The Trial

*Chapter 81*

As Alucard said, the trial commenced after two days. I was being summoned for heavy questioning. I was also escorted by the royal knights as soon as I arrived at the court when I was surrounded by the crowds, wanting to hit me because I committed a grave crime.

And that... I violated one of the royal ordinances.

"You do not deserve to be the sword of the royal lycan family!" That was the thing I heard they said about me when they knew that I was the matriarch of the House of Argerich.

I was truly embarrassed that Mother Luna Queen Adeline and Grand Alpha King Apollo were here to attend and watch the trial. Most especially that Alpha King Azarius was also here, looking so earnest and frigid. His look was the gaze of looking down on someone. Like he was looking down on me like a lowly life form.

Even Crown Prince Alucard, Prince Alistair, and Prince Alejandro were giving me strange cold gazes that sent shivers down my spine.

They served as the spectators in today's trial.

But someone was missing. Prince Atticus wasn't in his seat. Or more likely, he didn't make his appearance today.

I should be thankful for that since I couldn't handle having him around.

Also, this trial was open to the public. All were welcome to witness that I would be put to shame and executed if I was proven guilty. I could already feel the gazes and hear the murmurs about my already failed attempt at being the head of the House of Argerich.

"Novalie."

I turned my head to see Father who approached me. Looking at him right now, I could see how worried he was right now. "Father." I coerced a smile, telling him that I was fine. Though the handcuffs I had on my wrists were making me uncomfortable and annoyed.

It was a good thing I did not wear a dress today but only a steampunk jacket, white trousers, and boots. If I ever wore a dress, it wouldn't fit the handcuffs I was wearing right now. Even so, this reminded me of the play session I had with my male slaves before.

Father hugged my side which surprised me. "It will be alright, my daughter. You are innocent, I know that." Then he held my face. "You are not bound to go on the wrong path. That is not how your mother told me. Believe me." His expression softened. "Do not listen to what others are going to say. You are innocent and you know that fact, alright?"

I nodded. Though it was surprising that he was talking about Mother here, I felt at ease with his words. It was making me feel relaxed somehow. "Thank you, Father," I said, smiling.

"Dylan." Father turned to my defense attorney named Dylan Heide who was also a pack member of the Wall Burgundy pack. He tapped his shoulder. "I entrust my daughter to you."

Dylan nodded and bowed his head. "Yes, Lord Nigelle. I shall defend Beta Novalie against these criminal charges," he said politely as he turned his head to bestow me a bow.

"I trust you, Dylan," I said as I heaved out a sigh.

I looked at the other table where the prosecutor was settling. They said that they would hold a plaintiff along with the prosecutor. I scoffed. There was a witness yet that person hadn't shown himself or herself here.

I have heard that someone was accusing me that I committed treason and that person has the evidence. Just thinking about it, whoever that person, I would be certain that I would kill right at this moment.

But no.

I wouldn't go to that point.

"All rise," the bailiff announced. "The Superior Court of Sowinski Kingdom is now in session. Judge Escal presiding. Please be seated."

Judge Escal spoke. "Greetings, ladies and gentlemen. Calling the case of Marchioness Novalie Argerich versus the royal lycan family, De Carteret. Are both sides ready?" He glanced at the prosecutor named Johan Rios and at my defendant attorney, Dylan Heide.

"Ready, Your Honour," they said in unison.

They started with the opening statement where each attorney had to state to the jury the evidence they had to present during the trial.

Johan spoke. "Your Honour and ladies and gentlemen of the jury: the defendant has been charged with the crime of treason against the Sowinski Kingdom and the De Carteret royal lycan family. The evidence here," he paused and glanced at Judge Escal. "Our witness states here that our witness manages to confiscate these certificates of illegal transactions such as betraying our country by attempting to overthrow the royal lycan family by collaborating with the nobles, aiding the nobles to resort to a new age of revolution to our kingdom, secretly training soldiers, and lastly, attempting to assassinate Fifth Prince Atticus."

I clenched my hands upon hearing how absurd his statement was. They had no basis that I was revolting for treason, I wanted to speak but not now.

Also, I wasn't plotting to assassinate Prince Atticus even though he became a jerk to my eyes. I didn't come to resort to that part so who on earth was claiming this kind of accusation.

I glanced at the gallery to see the unhappy expression of the royal lycan family and even the jury. However, the Crown Prince and the Twin Garnets were having this interesting expression. It was as if they were waiting for me to... perhaps, embarrass myself in front of the crowds.

Dylan stood up and talked to the jury. "Your Honor, ladies, and gentlemen of the jury. Under the royal ordinance number fifty-seven, one is presumed innocent until proven guilty. You shall come to know the truth that the accusation to Marchioness Argerich that she is committing treason is just a baseless accusation. After seeing the evidence presented here during the trial, Marchioness Argerich proclaimed that her signature is being forged. Therefore, my client is not guilty."

With Dylan's statement, the jury and the audience were starting to murmur. Through my sensitive ears, I heard different statements. Some of them didn't believe that I was not guilty. I remained calm and composed.

However, deep inside, I was in deep anger right now from this annoying accusation. Whoever did this kind of stunt to mock me and play with me, I swore, I would totally commit treason against that person.

"The prosecution may call its witness," Judge Escal announced after ordering the court to hush their voices.

I paid attention to the door. "I wonder who that witness is," I said to Dylan who was also waiting for the witness to make its first appearance in the court.

They did not reveal to anyone who should be the witness to this. They really tried to keep everything secret so I wouldn't find out. As they said that the witness had the protection of the royal lycan family which was why that person couldn't just be easy to release their name.

'Who do you think it might be, Dylan?' I asked through a mind link as I watched Alpha King Azarius glance at Crown Prince Alucard Alucard did the same thing. I could already tell with their movement that they were mind linking each other right now based on Alucard's shoulders that were shrugging.

Dylan looked in my way and answered me by mind linking me back, 'I am suspecting that it might be Prince Atticus, Beta.'

I nodded. 'I am also suspecting that as well.' I leaned in my seat before I laid my eyes on the handcuffs I had.

I found it unnecessary to have them since I wouldn't even dare to abscond from here. I came here to the trial to prove my innocence. They should have released me having these cuffs because it specified that I was really committing treason even though I wasn't.

If our suspicion was right that Prince Atticus was the one who summoned this court for trial and put me here, perhaps, he found out that I hated him so much that I wished to die which was why he was plotting me to commit a royal grave crime to the Sowinski Kingdom.

Just thinking about that made my insides churn upside down. Really.

Right now, I wanted to congratulate Prince Atticus for plotting a scheme on me even though I was his ex-fiancée. I was the one who hated him the most yet he did something that had taken me by surprise.

Of what Alucard said two days ago that his youngest brother wanted to put me in a dangerous situation. His statement should be a confirmation that this was Prince Atticus' plan all along.

Secretly clenching my teeth, I couldn't help getting irritated each second I was staying here at the court. But I remained composed as I must not satisfy Alucard that he would see me miserable with this trial.

If Prince Atticus wasn't here as a spectator, it could be that he was really the witness that they were talking about.

So far, from what I know, we only have a primary witness and that person was very important here in the trial.

I was certain now. That was the conclusion I could say I was confident to say right now.

"Let us summon the star witness," Atty. Rios stated. "The People summon..." he paused before he glanced at the door swung open.

As soon as they revealed the person who was considered the witness, my jaw dropped upon knowing who it was.

"What...?" I gasped, wide-eyed.

"May I present to all of you. The star witness... Marquis Reginald Argerich."