Chapter 40

Hughes’s eyes darted around the attendees who raised their hands to speak.

He paid special attention to those who specifically requested the death penalty.

Damn, Count Tosko. Until last week, he alternated sending gifts to both Deon and Daniel, but now he’s suddenly siding with them?

Count Seyod is also notorious for being the First Consort’s right-hand man. Marquis Marlin, who at first seemed to have a lingering attachment towards Daniel, seemed to now lean towards the Third Prince.

From now on, they would be the first ones to be separated as ingrates on the day Deon takes the crown.

With a look of “you’ll see,” Hughes scrunched up his nose and looked at Deon.

“…Your Highness?”

Hughes thought Deon would also observe the flow of the trial like himself, but he instead had an unusual look on his face, gazing towards the void.

An expression between vacancy and a frown. It looked like he was contemplating something.

Perhaps…

As he instinctively peered towards Kathia’s back, Hughes shook his head dismissively.

Ey, it can’t be. Maybe because I was stuck in this boring and uncomfortable place for so long, nonsensical thoughts popped up.

Thankfully, the already-scripted play was about to draw its curtains to an end. I can’t wait to get out of this disgusting place.

On the other hand, Kathia, throughout the entire trial, couldn’t quite follow the remarks that the attendees were shooting like bullets.

The criminal. Murder. Excessive confrontation. The degree of bodily damage. The sorrow of the bereaved. The appropriate ruling.

Some words of significance happened to be repeatedly hammered into her ears every so often.

Except for that, she couldn’t hear anything, see anything.

Kathia clamped her hands together so long, they were drained of color. What she meant was, Mom— Without you, Mom, I can’t do anything by myself.

So, please…

“The verdict is the death penalty!”

To the eardrums that were suddenly cleared, like a lie, the cruel reality came crashing down.

As she raised her downward-tilted head up, the gavel was raised up high, as to pierce through her heart soon.

This can’t be. Please. Kathia rushed to look behind her, seeking her lifeline.

Please, please, PLEASE!

Ah… the dark eyes glanced towards her shortly.

Ah, they moved along dismissively.

It was the end.

Her thin layer of hope crashed down to the ground.

The idiotic and reluctant Kathia. What did you expect? Did you really think that the so-called ‘protagonist’ would come forward? For someone as worthless as yourself?

Yes, I was of no use. Kathia bit her lips tightly. If she didn’t, she would’ve madly laughed at herself.

You see, why did the brilliant Kathia just realize the reality of this place just now?

Because she was an extra.

She’s an extra who didn’t even have her name printed in a single page of the book, already disappearing like an expendable figure.

It was the same for Hannah.

She was no more than just a set-up to illustrate how the emperor’s character was.

Haha. What in the world can I possibly say in this kind of situation? I’ve been wronged? I’m furious?

No, even those words could not explain my feelings right now, of the heavens falling, of the earth rising, walking on a fiery path.

Kathia closed her eyes tightly. Like this, she didn’t want to open her eyes ever again.

In the end, our painful lives were unworthy of being depicted to others, nor worthy of receiving help from others; we were that kind of trash.

— CRASH!

In reluctance, not having a chance to stop the plosive from resonating, breaking my head and heart.

— CRASH!

The very moment, her soul wrapped in a layer of glass, shattering into pieces.

“Halt.”

Deon stood up from his seat. Kathia’s eyes, which lost their light, shot open at that moment.

As Deon pretended to ignore the taken-aback Hughes and panel of judges, he smiled toward the First Consort.

“Mother, may I at least present my humble opinion?

“…You may.”

With a sour face, the First Consort nodded.

She was greedy and obsessed with authority. Even right now, due to the fact that Deon sought out HER permission over the judges’, she became a little bit more generous.