Chapter 835
Hearing Suzy’s explanation, Evangeline finally understood her intent.
"I get it. But I'll need to discuss it with the council first. It’s not a decision I can make alone."
The news of Serena's potential release quickly sparked outrage among the royal council.
Many ministers had already been dissatisfied with Evangeline’s leniency when she imprisoned Serena instead of having her executed.
According to Xandrian law, Serena’s crimes warranted a public execution.
Locking her away had already been viewed as a mercy that bent the rules.
Now, considering her release was pushing them past their limit.
"This woman committed a capital crime," one councilor said sternly.
"She should’ve been executed long ago. Now, after only a few months in prison, you want to let her go? What will the public think?"
"They’ll see it as favoritism," another added.
"A queen bending the law for her sister while the rest of the country lives under strict justice. People will cry injustice, and that unrest could spread."
"Exactly," a third minister chimed in.
Listening to their concerns, Evangeline hesitated. "Her mental state is deteriorating. She’s no longer a threat. I believe the time served has fulfilled its
purpose."
"Can you guarantee she isn’t faking it?" one councilor countered.
"She deceived us all before, pretending to be kind and selfless. What’s to stop her from faking insanity now?"
The council remained resolute.
No matter what Evangeline said, their decision was unanimous: Serena should remain imprisoned.
Evangeline was stuck.
She might be queen, but ruling a nation wasn't a one-woman job.
Ignoring her council’s advice would set a dangerous precedent.
When Suzy heard about the council’s decision, she nodded thoughtfully. "If they won’t allow it, then don’t push it."
"But I thought you wanted to test whether she was truly unstable or just pretending?" Evangeline asked, confused.
Suzy gave a faint smile. "I did. But it’s not worth the political fallout just to test Serena. Besides, there are ways to test her without letting her out."
"What’s your plan?" Evangeline asked, a hint of urgency in her voice.
Was it just her imagination, or did she look... nervous?
Suzy gave her a closer look, but the worry vanished as quickly as it appeared.
Maybe she was just reading too much into things.
"I haven’t figured it out yet," Suzy said with a casual shrug.
"I’ll let you know once I have a solid plan to get Serena to slip up."
That wasn’t entirely true.
She did have an idea—several, in fact. But the fewer people who knew, the better.
It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Evangeline. It was more that she was pregnant.
Suzy didn’t want her stressing over something that didn’t need to weigh on her shoulders.
Evangeline seemed to sense that Suzy was holding back but didn’t press the issue.
"All right. Just promise me that when you're ready, you’ll let me know. Whatever you decide to do, I’ll support you without question."
"I know you will," Suzy said with a warm smile.
"Having a sister-in-law like you is honestly one of my greatest blessings. My brother really hit the jackpot—one perfect woman in the entire world, and
he was lucky enough to find her."
Evangeline flushed with embarrassment.
"Stop it. I’m nowhere near as amazing as you make me out to be. Next to you, I’m honestly second-rate.
“You’ve got it all—brains, beauty, talent, and strength. You’re the remarkable one here, not me."