Lucas sighed, closing his eyes for a second.
He didn't expect her to admit to the crime, and the other person who interfered and killed the Queen instead, was definitely not aware she had been poisoned.
Lucas walked to her slowly, kneeling beside her, and whispered into her ear.
"If you really want to clear yourself, then make sure nothing happens to the new Queen. If a fly as much as touch her hair, I would make you tear your flesh apart."
He stood abruptly.
"Thomas, have the servants assist the Queen Mother with preparations."
"Make it grand," Lucas ordered.
"After the ceremony… the Queen mother is to be confined to her room to pray for the dead Queen's spirit to find rest."
He said, then walked out without another word.
Georgina collapsed back into her bed and her maids rushed to help her.
"How did he still find out about this?" she whispered, more to herself than to them, and pressed her hand on her chest.
Then her voice hardened.
"Prepare a cloak and a horse. We are going to the north gate tonight by eight."
"Your Highness," one of her maids, Sonia, stepped forward.
"I don't think it's wise to visit the temple in the next few days, it's better to wait," she suggested and Georgina exhaled.
"Fine, send a message to my cousin and ask him what happened."
"Why is that wench becoming the Queen?" she yelled.
One of her maids hurried out, while Georgina's mind raced with desperate thoughts.
The days passed quickly. Markham is dragged out of prison to be executed. Yet the news of Emilia's marriage to the King spreads even faster, casting a disturbing rumor around the city.
A lot of them are curious about how she managed to turn the tides around in just one night and save thousands of heads in the Markham mansion and, more so, why she is renouncing her father's bloodline to reclaim that of her mother.
On the Markham estate, Margaret and her companion, Hannah, taunt Emilia about her action and refuse to be thankful for having their lives spared, accusing her of abandoning the family just to be crowned as the Queen. She refused so vehemently.
The King also ended Markham's case with the public execution of him and the rebels captured in their mansion.
The once vibrant Markham estate sank into a grim silence, everyone too afraid to speak, to move, to breathe the wrong way.
Emilia locked herself in her room, refusing food and any company. She sat before her mirror, brushed her hair with hollow eyes and then suddenly shattered the mirror in a burst of rage.
The noise sent June and Alice rushing in, and they freeze at the scene. Glass glinting on the floor like Emilia's scattered tears.
Silently, they kneel to clean the mess, stealing glanced at Emilia, terrified she might hurt herself.
Emilia rose and sat on her bed, waiting for them to return after discarding the broken shards.
"Where is the thing I asked for?" she murmured.
June hands her a small cloth bundle.
"Leave," Emilia said softly.
The maids obeyed, glancing back one last time as she unwrapped the cloth to reveal a dagger. She glared, her fingers curling around the hilt.
She imagined the blade sinking into the King's chest the moment their wedding ends. The thought brought a cold satisfaction to her face.
Alice knocked and entered hesitantly along with two other servants, announcing the arrival of another wedding dress from the palace.
Two dresses had already been sent, but both were destroyed by Emilia in defiance.
"The Queen Mother sent another," Alice muttered, her voice pleading.
"You mustn't ruin this one, or we will all be punished."
"My Lady… maybe the King meant to protect us by doing this." "He spared us," she added gently.
As the King, he could have exiled them even with the edict, but had allowed them to stay in the city. Although more than half of their wealth and property was seized, they still have their lives and homes.
"You shouldn't take out your anger on the…"
Emilia shot her a glare and Alice bit her lip and lowered her head.
But Emilia can't help but resent him. She thought the past would matter a little, but it turned out she held too much expectation of him.
Now stripped of the Markham name, her actions won't incriminate anyone else.
June entered quietly.
"My lady, it's the twelfth hour, the execution…"
With a deep shaky breath, Emilia stood without a word and followed her.
Outside the mansion, Emilia met her brothers, already waiting. Together, they mount the horse and head to the place of execution.
Markham is dragged out in chains, forced to kneel along with the rebels captured. Emilia clenched her fists, her breath trembling, her tears welling again. From afar, Markham saw them and tears filled his eyes.
He looked at Emilia, and at that moment, she stared back, and their eyes met, then her lips moved soundlessly,
"Father."
Markham blinked his eyes with relief, satisfied to see them all safe.
Louis grabbed Emilia's hand, turning his face away, unable to bear the sight and Emilia turned too, letting herself collapse onto his shoulder. The King had decreed a private execution and only officials and family were allowed to witness the execution.
As the blade fell, Emilia ran out, unable to withstand it or watch at all.
She is followed by Louis, and then she breaks down by the gates, crying her eyes out in a muffled voice, trying not to make much noise.
One by one, her other brothers emerged, their faces etched with grief.
Emilia clung to Louis to stand upright as they all held one another in silence, mourning together.
Although the women who bore them don't always see eye to eye, the siblings except Catherine have no real enmity between them.
After letting themselves cry their eyes out, the four of them made their way home to inform their mothers.