After finding out that Gwen was sleeping with another man, Fidelis was heartbroken, but there was nothing he could do about it because he wanted to protect his family’s reputation. All these years, the woman prided herself on her infidelity while still trying to take the throne from his only son. With the years that had passed, Fidelis wanted to let Gwen change by herself, but the woman never did, and she was now shamelessly sleeping with another man in his palace.

The first time they arrived at Orion, Fidelis had gone out at night for a walk when he found his wife in the arms of another man shamelessly. It broke his heart to watch that, but he didn’t know how to punish her for it.

Now hearing Oriana say it boldly, he felt free and wanted to really save himself finally. If Oriana was a chance from heaven to liberate him from an infidel wife, then he wasn’t going to let the opportunity go to waste.

"Princess Oriana, do you have facts to back up what you just said?" Fidelis spoke up, ready to give Oriana facts if she didn’t have any.

Oriana gulped; she brought down her shoulders, looking at Adric. She didn’t know when she had blurted that out, but she was really annoyed with Gwen trying to judge her and talk about discipline when her sins were there in her face. It was like the kettle calling the pot black. And in this case, Oriana wasn’t even the pot because she had never dreamed of sleeping with another man that wasn’t Adric.

When Oriana got to know about her father’s infidelity, and it was with Gwen, it took her time to really get over it. While she ignored Gwen and refused to confront the woman, Gwen kept showing up in front of her, acting like she was all righteous and heavy on discipline. What Oriana wasn’t sure of was how Adric and his father would take her actions by talking about the queen in front of everyone. She didn’t want to ruin the relationship she had come to build with Fidelis. The man was too good to her, and she didn’t want to hurt him.

"I bet she doesn’t!" Jasmine chirped, trying to defend her mother. "We should really punish her for trying to taint the Queen’s reputation."

Fidelis glared at his daughter, "Shut up, Jasmine. The question wasn’t for you," he turned to Oriana, "Talk to me."

Oriana was surprised to hear the king; she thought the man would be angry with her. "I actually heard the queen say it herself."

Everyone gasped, now looking at Gwen with judging eyes. Gwen cleared her throat; she turned to her husband for help, "Your Majesty, you don’t believe her, do you? I would never do that to you."

Adric turned to look at Gwen, the woman was still trying to defend herself without feeling remorseful of her dirty actions. He had wanted to get her punished a long time ago but stopped because of his father’s health. But seeing that Fidelis was handling everything fine, he decided to step forward, "Mother, you would never?"

Gwen gulped, she tried to look at Adric with pleading eyes, then she turned to Fidelis, "It was just once and a mistake that I regret so much," she knew that with Adric involved she wouldn’t be able to get away with it.

"Mother!" Jasmine shouted; it was embarrassing to watch her mother spread her dirty linen outside.

Fidelis nodded, "We will meet again tonight for the hearing and know what suitable punishment is necessary for an infidel woman. Everyone, the event has ended," he turned to Oriana, "Let’s go, my dear."

Oriana bowed before slipping away from the crowd with the king. She was very happy the man had called for her because she didn’t know how to leave after stirring up so much trouble. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"I’m so sorry, Your Majesty," Oriana apologized. She knew that Gwen was wrong, but she was still the king’s wife, after all.

Fidelis furrowed his eyebrows, "Why? You don’t need to be. You just did what I feared to do."

Oriana turned to look at the king, "You knew all along?" She felt so bad for him; he knew that his wife was in the arms of another man, yet he pretended not to know.

"I did," Fidelis nodded, "Thank you for helping me," he raised his hand, giving Oriana a high five.

Oriana smiled, raising her hand, she hit the high five, "I’m glad I could be of help. Let me know if you want me to blow other things up," she whispered.

"This one is enough for now." he chuckled, "I will reward you. What is your wish...wait! I think I know," Fidelis winked at Oriana, and they both started laughing.

Fidelis was now relaxed. With Gwen out of the picture, nobody would stop his son’s coronation. He hadn’t wanted to get involved with everything, but Gwen was playing dirty and getting out of control with the numerous ministers on her side.

Adric stood where he was, watching as his father and Oriana strolled out of the place like they didn’t just stir up trouble. Ever since Oriana arrived, Adric noticed the improvement in his father’s health and mood. The girl really brought changes that they all had failed to do in the palace.

He turned to look at Gwen, who was sobbing silently. Adric sighed. The woman was still acting like she was innocent.

"Let’s go," he said to Rowan, and to Rosalie who was standing at the stand with an awkward look on her face. He said to her, "You too, follow me."

Madame Rosalie bowed, "Yes, Your Highness," the woman left with Adric. Oriana had disappeared after causing trouble with the king. She didn’t know how to leave with the carriage and long train of servants they had arrived with.

"Thank you for getting me out of there, the atmosphere was so tense," Madame Rosalie said to Adric when they finally entered the palace.

Adric stopped walking; he turned to look at the woman, "Care to explain who put the princess up to that?"

"That? Oh, you mean her entrance? Well, you clearly said you wanted a woman like that," Madame Rosalie explained, "It was written in a small note."

Adric raised his brows, "When did I—" he stopped talking and looked at Rowan, who nodded. Adric realized what had happened. The trap he’d set for Rowan, he fell deep inside of it. So right now, he was the reason Oriana stirred up trouble. "Why would she believe that?" Adric scratched his brows lightly.

"You said it, I guess." Rowan replied, throwing his face to the side when Adric glared at him.

"Now she has poked the beehive with a torch. I hope she knows how to run because Gwen won’t go down easily." Adric muttered with a deep sigh.

Oriana was so careless, putting herself in an open war with Gwen. Others hid and attacked in the dark, the girl didn’t care; she pointed at the faces of her enemies in the open.

Madame Rosalie smiled, "The Princess is a really sweet soul. She’s someone that deserves to be loved and cherished. Though she might be careless, she would never hurt anyone except she is attacked first. I hope she enjoys her time in Avon with your protection, Your Highness." she bowed, "I should go prepare her for the last event of the day," Madame Rosalie said before leaving the passage.

Adric’s eyes followed Madame Rosalie, the woman was right about Oriana being innocent but she was more careless than cautious. Right now in the palace, Adric had gone down of the list and Oriana moved up to the main target of elimination. He sighed.