---
When Emilia returned to her quarters, she broke down and June rushed over to her side quickly to aid her, surprised to see the bruise on her.
"Your Majesty, what happened?" she asked, but as Emilia opened her mouth to say something, she fainted, losing her consciousness.
June yelled her name, startled and the other servants too rushed to help her in and call the doctor to look at her.
… Emilia woke up a few hours later after the doctor attended to her. She writhed in pain on her bed for four days before she fully healed from the wounds and got out of bed.
She got up early in the morning after feeling better, and sat in the spacious chair in her chambers, pouring a cup of water for herself and heard some movement at the door.
"Your Majesty, are you awake?" June's voice came from the door and Emilia responded.
"What is it?" she asked.
The door opened, and June stepped inside with Alice beside her. Their faces looked sullen and filled with worries.
"What happened?" Emilia asked them, dropping the cup in her hand and straightening her back.
Alice went on her knees first, her expression transforming into that of anger, and she let it out.
"Your Majesty, a lot of rumors have been going on in the palace since you fell ill," she said, and Emilia raised her brow, not surprised.
"What rumors?" she asked.
Alice turned to look at June standing behind her, hesitating about saying it out loud and Emilia frowned at her.
"Why are you quiet, say it," she urged.
"Your Majesty, the rumors are about the King and how he has been absent from court for days," June answered instead, and Emilia blinked in confusion.
"What has the King's absence got to do with me?" she asked.
"Didn't the King's aid relay the King's message that he would like to recuperate alone for a few days?"
"No one believed that, your Majesty."
"Everyone is saying that you are the cause of whatever illness has befallen the King and referring to you as a…" June paused, finding the words too vulgar to say them.
"Refer to me as what?" Emilia pressed, nudging her to continue.
"The rumors say that you carry a cursed fate and that's what has affected the King and also…" June bit her lips, really unable to continue, but Emilia could already guess what else they were saying.
Since little, she has been accused by a lot of foolish people that she was the cause of her mother's death immediately after she was born, and now her father is also dead. There is no reason why they won't accuse her of the King as well.
Although she is actually responsible for that of Lucas and the cause of his illness.
"Your Majesty, aren't you furious?" Alice asked, surprised by her calmness even after hearing all that, but Emilia simply shook her head.
"There is no need to mind such needless matters," she said, focusing her thoughts on Lucas for a second.
"But Your Majesty, what if they also accuse you of consort Eleanor's sickness." June cut into her thoughts.
"Is Eleanor sick?"
"Yes, she suddenly fainted this morning and the doctor said he couldn't figure out what was wrong with her," Alice answered.
"She is clearly trying to stir up more trouble for you, pretending to be sick," she grumbled.
Before the chill of those words could fully settle, the door opened again and Allison stepped in, her face troubled.
"Your Majesty,' she bowed.
"The Queen Mother has summoned you to go to the front hall," she informed Emilia, and her fingers trembled slightly.
June and Alice's faces are etched with worry and concerns.
"Understood," Emilia responded, getting up to her feet and June helped her put on an extra layer of robe before leaving with her.
---
Emilia walked briskly towards the palace's main hall as her heart beat steadily despite the unease twisting in her chest.
One of the aides standing by the door announced her presence as she approached the door and the heavy door creak opened unto her.
Emilia stepped into the hall, staring at numerous officials and ministers, with Georgina sitting in the upper seat in the room beside the King's throne.
Emilia's eyes caught those of Saint as well, and she swallowed hard before going on her knees and bowing to Georgina.
"Your grace," she muttered.
Georgina didn't respond to her greetings and instead, one of the officials spoke up.
"Your Majesty, I believe you have been aware of the state of the King's health for more than a week now," he asked, and Emilia slowly nodded.
"Yes, I am," she answered, her heart sinking slightly, but she maintained her grim posture, refusing to show her fear.
"On the night, you got married to the King, what happened?" Georgina asked, and Emilia raised her head, taken aback.
Saint interjected before she could be pressed further, stepping forward.
"Your grace, I'm afraid it's not proper to discuss the private affair between the King and the Queen in front of everyone here," he said, but Georgina countered him immediately.
"There are a lot of rumors flying around that she must have cursed the King on the night they were together."
"How can we solve the issue if we don't know what truly took place?" she flared and turned again to Emilia.
"The King has been reported to be sick for many days now and none of us have been able to see him."
"Even the chief secretary only takes orders from Commander Thomas," she said, her voice raised at her.
"You were the last person to see him that night."
"If you don't explain it to us now, then we will have to take it into consideration that you are truly cursed, as the rumors say." she concluded, and others agreed loudly.
Emilia clenched her hands, surprised that Georgina was already out to get her again when it'd only been four days since she flogged her under the pretense of following a monk's instruction to cleanse, and now they are using the same reason to accuse her.
"What do you have to say to yourself, your Majesty?" Collin chipped in, and Emilia exhaled slowly.
"The King's illness has got nothing to do with me."
"How can you all believe the rumors spread by the servants and maids in the palace?" she answered firmly.