Another official stepped forward quickly to counter Emilia's words.
"Then how did you explain the consort's illness as well?"
"The rumors might have been started by the servants, but the illness happening in the palace ever since you came in has been alarming," he told her.
"First, the Queen Mother was sick on the day of the wedding ceremony."
"Next it was the King and now, the consort has also fallen ill strangely," another muttered loudly for everyone to hear, and the whispers from everyone rose up into the air.
"But your grace, we mustn't believe in rumors," Saint said, trying to step in again, but none of them were listening to her and Emilia fell trapped in the middle of everyone as they judged her silently.
She fumed quietly, and remained on her knees until Georgina indicated a stop to the noises.
"I called the queen here today to address this matter and to find out if those rumors are true."
"Since she is unwilling to tell us what she knows, then I have no other choice," she said, staring intensely at Emilia.
Emilia lowered her head, sinking her fingers into her dress. She isn't sure how much Georgina and the others know about her stabbing the King, but she is also not going to expose herself to them.
"Your grace, I really have nothing to do with the King's illness," she refused again, and Georgina's face lit up with a satisfactory grim.
She had heard from the servants in the King's quarters that only Lucas's personal aid and Thomas had seen him ever since the night of his wedding to Emilia and had her suspicion.
She had wanted to force Emilia into taking blame for it and finding out what happened, but even if she is unwilling to tell them, she has another way to make her take the blame and dismiss her forever.
Georgina rose up from her seat, and stepped closer to where Emilia was still kneeling.
"Even if you claim to know nothing about this situation, you are still responsible as the Queen and mother of this kingdom," she began.
"As the Queen, you should make the sacrifice to protect everyone in this palace," she said, and turned towards others.
"If the Queen really has an ill-fate, then I'm afraid the palace cannot avoid her presence until the ill-fate is cleansed away," one of the officials chipped in and others nodded in agreement.
"Your grace, I suggest a purification ritual is done for the Queen to ensure the safety of the King and everyone else in the palace," Collins voiced and Georgina nodded in agreement.
"What do you say, Queen?" Georgina asked, turning to Emilia again.
Emilia scoffed, not believing their brazenness.
They had already concluded and put her in a tight corner. If she refuses to follow their suggestion, then they will claim that she is indeed responsible for harming the King and Eleanor as well.
The minister of rites stepped forward.
"Your grace, I suggest exiling the Queen to the mountain spring at Astrid."
"The sacred river is known to be effective at getting rid of any bad luck in a living being," he said.
"Residing there for at least three months should do," he concluded.
Emilia's shoulders shuddered at his cruel words, the road to Astrid was filled with a lot of danger, and it is also where the remnants of Jurua worshipers were exiled.
They are definitely conspiring to get her killed.
"Your grace, Astrid is…" Saint said to quickly intercept, but Georgina cut him off hurriedly.
"That's what we will do."
"Prepare an official carriage to lead the Queen there as soon as possible," she declared.
Dalton stepped forward, unable to keep silent anymore.
"What are we going to explain to the King after we send the Queen off like this?" he asked.
"The King isn't here now," Georgina replied, her voice cutting through the hall.
"When the time comes, I will explain to him.we can't avoid any delay in this matter."
"We will follow what the minister of rites has said, and that's final," Georgina declared and everyone bowed in agreement except Emilia.
Georgina grinned at being able to successfully send Emilia away…forever. The plan was meticulous. Now all that is left is for her men to capture Emilia on her way to Astrid and kill her after getting what is needed.
"Send out the orders immediately and let…"
Georgina didn't get to finish her words when the door slammed open and Lucas stepped into the room with Thomas and Robert by his sides.
Georgina's heart thudded to a stop as she saw him and everyone else's gaze also shifted towards Lucas, and they gasped in fear.
The king standing in before their eyes right now doesn't look like one cursed or sick and that made every one of them shudder with fright.
Lucas's face cupped up in an enraged grim, and he matched forward with large steps that caused tremors in everyone's heart.
Emilia's heart somersaulted as he walked past her to the throne, and her knees weakened. But Lucas didn't spare her a glance and simply took his seat.
"Send the Queen to Astrid?" Lucas muttered, his sharp voice cutting through the silence.
Georgina rose to her feet, shifting to stand in front of Lucas and bowed.
"Your Majesty, how is your health?" she asked, trying to get past his question, but Lucas didn't give her the chance.
"I feel much better, but I didn't expect to wake up to see my Queen being sent off to Astrid because of a ridiculous rumor," he answered, and Georgina's face flattened.
"Since when do you pass judgment in my place, mother?" Lucas fired.
His voice sent Georgina's feet shaking and her stomach churned.
"Your health deteriorated suddenly, and I couldn't help but be worried as your mother."
"The Queen has also refused to reveal the truth to us," Georgina said.
"I was very worried about you, your Majesty."
"Worried?" Lucas scoffed and smirked.
"Since you are very concerned about me, mother, then why don't I allow you to go to Astrid and pray," he said and Georgina's eyes widened.
"That way I can truly feel your deep affection."
The officials looked at each other, stunned and quickly pleaded on Georgina's behalf.
"Please don't, your Majesty." they chorused.
"You all believed some nonsense passed around by the servants and concluded by sending the Queen off to some mountain for cleansing." Lucas yelled at his officials, and they grunted, lowering their heads in silence.
"If a woman's fate is strong enough to harm me, then how can I take on the fate of the entire kingdom and rule them? Answer me!" he went on furiously.