Transmigrated as the Crown Prince's Mate
Chapter 75: Cornered Squirrel?...

Chapter 75: Cornered Squirrel?...

Evelina walked into the council room with steady steps, though her pulse hammered in her ears. The atmosphere was tense, weighing on her chest and making it hard to breathe.

The council members were seated in a semicircle, their expressions ranging from skeptical to open hostility. Damian stood at the front of the room, his silver eyes focused on her, remaining quiet.

"Lady Evelina," King Lucian greeted with a hint of disapproval. "Do you know why you’ve been summoned here?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Evelina replied evenly, keeping her voice calm. "I assume it concerns the information I provided to the Prince."

The King leaned forward slightly, his sharp gaze pinning her in place. "Indeed. But you must understand the gravity of the situation. Accusations of treason and conspiracy are not made lightly."

"I understand," Evelina said, holding her ground. "But I wouldn’t have come forward if I didn’t believe this was a genuine threat to the kingdom."

Selene, seated near the far side of the room, let out a soft scoff, just loud enough for everyone to hear. "How noble," she said sarcastically. "Coming forward with just enough information to seem useful, yet conveniently unable to identify the traitor."

Evelina’s eyes flicked to Selene, her expression remaining composed. "It’s easier to criticise from the sidelines, Lady Selene, than to actually contribute."

Selene’s golden eyes narrowed, but before she could respond, Damian cut in sharply. "Enough. We’re not here to entertain petty jabs. This is about ensuring the safety of the pack."

Lord Luther leaned forward. "Lady Evelina," he began, his gravelly voice commanding attention. "You claim to have overheard a palace servant conspiring with a rogue. Can you provide any specifics? A name? A description?"

Evelina shook her head. "It was too dark to see clearly, and I didn’t want to risk getting closer. But the conversation was clear—they were planning something, and the information they shared could endanger everyone here."

Luther’s eyes narrowed. "Convenient," he muttered.

Another elder, the sharp-eyed woman, chimed in. "And how do we know you’re not fabricating this story? After all, you’ve already been accused of treachery once before."

"What were you even doing out in the woods at that time of the night?"

Evelina froze under the pressure of the question, her mind scrambling for the right response. Her voice wavered slightly as she began to speak. "I was... I went to visit someone," she said carefully, hoping not to reveal too much.

Relia’s voice penetrated her thoughts. "Oh, brilliant answer, Evie. That’ll really convince them," she drawled sarcastically. "Try again. Preferably without sounding like a cornered squirrel."

Evelina cleared her throat, steadying herself. "I had gone to check on a person of interest who lives just outside the palace. It was a personal matter, but it led me to overhear the conversation in question."

She straightened her shoulders, adding more conviction to her tone. "I didn’t choose to stumble upon the traitor—I acted when the situation presented itself."

Before anyone could respond, another elder with a deep scar across his jaw shot another question. "A personal matter? And who exactly is this person of interest? Are they connected to these rogues?"

Evelina hesitated, her heart thudding against her ribs. Relia sighed dramatically in her mind. "You’ve really stepped in it now. Good luck, genius."

"Enough, Relia. Allow me to think."

Taking a deep breath, Evelina replied. "They are not connected to the rogues, and their identity is irrelevant to this discussion. What matters is that the information I overheard is credible and dangerous if ignored."

The elder scoffed but seemed momentarily appeased.

That was until Selene’s honeyed voice broke through again. "How convenient to have such vague answers," she said with a saccharine smile. "It must be nice to operate in the shadows, where no one can verify your claims."

"Evelina is my mate." Damian snapped, stepping forward. He was tired of listening to them undermine Evelina right before him. "She has nothing to gain by lying and everything to lose if she’s caught. Questioning her is questioning me."

The room became quiet as Damian’s words sank in. His silver eyes glowed as he looked around the room, as if daring anyone to challenge him.

The King glanced at his son with an unreadable expression. "Damian," he said calmly, "this isn’t about questioning your bond. It’s about making sure the information we use is reliable."

Zade, lounging in his chair with a faint smirk, interjected. "She could be telling the truth," he said lazily. "And even if she isn’t, isn’t it worth investigating?"

Evelina met Zade’s gaze. "Whatever the council decides, know that ignoring this would be a mistake. The rogues are planning something, and if you wait too long to act, it might be too late."

Damian’s fists clenched, but before he could respond, the King raised a hand for silence. "Enough," his voice cut through the rising tension. "Whether Lady Evelina’s account is accurate or not, we cannot afford to dismiss the possibility of a traitor among us. We will investigate."

Turning to Evelina, he added, "For now, you are to remain under close supervision. If you uncover any further information, you are to report it immediately. Is that understood? And in don’t forget you have a pending a case with the council. How much time left?"

Eve gritted her teeth at the reminder. "About 2 weeks, Your Majesty."

"If you don’t find, with concrete proof, the person who tried to kill the prince, you’ll be executed. And this time, the mate bond won’t save you."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Evelina replied calmly despite the cold weight of his words.

The King’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he addressed the council. "This meeting is adjourned. We will reconvene once we have more evidence."

As the council members began to rise, Damian moved to stand next to Evelina. He acted like a shield against the unwanted stares and whispers surrounding them.

As Selene walked by, she paused slightly. "Careful, Evelina," she murmured. "You’re walking a very thin line."

Evelina didn’t respond, her focus remaining on Damian.

As Damian and Evelina turned to leave, the heavy doors to the council chamber slammed open. A guard rushed in, his face pale and his breathing labored.

"Your Majesty," the guard said urgently, his voice trembling. "You need to come see this."