“Vanessa Alfen, are you aware for the reasons of your summoning?” The Chancellor assumed a monotonous voice like those often heard in court hearings.

“Yes.” Vanessa stared only at the speaker; the Chancellor. She was doing her best to ignore the vile gazes of those who were impatiently waiting for her downfall.

“The charges being levelled against you is incompetence. Will you defend against these charges?”

“Yes.”

There was an up-roar in the court room. None of the nobles expected she would defend her position; she clearly messed up. You are competent when you performed your duties and succeed but you are considered incompetent if you fail. This was an open and shut case; there was nothing to debate about in this.

“Then I leave the floor to you. Please share with us, a detailed account of everything from the start to the end.”

“I understand. As you are all aware our bitter feud with the Alliance has continued for nearly four hundred years perhaps some of you will claim that it has lasted much before that.”

“Aye!” Several voices rang out in the room together.

“Nearly one hundred years ago, Feladonia had nearly been reduced to ashes during the Third Great War with the Alliance. Although, we won the war, it was an unprecedented defeat for the pride of the Empire. In light of this defeat, the Erito forces were set up …”

“Vanessa Alfen, with all due respect to your story, we all are well educated and don’t require a lecture in history.” A noble cried out.

“Many thanks for your suggestion, Lord Vallamore, I will keep that in mind. The point I wanted to make with my history lecture was that Feladonia previously fell because our armies had been infiltrated by spies. The Erito forces created for the sole purpose to weed out these spies or control the flow of information to the enemy to our advantage. This was exactly what we were doing twenty and one days ago.

The master mind and spy responsible for our previous fall had been identified. Some of you may have known him as James Adler, one of the highest ranking officers in his …”

Before she could complete her sentence, the King of Feladonia, cried out, “What rubbish! As the King of Feladonia, I order you to speak no further!”

Vanessa immediately stopped talking. She expected this reaction from the King and was completely prepared for it.

“Young lady! Do you know whose name you have uttered?” The King asked angrily.

“I am fully aware, your highness.” Vanessa spoke with a bow.

“And are you aware of the consequences of uttering such blasphemy?” The King was angry. He was angry beyond the comprehension of all present.

“There would be consequences if it was blasphemy however what I speak is the truth.” Vanessa continued to bow slightly as she spoke. She was nervous and scared but wouldn't be unnerved even if it meant to speak against the King.

As Vanessa and the King exchanged words, the Council grew confused. Who was or is this James Adler? Nobles are like cats or monkeys; once their curiosity has been aroused it is very difficult to stop them from wanting to know more. There were immediate calls from all quarters to release more details of James Adler.

Finally a council member spoke with typical flattery laid in his voice, “My Lord, King of Feladonia, not all of us is as knowledgeable as you are. We too must know the details of this James Adler and let us together decide whether this person is a spy or not. Even if he is a good friend of yours we will judge cautiously for words from the House of Alfen are often doused with lies.”

“No this matter need not be spoken any further.” The King of Feladonida finally invoked his authority, the authority to overrule the council.

This wasn’t going to go down too well with the Council. Vanessa had now become a secondary interest in the room. No one cared about usurping her from her position right now; right now their was a bigger fish to catch…the King of Feladonia. What if the King was a traitor? The possibility was low but in the matters of political gain, the nobles never hesitate.

“My King! Such behaviour only speaks against you! I advise to reconsider your decision!”

“Are you suspecting me of treason?” the King asked in an exceedingly threatening manner.

The Council members lost their nerve; none of them present here held the stature to challenge the king. If there had been even a single House Head present, then may be…but there were none.

There were several sighs of relief seeing the King’s demeanour. It wasn’t just the King but several others knew that name quite well. There was sweat trickling down their temples. The position that the King had taken up suited them quite favourably. However their relief was not to last.

“Well, I insist that you share the details with us, officer Vanessa.” The young mysterious man finally spoke up. So far he lay quiet and uninterested in the entire proceedings however seeing the young King of Feladonia riled up got him curious as well. “Please illuminate the minds of our council members. Who is this James Adler?”