The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate-Chapter 111: Speak the truth

"What did you say?" Loretta questioned her daughter with a shocked gaze. "When did you do it? And who’s threatening you in such a way?" She was in disbelief that Aria took such a step when the Alpha King granted Radulf’s wish recently—Whoever from the royalty harms Zenna would be punished.

"Mother, it happened a day before yesterday. Zenna humiliated me at the ball, so I wanted to teach her a lesson," Aria said in a trembling voice and revealed every single detail to her mother.

"Leon has the evidence?" Loretta murmured and recalled how in the morning those two suddenly stiffened seeing her. So, they acted in such a way because of the evidence that the witness might present before the Alpha King.

"Mother, it was a repulsive action. Zenna has always been the reason for my unhappiness," Aria said, her voice burning with rage.

"Stay quiet. Who told you to send an attacker without even asking me once?" Loretta reprimanded her daughter.

"Forgive me, Mother. Please help me this time. I swear on my life that I will never do anything like this in the future," Aria requested.

"I will talk to the Crown Prince first," Loretta said.

"Mother, we need to prevent the witness from coming forward before the evening," Aria reminded her.

"I will see what I can do. However, if Radulf finds out about this, he will request the Alpha King to punish you. So, you must prepare yourself for a sincere apology," Loretta advised her.

"An apology from whom?" Aria asked in confusion.

"Zenna," Loretta replied.

"Why should I do that, Mother? Shouldn’t she have died a long time ago? I can’t stand her sight. Father doesn’t even love her, so why must I apologize to her?" Aria refused to bend before Zenna, which infuriated Loretta.

"Do what you are told to," Loretta raised her voice at Aria. "You made a mistake this time," she said sternly.

Aria twitched her lips in frustration but didn’t say anything. As the Luna Queen picked up the small bell to ring it, a servant rushed in with panic written on her face. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Your Majesty, the Alpha King has summoned Princess Aria to the hall."

"Why?" Aria was the one who asked immediately.

"I do not know the details, Your Highness. However, I heard that Alpha Radulf is here," the servant said while keeping her head low.

"What? Radulf is here!?" Aria exclaimed and gulped hard. She gazed at her mother, who asked Aria to come down.

"As long as I’m there, nothing will happen to you," Loretta stated with a reassuring look at her daughter. Aria hummed and followed her mother to the hall.

~~~~~

"Your Majesty, the attack did take place, and I killed the omega that night. I found this token in his pocket. It belongs to the palace," Radulf reported. He extended his hand, offering the token. The valet stepped forward, retrieved it from him, and respectfully presented it to the Alpha King.

Phillipe accepted the token as he assessed it before shifting to Radulf. "Why did you not come to me the very night this happened?" he inquired with restrained fury.

Radulf straightened his posture. "At the time, I had no substantial evidence beyond this token. I feared that merely possessing an item linked to the palace would not be enough to prove treachery," he explained. "However, by afternoon, a witness came forward. He revealed that Princess Aria had sent his friend to harm my wife."

Phillipe’s fingers curled into fists. His jaw tightened as his gaze flicked toward the grand doors of the hall.

"The Luna Queen and Princess Aria have arrived," a guard announced.

The heavy doors swung open, and Queen Loretta entered gracefully, with Princess Aria walking closely behind her. Radulf stood from his seat, lowering his head in a display of forced respect.

Loretta and Aria inclined their heads in greeting to the Alpha King before shifting their attention toward Radulf.

Phillipe’s gaze bore into Aria as he spoke, his tone laced with barely concealed anger. "Princess Aria, did you send an omega from the palace to harm Zenna? Speak the truth—there is a witness."

Before Aria could utter a word, Loretta stepped forward. "Your Majesty, please forgive her. It was a naive mistake," she interceded, bowing slightly in an act of appeasement.

Radulf let out a low chuckle, his amusement laced with bitterness. "A naive mistake?" He scoffed. "That arrow could have struck Zenna. Does her life hold no value to you?" His words rang with unmasked resentment.

Phillipe’s patience had reached its limit. His piercing gaze settled on the guards. "Bring in the witness," he ordered.

Radulf inclined his head. "As you wish, Your Majesty." Turning to his subordinate, he gestured toward the entrance. "Savio, bring him in."

Moments later, the witness stepped into the grand hall. He bowed before the Alpha King and the Queen before standing in position.

At the same time, the doors at the opposite end of the hall parted once more, and Crown Prince Leon entered. His eyes swept across the room, taking in the tense atmosphere. He had been informed of Radulf’s accusations and the so-called witness’s arrival.

Leon exhaled softly, his gaze resting on Aria, realizing she would not escape the punishment today.

"Your Majesty, I heard from my friend how Princess Aria asked her to kill Lady Zenna the day of her outing with Alpha Radulf. He was excited after getting a good amount of money from Princess Aria," the witness said what Radulf had asked him to.

"Why didn’t you come to me and send such a letter to Radulf?" Phillipe questioned.

"Because I thought I would not be allowed in the palace. I am a small daily wage worker, Your Majesty. The friend, who died, was a kind man. He was going to be married next month, and it truly devastated me upon learning he was dead," the witness said, and his eyes turned misty.

"Radulf, you should not have killed the attacker," Phillipe stated. "But I understand you were momentarily frustrated," he asserted. "The witness may leave."

After he dismissed him, Loretta decided to speak up.