Garran swallowed hard, the weight of the queen's gaze pressing down on him like a stone.
"I... I only meant to protect her," he said. "She told me she is trapped trapped, Your Majesty. She wanted to be free."
Maravelle's lips pressed into a thin line, eyes cold but calculating.
"Freedom comes at a price, Garran. And betrayal is a debt this court will not forget."
Queen Maravelle turned to Lord Elron and Lord Asher, her voice low but firm as she outlined the punishment for the man beside Ariana. Both nobles listened intently, then gave sharp nods of agreement, their expressions leaving no room for mercy.
"You will be publicly flogged, branded, and exiled by nightfall," Maravelle declared coldly. "Let every man in this land remember what betrayal earns."
He fell to his knees, his hands trembling. "Please, Your highness… have mercy."
