Chapter 5: The Poisoned Chalice

The sudden manifestation of light in the ballroom left the nobles shaken, but their arrogance quickly resurfaced as the golden glow subsided back into normal candlelight.

Humiliated by her own moment of panic, Cassandra whispered viciously into Lord Hector’s ear. “Hector! She must have used some witch’s trick! We cannot let her leave this banquet unpunished, or the entire city will mock us!”

Hector’s eyes narrowed with malice. He beckoned a servant and slipped a small black vial into his hand. “Drop this nightshade oil into my silver chalice, then place it near Irene’s table.”

A few minutes later, as the banquet resumed, Cassandra suddenly let out a piercing scream.

“Guards! Guards! Poison!”

The palace guards rushed forward, spearheads gleaming. Cassandra pointed a trembling, dramatic finger at Irene.

“I saw her!” Cassandra shrieked. “I saw Irene slip dark nightshade powder into Lord Hector’s wine goblet! She is bitter because he chose me over her! She tried to murder the future Duke!”

The room erupted into chaos. Nobles gasped and backed away in horror.

“Search her!” Duke Vane bellowed from his throne, furious. “If the poison vial is found on her, strip her of her noble name and drag her to the execution block!”

Lord Hector stepped forward with a cruel smile, pulling a duplicate black vial from beneath Irene’s chair—a vial his servant had secretly planted moments before. “Here it is! The proof of her treason!”

Irene’s face turned pale. “No! I didn’t touch your wine! This is a setup!”

“Lies!” Lady Cynthia shrieked. “Guards, seize the traitress! Break her legs and chain her in the dungeon!”

Four armored guards brandished heavy iron halberds and lunged toward Irene.

“Don’t touch her,” a quiet voice echoed.

It was Alex. He stepped in front of Irene, shielding her with his body.

The captain of the guard spat in contempt. “Out of the way, beggar, or we’ll run you through with iron!”

The captain raised his halberd to strike Alex.

Before the blade could descend, Alex simply raised his index finger.

BOOM!

A beam of pure, blinding sunlight pierced straight through the thick stone roof of the grand ballroom! The pillar of golden light crashed down directly between Alex and the guards.

The sheer thermal intensity of the divine light instantly melted the iron spearheads of the guards’ halberds into liquid metal, dripping harmlessly onto the marble floor!

The four guards screamed as an unseen force hurled them backward, slamming them hard against the stone pillars.

The entire ballroom fell into a terrifying, dead silence.

The beam of sunlight hovered in the center of the hall, pulsing like a living heart. The dark nightshade poison inside Lord Hector’s silver chalice suddenly boiled and evaporated into a foul black smoke, leaving behind pure, sparkling spring water.

Alex turned his head slightly, gazing at Cassandra and Hector.

“Poison cannot exist in the presence of truth,” Alex said, his voice ringing with absolute, terrifying supremacy. “You bear false witness under the sun… and for that, light shall become your nightmare.”