Chapter 274: How far does it have to go?
Out of the blue, Sienna knelt again, crying like a heartbroken maiden at midnight. "Your Highness, this is the corruption I speak of! A grandson of a Prime Envoy who hides behind his grandfather’s shadow to do evil. He bullies other children through his bloodline. He fattens himself on stolen wealth while accusing others of his sins!"
The Prime Envoy did the unexpected. He fell to his knees, crying like her. His belly was shaking with rage. "Your Highness, you know that I am not corrupt. I am the most honest official in your court. This human dares to stand before you, loudly demanding for a title of human empress she doesn’t deserve. She is clearly treasonous."
Sienna’s tears stopped that instant. She looked at the pretentious next to her. Did he know her history? Is that why her brought up treason?
It was the same question on the minds of the other relatives.
Sienna reacted quickly, her voice breaking once more. "Your Highness, do you hear how he calls me ’this human’? So because I am human, I am to be mocked, beaten, spat upon! If this empire cannot protect me, then why should I be a citizen of this empire? It means my king and queen have betrayed me? It means my spirit of love for my nation has been killed. Your Highness, this is not just about protecting me but protecting all humans from such abuse."
The king rose, his robs flowing like storm clouds. "Enough!" His voice silenced the crowd, "This is not a marketplace for insults and made up accusations. What corruption? What treason?"
Sienna’s sobs echoed. "Then judge me, Your Highness! Judge whether humans belong, or whether we are to be cast aside like trash. Today, we are beaten and spat on, tomorrow we will be killed. Who then, will we turn to for justice?"
The queen leaned forward, her gaze piercing the Prime Envoy. "Lady Sienna does have a point here. The reason for the actions of your grandson are abhorrent. The fact that no teacher stood up to stop it speaks to an environment rooted in fear and corruption, in the Glory academy. It is not far off for us to wonder if this corruption has not taken root in our council."
The Prime Envoy’s bravado faltered. His sweat glistened, his breath heavy. Sienna’s accusations had struck deeper than the insults, and she had the proof to back up some of them.
Sienna rose once more, her voice steady now, her tears gone. "I will not be silenced like the students of the academy. I will not let my brother suffer. I will not turn a blind eye like these teachers, as human children are treated as less than beasts. If the academy does not accept students with humans in their families or born of humans, they should include it in their admission requirements.
They should write it on the gate of the school and include it on their BeastNet page. It will save us the trouble of sending our children there only for them to kill themselves or commit a crime because they were forced to fight back." She slapped her chest gently, "I have been planning to send my children to this academy next year.
I can’t imagine what they were going to face, being born of a human mother." She gestured toward Ali. "Look at my small daughter your Highness, she is so young. How would she endure bullying from the grandson of the Prime Envoy? How wronged would she feel? How heartbroken would she be?"
"Touch my granddaughter and die." Jess growled, jabbing her clawed finger in Danny’s direction.
Danny and his friends, were all huddling together, on their knees, flanked by fox guards.
Mrs. Miller pulled Jess back, even though she wanted to make the same threat and growl. But she knew Sienna and Elias would get justice for Soren, for the young Rocland’s and the rest of the victims.
"Look at my brother." Sienna turned her finger to Soren. "He has never hurt anyone in his life. He is the sweetest boy I know. Even when he was bullied, he kept it a secret from the rest of the family to avoid causing trouble. I can’t imagine how much pain he has been enduring?
If he chose to drop out tomorrow and throw his life away, wouldn’t his future be ruined? If he suffered a permanent mental break because of the bullying, do you know that my mother would die from the shock alone?
Do you know that I would spend the rest of my life getting revenge at all costs? If I died in the process, my husband and my children would pick up where I left, only angrier. Do you know how many lives one incident of bullying could ruin?"
The crowd erupted in whispers, the tide shifting in her favor. Most of the teachers that had been dragged to the compound in handcuffs actually nodded in understanding. The parents of the bullies looked down in shame or looked at their children in anger. Except for the Risser’s of course, they were still glaring at Sienna.
The Prime Envoy looked like he wanted to shut her up with his fist alone.
Sienna pointed to the Prime Envoy. "You hold a great position of power in this kingdom. People who face injustice but can’t reach the king run to you. How can you protect them when your own family is rotten on the inside? Whether you knew about this or not, the blame falls on you. I am sure that your son and his wife were fully aware of what was happening.
Your grandson either learned from you, or his father and he has been raised and taught to belief that he can get away with anything because of the power you hold. What kind of young man are you raising?
Do you think his habit of bullying will end after he graduates? No! He will carry it to his work place, to his personal life, he will pass it on to his children and they will teach their children. How many victims will it take before your family is satisfied? Does someone need to die first before you stop?"
The king’s eyes narrowed, the queen’s lips curved ever so slightly, and grandma Jess folded her hands, satisfied that justice or at least spectacle was being served.
The Prime Envoy sagged on the ground, defeated by truth and Sienna’s relentless fire.
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