Aaah this was so much fun to write ! Funny to say that, when so much is actually at stake... I hope you'll like it too !

Thank you all for your welcome back messages, and I'm glad the story can still surprise you. I'll try to keep you on your toes till the end, hahaha !

I'd like to reply to zeldawolf2000, you're right, I'm not a native speaker and I'm French (nobody's perfect XD XD). I know the punctuation betrays me, but it's also something I like to keep, maybe as part of my identity, somehow. The rule I learned is that if the punctuation is made with 2 items (; : ! ?), then we have a space before and after. It's just different according to the country and culture, I guess. Thank you for pointing that out though. I'll keep it in mind when I write in English at work ! :))

And yeah, of course, because I didn't get to learn English when I was very young, I'll make mistakes a native speaker wouldn't do, and I'm sorry if it's distracting when you read my fic. I know it can't be perfect, but the will to tell this story and explore Varian's situation and emotion is stronger ! I hope I can still manage to take you to that place and you will happily share the fantasy with me.

Anyway, on with the trial !

CHAPTER 99

Varian's voice was still resonating through the large Court Room as he gazed intensely into Nigel's eyes. The former adviser replied with a locked jaw and knitted brows. He clearly wasn't comfortable with the boy's request, and didn't try to hide it the slightest.

Behind the lanky man, some members of the audience started to whisper to each other, not quite knowing what to make of that unexpected turn of events. Remyus, Ethel and Elora were petrified on their seats, while Phil and Alden exchanged bewildered looks. Whatever the reaction, one question prevailed : how would the King react ?

Conscious that all eyes were now on him, Frederic slowly leaned forward, his elbows still on the armrests, until his chin connected with his joined hands. No one could see the expression of his mouth, but his eyes were grave and focused on the two prisoners in chains.

"Go on," he merely said, his tone mildly interested.

"Frederic !" Arianna's voice was barely above a whisper, but loud enough for her husband to hear. "Call this off ! Now !"

Frederic turned his head and looked back at her. "This is an official trial. If we are going to listen to the accused, it is now or never."

Was Varian able to hear them, although he was still turning his back on them ? Arianna wasn't sure, but she watched him stride over to the rostrum to get closer to his enemy. Because Nigel was standing on a slightly higher level, and was much taller to start with, Varian looked more puny and vulnerable than ever. Yet the boy kept his head high, not searching for any comfort around him, not even from Arianna, his eyes locked on the tall man with a catogan.

"Sir," Varian started with a respectful tone, that had nothing to do with the sassy brat taunting the royals when he had the upper hand in his lab, "when I was arrested and brought in here, you assaulted me- no, actually you had me assaulted during my very first night in the dungeon. Later, after I was taken to the sick room, you poisoned me and then, when maybe it wasn't enough, you tried to strangle me."

Varian paused and looked into the void for a moment, swallowing as haunting memories came over him.

"I must say, no matter how hard I try, I can't clearly recall everything from those events, it is all blurry in my head.". He let out a deep sigh. "What matters to me…. what I need to know is…". Steely blue eyes bore into Nigel's again. "Why ? I was already defeated and taken prisoner. So… why ?"

The crowd was holding a collective breath, waiting for Nigel to reply.

Nigel's upper lip twitched, revealing briefly his clenched teeth, utter contempt in his eyes. Part of him knew he had acted behind the King's back, and that part of him didn't want to acknowledge those deeds in front of the audience. But he also had pursued what he deemed right, regarding Varian as well as every decision he made in his life. This was what he knew to be the only choice. This was the lead he grew up to follow. His father would have accepted no other course of action.

"I knew it from the start… from that storm day when you brutally barged into the castle… I knew you were trouble ! But the Princess was far too lenient to inflict the punishment you deserved after you savagely attacked her !"

"I never attacked the Princ-", Varian started but he stopped himself mid-sentence as something clicked in his brain, like the last piece of a long-forgotten puzzle.

