Chapter 49

Back at court

Everyone was eating when they heard the bell in the hallway, which meant it was time to get back into the courtroom.

"We'll come back; please bring the accuse one." Said duke Reynolds as they brought Levi in; he looked terrible, his hair was a mess, and he had gotten a bruise on his eye.

"He probably got it during the break for lunch, must have mixed in with the rest of the criminals." Whispered Randolph to Derek.

"Alright, as a result of this, start the session again, and we continue." Said Duke Reynolds. Bailey automatically got up and was about to continue his argument with Levi.

"Mr. Levi, isn't it? you claim you love your brother and would die for him, isn't that, right?" Asked Bailey.

"Yes?" Said Levi, a bit nervous but not caring at the same time.

"And you swore to always tell nothing but the truth today?" asked Bailey.

"Well, yes, but…. Your honor, how is this relevant?" asked Levi.

"Overruled, you better be going somewhere with this, Mr. Bailey." Said the duke as Bailey nodded his head.

"Well, how do you claim to love and die for your brother if you almost killed him and his closest friend Isla?" questioned Bailey; Levi looked so puzzled at first that he simply laughed.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." He simply said.

"Your honor allows me to bring in Prince Tobias of Thraas." Said Bailey as Tobias looked terrified and concerned, probably because he knew his brother would rat him out.

"Welcome, prince Tobias; how are you?" asked Bailey; Tobias said nothing for a while; maybe he was insulted for what Bailey had asked him.

"How do you think I feel? I believed my brother. I trusted him, and he betrayed me?" said Tobias, but Levi spoke.

"I never betrayed you!" he yelled.

"You killed our father!? Mistreated Courtney almost killed Isla,"- said Tobias but was cut off by Levi.

"I wouldn't have tried anything with her, but you left; I had to do something!" yelled Levi, not noticing what he had just done.

"Why did you stop Levi? You're already done, for you might as well confess everything you've done." Said Bailey.

"Fine! Yes, I killed my father. I wanted to be king. I had to get him out of my way, but I also had to find a queen," he said as he looked at Courtney.

"I remembered that Randolph not only had a daughter but twelve of them; sure enough, I could take one. Courtney seemed the less intelligent one, always reading and never thinking about the reality; she's too naïve to say or do anything, especially defend herself." He was saying to Bailey.

The 22-year-old brunette duke seemed very annoyed and disgusted at him; it looked as if he wanted to break every bone in his body.

"We were married a few days after my father's death; not only did I want my kingdom, I also wanted Courtney's, but the stupid of Randolph had other plans. He named his precious Genevieve and husband the next rulers; I couldn't just stay there. So, I decided to poison the king; everything was supposed to go perfect; he would die, and the next rulers would be crowned; I would start to question and give Derek the blame for killing the former king. Then I would step in and take the thrown with my wife." Said Levi as everyone started mumbling.

"Obviously, things didn't go as planned; I kidnapped princess Kathleen to threaten my wife. Her sister would get it if she weren't a good wife, but then your brother had to barge in; you betrayed me! You helped them!" exclaimed Levi.

"It was the right thing to do, brother! You're mentally sick; how could you keep a little girl in the dungeon?! and hurt your own wife?" asked Tobias.

But Levi only laughed at this and looked over at Courtney, who was in tears.

"I NEVER LOVED HER! She was useless; I only used her; she was my easy target." Said Levi.

"What about princess Isla?" asked Bailey.

"As I arrived at the palace, I knew that they knew of my attack; Willard also wanted Glidonia, so he offered to help but backed down when he couldn't get his way, and Robespierre followed orders. On the day of the attack, instead of telling me that it was all clear, he went to give a former card warning Derek that was outside. I had to do what I had to; I killed him; he betrayed me." He added.

"Your sick brother. Are you even hearing yourself?" asked Levi.

"No, it's you, brother. I did this for us; you were never to meet any girl. They play with you; they always pick you last, if you hadn't gotten to attach to her, I wouldn't have hurt her, nor you, one of you, had to die. You are my brother. I love you, so it had to be her; why do you think I only knocked you unconscious?" said Levi.

"I had to get to them; they were in the dungeons, separated obviously; I saved my best for last. I had to teach my dear queen a lesson for abandoning me; Isla had to die, so you would be locked up again." Said Levi as he finished saying what he had to say, or so he thought.

"But why?! If I hadn't gotten attached to Isla, it would have probably been with another princess or village girl; I have to be married by the age of 21 anyways." Said Tobias.

"No! You fool! You would have never gotten married! Because I knew that Courtney would have never given me an heir, so if you were to marry, there would be more chances of you having an heir, and if that happened, my plans would be ruined!" he exclaimed loudly.

"You would prevent my happiness for your selfishness? Oh, brother, how low have you come." Said Tobias shaking his head.

"You don't understand; you're too stupid to know what I'm talking about, brother; if you have an heir, they'll replace me in MY kingdom that my father left in my hands. And even if they do replace me, I would have Glidonia because Courtney tied the knot with me." He said as Bailey stood from Courtney's side.

"What about Queen Genevieve? If her husband were in jail, she would still be queen, plus she was a son; what would you do?" asked Bailey, making Levi laugh.

"Isn't it obvious? Pick one or the other if it was Courtney, her sister and nephew would die in a terrible accident, or I would simply give the kid away and kill her. Kill Courtney, or lock her up in a dungeon, people would simply think she's dead, which would give me the chance to marry Genevieve, and we rule together." Said Levi.

"But what if she didn't want to? Plus, her husband would be in jail; she would still be married?" asked Bailey.

"She either marries me, or her son dies, and Derek wouldn't be a problem; I'll either send someone to kill him or get a paper for their separation. What I want is what I'll get if I must get my hands dirty to get what I want, I will do it, especially to destroy my enemies." Finished Levi as he was giving Derek an ugly stare.

"I don't know who you are anymore; you're not the brother I grew up with ten years ago, nor will you ever be. I can't believe we were even related. Your just pure evil; you aren't nor will ever be my brother; I never want to ever see you again." Said Tobias as he stood up from the chair and exited towards where Isla was.

"Do you have anything else to add, Mr. Levi? Why did you do it?" asked Bailey, but all Levi could do was stare at Genevieve and Derek.

"Has the jury heard enough because I know I have," said Duke Reynolds as they nodded their heads and handed the note to Duke Reynolds.

"Former king Levi I and the jury find you guilty, you will be sentenced the rest of your life to be in jail for murder and assault; the kingdom passes to your former brother Tobias when he reaches the age of 21. Earliest 18 only if married, I here also separate you formally from Princess Courtney; she is free from you, case close." Said Duke Reynolds.

"What?! NO! You can't do this to me! Don't you know who I am?!" exclaimed Levi.

"Take him away!" said Duke Reynolds

"You will all pay for this! If it's the last thing I do, I will get my revenge on you! You haven't heard the last of me! Genevieve and Derek, I will destroy you too!" Exclaimed Levi as they took him away.