The Conspiracy

Chapter One

The Conspiracy

Sophie’s POV

"Your highness! Your highness, please listen to me. You have to believe me; I didn't do this!" I pleaded, desperation filling my voice as I was forcefully dragged into the courtroom. My hands were stained with Mia's innocent blood, and in my other hand, I held the murderer's weapon. What had happened in the last few minutes and how I had reached this point, where I was being doubted, was still so hard for me to comprehend.

"Get on your knees!" one of the guards barked at me, but I just couldn't do it.

My hands trembled, and my whole body shook. I glanced to the side, my eyes catching Mia's lifeless body, and I wished she could just wake up and tell everyone that I didn't do this. I wished she could tell them that I didn't kill her.

"I said, get on your knees!" the guard shouted again and pushed me to the floor.

My knees collided with the cold tiled floor, and I found myself kneeling before the imposing figures of the Alpha King, the Luna Queen, and my beloved husband, Maxon. I looked up at Maxon, my eyes puffy and red from crying. "Please, Max, just believe me. Mia is like a sister to me. I would never kill her. She is as important to me as she is to you. Please, believe me, Max."

I had clung to a glimmer of hope that Maxon would maybe believe me and tell everyone that I wouldn't do such a thing. I had hoped that he would say I loved Mia as much as he loved her, but he remained silent, his gaze fixed on the lifeless body of his sister. My heart shattered into a million pieces, mingling with the memories I had with him and Mia when our love was still not approved by the Luna Queen and Alpha King.

The Luna Queen's voice echoed through the room, filled with accusation and sadness. "Stop lying, you pathetic human! I knew humans are good for nothing, but I took you in because my son was in love with you. But what did you do in return? You killed my only daughter and the Crown Princess of this kingdom. I will not spare you!"

I knew the Luna Queen had never liked me from the start, as she had always wanted Maxon to marry a Crown Princess so he would have all it takes to become the king. However, Maxon had given up the throne for our love.

I knew the Luna Queen would never believe me, so I turned to the Alpha King. "Your Highness, I am telling the truth. Please believe me. I would never do anything to harm or hurt anyone in this family. I didn't kill Mia," I defended myself, mustering all the courage I had left. I knew I was alone, even Maxon couldn't look into my eyes anymore. "Please, I am innocent. I only went into the room when I heard Mia screaming, and I didn't..."

"We found him, Your Highness," one of the guards rushed in and announced.

"Found who?" I murmured to myself silently. I still couldn't understand all that was going on.

"Bring him in. Bring the murderer in," the Luna Queen shouted, and a man was pulled in.

My heart leaped into my throat when I realized who the man was. He was the goldsmith who had been helping me make the gold I had planned to give Maxon for his birthday. I had been meeting him secretly for a month now, accompanied by my personal slave, as it was meant to be a surprise and I didn't want anyone to know about it yet. He had delivered the gold to me hours ago, and I still couldn't comprehend how he was being referred to as the murderer. My head began to spin as I tried to figure out what was really happening.

The Luna Queen jumped up from her seat and rushed to the man. She grabbed him by his collar and landed a slap on his face. "How dare you!" she shouted. "How dare you kill my daughter!"

"What!" I exclaimed, still unable to understand what was happening. If he was the murderer, then why was I being accused?

"I'm sorry, Your Highness," the goldsmith pleaded. "It really isn't my fault. It was her who planned the whole thing," he added and pointed in my direction.

I gasped and turned back slowly to see if there was someone behind me who he was pointing at. But no, he was pointing at me.

"She was the one who brought up the idea that we should kill Mia because she caught us," the goldsmith continued, while I was still dumbfounded and unable to move.

"Caught you? What do you mean?"

"S-So... Sophie and I have been in a relationship for some months now, and we have kept it a secret. She would come to meet me every week, and we made sure that no one found out about it. Until a few weeks ago when Mia found out about us. We were both scared that she would tell the king, so we decided to kill her and..."

"Lies!" I finally found my voice and spoke. "He is lying to you, Your Highness. Please don't believe him." I jumped up and moved toward them. "He is only lying to you. I didn't plan anything with this man. I was..."

