Erythro: The Prophecy Unveiled

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd as two burly castle guards emerged from the shadows, their arms locked around a struggling figure. Julia, her face a mask of pain and defiance, was their captive. A dark bruise encircled her left eye, her lip was swollen and split, and her right cheek was visibly inflamed. Her desperate attempts to break free were futile against their iron grip. As they dragged her towards the center of the hall, Emily's eyes widened in shock, mirroring the horrified expressions of the other servants.

Trailing behind the guards was a woman of imposing stature, clad in a gown that shimmered with opulence. Her chin tilted upwards, a cruel smirk playing on her lips as she surveyed the terrified servants. Her hands were clasped in front of her as she took her place beside Sir Roland, her demeanor a stark contrast to the growing chaos in the hall.

"As you have all gathered here today," Sir Roland Claudio began, his voice carrying across the silent hall, "we are to witness the execution of a maid who has gravely violated the laws of this castle." A collective shudder ran through the servants as the weight of his words sank in. "However," he continued, a glimmer of something akin to compassion flickering in his eyes, "in the spirit of fairness, we shall conduct a trial before carrying out this unfortunate duty."

The woman standing beside him, Lady Westminster, bristled with impatience. "What trial are you speaking of?" she demanded, her voice sharp with contempt. "Execute her at once!" Sir Roland regarded her with a steady gaze. "Please, Lady Westminster," he replied calmly, "let us proceed in an orderly manner."

Emily's eyes widened in shock as she recognized the woman. 'She's Lord Oscar's wife,' she realized with a jolt. Her gaze met Julia's, and in that brief instant, she saw a desperate plea for help in the other girl's eyes. Startled, Emily lowered her head, avoiding Julia's pleading look." This maid is accused of stealing," Sir Roland announced, his voice carrying through the tense crowd. "A grave sin within these castle walls. Do we have a witness?" Julia's voice trembled as she protested, "I did not steal, I swear!" Her denial was met with a sharp slap from Lady Westminster.

"Don't speak when you're not addressed, servant!" the noblewoman snapped, her voice filled with contempt. Sir Roland's eyes flickered towards Lady Westminster before returning to the crowd. Just then, another woman, clearly of noble birth, raised her hand. "I saw her," she declared, her voice carrying over the murmur of the crowd. "Entering Lady and Lord Oscar's room." The servants gasped and murmured with each other.

Sir Roland's voice boomed through the hall, silencing the murmuring crowd. "Quiet!" he thundered, his eyes scanning the assembled people. A cold, hard edge crept into his tone as he issued a stark warning, "You will face the same fate as her if you speak without permission." The room fell into an oppressive silence, broken only by the rapid thumping of hearts. His gaze settled on Lady Westminster, granting her the floor. With a dramatic flourish, she stepped forward and planted herself at the center of attention.

"I discovered that my cherished necklace is missing," she began, her voice dripping with affected sorrow. "A priceless jewel, purchased during our last visit to the Verdantia Empire. And just moments ago, I saw that same necklace adorning this maid's neck!" Sir Roland's brow furrowed as he sought clarification. "Are you absolutely certain it is the same necklace, Lady Westminster?" Her response was swift and indignant. "Of course, I am certain! It is a unique piece, far beyond the means of this lowly creature. There can be no doubt she is a thief, a barbarian!" Her eyes narrowed as she leveled a venomous glare at the accused maid, her contempt palpable.

Sir Roland turned his attention to Julia, his voice stern. "What do you have to say about this accusation?" he demanded. Julia stood with her head bowed, her voice barely audible as she responded, "I did not steal it." Lady Westminster erupted in a furious roar, her accusation cutting through the air. But Sir Roland held up a hand, silencing her outburst. Julia took a deep breath before continuing, "It was given to me." Sir Roland pressed for more details. "And who gave you the necklace?"

A long moment of silence passed as Julia struggled to formulate a response. Emily, watching the unfolding drama, gripped the edge of her skirt tightly. Finally, Julia raised her head and scanned the crowd. Her gaze landed on Lord Oscar, who stood impassively beside Prince Sebastian. The memory of their earlier encounter flashed through her mind as she realized she was alone in this ordeal.

Oscar summoned her to his room and presented her with the necklace as a gift. He even assisted her in putting it on, complimenting her on how beautiful it looked. Julia knew with absolute certainty that Lady Westminster was lying. Lord Oscar had explicitly told her that he had purchased the necklace for her, not his wife.

