In all of Valerya's life as an officer, she had been a part of enforcers, always making sure there was order. But never had she seen the wrath of the empire descend so resolutely upon a person. The empire was completely turned upside down, so much so that even if Vivien had gone to the ends of the earth, she would have been found.
A struggling Vivien was brought to the palace two days after the shooting. She had been hiding with an old couple she paid in level two, who eventually turned her in when they were offered more money. She was forced on her knees in front of Auguri Rita, the head Volyrts. Davys Marjan and the Prime Minister; Thakuri Mensen, sat on either side of her.
Auguri Rita was an ancient woman who could simply be described as cold. She looked like she did not have a drop of warm blood running through her veins. Her face was cold, her eyes were cold, and whenever she entered a room, the temperature seemed to drop a few degrees. The only time she managed to smile was when her sadistic punishments were being carried out in front of her. And even then, her smile was vicious and cruel.
"Vivien Claude. Wife of Quinn Claude, daughter of Wyre and Magendie Kess, mother of Roseline and Royce Claude. You kneel before the high council of the great empire. You stand accused of attempted murder of the President, Oreli Marjan, and the first son, Davys Marjan. How do you plead?" the old woman asked in an unforgiving voice.
"I didn't do anything," Vivien pleaded.
"How do you plead?" the woman repeated cruelly.
"Not guilty."
"The punishment for lying to the high council is one in which you would boil your tongue and eat it in front of the empire. I would like you to reconsider your answer because this is the last time I will ask you. How do you plead?"
Vivien's shoulder sagged in defeat as she responded, "I plead guilty to the attempted murder of the first son, but not guilty to the attempted murder of the president."
The old woman leaned back on her chair, and stroked the ring on her left hand, deep in thought. Valerya noted a young girl standing behind her. She knew her as Auguri Rita's daughter, Auguri Anna. They were truly related in cruelty and mercilessness, but that was where the resemblance ended. While the older Auguri was cold and unemotional, the younger one had a fiery temper and was prone to sadistic outbursts. Her flaming red hair matched her personality. She watched the proceedings with the hint of a smile, her childlike face showing her glee. Valerya shuddered to think of a time when the childlike woman would take over as the head Volyrt.
"In your words, Vivien Claude, what happened?" Auguri Rita asked.
Vivien turned to glare at Davys. So spiteful was her look that he was taken aback. "It's all because of him," she started.
He watched her closely as she continued, "I loved him. I loved him a lot. But he used and dumped me like yesterday's trash."
"So you planned to kill me and probably killed the president because I broke up with you?" Davys asked.
"I lost everything! My reputation! People now refer to me only as your slut. I was well respected and admired, but after you, my husband separated from me and took the children. I was shamed and ostracized. So yes, I tried to kill you," Vivien yelled at him.
She stood up and faced him squarely as she continued in a small voice, "But I swear to you, I did not try to kill the president. I'm being framed."
"On your knees!" Davys ordered as he stood up. Stupefied, Vivien sank back down.
"Davys please," she pleaded.
"As long as you live, don't ever call me by my given name. I am the first son of this Empire. The greatest empire the world has ever seen. A direct descendant of Eryes Marjan, a man whose blood flows in my veins. You tried to kill me? That is treason! Touching a single hair on my head is treason, and justifying it, even more so!
"I believe you are responsible for what happened to the president. Even if you're not, you already admitted to several attempts on my life. I, the future president, was afraid for my life, Vivien, and it was all because of you. That is treason, and the reward is public execution, not just for yourself but all the members of your family. You would be wiped from the history books like you never existed."
Valerya was stunned into silence. Never, since she had known Davys, had she seen him speak in that manner. It scared her a little. At this point, Vivien fell at his feet, as she pleaded for her life, "Please, first son, I am sorry. Take me, but spare my children."
Auguri Rita watched the spectacle, not saying a word. Since it wasn't an official Volyrts council, the president's son outranked her. And besides, he was delivering a much crueller punishment than she would have. She liked that part of him. Perhaps he would make a good husband for Anna after all.
Davys walked towards the pleading Vivien and crouched so that they were face-to-face. He took her face in his hands, and whispered, "You better pray nothing happens to the president. If not, you would watch your children being executed first, before you're placed in a pot of boiling water and cooked to death. Their heads would be decorations on your execution ground."
Vivien gulped but could hardly respond when a messenger came scurrying in. He got on his knees and addressed Davys. "The president, conqueror of all known land, Oreli Marjan has been declared brain dead. Long live the king," he concluded the statement as he bowed at Davys's feet.
There was a stunned silence which lasted for all but two seconds. Everyone, Auguri Rita included, got on their knees and faced Davys. "Long live the president," they chanted. As Valerya joined them, she knew their lives would never be the same. Davys was now the president. It was time for a new era.