CH 140

If Leon drew a sword here, he would be detained right away, but soon released under the order of the Emperor.

Perhaps upon seeing his expression, Daniel jumped up and handed out the documents to the presiding judge.

“I don’t think it’s honorable to have her Grace state it. I wrote down the details here…”

“Hmm, okay.”

The presiding judge also read the atmosphere and moved on.

Regardless of the outcome of the trial, judges were protected under the Emperor’s decree, but it was a principle, and above all, they were also aristocrats belonging to society.

Therefore, in trials between nobles, chief judges were mainly in charge of Dukes and Marquis. It was because they were of high rank so there was fairness in the courtroom.

“I’ll start again after an hour of rest.”

Both sides’ arguments came and went, and the first case had to be passed without a clear conclusion.

This was because, at the time of the incident, it was necessary to identify who the intruder was.

Leon, who was sitting still, jumped up and approached Dana. He looked at her complexion, but Dana looked better than he thought.

“If you’re tired, you don’t have to be in a place like this. Daniel and I will take care of it.”

“…You know I won’t listen to you, right? Are you going to send me home again?”

Dana whispered in Leon’s ear and glanced at Rian beyond him.

Rian was discussing something with his lawyer when he made eye contact with her.

Dana thought he would avoid her eyes, but Rian looked at Dana with resentful eyes and turned back.

“What is this?”

Dana was a little curious, but soon Daniel got up and Leon raised Dana.

They left the court and went to the lounge next to it.

Usually, such a resting place would not be provided to the defendant, but this was definitely a special treat for the Grand Duke.

There, they were able to discuss plans for the next trial without being disturbed by anyone.

Ahil and Lily stood side by side in front of the lounge door to escort their masters.

Except for Lily who took drinks in and out for a while, people were severely restricted from entering.

“I should’ve just said it. If I had done so, I could have driven him into a corner.”

“You don’t have to make such a sacrifice, Dana.”

“That’s right, Your Grace. It’s all submitted on paper anyway. And there is still a trial left in the future anyway. If it all comes to light, he’ll never escape the death penalty.”

“The death penalty…”

“Yes, the death penalty.”

When Dana blurred the end of her speech by repeating his words, Leon looked at her and clearly conveyed the meaning.

Leon wanted to kill Rian and get rid of him. From the moment he learned about Dana.

What was done through law and procedure did not match his personality, but there was still nothing much to do.

It didn’t matter to Leon, but he was only going through this boring procedure because he had someone to protect now.

When her shaky blue eyes faced Leon, he stood upright, and Dana nodded slowly.

“Okay.”

Rian’s death did not hurt Dana’s heart. However, she had never thought about the form of revenge for him, so she just couldn’t answer.

Is it okay to take his life so easily? Shouldn’t they give him more pain? She also thought it a little cruel, but soon she wondered what use it would be.

His sins were beyond imagination.

It wasn’t just about trying to kill her and taking away the merchant group.

Not only did he kill his brothers and parents, but he also tried to kill those who worked in the family to stop them from talking.

The judgment was not made by one person, but everyone would think so.

It was a crime that had no other way to pay back other than death.

* * *

The door to the court opened, and Rian looked at the person entering with astonishing eyes. He never thought she would come.

Dana was a little surprised, so she got up from her seat, looking at Leon and her.

“Princess Christine, so you came here.”

The court clerk escorted her directly to the witness stand.

Christine lowered her gaze a little with her hardened face, followed the scribe’s guidance, and stood at her seat.

“Hmm, I’m… So, the witness should stand at her seat and take an oath.”

The presiding judge was also a little surprised and coughed as he saw her before speaking.

A while prior, a list of witnesses from both sides was submitted to the judge’s seat, but it was because they did not see it properly.

“I, Christine von Cepesria, will never lie in this court, and I swear here that any punishment will be sweetened if perjury occurs.”

“Other witnesses should take an oath, too.”

As soon as Christine’s witnessing was over, the presiding judge said. In addition to Princess Christine, Harbert, Lisa, and one more executive were on the witness stand.

They also took an oath one by one after Christine. Rian’s eyes changed every moment when he saw each of them.

He looked anxious when he saw Christine, relieved when he saw Harbert, and puzzled when he saw Lisa.

He couldn’t even turn his eyes to the visitor’s seat. Leon was Leon, and unlike before, the number of people on the Duke of Hamilton’s side had increased a little. Of course, the Duke himself was still not present.

Why aren’t you helping me? Are you really abandoning me? Hales. Why did I put up with that ugly b*tch?

Rian ground his teeth inside. But soon, when he saw a certain person rushing in, he looked blue.

“Ugh, is that him?”

“Do you know him?”

It was Marvin, who investigated him. He had never dreamed that the top inspector would participate in the trial personally.

“Ahahaha, I’m late. Your honor.”

“Welcome, you came as a prosecutor.”

“Yes, the situation is complicated, so I should do it.”

Laws of this era were not so complexly divided, but the jurisdiction was inevitably different between the law fighting property rights and the law dealing with murder.

In some cases, the inspector was an all-arounder that could directly merge the two cases and investigate them and participate as the prosecutor for both.

Because of that Joker-like role, he must have been able to do it, but he didn’t consider it unless he had to, so he looked like an idiot who usually had nothing to do.