LYDIA'S POV

　　I took a deep breath, stepping forward with my head held high. "My association with witches was a necessity for survival. Jason used witches to trap me in a hallucination, to kill me and cover his tracks. I had no choice but to fight fire with fire."

　　The crowd shifted, uneasy whispers turning into a dull roar. I could see the skepticism in their eyes, the doubt.

　　"You expect us to believe that?" another noble scoffed. "That you, our supposed queen, resorted to dark magic for self-defense?"

　　"I don't expect you to believe me blindly," I responded, my voice steady. "But I do expect you to see the truth. Jason's plan was to eliminate me and claim the throne for himself. He has been the one involved in dark magic and illegal dealings. All I did was survive his treachery."

　　Evan and Brandon stepped forward, standing beside me. "We witnessed everything," Evan declared. "Lydia was the victim, not the perpetrator. She fought to save us all."

　　"Your close association with the witches is a threat to all of us. Even if you used it to save yourself, who knows that you are not going to use them against all of us?" one noble interjected, his voice dripping with suspicion. "You joined us recently and your presence has brought nothing but bad luck. This kingdom lost its beloved king, the queen is suffering, and now your association with witches is hinting at something big."

　　"What if this was your plan all along?" Another noble asked, his eyes narrowed with distrust. Their accusations made my blood boil, but I took a deep breath, trying to maintain my composure.

　　"I understand your concerns," I said, my voice firm but calm. "But think about it—why would I, someone who fought to break free from Jason's grasp, now want to bring harm to the kingdom I've vowed to protect? I used the witches' help out of necessity, not ambition. My goal has always been to rid our kingdom of corruption and ensure a prosperous future for us all."

　　"And what if you're lying?" the first noble countered. "What if you're the real threat, hiding behind a facade of righteousness?"

　　"Jason had never acted this way. He is known to be the composed and calm member among the ministers and someone who always thinks for the betterment of the kingdom. If he did something like that, then there must be a reason. We trust him, but the odds are against you. So far, you have done nothing to gain our trust," another noble said, his voice firm and unyielding.

　　"You even threw Jason from his seat during our previous meeting. Even if you passed the assessment, your behavior and association with the witches is a threat to all of us. None of us will step inside the courtroom or the royal meeting room as long as you are there."

　　Their accusations and allegations were making my head spin. I was confused and scared, unsure of how to deal with this situation. Even Brandon and Evan didn't know how to handle it.

　　"Please," I began, my voice faltering. "I understand your loyalty to Jason, but you must see that he is not who you think he is. His calm demeanor was a facade to hide his true intentions."

　　A murmur of dissent rippled through the crowd, but I pressed on. "I know I haven't been here long, and I know my actions might seem rash, but everything I've done has been to protect this kingdom. Jason's actions have been manipulative and deceitful. He used dark magic and tried to eliminate me because he saw me as a threat to his power."

　　"I may have a solution to this situation," a new voice spoke amidst the chaos.

　　A figure stepped forward, and I recognized him instantly—Heckim, my partner from the first assessment.

　　What is he doing here? I thought, my heart racing with a mix of surprise and curiosity.

　　Heckim's presence seemed to command attention, and the crowd quieted down. "Lydia," he said, nodding at me. "I see you've been in quite a predicament. But I think I can help." He said with a hint of smile on his face.

　　"Heckim? What are you doing here?" I questioned, my confusion evident in my voice.

　　Everyone was still present, their eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before them.

　　"I'm glad I arrived at the right time, Lydia," Heckim responded, his tone dripping with pride. "But before I proceed, I'd like to introduce myself first."

　　I couldn't help but mentally roll my eyes at his arrogance. Why would anyone care about him right now? In this serious situation, his self-importance seemed wildly out of place.

　　"Greetings, everyone," he announced, his smile broad and confident. "I am Heckim, the future Alpha of West River Pack."

　　The collective annoyance was palpable. Nobles and commoners alike exchanged irritated glances. It was clear no one was interested in his grandstanding. Yet, despite their frustration, curiosity about his presence lingered in the air.

　　"Heckim, we are in a serious situation here," I said, trying to cut through the tension. "Why are you here?"

　　Heckim's demeanor shifted, becoming more serious. "I understand the urgency, Lydia. I didn't come here for formalities. I came because I have a proposal for you."

　　"A proposal? What kind of proposal?" I questioned.

　　"Lydia, with everyone witnessing this scene, I would like to confess that I am in love with you and want to marry you. When we first met, I had no idea that you were a royalty but even now, I don't care about your position all I care is about you. I truly love you and if you give me a chance, I can prove to you that I am a good person." He confessed and my mouth fell open.

　　This isn't what I was expecting.