?Chapter 573:


    “Father, there are reasons for everything,” Bryan said quickly, his tone softer but insistent. “Makenna acted out of grief. She lost a child. It’s understandable, and she should be punished with mercy.”


    Leonardo’s expression remained unyielding. “That is no excuse for her behavior.”


    Dominic stepped forward, his urgency clear in his voice. “Father, if not for Makenna, I would have died after falling off the cliff.”


    Leonardo paused, a flicker of doubt crossing his features. “What do you mean?”


    Dominic’s words came slowly, carefully. “We were attacked, Father, and Makenna and I fell off the cliff together. She found food, tended to me, and saved my life.”


    Leonardo fell silent, his eyes narrowing as he processed Dominic’s words.


    I recalled the food Dominic had mentioned, and the memory sent a flush of both embarrassment and shame rushing to my face. At that time, in order to save him, I had fed him my own breast milk. Now, as Dominic spoke of it in such a serious setting, I wanted nothing more than to vanish into the floor beneath me.


    Meanwhile, Bryan continued to speak on my behalf, his voice unwavering. “Father, Makenna is willing to take all the me for yton, which proves her loyalty and her capacity for affection. She even carried a child for me. Though the child did not survive, she has suffered much. She does not deserve such harsh punishment.”


    “Father, please show mercy,” Dominic added, his voice filled with earnestness.


    Their words were genuine, their reasons sound, and I could not help but feel deeply moved by their efforts on my behalf.


    Leonardo was silent for what felt like an eternity, his cold gaze still fixed upon me. Finally, his voice broke through the stillness, slow and deliberate. “Makenna, in light of my sons’ pleas, I will spare your life. But though you escape death, punishment is inevitable. You will be flogged ten times.”


    Makenna’s POV:


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    “Father…” Bryan and Dominic seemed to have more they wanted to say, but I didn’t hesitate to ept Leonardo’s punishment.


    “Your Majesty, I humbly ept my punishment.”


    I raised my gaze to Leonardo, treading carefully. “Your Majesty, since I’ve agreed to the tenshes, might I ask for your mercy on Prince yton? This was all a misunderstanding and has nothing to do with him.”


    He gave me a frosty nce, his voice cutting through the silence. “His affairs are of no concern to you.”


    With a swift motion, he dismissed us, waving his hand as if we were nothing more than a fleeting inconvenience.


    “Your Majesty…” I tried to speak further, but before I could utter another word, Bryan silenced me with his hand over my mouth, pulling me out of the hall. He didn’t let go until we were far enough from the king’s reach.


    Once outside, I turned on Bryan, frustration bubbling in my chest. “Why didn’t you let me finish?”


    Dominic spoke up, his tone heavy with resignation. “Because the matter isn’t fully investigated yet.”


    I blinked, taken aback. “But Prince yton is innocent.” I refused to believe anything else, even if the investigation wasn’tplete.


    Bryan rubbed his forehead in exasperation, his voice low. “Father is investigating the assassins. We need to know who they’re working for to clear yton’s name, since he’s the prime suspect right now.”


    A knot of unease twisted in my stomach.


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