Chapter Hundred-and-Fifty-Six
**Third Person POV**
The Council of Elders looked at the lady before them. She had a serious expression on her face and she was poised. She was a princess and she looked every bit like one. She also spoke like one; she was refined and her voice was coated in authority.
“Elders? Shall we begin?” she asked in a calm and reserved tone. There was no fear in her voice nor did she appear intimidated by the array of Elders that sat before her.
“Of course. Before we proceed, may we ask how the child is doing?” inquired Elder Davis. He could not believe that the young lady made him feel strangely uncomfortable. He felt somewhat unsure of himself as he sat in front of her.
“The young prince is doing very well. He kicks like a leader,” she was all smiles as she patted her now bulging baby bump. When she had arrived she had postponed meeting with the Elders for a full month stating that she needed to rest properly because of the baby. In the meantime, she had gathered enough intelligence to know how she would approach the Elders and make her case before them.
She had also made up her mind to do what was best in order to protect her child. She had decided after all that her father needed to go. She was going to deviously trick him into a position where he would be vulnerable to his enemies. She had also used the one month to strengthen her relationship with the cold princess who was now the Queen of her clan.
“As you well know, we are concerned about your father, George,” Elder Thaddeus had left out the man's title because it was now irrelevant. There was no way he could return as Alpha anymore.
“I urge you not to assume that I know; I do not. Since my return, I am learning about George's betrayal to the very land which I grew up loving,” said Irvette in an almost tearful tone. The Elders shifted uncomfortably in their seats. They could not tell if Irvette was putting on an act because she appeared so sincere.
“It must be hard to discover what a horrible man your father has been,” replied Elder Walker.
“It was very shocking and unpleasant but what broke my heart was his betrayal of his own people. To think that he would do such things for… for… Forgive me for words fail me,” she said in a cracked voice as though she was going to cry. The Elders exchanged eye contact; Princess Irvette was a true politician. They realised that she would have little problem wooing the people to herself.
“I want us to establish something new. You are saying that you had nothing to do with your father's mass rituals and the other nefarious crimes he committed?” inquired Elder Davis. They all watched her closely so that even at the slightest twitch of a muscle on her face they would see it. However, Princess Irvette remained poised and looked almost unaffected by the glaring accusation.
“No, at least not intentionally,” returned Princess Irvette.
“Not intentionally? Do you care to explain what you mean by that?” asked Elder Walker.
“I am my father's first daughter. It only made sense that he involved me in many of his activities. However, at the time I was oblivious to their implications. When he asked me to oversee the project that would lead to the mass killing of my own people I had no idea what would be the result. I do take responsibility in that I should have questioned how he did certain things,” came the Princess' response. Elder Davis sighed a little. It was like the Princess had the cheat code for this interrogation. It was like she knew how to answer every question. It almost felt pointless asking her anything.
“Why do you think you did not question the things he told you to do?” requested Elder Walker.
“If he had told me to take a gun and kill my people or take poison and poison the waters they would drink from, I would have questioned that directive and my good conscience would not have allowed it. However, he gave me no such instructions,” returned Irvette.
“But you did just that. Ten summers ago, you took some deadly flowers and put them in the river from which your people drink,” Elder Thaddeus was very direct in his accusation.
Princess Irvette on her part sniffled and allowed a tear to roll down her cheek. Then she blinked her eyes as though to stop more tears from soiling her cheek. She then used her handkerchief to wipe the drop of tear that had made its way down her cheek. Elder Davis could see the servants who stood in the room looking at their princess with an expression that resembled pity.
“The flowers were so pretty. They were so pretty and we were having the festival of the flowers. My father had told me that the flowers were meant to sweeten the water and heal the sick among the people. I had not known they would result in the plague,” her voice bore a note of sorrow as she spoke. The Elders were genuinely having a hard time deciphering if she was faking her emotions or not. They could usually tell when someone was lying to them but this time it was difficult to do so.
“Princess, you must have known about the villages he built. How he had been so insistent to align the houses so that they made the stars turn against the people,” said Elder Thaddeus ignoring her pitiful display of emotions.
“It was like the flowers… I cannot believe he limited my education so I was ignorant of his folly. Elders, you knew that my… that he drugged all our minds. Nobody could tell their right from their left. It is heartbreaking what he did to all of us,” she said, shaking her head from side to side as though in mourning.
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