Once Her Betrothed, Now Her Judge Chapter 06
[Gideon’s POV)
A hush fell over the city wall. In the next second, everyone dropped to their knees in unison. The empress herself was conducting an inspection, and all weapons were strictly forbidden.
Winona suddenly remembered that decree. Her hands shook, and the sword she held clattered to the ground. A secret wave of relief washed over her. If she’d swung even a second faster, she and all her people would’ve been branded with treason.
“Why would Her Majesty suddenly inspect the border?” she thought while straightening her clothes in a daze to welcome the empress.
Shane seemed to read her mind and reassured her, saying, “The frontier’s been peaceful for years now, and the Horindeans have gone quiet. Her Majesty must be here to commend you for your governance, Your Highness.
“If you wish to marry Gideon, you can always ask for an imperial edict. With a marriage personally bestowed by the empress, no one would dare gossip, even if he once had some affair with another.”
Heartache filled Winona’s face as she held him tight. “That wretch just killed our child, and you’re still speaking up for him. If he had any conscience at all, he would kneel and thank you.”
Then, she shot me a vicious glare. “He’s vicious enough to murder my flesh and blood, and he’s a jealous, wanton creature. How is he worthy of being my consort or even my kept man?
“I’ll still ask Her Majesty for an imperial edict, but it will be for your sake, Shane. I’ll ask her to make you an official. With that status, if Gideon ever mistreats you again, you can beat him to death, and no one will question it.
Shane shook his head nonchalantly, but the delight in his eyes was impossible to hide.
Soon, the imperial guards had taken full control of the city’s defenses.
Winona kneeled and bowed before the empress’ carriage. “Your Majesty, your personal visit to this remote border city is the greatest of honors. Since inheriting the title of county princess, I have never once dared to neglect my duties in governance. The frontier is now free of war, and officials and commoners live as one family.
“I dare not claim any credit. I only beg that you show mercy for my hardships and grant me one request. This man’s name is Shane Lodge. He has greatly assisted me in managing this city, and we are in love. Our devotion to each other is unwavering. Your Majesty, I boldly beg that you grant my beloved a minor official post…”
Her words faded into silence. No one responded. It wasn’t just that no one acknowledged her-the empress didn’t even look at her. She walked straight past Winona and strode quickly toward me.
When I forced my head up, revealing the blood smeared and crusted on it, the empress-who rarely showed emotion in public-suddenly flew into a rage.
“Who dared lay a hand on my most beloved general?” she barked.
She helped me up with the utmost care, using the sleeve of her golden robe to gently wipe the blood from my face. “You must not come to harm, General Ward. My kingdom still rests on your shoulders.”
Her expression was full of restrained anguish, yet the order that followed was ice-cold. “Those who dared harm a pillar of the court have committed an unforgivable crime. Anyone who showed disrespect to General Ward is to be executed.”
The world went still. Every gaze turned to me in stunned disbelief. The guards who had stripped off my armor and the army physician who’d examined me were shaking violently as they kneeled on the ground.
Naturally, the one whose face had gone the palest was Winona. “G-General?”
It wasn’t until the guards and the physician were dragged away to be executed that she suddenly screamed, “This is impossible! It’s fake! It has to be a lie!”
She pointed at me, her eyes blazing with indignation. “How could he possibly be a general? He was branded a criminal slave, and he’s just a roughneck grunt in the army. His greatest dream is to climb up the ladder by clinging to me.
“He’s nothing but one of my playthings. How can he, in just five years, rise higher than me and become a general above even my rank?”
She turned to me and screeched, “Gideon Ward, which whore have you been crawling into bed with that she’d go this far for you?”
Then, she looked at the empress, and a horrifying possibility seemed to dawn on her.
