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T he royal palace of Calida was divided into three wings: the center for ceremonial duties with the throne room and various ballrooms and dining halls, the west wing for the private quarters of the royal family, and the east wing for the civil duties with offices, courts, jail cells, and tribunals. Until Soren’s arraignment, I had only been to the ceremonial areas, and the east wing was different than I imagined.

The exterior was the same as the rest of the palace. With beautiful stone carved into ornate moldings, it had the same austere appearance as classical architecture from the Golden Age of Wespen, when the kingdoms had been founded and the Regula had been written.

Despite that, the interior of the civil wing was much more modern and imposing. The walls were covered in slick black marble, and the floor was made of iridescent tiles in a mosaic of arcane symbols. It reminded me of Herve Chaunter’s private studio, which did little to ease my nerves.

The arraignment hall itself was a large room with a dais at the north end and a gallery of seats at the other. A half-wall made of raw-edged obsidian separated the two, and a large empty space in the center was where arguments would be made.

On the dais were nine chairs, with the largest in the center – presumably the Queen's – and four chairs flanking either side. Those were the seats of the tribunal.

I was sitting in the gallery with Regula on my lap, and Briar and Wrenley were on either side of me. We weren’t the only ones here, though. A surprisingly large amount of the seats were taken by strangers, but there were plenty of faces I did recognize.

One of Briar’s fathers, Adlar Floreo, sat beside Wrenley's parents, Robyn and Eva Pavone. Jessalyn – the primamusa I’d met at the Ashoralida – was sitting beside a bearded man, and based on the sigils on his outfit, I surmised he was an emissary for the King of Sudamon. Soren had told me that King Marcel was to be a witness, but he was still a reigning monarch, so sending an emissary to witness in his place wasn’t uncommon.

I recognized a few heralds and courtiers in attendance, but the only notable others I saw were my mother, Adora, and our housekeeper, Heloise. Adora must have brought her for emotional support.

The double doors at the entrance opened as the final gallery members arrived. Queen Krislle’s four youngest daughters—Sylvetta, Flornetta, Danetta, and Anabetta—walked in a single file line. All of them were wearing simple black sheath dresses, with their long black hair laying straight under simple, jewel-encrusted tiaras.

Following up behind them were the Queen’s sons-in-law. They all took their seats in the front row, with Sylvetta between her sister’s husband, Tarian Chaunter, and her own husband, Raiment Cole.

As soon as they were seated, a herald told us to rise as the tribunal came out in order of least prestigious to most.

Edwing Harrigan, a handsome Lord in his mid-20s and one of the most popular muses working today

Adelheid Collis, a beautiful Lady in her late 40s who successfully returned to musing after having children

Vorden Calix, an esteemed, elderly Lord and revered enchanter, and he was also Briar's and Wrenley's great-uncle

Basil Floreo, a prominent Duke with good connections, and he was also one of Briar’s fathers

Eliette Coteau, an elegant Duchess in middle-age and a close friend to the Queen

Fannie Danotta, a warlock in her mid-30s who, was the most influential female Warlock in Calida

Herve Chaunter, the cruel Warlock to the Queen, was a man in his mid-60s and likely hated me

Cosetta, the Crown Princess and eldest daughter to the Queen, and she was also a witness to Soren’s behavior

Kriselle, the Queen who also served as the magistrate and final say in all things relating to the Magik Tribunal

Everyone on the tribunal wore simple black clothing, with Cosetta wearing the exact same dress and tiara as her younger sisters seated in the gallery. The Queen's dress was similar, except it had long sleeves and a more voluminous skirt. On her head, Kriselle wore a unique halo crown with silvery protrusions poking out from around her head like sun rays.

Once everyone was seated, Kriselle sat with her hands on the arms of the throne. Staring straight ahead, she announced, “Bring in the accused.”

The entrance opened again, and everyone in the gallery turned to watch Soren stride into the court with his head held high. He looked handsome and unflappable, and I wish I was half as brave and bold as him. My mouth was dry, my heart was racing, and my stomach was twisting.

His sister followed behind since she'd been waiting with him, and she marched in the same way he did. The Tomoleos had more confidence and swagger than most.