"Sophie," Maxon's cold voice came at me. It didn't carry the love and affection as it always had. This time, it carried disgust, fury, and hatred. I broke into another round of tears as he moved closer to me, grabbing my hand and pulling me towards him. "I will ask you just three questions, Sophie, and I want sincere answers from you."

I quickly nodded my head, having no reason to lie to him because I had nothing to hide.

"Do you know this man?" he asked.

I nodded. "Y-Yes, I do."

"Have you been meeting him weekly, as he claimed?" he asked again, and I knew at that moment where the questions were leading. It would only prove that I was guilty.

"Yes," I responded, tears rolling down my eyes.

"Did you meet this man this morning?"

My shoulders shook as heartbreaking tears tore through me. "Yes, but it was for..."

"Enough!" he yelled and pushed me away.

As I hit the cold floor, pain surged through my body, matching the ache in my shattered heart. In that moment, I realized the depth of my despair—betrayed by their deaf ears and burdened by the absence of trust from the one person I loved most. He didn't seem to believe everything I had been saying, and the more I was questioned, the guiltier I appeared.

My mind raced through the possible ways to get myself out of this mess, but it seemed like I was never going to escape. I was already caught in the web of their doubts.

Suddenly, an idea came to my mind, and I jumped up from the floor.

I rushed to Maxon and held his hand. "Ask Avi," I murmured. "Avi and I have been going to see this man weekly, and she knows the reason for that." I added, sniffled, and found a glimmer of hope in this whole mess. "I would never cheat on you, Maxon. I did nothing with this man."

"Why should we ask anyone? Why should a slave interfere in our family business?" That was the Luna Queen.

I knew she would do anything to ensure I was tied to the accusations and had no way out. But Avi was the only one who could save me from this mess, and I would do anything to make them ask her.

"You have to ask Avi. She knows everything about this."

The Luna Queen spoke again. "She is just a slave, and..."

"It's fine, Mom," Maxon cut in and turned to me. "We will ask Avi, and if it turns out that you have been lying," he paused and shook his head, "I will never forgive you!" He turned to one of the guards. "Bring Avi to me."

I sighed. Avi was my only hope to get out of this. She was the only one who could tell everyone what really happened. A few moments later, Avi was brought into the throne room by the guards, and I immediately rushed to her.

I held her hand. "Avi, tell everyone what really happened. Tell them I had no sort of affair with that man right there. Please tell them the truth and..."

"Take her away from the slave. Don't let her instigate fear in her!" The Luna Queen shouted. "Let her speak, woman. Don't put words into her mouth!" she yelled.

"Avi..." That was all I could say. All my hope was on her. "The... truth."

Avi stared at me for minutes and shook her head. I watched as a tear escaped from her eyes, and I knew right at that moment what all this drama was. It was a conspiracy, and I was never going to get out of it. Someone had conspired against me, and it was well planned out. Someone was trying to break my love and the union I had with Maxon.

"Speak, Avi!" Maxon barked.

"Y... Your Highness," she started and looked at me, tears rolling down her eyes. "I... I have been going out weekly with Her Highness for the last month to see this man, and... and they've been in a relationship." She stopped and hung her head. "He also came to see her this morning, and I was told to stay outside as they discussed. I have..."

"Do you have evidence of all this?" Maxon asked.

I knew Maxon was finding it hard to believe all they were saying and all the accusations towards me, just as I was finding it difficult to believe.

"Y... Yes, I do," Avi said.

My eyes widened. What evidence was she talking about?

She brought out her phone and moved closer to Maxon. "This... this video."

Maxon took the phone from her and watched the video. I didn't know what was in the video, but I was sure it would only make me appear more guilty. Maxon growled and threw the phone against the wall. My whole body shook at the loud crash of the phone.

He lunged towards the man and grabbed him by the throat. "How dare you!" he growled. His claws emerged from his hands and dug into the man's neck. "How dare you do that with my wife! I will kill you!" He shouted and threw him to the floor.

