Upon entering the room, it fell silent, the people of Enchancia turned to look at the princess in awe. They had learnt of the terrible ordeal she had been subjected to, not to mention what Hugo had been through to try and save her. They nodded their heads at the royal members, Sofia smiled shyly and pulled Hugo to the Victims box. As they did the judge walked in and sat down, slowly he pushed his glasses up his aged face and sighed.
"In a moment the courts will decide if the former queen is guilty, however before the, it is custom that we hear the victims' final statements. If Princess Sofia or Prince Hugo would like to add anything final then now is the time." Sofia stiffened and looked to Hugo who shook his head, his face paling. Sofia turned to Amber who got the message.
"They would not your honour" the judge smiled.
"Well in that case let's get on with the verdict. Have the Jurors come to a verdict on which they are all agreed?" he asked. The jurors nodded and the Judge asked the bailiffs to hand the main Juror a microphone.
A middle-aged man stood up; his hands trembling as he read the verdict.
"In the case of Child abduction, we the find the defendant guilty" The room went silent for a moment before Hugo's mum began screaming. The judge called for quiet and when the room had become quiet, he asked for the man to continue.
"In the case of Political Espionage, we find the defendant guilty. In the case of perverting the course of justice, we find the defendant guilty. However, in the case of Child Sexual exploitation, we find the defendant not guilty." When he was done the Juror sat down as Sofia let out a breath, she didn't know she was holding. The judge shifted in his seat slightly.
"Well thank you for the verdict. As for the sentencing, we will reconvene in two hours to pass a sentence. For now, the court is dismissed, send the prisoner back to her cell." Hugo's mother began screaming and kicking, demanding to be heard. She screamed profanities at her son as she was dragged away.
Two hours later Hugo and Sofia sat in the same place. the judge entered much like he had before, only this time he didn't let anyone else speak. Instead, he demanded their attention
"The charges that you have been convicted of today stand as follows. Child abduction, perverting the course of justice and Political espionage. As for the two counts of child abduction, one for both children that have been abducted, they carry a charge of seven years per count. That in total is fourteen years. As for the count of perverting the course of justice, I am giving you the maximum sentence of 3 years. That takes your total to seventeen years. On the count of Political Espionage, I am sentencing to a further five years. That takes your total number of years to twenty-two years. These Twenty-Two years you will serve in a maximum-security prison with a chance of parole after twenty years. At which point you will be sixty years old. Officers take her away" the room was deafeningly silent as they led the former queen away. It was silent until Sofia's family stood up and began to cheer, pulling both her and Hugo into a hug.
Sofia however couldn't celebrate, no matter how far Hugo's mother was she would always have an icy grip on Sofia's heart. Sofia turned to Hugo to make sure he was okay but her heart broke as the look of devastation on his face. Silently she took Hugo by the hand and pulled him away from the chaos, she told Bailey wick that they would be in her room.'
Once they got there the young princess sat down on her bed and invited Hugo to join her. When he did, she pulled him into a hug, that seemed to break Hugo out of his trance as he began to sob. His shoulder shook, Sofia merely held him in her arms. It might not have occurred to any of the others but it had occurred to Sofia that despite her heinous crimes she was still Hugo's mother. She was still someone that at one point Hugo had loved.
After a moment Hugo pulled away.
"My fault," he said. Then before she could reply he leant forward and kissed her cheek
"Love Sofia" he admitted. Sofia gulped, slowly she placed her hand to her cheek, she nodded as she did.
"I'm sorry" Sofia was about to tell him it was okay, she loved him too. Probably a lot more than she should but before she could Hugo's face turned downcast as he turned his back to her. Slowly he began to hobble away, Sofia too confused to follow.