more slander directed at my mate" Kyrell’s frigid voice made the elders shift in their chairs. Some of them glanced at Lyra with a pleading look in their eyes. So now she wasn’t a nuisance brought into the city anymore? Lyra coldly turned away.

"We can leave if you want" Victor whispered in her ear.

"It’s alright" She could handle this.

"Queen Lyra, please stand in the witness podium" Now, it was her turn.