He was about to pick him up from the floor when the Luna Queen ran to him and held him back. "Don't! Don't do that, Maxon. You shouldn't," she said, turning to one of the guards. "Take him away until I know what to do with him," she ordered. Then she turned Maxon to face her. "You have every right to be angry, but not only towards that man, but also towards this pathetic human girl who broke your trust and also killed your sister."

Maxon turned to me, and I froze on the spot. He closed the gap between us and grabbed my hand as he pulled me toward the large doors of the courtroom.

"I have loved and trusted you since I met you, Sophie. I loved you so much that I gave up the throne for you, but I guess it wasn't worth it," he sniffled. I could see tears forming in his eyes. "I can forgive you for cheating on me because I am still foolishly in love with you, but what about that? What about my sister?" He tightened his grip on me, his nails digging into my arm. But the pain I was feeling went far beyond the physical.

"P... Please believe me, Max. I didn't do this. They are all lying against me and..."

"Yes, Sophie, you're right. Everyone is lying against you. My mom, my dad, the guards who saw you in the process of killing my sister, the man you had an affair with, your personal slave who was always there with you, and the video was also fabricated. Is that what you're saying?"

"Yes, Max, that is the truth. This is all a conspiracy and..."

He laughed. "A conspiracy? Who would conspire against a good-for-nothing human like you!" He growled. "Mom warned me against you. She warned me against falling in love and mating with a human, but I didn't listen because I was foolishly in love with you. I have paid with the most precious thing in my life." He stopped and joined his hands. "Please leave with your fake love, deceit, and lies. Your presence irritates me!"

"Are you just going to let her go? She killed your sister, Maxon!" The Luna Queen shouted.

I shook my head and held Maxon's hand. He couldn't just push me away like that. I did nothing wrong. I didn't deserve this. I couldn't stay away from him. He was my life. "Maxon, please believe me. I love you so much. I would never cheat on you, and I can't even hurt a fly. How could I kill your sister? I am..."

"Get your hands off me, woman!" Maxon shouted and pushed me away.

Maxon's forceful push sent me crashing to the ground outside the courtroom. Pain coursed through my body, mirroring the anguish that gripped my heart. It felt as if a thousand shards of broken trust pierced my soul, leaving me breathless with the weight of disappointment and heartbreak.

I picked myself back up and rushed to him, crying, "Please believe me, Max. I didn't do this." I held his hand tightly. "I am innocent, Max. Please trust me."

He looked into my eyes, his emotionless gaze tearing my heart apart. "I have done nothing but love you since we got together, Sophie. I gave up everything for our love, but it wasn't worth it." He grabbed my hand firmly. "I break every ties I have with you today Sophie. Go and never return!"

His words pierced through me like pins, causing never-ending pain. "No!" I screamed. "No, Max, you can't do this to me!"

He pushed me towards the guards. "Throw her out of the palace. Don't let her take anything with her," he ordered, then turned to face me. "Don't ever show me your face again. The next time we cross paths, I will be sure to kill you!"

The guards held me firmly on both sides, their grip unyielding. I felt myself being forcefully pulled away from the grand palace gates. Desperation fueled my voice as I cried out, "Max! Please believe me. I did nothing wrong!" My pleas echoed through the air, but no help came. I was all alone.

Tears streamed down my face, mingling with the anguish in my voice. The weight of injustice bore down on me as I was expelled from the palace, the gates shutting behind me. I couldn't give up just like that.

Desperately, I clung to the cold iron bars, my fingers tightly gripping onto the slim hope of being heard. With a voice filled with pain, I called out to Maxon, my cries piercing through the silence, yearning for his help.

"Max! Please don't do this to me," I cried. "Max, please believe me. I have done nothing wrong." I whimpered, "Maxon! Maxon!"

But no response came. It was then, on the unforgiving ground, that resignation washed over me like a bitter tide. I sank down, my body crumpling, tears tearing through my being as the truth of my abandonment settled upon my shoulders. The shattered trust and heartache now consumed me, each tear a jagged reminder of my broken union.