The Hero's Forsaken Princess
Chapter 24: Protecting the Princess

Chapter 24: Protecting the Princess

"STOP!!!" A powerful commanding voice was heard, catching everyone’s attention.

Wearing his full armor gear, Alaric made a grand entrance to the royal courtyard. He possessed a dominant aura and demeanor as he made his way to the flogging platform.

The executioner subconsciously stepped back upon meeting Alaric’s blazing eyes. His cold sharp gaze fell on the cane that was still hanging in the air. He pursed his lips upon seeing Eve lying facing down in her vulnerable state.

Alaric approached them with urgency, his fingers holding his sword’s grip tightly.

"Don’t touch her!" his tone carried a deathly threat as though he were ready to wield his sword at any moment.

Intimidated by his overbearing presence, the executioner moved away from Eve, dropping the cane from his hand.

The onlookers started murmuring at each other while watching Alaric in puzzlement.

"What is General Alaric doing here?"

"Why did he stop the executioner from punishing his unfaithful wife?"

"If I were him, I wouldn’t intervene. That ugly princess deserves her punishment."

The whispering in the courtyard stopped when the King spoke up.

"General Alaric, don’t interrupt the executioner. We are all here to punish Princess Evelina for her misconduct."

Eve was also surprised at Alaric’s sudden arrival. Of all the people out there, she never expected him to interrupt her punishment.

Alaric paid respect to Queen Amara and King Solomon first before he gave his response.

"Your Majesty, forgive me, but I’m here to clear Princess Evelina’s name."

Queen Amara narrowed her eyes upon hearing that. She clenched her fists in annoyance, wondering how Alaric would prove Eve’s innocence.

Queen Amara’s servant simply approached her and whispered something, "My queen, I just received a report from our trusted guards. Lyle Owen has gone missing. He disappeared from the Prison Fortress."

Queen Amara’s eyes widened in disbelief. The news hit her like a punch to the gut, her heart pounding in uneasiness.

’How could that happen?’ She shifted her gaze on Alaric, gritting her teeth.

’Don’t tell me Alaric has something to do with his disappearance?’ Queen Amara had a nagging feeling about this.

It was not long before the missing person suddenly showed up in the royal courtyard. He was being escorted by Alaric’s knight commander, Caleb.

"My King, let’s listen to what this man is going to say. He has something to confess," Alaric said, presenting Lyle Owen, the man who claimed to be Eve’s lover.

As Caleb pushed Owen to the center of the royal courtyard, Alaric walked toward Princess Eve, assisting her to stand up. Noticing her thin dress, Alaric removed his Knight’s robe, wrapping it around Eve’s body.

Princess Thalia clenched her jaw upon witnessing Alaric’s thoughtful gesture toward Eve. She was fuming in rage and jealousy.

Meanwhile, Eve was still confused by Alaric’s behavior. She just silently watched him, trying to discern his true intentions.

’Why is he doing this? For what purpose? He doesn’t have any responsibility to help me. In the first place, I am here, subject to punishment because of him and Queen Amara.’

"He had already given his statement. We’ve already heard his confession. There is no need to ask him again." Queen Amara said in her firm voice, trying to prevent Lyle Owen from speaking the truth. She didn’t know if Lyle disclosed something to Alaric.

’I’ll give him an ugly death if he dares to betray me and drag down my name in this.’ Queen Amara thought to herself, glaring daggers at the prisoner.

Lyle Owen remained looking at the ground, his body sweating profusely in both fear and nervousness. He didn’t dare look in Queen Amara’s direction.

"Your Majesty, I investigated this matter personally because of my wife’s involvement in this scandal. I just did what I had to do. I need to find out the truth."

Eve darted her gaze back and forth between Alaric and Queen Amara with skepticism.

’What sort of show are they putting on? Why are they pretending to argue? They are in this together. Is he doing this because my assassination failed? Is he worried about me revealing his secret?’ She pondered to herself as she clutched Alaric’s robe tightly.

"My King, let’s not waste our time here." Queen Amara turned to King Solomon in her pleading eyes.

She had to seek help from her husband, hoping he would side with her. She was afraid that Owen would reveal her involvement in this scheme.

King Solomon was put in a dilemma. He didn’t know whether he should listen to his queen or to Alaric, the kingdom’s hero.

Before King Solomon could decide, Alaric sank to one knee before him, placing his right fist over his heart while his left hand rested on the hilt of his sword. Bowing his head, he spoke to the king with respect.

"My King, yesterday, the reason I requested you to delay the execution of my wife’s punishment was because I needed time to further investigate and confirm the truth. Now, I returned with an answer. Please, hear me out. Let me share what I’ve discovered while investigating this matter."

Eve had mixed emotions as she observed Alaric, begging the king so that he could prove her innocence.

’Why? Why are you doing this? Is this part of your deception and scheme?’ She remained suspicious of her husband’s motive.

Meanwhile, King Solomon was left with no choice. Since he bore the title of the Kingdom’s Hero, the king couldn’t possibly ignore Alaric’s request.

"So what have you found out?" King Solomon asked him with intrigue.

Before Alaric could say a word, someone interrupted from behind. It was Gavin.

"Your Majesty, that guy is framing Princess Evelina. He made a false claim of being Princess Evelina’s lover. He is not her lover." Gavin spoke up, stealing the spotlight from Alaric. Then he glanced at Eve meaningfully as if telling her– ’I’m here fulfilling the end of our deal.’

Gavin shifted his gaze back to the prisoner, pointing his finger at Lyle. "That guy is a gambling addict known as the ’Luckless’ Lyle of the House of Fortune. He always stays in the house of fortune while the princess is suffering from poor health. She can’t even leave the palace. How would she meet this guy? It doesn’t make sense at all."

The next words Gavin uttered made Queen Amara’s face turn pale, her hands shaking into tight fists.

"Someone paid him to lie!" Gavin declared.

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