Chapter 82
Once Arden was pardoned, Aldo began calling the guards forward one by one, starting with the lowest-ranked individual: the corporal Calliope had outed the previous day.
“Corporal Jaxon Holloway, you’ve been accused of having illegal and inappropriate relations with a member of this High Council while serving active duty within the Royal Guard,” Aldo announced to the entire congregation. Elowen immediately fidgeted in her seat, while Aldo kept his head lowered in shame. “How do you plead?”
Jaxon closed his eyes as tears of frustration, anger, and indignity took hold. He knew he never should have listened to Douglas and entangled himself with a council member—both figuratively and literally—but it was far too late for regrets.
“Corporal!” Aldo’s voice rose, snapping Jaxon’s at