"Lord Oscar," she whispered, her voice barely audible as she uttered his name. A collective gasp swept through the crowd as the revelation sank in. Lady Westminster's response was a bitter laugh, laced with disbelief. Sir Roland's voice cut through the tension. "You're saying Lord Oscar gave you this necklace?" Julia met his gaze with unwavering determination. "Yes," she confirmed, her voice stronger now. Her eyes sought out Lord Oscar, pleading silently for his support.

"Lord Oscar, is that true?" Sir Roland asked. Lord Oscar responded, "She's lying. Why would I give her a necklace? She was just a maid; we weren't even related. I don't know her. She was a liar and a thief, Sir Roland. I believe questioning is unnecessary. You know what to do. I'm just wasting my time here," he commented seriously.

Julia's eyes widened, and she screamed, "No, you promised! I thought you loved me. Please, please..." Her voice echoed through the hall. Oscar's gaze fell upon Julia, his expression a chilling blend of disdain and mockery. A cruel smirk played on his lips as he observed her growing despair. Emily, her head still lowered, found herself unable to meet Julia's gaze. A surge of pity washed over her, mixed with a bitter anger at her own helplessness. She felt paralyzed, incapable of taking any action to aid her fellow maid. Emily's hands tightened their grip on her skirt, her knuckles turning white as she wrestled with her emotions. Sarah, sensing her distress, gently inquired, "Are you alright?"

Emily's startled gaze locked onto Sarah's, and after a moment of hesitation, she nodded in response. Sir Roland Claudio, his expression grim, unsheathed his sword and aimed it at the maid's vulnerable neck. The guards forced Julia to her knees, her body trembling on the blood-stained floor. In a horrifying spectacle, Roland beheads the maid, her life ebbing away before the horrified onlookers. Theresa instinctively shielded Madeline's eyes from the gruesome scene, while Emily's widened in shock and disbelief. The severed head rolled to a stop, its lifeless eyes staring blankly.

A grotesque tableau unfolded as blood spattered everywhere, marring the floor and staining Sir Roland's hands and face. He demanded a handkerchief, wiping away the crimson evidence of his brutality. A cold command escaped Sir Roland's lips, "Clean this mess," directed at the butler. His gaze swept across the trembling servants. "Let this be a stark reminder to you all. Do you understand?" A chorus of "Yes, sir" echoed through the chamber, followed by a hasty retreat.

The majority of the staff fled the gruesome scene, leaving behind only a few brave souls to clean up the horrific aftermath. Emily, her heart pounding, caught sight of Duke William standing in a shadowy corner, his eyes locked onto hers. They stared at each other for a tense moment before Emily, her body trembling slightly, curtsied deeply and turned to leave the chamber. Russel, who had been standing to the side, noticed the brief exchange. His eyes filled with curiosity as he observed the maid walking away.

Roland walked away from the scene towards his room, but Prince Sebastian followed closely behind. The prince quickened his pace to catch up with his uncle's swift strides. Meeting him on the staircase, Sebastian asked, "Is it really necessary, Uncle? I thought you were in favor of fair treatment."

Roland looked at the prince with kind eyes and replied, "I'm not just kind, Your Highness. Being a royal means being fair and just. What I did was part of that duty, instilling the importance of obedience to the law in their minds. Because if we don't, chaos and rebellion will ensue. I believe this is what your father intended for you to learn. Kindness and goodness are admirable traits, but so is being just, as I demonstrated earlier."

"But do you really believe Lady Westminster? What if the maid was telling the truth? What if she didn't steal the necklace?" the prince asked with determination. "Your Highness, the maid has already disobeyed many rules, beyond the accusation of theft," his uncle responded firmly.

The prince looked up at his uncle with a questioning gaze. Roland sighed and elaborated, "She is a low-level maid, which means interacting with the nobles is not permitted, including entering their rooms. Her behavior has already breached the boundaries set for her position."

Prince Sebastian's eyes widened as he remembered his interactions with Madeline. A wave of dread washed over him as he thought, "Will Madeline face the same fate too?" His thoughts were interrupted when Roland began speaking.

"I know you have a maid friend," Roland said, making Sebastian's eyes widen even further in shock. "I won't tell anyone," Roland continued, his tone serious. "But you need to think carefully about what you should do next," he reminded his nephew before turning and walking away, leaving Sebastian to grapple with his troubled thoughts.

The young prince was left standing alone at the castle staircase. He was thinking about what he should do. Remembering the warning from his father and uncle, he enjoys Madeline company, but he also cared about her.