"You don't understand!" Amelia shouted to the maids that were fussing over her and trying to get her into a frilly dress. "He didn't kidnap me!"
A female guard who was standing by the door said, "Oh, dear, he's brainwashed you, Princess, into thinking he didn't kidnap you. It's the way of evil to do things like that to a righteous mind and heart."
"Why isn't anybody listening to me?!? Zelgadis-san isn't evil!!!" Amelia demanded loudly.
Just then, Prince Philionel walked into the room, followed by several council members. Frantically, Amelia grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders since she was half undressed from the maids trying to get her primed up.
"Daddy!" Amelia shouted. "Nobody's listening to me!"
Phil knelt down in front of Amelia, and said, "Daughter, you must understand something. You have a just, kind heart and mind. Evil likes to corrupt those to make people believe what they want them to. You don't really believe what you're saying, you just think you do because of the evil."
"DADDY!" Amelia yelled. "That was Zelgadis-san!! He's my friend!!! He didn't kidnap me!!"
Phil shook his head, and said, "My poor daughter. You've been terribly corrupted. Tomorrow will be a trial, and we'll find out what really happened. Unfortunately, we can't take you as a reliable witness because you've been brainwashed. But you will be allowed to attend."
"DADDY!!"
"In the meantime," Phil said above her shouting. "You're to allow the maids to fix you up, they'll do something about your hair, and you'll return to your regular duties." With that, Phil hugged Amelia tightly, and then walked out of the room, followed by the council members.
Amelia felt tears sting her eyes. "Why won't anybody listen to me?" she asked herself quietly. "Zelgadis-san didn't do anything wrong... He was helping me..."
The maids finished getting her into a long violet dress with nearly transparent sleeves, before taking her off to fix her hair.
Zelgadis woke up with a jolt when someone pounded on the door. He'd fallen asleep! For how long? Another knock sounded on the door, and it opened wide.
"It's dawn," the guard said. "Time for your trial."
"Trial?" Zelgadis asked, standing up.
Nodding, the guard said, "To figure out if you really did kidnap Princess Amelia."
"I didn't--"
"Save it for the court," the guard said.
Zelgadis grittes his teeth, and walked over to the door.
"You're to hand me all your possessions," the guard told him before he stepped out of the doorway.
Sighing, Zelgadis unbuckled his sword, handed the guard the daggers he kept hidden in his boots, and gave him his canteen, which still had Amelia's bracelet around it. The guard eyed the bracelet, and then looked at Zelgadis with more than a little suspicion. "Follow me," the guard said curtly.