"Wait….It was you ?" he stuttered in disbelief. "All those months on the run, while everyone in Corona turned their back on me, shunned me and even pelted me with stones for allegedly attacking the Princess…. All along, it was you who spread the rumor…." Realization overwhelmed him. This man was not just guilt of the assaults he mentioned, he was also responsible for making his life a living hell, at the worst possible moment, right after he lost his own father to the amber… when his whole world was upside down…

Varian swallowed a lump in his throat.

"And I was wondering why the people of Corona were more hostile than usual…" he stated, his sarcastic tone making its way back to the surface, the best coping mechanism he knew in those cases. Next thing he knew, he was scoffing despite himself. "I mean, I know I've never been their favorite guy, but still… And I thought all this while I had finally done succeeded in turning them away from me all by myself ! But no, looks like I can't even take the credit for that !"

Laughs rose from the crowd. The kid was stealing the show, and that was more than Nigel would tolerate.

"You brought this upon yourself !", Nigel yelled back. "You are a thief, a traitor, and a dangerous threat to the Kingdom !"

"Oh, a triple title starting only with t's ?" Varian replied mockingly. "I think you missed your career, man, you should have been a poet."

Nigel became almost as red as his waistcoat.

"And you have no respect, no decency whatsoever ! I hope whoever brought you up is very much ashamed right now !"

"ENOUGH !"

Everyone went quiet as Arianna's voice rose. She knew this was beyond what Varian could emotionally handle, and she had sprung to her feet like a jack-in-a-box, but in her fragile state, she was wobbly on her legs. Her hands, balled into fists, were shaking at her sides. Yet, only one person didn't turn around to look at her. Varian, who kept his eyes locked on Nigel.

Feeling her strength ebbing, the Queen implored her husband again to stop this.

"Frederic !"

The King was observing Varian and said nothing. Even though the boy had his back toward him, he did see his whole frame stiffen at Nigel's last comment. It looked like he was paralyzed by some sort of magic spell and wasn't able to move an inch.

"Varian ?" he spoke after what seemed an eternity. "Would you like to continue ?"

It took everything Varian had to regain control over his body. He heard the King's voice from afar, but it helped him ground himself. He quickly scanned his own internal state. His heart was pounding hard in his chest, his eyes were watering, his nostrils flared as he fought back the urge to break down crying altogether, and his breathing… oh, right, breathing. It would be a good idea to start doing it again. Breathe out, breathe in. Slowly… Deeply… Repeat…

Varian came painfully back to his senses, and with that, came the urge to jump at the man's throat. He took a few more breaths, his bound hands clenched in front of him. His emotions were strong, blinding even, but the teen had prepared himself for this day. He knew he couldn't act on rage or anger. Moreover, he couldn't play into the despicable adviser's hands, go overboard and be sent back to the dungeon. He would not give what the man wanted. He had to be smarter than that.

And Varian was smart.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Varian answered when he felt confident enough for his voice not to shake. "Indeed, I have one more question. Just one, if you please."

Arianna sat back down, her legs threatening to give way beneath her. She needed the physical stability, and in a way, it kept her from running to Varian right there and then. The uncertainty of Varian's design was excruciating.

"Here is a man who is guilty of kidnapping, drugging, as well as assault, and attempted murder. Let's not forget treason by acting against the King's commands and wishes. All major felonies, I believe, but that's not for me to judge. Funny thing I would like to point out, it looks like he was very much convinced of the validity of his actions. Isn't that what you said, Sir ? You believe this was the right thing to do."

Varian must have possessed a talent he never suspected before, because he noticed how everybody in the huge room was actively listening to him. It didn't feel as uncomfortable as he thought it would. On the contrary, he welcomed the feeling, and let his heart speak.

"So I have to wonder… what are you going to decide for him, Sire ? Because, guess what, I'm very much interested in knowing the answer. Not because he perpetrated these assault on myself, though."

Frederic raised an eyebrow. He had assumed that was the reason behind the whole ordeal, and somehow the boy had figured that out. But if this was not about justice for himself, what was it ?

"After all…. ladies and gentlemen… my King, and my Queen…. This man did nothing different from what I did."