The Prince is Guilty, but the Punishment Won't Make Sense

"Doesn't tell me why you had to sock me." That was what Rodnir said, but Kanaru heard something else. He angrily glared at the king's ward, who was not happy with him, either. Kanaru answered, "It's because you paraded yourself as someone who cared so much about others that you are willing to share what you have with those who need it as long as you can make things work.

"We traveled together for a long time, and what I saw just earlier didn't sound like you were awake." Kanaru hissed a bit. "Leave it be because he's just going to be released when His Majesty says so? You have to find the crown first because other concubines will steal it from Eann's room? 

"What's wrong with you?"

Rodnir opened his mouth to complain, but he noticed the glare Fenris gave him. The king's ward only closed his mouth and looked away. He just asked as if he was allowed to participate in the cross-examination, "So, you hit me because you were unhappy with me?"

Kanaru shook his head. "No, I didn't. I could have argued with you all day instead. Violence is something I shouldn't be so ready to resort to as a concubine. However, I figure Eann will suffer in solitary. I feel like I'm betraying him if he finds out I have the crown all along and that he didn't need to stay there. I can't free him then and there, so I just choose to ride the storm with him.

"I did ask you for a favor, didn't I? I asked you to put our cells next to each other's, so I can still talk to Ean when he calms down." Kanaru would pout if he could, but this was a court hearing. "I hit His Grace, so I can sit in solitary with Eann."

"Kanaru, that was so dangerous…" Eann whispered. He didn't know if he should be happy about the sudden deep devotion or be scared of what Kanaru was capable of. This bird prince didn't look like he could do anything, but the truth was that there was nothing Kanaru would not do.

"Melaka…" Fenris spoke, bringing everyone's attention to him. He even collected their gazes as he walked back to his throne. Sierra picked up the lamp to clear the seat for the king. Fenris sat down and leaned to the side. "The crown wasn't stolen, so there was no grand larceny. I order for Eann Glasswind's release. He still has to attend to the garden tonight."

The black-haired maiden nodded. "The prosecution has decided. Eann Glasswind will not earn any sanctions regarding the matter."

Fenris raised a hand, cuing Melaka that he was not done yet. "Ushka Markovan, you wrongfully accused an innocent concubine of stealing an item I misplaced. You jumped to conclusions and resorted to an arrest without proof. Do I need to remind you that you will be sanctioned for such actions?"

"…no, Your Majesty."

"Good. Your deductions will be given to Eann Glasswind as fees for the damages you have done." Fenris dropped the smile as if enforcing his orders. "After settling the sanctions and damage fees, will I hear anything about this ever again?"

Eann flinched as those red eyes bored into him. The earlier smiling and comforting king seemingly morphed into a grand judge of life and death right in front of him. It was good that Kanaru nudged at him and whispered the correct way to answer.

He responded, "Never again will this issue be brought to light, Your Majesty!"

Ushka echoed him with reluctance: "Never again will this issue be brought to light, Your Majesty."

The smile returned to the king's face. He then brought his hand down. "You two are dismissed now, but do exercise silence about the particulars of the case. You are barred from sharing Kanaru's narration of the events from last night. However, you may tell your friends that you are innocent and the inner court made another mistake."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Eann bowed down, but he didn't stay down long. He kept his posture straight, but his eyes were on the steps as if Fenris's reflection was a good enough view for him.

"Your Majesty, what about the other case?" Melaka asked as she noted the proceedings. "Kanaru Burdett admitted to hitting His Grace as a means to his agenda. Based on your previous rulings, he must be severely punished by this court."

Fenris hummed, taking in Kanaru's brave demeanor under the gaze of a judge. He should be punishing the bird prince, but Fenris didn't want to lift a finger. Either direction might bring an adverse effect. He should just pick the one with the least damage. 

The king turned to Vulcan. "Royal Adviser, what do you recommend for this case?"

Instead of a servile tone, Vulcan only pulled on a corner of his lips. "What do I recommend? What does His Majesty allow me to do against someone he entrusted to keep his crown and a gift from another concubine? Had the inner court not made a fuss, he would simply return the next day to claim his items. He even opted for recusal regarding the sentence.

"The prince is guilty, but deductions will be nonsensical, given His Majesty's character." Vulcan wanted to sigh or smack the king. He couldn't do either in the presence of the ministers, however. "Kanaru Burdett, there's a problem with your temperance as a servant of His Majesty and His Grace. I'm ordering you to learn under the guidance of Sierra Bourbonia for a month."

"…very well. I don't find the sentence severe." Fenris almost hissed. Vulcan knew Sierra shouldn't meet Fenris alone, and Rodnir didn't want to be seen around Kanaru. In the same way, Fenris frolicked around the bird, while Rodnir always hoped to be in the maiden's presence. 

To punish the mischievous pair of unicorns, Vulcan stuck the conquests together. How disgruntling.

Sierra didn't know why Kanaru was let off lightly. They even pushed him toward her for her to teach. Were they hoping she could train someone to be the person she dreamed to be? Who wasn't aware that the talks between Bourbonia and Middlemist suddenly fell apart? Did Fenris not want her anymore because of this little bird? They didn't even know each other for more than a day.

However, she couldn't act on her vile thoughts. She was a saintess kelpie, and that was what she usually was. She knew that jealousy was ugly—and how ugly it turned her into. With a smile, she just did a curtsy to accept the delegation. "I will do my best to guide him, Royal Adviser, Your Majesty."

…

Kanaru couldn't return to attend to the garden tonight. He found himself walking behind Sierra and Melaka on their way to the royal library. The air circulating Sierra was so full of discomfort that Kanaru wanted to bolt. 

However, Melaka still laughed. "I've never seen anyone who took the king's attention and mercy the way you did, Kanaru. Did Rodnir prep you for an inner court position?"