Neither Soren nor Serena looked at me as they walked past, and Serena stopped and sat in the front row across the aisle from the Princesses.

As Soren passed through the gate in the obsidian half-wall from the gallery into the court, the air seemed to ripple slightly. That was the magik that would compel him to tell the truth, and it also prevented him from being able to channel dangerous magik to hurt anyone in the court.

“Soren Tomoleo,” Kriselle said, her voice sounding unusually ominous and booming. “You have been called before the Magik Tribunal because you have been accused of breaking the 11 th tenet of the Enchanters’ Oath from the Regula.”

The herald stepped forward with a scroll in hand, and he unrolled it and read the pertinent section aloud: The enchanter, enchantrix, or enchantress, once upon being accepted into service to their kingdom and their tribunal, will forfeit all physical, romantic, or sexual relationships or activity with any and all muses, regardless of age, gender, orientation, or subordination. If an enchanter, enchantrix, or enchantress engages in any such practice, they should be immediately stripped of their title and banished from service across all the kingdoms of Wespen forever. The muse may also be deemed unfit, and he, xe, or she can be stripped of their titles and banished from service across all the kingdoms of Wespen.”

None of that sounded like a death sentence, but for a muse and enchanter, it might as well be—especially ones like Soren and me, who didn't have much in the way of inherited wealth.

Being unable to serve the kingdoms meant being severed from magik. That in and of itself was described as an unparalleled agony and heartbreak by those who have experienced it.

Without magik, I would have no way to bring in coins. How could I support myself without skills or education and carrying around a tarnished name?

"Soren of House Tomoleo, you have been accused of being romantically involved with a muse under your change," the Queen said. "In addition, there are allegations that you have not allowed others access to this muse and that you have been attempting to keep her to yourself. I do not prejudge any accused, but it is harder to keep objectivity when my daughter is one of the witnesses against you."

“I saw the accused kissing his muse the day before he assaulted Lord Baxley of House Cole for talking to her,” Cosetta added, and the Queen held up her hand to silence her.

“There will be time for that testimony later,” Kriselle said. “Right now is the chance for the accused to speak. What do you have to say about these charges, Soren?”

"I have never prevented any muse from performing in a conduction with anyone else," Soren said. "That claim is patently false. I enjoyed working with Lady Isadore of House Dellamousa and want to work with her because she is talented. However, she is free to perform with whoever she pleases whenever she pleases."

“So you deny the charges?” Kriselle asked.

“Not all of the charges, but that particular one about not permitting Isadore to work with others,” Soren clarified. “That part is not true. But the rest of it, that is true.”

There were gasps and murmurs in the court, and I even saw Adora snicker. I stayed still, and Briar squeezed my hand.

“You are admitting that you have broken the tenets of the Enchanters’ Oath?” Kriselle asked, and though she generally tried to keep her expression unreadable, she didn’t seem to even try to hide her surprise.

“Yes,” he said, louder this time, and even more rumblings came from the gallery until Kriselle silenced them again.

“Elaborate, Soren,” Kriselle commanded.

“The first time Isadore and I kissed was at the Ashoralida, when my emotions got the better of me, but I was already falling in love with her before then,” Soren explained. “I also kissed Isadore before the Samonend, the incident that Princess Cosetta referenced. I assume any other witnesses you call will allege they saw something romantic happening with Isadore and myself, and they are likely telling the truth."

"Why are you admitting to all this when you know the punishment awaiting you?" Kriselle asked, trying to understand his confession.

“For the same reason that I could not resist her, even knowing what the punishment would be: because I love Isadore,” he said simply.

I jumped to my feet, my heart hammering in my chest, and I loudly declared, “And I love Soren.”

There was more chattering from the gallery, but this time, I only focused on Soren. He smiled back over his shoulder at me, and suddenly, I wasn't so afraid. Even if this didn't work, if we were both severed and banished, we would still have each other.

“Quiet!” Kriselle shouted, sounding irritated, and everyone was quick to comply. “No outbursts are allowed from the gallery, especially irrelevant ones. Now, to continue with the matter at hand. The accused has entered no defense –”

“Pardon, sorry, Your Majesty,” Soren interrupted. “I do have a defense.”

