[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride":3,"chapter-the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-639":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Alpha's Unwanted Bride",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1497063,1945,"Chapter 639: CONDEMNATION","the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-639",639,"\u003Cp>Queen Rose wasted no time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She began her investigation that same afternoon, summoning maids, guards, stable boys, anyone who might have seen even the strange thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She intended to do it on her own or just because she didn’t want a wrong judgement, but because she held Jasmine close to her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She saw so close in ways she would never understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than she saw her own Niece Auburn, the crowned princess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mage was coming tonight and she felt as thought everything wanted to fall apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was firm, sharp, but beneath it all there was an exhaustion she tried to hide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She dreaded how overwhelmed she felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She questioned the staff one by one in the great hall, sitting with her back straight and her hands clasped tightly in her lap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Auburn stood in the corner of the room, pale and restless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cherry watched with that smooth unreadable face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coral lingered nearby, twisting her fingers anxiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Belle was nowhere to be found.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Belle she had noticed, wasn’t fond of Auburn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew it was due to the rivalry for the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It filled Rose with dread and horror to admit that she didn’t think either girls were deserving of the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were both reckless and a growing cruelty that shocked her to the core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sighed and told herself that the Mage coming together would set her mind at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I waited inside the throne room, my stomach twisting with sickness and a dread so thick it felt like I was breathing Ice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My knees trembled weakly and I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was my downfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had been called in by the Queen a few hours later after going back to my room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed furious although something told me it had nothing to do with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless, I couldn’t help being bothered about the fact she was the one handling the investigations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It baffled me that someone had even taken Auburn’s necklace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew for certain I had seen it on the dresser and not touched it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could I have even done?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hours passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Names were called.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Servants filed in and out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one had answers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until one trembling maid stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was small, terrified darting around like a trapped rabbit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I...I saw her,\" she whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I paused in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The whole room froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who did you see?\" Rose asked quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The maid swallowed hard, tears gathering in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"J... Jasmine, Your Majesty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart dropped through the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rose’s brows creased. \"You saw her where?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"T.... this morning. In Princess Auburn’s chambers. I saw when she was leaving. She hid it in her pockets quickly but I saw it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mind began to spiral\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Auburn’s lips curled into a triumphant smirk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cherry’s eyes shone with something darker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I said it.\" Cherry shook her head. \"She is the devil and-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"SILENCE!\" Rose hissed and the room went hush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She slowly turned to the girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes were glowing in anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Girl. Do you know what you’re saying? Are you sure of what you’re saying?\" Rose asked the girl. \"Do you know the punishment for false accusations?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl shook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your tongue would be cut.\" She informed. \"And you shall be forced to eat it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shivered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl shook, but nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart was beating so rapidly I felt as though it would leap out of my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What proof do you have to this claims?\" The Queen demanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know where she kept it.\" The girl lied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>~~~~~~~~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon we were heading down the hallway and I found myself on the path that led to I and Hildegard’s bedroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was too ferried to say a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They wouldn’t find anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew for sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoever had told this girl to set me up?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Queen Rose stepped into the room and we saw Hildegard smoking some pipe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hildegard rose a brow and set it aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s going on?\" She asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was obvious Hildegard had not heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she could reply the girl went to our dresser and opened my own compartment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Queen walked to it and her breath paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She closed her eyes in sadness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I rushed to where she stood and I found it lying amongst my clothes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The necklace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The diamond still sparkled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at it in shock, my chest tightening so painfully I thought my ribs would crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No...\" I whispered, shaking my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, no, no I didn’t... I didn’t put that there. I didn’t touch it. I didn’t do anything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hildegard rose to her feet. \"What the fuck is going on?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tears were flowing down my eyes as I was now terrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hildegard pulled me behind her and she set her menacing eyes on the Queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Auburn was already speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There! What did I say? I told you!\"\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cherry simply smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small, satisfied curl of the lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Queen stepped forward, very slowly, like someone approaching a grave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at the necklace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then back at the necklace again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face remained calm...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her eyes—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jasmine,\" she whispered, her voice breaking in a way I had never heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell me the truth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am telling the truth!\" I choked out, tears burning my eyes. \"I never touched it. I never stole anything. I swear on my life, Your Majesty. I swear-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rose turned away from me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cherry walked up to her and I heard her sneer. \"If you let her get away then you would be unjust to everyone that looks up to you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Queen Rose’s throat moved slowly as she swallowed\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, with a voice shaking from sorrow rather than anger, she gave the order I feared most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Take her,\" she whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My knees buckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No please Your Majesty, please I didn’t. I swear I would never do anything like this to you. Please-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked away and what I suspected were tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t even look at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that hurt more than the guards’ hands gripping my arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they dragged me out of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>",1027,"2026-06-06T04:22:25.014Z",1,"novelbin.me","ce122603c6e120e4dd4ea8909e29d1823db6a80603c9a6dd0b41a3c131b84aa1","the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-640","the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-638",728,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-cover.jpg"]