His actions had likely cost countless lives.
The punishment for such a crime had always been clear.
The girls were preparing to argue again when the Empress slowly raised her hand.
The room immediately fell silent.
She stared toward the floor for a long moment.
When she finally spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper.
"The Ice Belle is right."
The words stunned everyone.
Several of the girls looked at her in shock.
The Empress closed her eyes.
A tear finally escaped despite her efforts to hold it back.
"My son betrayed Lechia."
Another tear followed.
"He betrayed the people who trusted him."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"He betrayed the soldiers who would have died protecting him."
The chamber remained silent.
No one interrupted.
No one dared.
The Empress slowly looked toward the window.
The capital stretched beyond it.
Millions of lives.
Millions of people who depended on her.
"If the evidence presented during the trial confirms everything…"
She paused.
