“Everyone, today we are gathered here to judge Luna Aurora for committing adultery with her guard Steven.”
…What?!
Aurora snapped her head up in disbelief, glaring at the blonde, beautiful woman sitting on the throne with a smug smile on her face.
That was Chloe, her husband Alpha Damien’s beloved mistress.
This morning, while Damien was out patrolling the borders, Chloe ordered soldiers to escort her to this courtroom.
She walked in and found the room full of ministers and servants and maids.
Aurora knew that nothing good was going to happen at the courthouse today…But adultery?!
Chloe was crazy framing her for that! Nobody was going to believe it!
“Nonsense!” Aurora snapped, shocked and angry. “I know you want to replace me as Luna, but you need to find a better excuse! Steven was assigned to me by Alpha Damien as my guard. We are innocent! The entire packhouse can testify for me!"
“Oh really? Like whom?” Chloe giggled, her voice sweet yet mocking.
Aurora motioned her maid Jenny to step forward, “Jenny, you have been my maid for nearly 5 years. So tell them—have I ever been unfaithful to Alpha Damien?!”
Jenny cautiously moved forward, her head bowed and eyes darting nervously.
“…Luna Aurora…is indeed cheating on the Alpha…” she whispered.
What the hell?
Aurora widened her eyes at Jenny, the cold sting of betrayal piercing through her whole body.
There was an upsurge of noise among the ministers and attendants. They whispered amongst themselves, all eyes fixed on them.
Aurora grabbed Jenny’s hand, breathing fast, “What are you talking about? You know that I have never—”
Jenny dropped to her knees , tears pouring out of her eyes:
"I... I saw them... in Steven’s room yesterday. Steven was half-naked…and they were touching each other…I wanted to expose them but Luna Aurora threatened me with my life…Miss Chloe! Please protect me!"
“Of course. You are a brave girl, Jenny.” Chloe smiled.
Aurora felt dizzy with disbelief.
She couldn't believe her most trusted maid would betray her. Jenny was like a sister to her. They supported each other in this lonely packhouse. Why would Jenny betray her?!
"Lies…LIAR!" She cried, trembling out of anger. “I didn’t—”
Chloe smirked, triumph gleaming in her eyes, "Lie? Were you in Steven’s room yesterday, Luna Aurora?”
“Yes! But…”
But she only went to Steven’s room to check on him!
Steven was injured during a patrol not long ago. Yesterday, she went to see if Steven had recovered and changed his bandages for him, which was why he was half-naked.
But nothing weird happened between them!
"I have evidence to prove the adultery," said Jenny slyly. She pulled out a black lingerie from her poekcet and showed it to evveryone. "A cleaning lady found this in Steven's room. It belongs to Luna Aurora! It still carries her scent!"
"Unbelievable!" one of the ministers gasped, "You should be ashamed!"
Aurora stared at that black lingerie, panick-striken. She didn't know how this ended up in Steven's room. Somebody must have put it there to frame her.
She tried to say something to defend herself but Chloe didn’t give her a chance.
“And not just Jenny, there are others who can testify!" Chloe smiled.
She gestured for a few servants to step forward. They exchanged glances but ultimately nodded:
"We saw it too, Luna with Steven..."
“Yeah I heard them giggling in Steven’s room yesterday…They sounded intimate…”
“They have been doing this for a while…”
Aurora staggered back.
…All these people had been threatened or bribed by Chloe!
"I want to see Steven!" Aurora cried, tears of anger shining in her eyes, “Bring Steven out and we will straighten the whole thing out in front of everyone.”
Steven was like a big brother to her, always looking out for her. Aurora was sure that Steven would tell everyone the truth and clear her name!
“Already then.”
Chloe snickered. Weirdly, she didn’t look afraid or panicked at all
“Luna Aurora wants to see Steven. Then bring Steven to her!” she ordered the soldiers.
Aurora eyed her suspiciously.
Why didn’t she look afraid?
Did she bribe Steven as well?
No, it couldn’t be.
Steven would never betray her.
Moments later, the soldiers came into the courtroom. But they didn’t have Steven with them but were instead carrying a stretcher covered with white cloth.
Aurora's heart plummeted.
"What... what is this?" her voice trembled, disbelief in her eyes.
Chloe stood up, wearing a smug smile. "Oh, Luna Aurora, it seems you don't know yet. Steven committed suicide out of guilt this morning!"
The courtroom erupted in chaos, everyone's eyes fixed on the stretcher.
Aurora felt dizzy, grief almost knocking her down.
Steven was…DIED?!
But he couldn't have committed suicide out of guilt because he was innocent!
So there was left with only one explanation—Chloe killed Steven to frame her!
To make sure that she lost her only witness!
Yesterday, when she met Steven, he was fine, even comforting her, saying that Alpha Damien would eventually understand her love and come around.
But today, Steven's body lay here…cold and lifeless…
He was dead... because of her!
“YOU KILLED HIM!!!”
Aurora jerked around and roared at Chloe, her eyes bloodshot because of grief and rage, “He didn’t do anything! He was kind and loyal! You killed an innocent person Chloe!”
Chloe didn’t show any sigh of nervous. She giggled, “I killed him? That is crazy talk. He killed himself. Because he was afraid of the punishment he might face when everyone finds out about your affair. He is dead because of you.”
“No…” Auroar sobbed, shaking her head. "Please stop...don't do this..."
“I know you are horny because Damien hasn’t slept with you for a while. But cheating with a guard? That’s low. Even for you.”
"SOPT IT!" Aurora's voice trembled, tears filling her eyes. "Elders, ministers, you can see that she is a murderer, right? Help me! Help me put her into prison!"
Her voice echoed in the courtroom.
Yet nobody made a move.
Almost every minister, servant and soldier was looking at Chloe instead, waiting for Chloe’s command.
Aurora's body turned cold.
For all these years, she had trying to be the perfect Luna, managing every little details in this packhouse. She even used her own saving to pay the servant and the maid's salaries. She once passed out in the middle of a grand ceremony becuase she was too tired.
Yet, nobody appreciated her effort.
All the staffs and ministers knew that Chloe was Damien's love one. So they all chose Chloe's side, and turned their backs on her. Even though she was one who kept this packhouse up and running.
Chloe burst out laughing abruptly:
"Luna Aurora, are you still denying the facts? Steven's body is here. And I have a large crowd of witnesses. What do you have?"
…Nothing.
She had nothing to prove her innocence.
Tears streamed down Aurora's cheeks as she let out a desperate cry, "All those evidence are made up! Chloe, you will be paying for Steven's death! Elders, ministers, guards, I am begging you. Stop this woman—"
BANG!
The doors to the courtroom burst open, creating a huge noise.
A tall, handsome figure appeared in the doorway—
Alpha Damien.
“Who dares to throw Chloe into prison?” he asked icily.
