[AN: Bonus Chapter 6/7]
"You think those stupid laws apply to me! Guards! Arrest this woman for assault on the dukedoms house!" The young girl's father yelled out.
"Duke Berg!" The stall owner's brow furrowed. "Duke, even if you are a duke and she is a princess, she still committed a crime! You can not act like this!"
Kana was surprised the stall owner still did not back down. Even in the face of a duke of his own kingdom, the stall owner did not relent. The duke's face was turning purple. He was in excruciating pain, and the stall owner's words were digging at a sore spot. He had hated this law ever since his brother became king and established such a law. But when he saw the guards running over, he quickly began acting like the victim. "Good, you're here! This woman here is colluding with the stall owner here to harm the members of the royal family!"
"Colluding my ass! I just came to this city yesterday. How the hell would I even know who is who? Your daughter tried to steal my stuff, WHILE YOU condoned it. Having your hands crushed is getting away lightly." Kana yelled. She couldn't believe this man was turning good into bad and making her out to be the evil one.
"Yes, sir, guards, what the little lady said is correct. Although I do not know if she just arrived in the city, I do know this young lady paid for my product, and the duke's daughter snatched it right out of my hand as I was about to pass it over to her. " The stall owner stood upright. He had nothing to fear since he did nothing wrong. He would not back down no matter who stood in front of him.
"Duke Berg, it seems both sides are sticking to their story, so we will need to investigate this." The lead guard announced. He did not seem perturbed at all to be saying such things in front of a duke.
"You! Who do you think pays your budget!? Do you wish to have no funding whatsoever!? If I say they were at fault, they are at fault!" The Duke was beyond mad. His whole body was shaking, making him seem like he was about to blow up at any time.
"Heh… Duke Berg, do you think we do not know about the incidents that you have been involved in and had your way. Unfortunately, you really did mess up this time because I was the guard who let this young lady into the city yesterday during my weekly gate duty. Miss Glancia at the Sleeping Moon Inn can attest to that. The silver she has in her hands was something I gave to her personally." The lead guard was the same guard that Kana had met the previous day, Bridan. He was someone who was a good judge of character, so he knew Kana had not started anything first.
"So you let a spy into the city who is using illusion magic to trick us all!? Just look at what she did to me! How can she be a young girl but hold such great strength!?" The Duke once again tried to turn the tables. This time blaming the guard for being a traitor who let the enemy into the city.
"With all due respect, sir, if you continue like this, I will consider filing charges on you for slander. Who doesn't know my whereabouts every day? If you wish to continue as you are, I do not mind sending the both of you to jail now. You know our main gate has magic that dispels any kind of illusions, so what you're saying right now holds no grounds. As for her strength, it is probably due to the fact that she lived deep in the forest all this time. You know how strong the monsters living in the forest are. You have been on a few culling missions so you know it is not easy to survive in the forest. Yet this young lady had grown up there." Everything the duke tried to use to get his way was blocked by Bridan. Every word was like a slap to the duke's face.
"You! Fine!" The duke used his good hand and was going to go pick up his daughter, who had long passed out due to pain but was quickly stopped by Kana. "What do you want? Have you not humiliated me enough!?"
"You can go, but she stays. She stole my item. I will not let her off just because I crushed her hand. If you are willing to break the law, then you need to be able to face the repercussions for breaking that law." Kana said straightforwardly.
"Miss, you wish to press charges?" Bridan asked.
"Yes, I would. I do not feel with just the punishment I gave to her will set an example to others. But I do request you do not give her the death penalty." Kana wanted the girl to repent, not die. It was not fully her fault that she was raised in such a way. But as for her father…. "I also want to press charges against him as well for assault. He attacked me after not getting his own way."
"I can be a witness to everything the young lady said." The stall owner replied.
"Okay I have taken your statements. Little Lady I suggest going back to the inn for now. I will have one of my men send you back." Bridan was afraid that one of the Duke's people would take action against Kana. The only way to be sure that nothing happens was to have someone escort her.
"I will thank you." Kana smiled faintly at Bridan as she bowed her head.
"You will be needed to go to court tomorrow to uphold the case." Bridan said with a smile before turning to the stall owner. "You as well."
"No worries sir I will be there." The stall owner said with a smile. He then glared at the duke. "Don't think just because you are royalty that I will stand by while you take advantage of a young lady. I will be sure to tell the truth and the whole truth in court tomorrow."