Grace felt like she couldn’t breathe. There was no doubt in her mind that it had been Cajetan who had set the horse on the rampage.

How else could one explain the horse’s trampling of Velenus’ chest at the very moment of his fall?

Others might call it a terrible coincidence, but Grace was certain it was no accident. Cajetan had orchestrated it all.

“Velenus was murdered! By his brother!”

“Grace!”

The queen’s voice, thick with grief, rose sharply.

“How many times must I tell you, it was an accident? A terrible, tragic accident.”

“If Velenus didn’t know how to ride, he wouldn’t have gone hunting, would he? He’s been riding horses all his life, and you expect me to believe that it suddenly went wild and threw him?”

The room fell into a heavy silence, weighed down by grief, except for Grace’s desperate cries that broke the silence.

“It was all Cajetan’s doing!”

She cried, her voice filled with rage and despair, unwilling to let her accusations go unheard.

No one responded to her cries. Her words seemed to fall into a void, only to be met with silence. Grace wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks with the back of her hand, her breath ragged.

Cajetan stood before her, his face the picture of sorrow – more sorrowful than anyone else in the room.

“I understand why you think that, sister-in-law.”

“You killed him. Admit it! Please, just tell the truth!”

Grace grabbed his collar, her strength draining away as she sank to the floor.

Cajetan knelt with her, his hands caressing her back with the same tenderness Velenus had once shown her.

“If only I hadn’t suggested we go hunting, this wouldn’t have happened to my brother.”

“You planned it all! You killed my husband – your own brother!”

“I’m sorry, sister-in-law.”

Cajetan whispered, lowering his eyes. Tears welled in his eyes and spilled over, a drop landing on Grace’s forehead like a cruel mockery of his emotions.

“Don’t pretend to be sad, you murderer.”

Grace hissed, her whole body shaking with rage.

Why didn’t anyone believe her? Why did no one see him for what he really was?

“Murderer!”

Her voice cracked with desperation, but once again the only response was silence.

“I understand the need to blame someone. I really do, sister-in-law.”

Cajetan’s expression darkened as he reached out, his hand grabbing her elbow as if to help her up. Grace shoved his hand away violently.

“Don’t touch me!”

Thrown off balance by her own strength, she stumbled backwards and collapsed to the floor. Her gaze shifted to her husband’s pale face, now devoid of any trace of life.

When they had first rushed him in, there had been a faint flush in his cheeks. Now there was only the cold certainty of death.

“No matter what anyone says, Velenus was killed by you…”

“Enough!”

The queen’s voice cut sharply through the air, trembling with grief.

“Mother, please. Believe me.”

Grace pleaded, crawling towards the queen, clutching the hem of her dress.

“It’s true. He’s the one who did this. This man even r*ped me…”

The loud crack of a slap echoed through the room, her head snapping to the side. Grace blinked slowly, stunned.

“How could you… say such things… in a place like this!”

The queen exclaimed, her voice trembling with disbelief.

“Cajetan forced himself on me several times…”

Another slap cut her off, harder than the first. The sharp sting spread across her cheek and silence fell over the room.

Breathing heavily, Grace supported herself on the floor with trembling hands. Tears streamed down her face, but no one spoke. She looked at Cajetan, but he remained by Velenus’ body, wearing the mask of a grieving brother.

Grace pressed her hand to her burning cheek, the heat rising as humiliation and despair flooded her chest. No one would listen. No one would believe her. And Cajetan’s facade of grief was impenetrable.

As Grace looked around, she noticed that everyone was staring at her. No one was pointing an accusing finger, but she could feel their eyes on her as if she were a madwoman.

“I, I…”

Her breath caught in her throat and she gasped for air, clutching her chest as if to force the air back into her lungs. Then Cajetan walked towards her with long, purposeful strides.

“Sister-in-law, I understand that you’re grieving for my brother. But please do not dishonour his memory.”

Grace’s lips moved silently, trying to form words. Who had dishonoured Velenus more than Cajetan himself?

To hear such words from him now, with Velenus’ lifeless body lying just feet away, made her want to scream. She wished she could rip away his facade and show everyone the monster beneath.

Cajetan bent down and pulled her to her feet, his grip tight.

“Take her to her room.”

It wasn’t an act of kindness – it felt like an arrest. Two knights grabbed her arms, practically dragging her out of the mournful hall.

“Mother! Please, I beg you, believe me! Father! He’s a murderer!”

Her voice echoed as she was pulled away, her cries met with silence. Through the crack of the closing door, she caught a glimpse of Cajetan embracing the queen, his face a mask of grief.

It was a frighteningly perfect performance. His expression showed no cracks, his tears flowed as if they were real.

It’s all a lie. I don’t believe any of it.

Her heart burned with rage and despair, but no one saw the truth. No one believed her. And now she was alone.

Grace bit her lip hard, almost drawing blood. The door slammed behind her.

“Let me go!”

“We will escort you to your room, my lady.”

“I can go on my own!”

“We will escort you.”

The knight repeated like a parrot. No matter how much she resisted, they dragged her to her room.

Once inside, she was shoved roughly, causing her to stumble and fall to her knees. Behind her, the door slammed shut with a resounding bang.

The sound of metal clanking followed. Were they locking her in?

She scrambled to her feet and grabbed the handle, shaking it frantically.

The door only rattled in response, refusing to budge.

“I’m not crazy!”

No answer came. Only silence greeted her.

***

Grace stared out of the window. A procession of nobles carrying white flowers passed by, but she was forbidden to attend her own husband’s funeral.

The Queen and the King had visited her several times. Each time, Grace begged and pleaded, trying to convince them that it was Cajetan who had killed Velenus, that he had r*ped her repeatedly.

All she received in return were cold, dismissive looks. The queen, overwhelmed with grief for one son, lashed out at Grace for accusing her of the other.

She struck Grace again, saying, “How can you slander a child when I’ve just lost another?”

“I am not crazy.”

There was a bruise on her cheek where the Queen had struck her. The King, though he admonished his wife for the violence, showed no sympathy for Grace. His eyes, filled with contempt, betrayed his true feelings.