The Discarded Heir's Return

Episode 8

"You said I was a cheater," she whispered, her voice like a serpent's hiss. "Now you will be punished for your lies!"

Arthur stared at her, his expression unchanging. "You bloody hell of a wife," he said, a weary contempt in his voice. "You accuse me of betraying you, and now you have the nerve to strike me in front of all these people? You are a rare gem, indeed."

Before Elara could act, Godric, his face still a bruised mess, lunged forward. "Get out of my way, you gormless cow!" he spat, snatching the scepter from her hand. He swung it wildly, aiming for Arthur's face.

The room gasped as Arthur simply stood his ground. He grabbed Godric arm, his grip like a vise, and with a single, sharp twist, he forced the man to strike himself.

Smack!

The heavy scepter connected with Godric's face, the sickening sound sounding through the silent hall.

The blow made his already swollen face look even more grotesque.

The hall erupted in a buzz of whispers. The Old Lady stood, her face a mask of disbelief and rage. "You scoundrel! How dare you cause such a scene here! Do you know there are royal officials here? They can have you thrown in the stocks for this!"

Arthur looked at the crowd, his gaze calm. "With all due respect, my Grand Peckham," he said, his voice carrying through the hall. "The officials here should have seen that this git tried to strike me first. It was a simple act of self-defense."

A tall man with a severe face and a finely tailored tunic stepped forward from the crowd. "That may be so, but you swore to accept the punishment according to the family law," he said, his voice hard. "Yet you refused when it was time. Is that the act of an honorable man?"

The guests nodded in agreement. The Old Lady smiled, a thin, triumphant curve of her lips.

"I said I would accept punishment if I had done something wrong," Arthur said, his eyes meeting the Old Lady. "I have not broken my vow. But your granddaughter has broken hers!"

A new wave of murmurs rippled through the hall.

"Five years I was a faithful husband to her! I have never strayed. It is your granddaughter who has cheated! Yesterday, she was with Lord Gideon of the House of sterling, in a private chamber at the Gilded Stag inn!"

The room was in a frenzy as whispers began to sound in the hall.

"Lord Gideon? The scion of the House of Sterling?" a guest whispered.

"Is the House of Peckham trying to plan a marriage with them?"

"I heard the Lady Elara was the most beautiful and virtuous woman in the kingdom. To think she would do something so brazen!" another murmured.

Elara's face went crimson. She looked at her family, a desperate plea in her eyes.

"Grandmother, everyone, don't listen to him! I was there on a business matter! I was trying to secure an investment for our family's Citadel! He is a bloody liar!"

Arthur sneered. "Must you do business in a private chamber, wearing nothing but a gossamer tunic? Do you take all these lords and ladies for fools?"

Just then, the doors of the hall opened, and a man with a shock of golden hair entered. It was Lord Gideon of the House of Sterling. He was dressed in a suit of fine silk, and he carried a large, ornate gift box. He looked around the silent hall, a little surprised by the tension.

Elara rushed to his side. "Lord Gideon! Thank the heavens you are here! This man, my husband, is accusing me of being unfaithful with you! Please, tell them that we only met for business!"

Gideon looked at Arthur with a cold, malevolent gaze. "Elara and I are innocent," he said to the crowd. "She came to deliver a document for a business deal we are working on." He turned to Arthur. "Do you have any proof, wretch? Did you take a sketch? A written note? A testimony from a witness?"

Gideon's lips curled into a smirk. He knew that the inn's servants had all been paid off. There was no way to prove anything.

"Everyone," Gideon said, addressing the crowd. "This man is a fool. The reason he is lying is because he is jealous. He is a mere innkeeper at the Gilded Stag Inn where I was staying. He was the one who served me a meal yesterday, but he was rude, and I complained about him. That is why he is slandering me now."

He pointed a finger at Arthur, his voice full of ream righteousness. "You are just a bitter, insignificant man. But you cannot touch me. You cannot touch the House of Sterling!"