Page 73 of The White King's Favorite

The strident voice coming from the main doors seemed to wake everyone up from a very strange nightmare. All eyes turned to the doors, where a young servant suddenly ran into the banquet room, disregarding everyone there, and threw herself at the feet of the King.

“My King! A murder! There was a murder!”

“What?” hissed the King, jumping to his feet.

“Lady Vena of the Pangoja Clan was found dead! Someone murdered her!”

Many panicked whispers rose in the room, but Jisel’s chuckle came to Cessilia’s ears.

“Oh my, I did not think this banquet would be that interesting... I’m glad I came after all!”

The King’s mistress was the only one enjoying herself there. Everyone else was in shock, and several people, most likely from the Pangoja Clan, let out loud cries and screams.

“My King, it can’t be!” shouted an older man.

“Wasn’t she here just a while ago?” frowned Axelane, the candidate from the Nahaf Family.

“What happened?” asked Ashen, glaring down at the servant. “Speak!”

“I... I just left the lady for a few minutes to go and get her some water, but when I came back, I found my poor lady dead in her room, lying in so much blood! Someone violently stabbed her multiple times, my King, it was a murder!”

“Guards!” the King shouted. “Guard the doors to this hall, no one comes in and no one leaves until my return!”

He angrily stormed off, briefly glancing at Cessilia on his way out. It was a brief, fleeting moment that lasted less than a second when their eyes met. Cessilia tried to look away, but it was already too late. After a slight hesitation, she turned her gaze to stare at Ashen’s back as he left the room, then at the doors after they were closed behind him. Even after the King’s departure, things were chaotic in the hall. Many women were crying, and some men were angrily shouting, some trying to convince the Royal Guards to let them leave the room to go see Vena’s body as well.

In the midst of this, Cessilia sighed faintly and picked up the fur cloak she had previously taken off. She softly brushed it, making sure no little shards of glass were on it. Meanwhile, Nana quietly walked up to her and Tessandra, the Counselors behind her, visibly scared too.

“I can’t believe she was really killed... That there’s a murderer in the castle...” Nana muttered, her lips trembling.

“No one mentioned the murderer had to be human,” said the candidate from before.

“Lady Ashra, I suggest you measure your words,” Bastat calmly declared.

Cessilia suddenly realized that candidate was the one they had seen with Jisel previously, along with Vena. She hadn’t recognized her, since her hairdo and clothes had changed, plus she had only seen that woman briefly from afar. Ashra of the Yekara Clan. Just like her cousin Safia, this woman looked arrogant and vain. She shrugged at Bastat’s words, crossing her arms with a little smirk.

“Did I say anything wrong? The Princess just showed off her man-killing beast, did she not? Was I mistaken, that you threatened to murder your enemies?”

“My p-point is that I will not stoop d-down t-to your level,” Cessilia retorted. “I d-don’t do th-things in secrecy, and I d-don’t need t-to hide what I am c-capable of. I won’t lower myself or p-put on a p-play t-to make you satisfied.”

“That’s one rare skill around here,” scoffed another candidate, one of the other two that hadn’t been introduced yet. “Most ladies here play nice in public and hide their claws... For someone to act the opposite is one change I’d like to see happen.”

From her skin that was a shade slightly paler than most people in the room, and how she seemed to be among the rare candidates to respect her, Cessilia guessed she was Ishira, the candidate of the Hashat Family. Dressed in a long, indigo-blue dress, she bowed politely to the Princess as their eyes met, confirming her pacific intentions.

“Already ready to follow in the Princess’ shadow, Hashat?” scoffed Safia. “So typical of your clan of cowards...”

“You’re the one who should watch it,” Ishira hissed back.

“We’re only speaking the truth. Moreover, the Princess left the room earlier, didn’t she? I saw her leave, just a while before Vena was murdered. Why would she leave the banquet at all, when we weren’t done presenting ourselves, and plus, to return afterward? Her room isn’t so far, either. It’s only facts. She had the time, and a motive to kill Vena, didn’t she? One less candidate, wouldn’t you have been relieved to take that eyesore out of your way?”

“Lady Safia!” protested Naptunie, furious. “How dare you make such accusations?! Lady Cessilia is innocent, she only left for a short while, and why would she kill Lady Vena?!”

“Who knows,” shrugged Safia, visibly amused to have everyone’s attention, and to sow some doubt around. “Perhaps the Princess thinks this whole competition isn’t worth the trouble.”

“It’s not the t-trouble t-to murder someone either,” said Cessilia, annoyed. “I d-don’t need t-to lie or cheat.”

“Unlike some people we know,” scoffed Tessandra.

“How dare you accuse us of cheating?!”

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