The Council Tried to Bury a Living Prince
Chapter 06 - The Council Tried to Bury a Living Prince
The Royal Council gathered at noon inside the palace’s white chamber.
Marcus stood beneath the state seal and described Adrian’s condition as catastrophic. He said the prince had suffered severe neurological injury and could not perform constitutional duties.
He requested appointment as Lord Protector.
Queen Helena supported the motion.
She had not seen the recovered evidence. Marcus told her Sophie had conspired with political activists to discredit the family. Helena wanted stability more than explanation.
A council physician presented a report declaring Adrian unable to communicate.
Dr. Elias entered before the vote.
He carried a court order and current neurological evaluation. Adrian was conscious, responsive and capable of answering simple questions. Sedation orders intended to prevent communication had been blocked.
Marcus accused Elias of violating patient confidentiality.
Elias replied that the patient had authorized disclosure by eye signal in the presence of an independent judge.
Then Sophie entered wearing the same wedding gown, now covered by a dark coat.
The council objected immediately. She held no royal status because the vows remained unfinished.
Sophie placed Adrian’s signed declaration on the table.
It appointed her as his temporary legal representative if any member of the royal household attempted to declare him incapacitated during the week of the reform vote.
The signature had been witnessed three days before the wedding.
Marcus called it romantic manipulation.
Sophie opened the black ledger copy.
She read the first unauthorized loan aloud.
The room changed.
Council members who considered the poisoning a private family tragedy now saw their own names beside funds Marcus had moved without approval. Some had been deceived. Others had benefited.
Marcus attempted to end the session.
Detective Ortiz entered with warrants for financial records and palace security logs.
The vote was suspended.
Queen Helena confronted Sophie in the corridor.
“You are tearing apart the institution Adrian was born to protect.”
Sophie answered, “Someone used that institution to poison him in front of a cathedral.”
Helena said the evidence could be misunderstood.
Sophie looked at her.
“Then help us understand it. Do not ask me to bury it because the truth arrived wearing your family name.”
For the first time, Helena hesitated.
She had spent her life believing scandal was the greatest danger to monarchy.
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Now her eldest son stood accused of poisoning the younger one, and silence no longer looked like protection.
It looked like participation.
