Chapter 189

The trial was held at the capital’s Gervianen Plaza. Shortly before noon, Patrizia got on the carriage wearing a blue dress. Today’s trial was meant as a place to demand a sentence, so all the people in the Marvinus Empire were able to attend and observe.

“I think we will arrive in five minutes.” At Rafaella’s words, Patrizia silently closed her eyes and brought her hands together. She was heading towards Gervianen Plaza, the place where her family had all been executed before in her previous life. Now, she was the Empress, and the condemned woman who was going to have her head cut off was Rosemond, not herself. Patrizia could not help but laugh at the irony of the situation.

Since it had been a while since a trial open to the public was held, many people had gathered to watch. A public trial was held for a felony if there was no need to maintain confidentiality, but the last trial for Rosemond was not held in public because they had to hide the fact that the Empress and Emperor had almost been assassinated.

“It is Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress!”

“The Empress has arrived!”

The sound of the people shouting could be heard once they saw the crests that belonged to the Grochesters and the Imperial Family displayed on top of the approaching carriage. Patrizia dismounted the carriage without a smile on her face. The Emperor and other nobles were visible. Rosemond did not seem to have arrived yet.

As she walked over to the Emperor’s side, the nobles who noticed her knelt and showed their respects to her. She greeted the one person who did not kneel to her, Lucio. “The Moon of the Empire greets His IMperial Majesty, the Emperor.”

“There was no inconvenience on your way over here?”

“None, Your Majesty. It was fine.”

It had only taken thirteen minutes from the Empress Palace to Gervianen Plaza. Though she thought the question was amusing, Patrizia asked him without so much as a smile. “When will the criminal arrive?”

“She will be here soon. I just received word from the Imperial Palace.” At the end of his words, a shabby carriage could be seen heading towards Gervianen Plaza. Soon the carriage stopped, and two guards appeared from inside with Rosemond between them.

The people immediately began to release a string of curses when they caught sight of Rosemond. “That woman tried to assassinate Her Majesty!”

“She climbed up the ranks at the speed of lightning as a Baron’s daughter; she should have known how to be thankful for her good fortune! She was overly greedy!”

“So she will finally be punished.”

Rosemond walked calmly, her expression brimming with confidence, even while listening to all the criticism being hurled towards her. She was placed in the center of the plaza. Two guards forced her down on her stiff knees, and she had no choice but to kneel down with both hands tied behind her back. Her eyes were just as arrogant and ferocious as before, but she could not hide her slight nervousness.

Patrizia quickly read that uneasiness. It was the same fear she had shown before she died. She had pretended to be at peace, but the fear of death could not be hidden. Then the anxiety had ensued.

The Emperor began the proceedings. “Since the criminal has arrived, we will commence with the trial.”

Although Patrizia as the Empress was in full control of the investigation, the Duke of Vashi was in charge of the trial. He opened his mouth and spoke in a low voice. “I will begin the trial to determine the punishment of Marchioness Rosemond Mary Rune Ethyller.”

At that moment, a noble interrupted, “Wait a moment, Duke. Why is the Duke of Efreni not attending? Is he not the official adoptive father of Marchioness Ethyller?

“The Duchess of Efreni filed for divorce at six o’clock this morning,” Patrizia replied instead of the Duke of Vashi, her voice neutral. “Nothing has been decided as of yet, but if the Duke of Efreni is divorced from the Duchess, he will no longer be the head of the Efreni family and just a mere member of the Headwick family. Nobles who can have a say here must have a rank of at least a Count. So how can someone who has an unconfirmed status as a noble be a part of this trial?”

At the unexpected news, the crowd once again made a commotion, but the Duke of Vashi prevented the disturbance from continuing. “Now now, everyone please be quiet. If there are no other issues beyond that, the trial will proceed as it is.”

The Duke of Vashi faced forward as he clearly enunciated each word of the following speech.

“On September the tenth of the Year Nine Hundred and Eighty-six, Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress of the Marvinus Empire, received an assassination attempt, but fortunately managed to survive with the help of knights of great skill. The Second Rank of Imperial Knights captured two of the assassins who had ambushed Her Majesty’s carriage and obtained a confession regarding the culprit four days ago. There is also the testimony of His Majesty the Emperor, and Her Majesty the Empress has pointed out Marchioness Ethyller as the mastermind.”

Duke Vashi then turned to Rosemond, who was kneeling down, a ferocious look on her face, and asked her, “Marchioness Ethyller, do you admit to your crimes?”

“I am being falsely accused. This is all an entrapment! Everything has been rigged to frame me! The assassins, His Majesty’s testimony, all of it!”

“Marchioness Ethyller, please calm down. If there is no proof of fabrication, the list of your crimes set for punishment will increase.” Even if that was the case, she was to be sentenced to death regardless. Patrizia was not going to miss this good opportunity.

Rosemond could not help but grind her teeth. Duke Efreni was suddenly facing the crisis of a possible divorce from Duchess Efreni, and as a result, January had been chased out.

Now it was only Duchess Efreni who could help her, but she did not seem to care that her adopted daughter could possibly die, as she had not sent anyone, and had not even attended the trial today. In a nutshell, Rosemond was about to go crazy.

========

Translated by Haeli

Edited by RED