Chapter 77:
Makenna’s POV:
The maid’s confirmation caused a commotion among the onlookers.
Leonardo, astonished, turned to me. “You actually made this yourself? How are you so skilled at sewing? Where did you learn?”
I replied calmly, “Your Majesty, sewing is one of my passions.”
This concrete proof dispelled Leonardo’s doubts about me. Clearly, those who had accused me of theft were merely trying to defame me.
He faced the maid with scarlet hair. “What exactly is happening here?”
Terrified, the maid dropped to the floor, shaking. After hesitating and struggling to speak, she finally managed to say in a shaky voice, “There’s been a misunderstanding… I was wrong… Yes… I made a mistake.”
A mistake?
With a sneer, I challenged, “If anyone can make false accusations and cause chaos in front of His Majesty, what will become of their future?”
The maid thought she could escape the consequences of defaming me. She was sorely mistaken!
Leonardo’s fury escalated after hearing my retort. Fixing his cold stare on the maid, he demanded, “Speak the truth now!”
The maid’s shaking intensified. She looked around the hall nervously and then pointed her quivering finger at Hayley, who stood beside Elistina.
Hayley’s face drained of color.
Her legs gave way, and she collapsed to her knees, shaking her head fervently in denial. “No, Your Majesty, it wasn’t me. I had no involvement. She’s falsely accusing me.”
Her denial only caused the maid to panic further. “Hayley, you told me to tell the king that Makenna had stolen a dress. Why are you denying it?”
The confrontation escalated into a heated exchange, and I watched the unfolding drama with a derisive smile.
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Leonardo, now even more incensed, snapped, “She’s only a maid. Without someone’s influence, she wouldn’t dare cause such a disturbance in my presence. Hayley, how do you explain this?”
“Hayley,” she stammered. She was so overwhelmed with fear that she could barely speak. She bowed her head and huddled in silence, watching her kneel, but I felt no sympathy for her plight.
She had brought this upon herself.
Hayley’s guilty expression was all the confirmation needed to reveal her as the instigator. Leonardo was seething with anger. He was just about to decree her punishment when a haughty voice interrupted.
“Hold on for a second, Your Majesty.”
Kristina shot a fierce glare as she stepped forward to defend Hayley.
“Your Majesty,” she began, “Hayley is the inspector and has always been diligent in her duties. We shouldn’t rush to judgment based solely on the maid’s accusation. What do you think?”
Leonardo seemed to soften somewhat at Kristina’s intervention, pondering her words with serious consideration.
Seeing his hesitance, Kristina’s face lit up. The very next moment, she turned her attention toward me.
“Your Majesty, ever since Makenna Dunn arrived at the palace, she has caused nothing but trouble. None of the other women have behaved as she has. Doesn’t that raise a concern? Moreover, her own sister has claimed she acted indecently. How could a woman of such character be fit to bear the prince’s children?”
My heart sank. I raised my eyes to Leonardo.
Kristina’s accusations were baseless, but given her status as the future queen of Lycan, I feared Leonardo might be swayed by her words.
Just as I had expected, he glanced around the gathered crowd with a grave expression and inquired, “Who is Makenna’s younger sister?”
“Your Majesty, I am.” Jessica stepped forward promptly.
She gave me a smug look of victory and added, “Makenna has been indecent since we were young. If people are against her, she has only herself to blame.”
Her words made me tighten my hands into fists, and I fixed a frosty stare on her. She smirked back, certain of my downfall.
With Jessica’s confirmation, Leonardo seemed almost entirely convinced by Kristina’s words.
His solemn gaze returned to me. “Is there anything you wish to say?”
I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts for a response. But before I could speak, a calm voice interjected, “Father, perhaps you might consider my perspective Clayton offered me a reassuring smile and then faced his father.
“Since getting to know Makenna, I have found her to be a woman of outstanding personality and integrity, not at all like the distasteful character others have described.”
