<h4>Chapter 656: Pleas for The Innocent</h4>


    <strong><i>[Third Person].</i></strong>


    But then, one of the Royal Alphas stepped forward. Without hesitation, he dropped to one knee before the throne.


    "Your Majesty." His voice carried a rare urgency.


    Draven’s gaze shifted to him. "Speak."


    The Alpha lowered his head further. "No matter the punishment you decide for the Fellowes family... I ask that you spare my daughter."


    A faint stir passed through the hall.


    "She is married into that family," he continued, "but she is not part of their sins." Then, his voice tightened slightly. "And their child... is innocent."


    The implication was clear.


    At the same time, Meredith remembered Vivian and how courteous she was to her during their first meeting, and thought it would be a pity for her and her child to get caught up in this mess. So, she turned and whispered something into Draven’s ear.


    On the other hand, as silence lingered in the hall, another Alpha stepped forward. Then another. One by one, several of them bowed.


    "We support this request, Your Majesty."


    "Both mother and child have done no wrong."


    "They should not suffer for this."


    The pressure in the room shifted in appeal.


    Draven watched them. Then, calmly, he said, "I will take their innocence into consideration."


    His statement settled immediately, and relief spread across their faces.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty," Vivian’s father said, bowing deeply.


    The other Alphas followed. "Thank you, Your Majesty."


    Draven gave a slight nod. "Rise. Return to your positions."


    They obeyed at once, stepping back into ce as the hall quieted again.


    And just then, the grand doors swung open, and Reginald and Levi were ushered inside.


    The moment they stepped into the hall, both men slowed at the presence of the entire council. Then, all eyes turned toward them.


    Levi’s expression shifted immediately, unease creeping into his gaze. But Reginald saw something else entirely. An opportunity.


    <i>’Good.’ </i>He thought to himself. If everyone were here, then everyone would witness what had been done to his daughter.


    His confidence rose.


    Levi and his father stepped forward and bowed. "Your Majesties," they greeted. But Reginald’s bow toward Meredith was shallow and reluctant.


    Draven’s gaze rested on them. "Rise."


    They obeyed. Then, his voice cut through the hall. "What would make you," he said slowly, "amoner, dare to cause amotion in my pce... and disrupt my assembly?"


    The calmness in his tone only made the anger beneath it more apparent. Regardless, Reginald didn’t hesitate. As if waiting for this moment, he dropped to his knees.


    "Your Majesty!" his voice rang out. "I seek justice!" Then he lifted his hand, pointing directly toward Meredith.


    "The Queen—!" his voice shook with emotion. "She killed my daughter out of jealousy!"


    A wave of murmurs rippled through the hall.


    "She butchered herst night!" Reginald continued, his voice breaking. "What did my daughter do to deserve such cruelty?!"


    His face twisted in pain. "She didn’t even leave her a whole corpse..."


    The words echoed. Immediately, voices rose, but not in ord.


    "How dare he—"


    "This man—!"


    "Shameless!"


    The elders began speaking over one another, their anger unmistakable.


    Reginald frowned slightly, confused by the reaction, but before he could process it, Draven raised his hand, and silence fell instantly.


    Then, his gaze hardened. "How dare you use the Queen of jealousy?" His voice was cold.


    Before Reginald could respond, the hall erupted again. One elder stepped forward.


    "Do you even understand what your daughter has done?!"


    Another followed. "And yet you stand here, pointing fingers at Her Majesty?"


    The Royal Alphas joined in.


    "Watch your words!"


    "You are out of line!"


    The pressure mounted.


    Reginald’s confusion deepened, but he refused to back down. "No matter what she did," he said, his voice rising again, "it does not justify butchering her like an animal!"


    That ignited the room, and outrage surged from every direction immediately. Levi’s heart sank as he thought,


    <i>’Something is wrong. Very wrong.’</i>


    His eyes moved across the hall, reading the room properly this time. No one stood with them. No one.


    A cold realization crept in. ’<i>Whatever Wanda did must have been severe.’</i>


    Just then, his gaze met someone’s. His father-inw.


    For a brief second, Levi stilled because what he saw was not neutrality. It was anger mixed with disgust.


    Levi blinked, almost doubting himself. ’<i>That... can’t be right.’</i>


    He thought that he hadn’t done anything wrong. That even if his sister had done something, why was that look directed at him?


    Unease deepened into something sharper. Then he shifted his gaze and met Dennis’s eyes. Just for a moment, disappointment was clear in his gaze, then he looked away.


    Levi’s chest tightened. A faint shudder passed through him.


    Right then, Meredith’s voice cut in smoothly. "Did you just say that no matter what your daughter did... I was wrong to punish her?"


    Immediately, all eyes were upon her, a subtle smile touching her lips.


    Reginald’s anger red. "Yes!" he snapped, still on his knees. "What gives you the right to act as you please?!"


    His voice rose further. "You rely on the King’s protection—otherwise, you would have long been dragged down from that throne!"


    A sharp intake of breath spread across the hall. The elders erupted.


    "He has gone too far!"


    "This is treason!"


    "How dare he—!"


    The tension spiked instantly. Then, Randall stepped forward. His expression was stern as his eyes locked onto Reginald.


    "You dare use Her Majesty, then belittle and insult her in our presence?" His voice was firm. "Are we dead to you? Do you have no fear or regard?"


    Reginald met his gaze without flinching. "I am a grieving father," he said. "I am not here to insult anyone."


    Though his voice trembled, his resolve did not. "I only want justice for my daughter... who was killed unjustly."


    The hall stirred again. But before it could escte, Levi suddenly dropped to his knees beside his father.


    "Your Majesty," he said quickly, bowing his head. "My father is not in the right state of mind." His voice was controlled, but urgent. "He does not mean disrespect toward the Queen."


    "I understand your father’s intentions clearly," Draven said as his gaze swept across them both. "The council is not made up of fools."


    The weight of his words settled heavily over the hall.