“Since you have not denied the majority of the charges, what exactly would your defense be?” the Queen asked.

“It is as I already said. True love .” He motioned back to where I stood in the gallery, holding the Regula. “Do you mind if I grab a book? It’s the Regula, and it is my only evidence.”

“Fine,” Kriselle said.

He rushed over to take the book from me. I passed it across the obsidian wall, and he flipped to the page we'd marked. He carried it over to the herald.

"Would you be so kind as to read these passages aloud?" Soren asked the herald.

Magik can never create love, destroy love, or otherwise stand in the way of true love. For the purposes of the Regula de Magik, true love is defined as an unwavering, unbreakable, and undeniable devotion to another that is more profound than mere attraction or friendship.

When the herald finished reading, Cosetta’s expression had turned into a sour pucker. In fact, there were a few frowns on the tribunal.

“That doctrine was meant to forbid love potions and the like,” Herve tried to wave it off.

“No, that’s what you think it means.” Fannie – the other warlock on the tribunal – interjected. “What it actually says is that magik, and by extension the tribunal, are not to interfere with true love.”

“I always liked that Doctrine,” Adelheid commented, smiling.

“Come now!” Herve blustered. “You know that cannot be what the Regula writers meant!”

"We don't know what the writers' intentions were because they have been dead for over two hundred years," Basil Floreo said. He'd been sitting silently, watching it unfold with the same clever blue eyes that Briar had. "We were appointed to the tribunal because of our experience and knowledge so that we can interpret the words of the Regula. It's preposterous to pretend that the written word exists so perfectly that no interpretation is needed when you are on a tribunal to do exactly that."

“Love has always seemed to have its own sort of alchemy, and it is a type of natural phenomena much like magik or gravity," Edwing Harrigan said. He leaned back in his chair, one leg crossed over the other, looking regal and aloof. “But unlike most other phenomena – excluding perhaps death – the Regula specifically forbids interference with love. That says something in and of itself.”

“How did the tenet even make it into the Enchanter’s Oath if it contradicts the Doctrine in the Regula?” Cosetta asked in growing exasperation.

“The Enchanter’s Oath was only added 75 years ago because of some… incidents in the kingdoms," Basil explained. "I would surmise that this is the first time that true love has been brought as a challenge."

"A physical relationship can be forbidden between an enchanter and a muse if it's one based on mild affection down to pure hatred," Fannie the warlock clarified her position. "It is only true love that we cannot interfere with."

“It seems that what this all comes down to then, is how do we determine if this is true love or a ploy to avoid your punishment?” Kriselle asked.

“Because I cannot lie in the tribunal.” Soren motioned around to the magik in the ether that bound him to the truth. "My feelings for Isadore have only grown since we met, and I risked everything just to kiss her. I love her with all that I am, and no matter what you decide here today, I plan to spend the rest of my life with her. If she'll have me."

"I will!" I shouted because I couldn't stay silent any longer, and my heart felt as if it might burst.

Soren had been facing the dais, but he smiled back at me.

“Was that a proposal?” Briar asked.

Soren turned to face me fully, and his smile suddenly turned uncertain. “I hadn’t planned on doing it today, or this way, with everything, and without a ring… but here we are.” He took a deep breath. “Izzy, will you marry me?”

"Yes!" I answered without hesitation, leaping over the wall and running to him. He caught me in his open arms and held me to him.

“Stop this!” Adora suddenly shrieked. “This is a travesty, and someone has to stop this! Your Majesty! You can’t let her throw her life away on slime like him!”

"Enough!" Kriselle shouted. "There will be no more outbursts from the gallery. Isadore, you may stand with Soren because I am ready to pass judgment on you both."

The room was utterly silent as the Queen appeared to deliberate, and Soren's pinkie hooked through mine as we stood in judgment.

“The Doctrine was written far before the Enchanters’ Oath, and as such, it is the superseding law of the land,” she said. “Soren of House Tomoleo and Isadore of House Dellamousa, you have been found to have true love. The tribunal gives our blessing on your upcoming union and wish you a happily ever after.”

Wrenley and Briar cheered and clapped, and I dimly heard Adora crying. But for a moment, I blocked it all out and kissed Soren.