Xavier sat atop the throne, wearing the king's crown for the first time in his life. It weighed his head down, and it took a great deal of strength to keep his posture straight.

"This man is a Callendan spy. He was sent to sabotage the safety Lady Zephrine and myself." He gestured to Rosario, who was kneeling before the thrones, and took Zephrine's hand in his. Their relationship was a little unsure, but after she had fought with Rhys, she ran to Xavier, seeking shelter. Zephrine avoided eye contact with him, though she was in the queen's throne.

Rosario had told Xavier everything while Zephrine went off to take a bath. Which brought them here, in a hearing to decide Rosario's fate.

"No, he's not! My Lord, Rosario is innocent!" Caius called from the sidelines, where he stood with Rhys.

Rosario closed his eyes, then looked back at Caius. "Sadly, Caius, I'm afraid I'm not."

Rhys grabbed his brother's shoulder in a comforting gesture. Caius was blinking back tears, and could barely stand upright.

Rosario continued repeating what he had told Xavier. "I came here with the intent of sending you to Fulke. Vana sent me, gave me lines to say, and I said them. I was supposed to gain the trust of one of the Geûlds, and I did, with Caius. I am truly, deeply, sorry for my actions, and I'm willing and ready to accept the punishment you see fit, my Lord."

Xavier sighed, giving Zephrine's hand a light squeeze before standing. "Rosario, this is an act of treason, no matter how much remorse you may feel for it. Unfortunately, we all know the punishment for such offense. Rosario, I regret to say, I hereby sentence you to death."

Caius fell to the floor, and Rhys and Zephrine ran over to help him.

"Take him to the dungeons." Xavier nodded to the knights, who bowed in response, taking Rosario by the arms and dragging him out of the Hall.

Zephrine waited until everyone left the room but Xavier, Caius, Rhys, and herself. "Death? Really, Xavier?"

"He committed treason. I didn't want to do that."

Zephrine held Caius close, wiping his tears. "Then you shouldn't have. You could have thought of a different punishment."

"You believe Rosario? Are you serious?"

"I don't know what to believe anymore, honestly." She shook her head. "God, is it too much to ask for just one day, no one's fighting, no one's injured, no one's afraid, it's just like it was before your birthday? Is that too much?"

"I want that, too. You know I do. But right now, that's just not possible, as much as we all wish it was."

"Can you leave us?" Zephrine looked at her brothers, then back to Xavier. "We need to work things out," she nodded to Rhys, "as a family."

"Of course," Xavier nodded, "Zephrine, I do love you."

"And I, you." Zephrine gave him a weak smile. At least she didn't hate him anymore.