Oxford Brown and Matthew Brown walked to the courtroom. Matthew had fully healed from his injury. He walked to the witness stand and was ready to give his testimony. Oxford Brown only groaned behind his brother. The designer had a feeling that action would bring him trouble.
"Witness, please state your name and occupation."
"Matthew Brown is on duty! I am an officer in the Noble Street area!"
His raucous voice gathered people's attention. It made the prosecutor's ears ring for a moment. "All right, Matthew Brown. Can you tell me about the testimony?"
Matthew told everything about Sirius. He volunteered to infiltrate the drug den but was caught by the enemy. Helena appeared in that place and rescued him from death. His story astonished everyone in the courtroom. The judge even leaned forward from his seat while listening to his report.
"Oh, dear..." The prosecutor's face was pale after hearing Matthew's statement. "You're telling me this whole time the missing people and drugs related to the cult? How horrible..."
The judge was perplexed by his story. "This is curious, Lady Blackmoore. Some witnesses stated that you are part of Paradise Star, but you helped people from inside. What is the meaning of this?"
"I can explain."
Everyone turned their head at the source of the orotund voice. Duchess Vermillion opened the door, followed by Prince Sapphire and the Duke from behind. The combination of their auras was so oppressive that the rest of the courtroom fell silent on their arrival. No one expected the Crown Prince to come with the Vermillion couple. Prince Sapphire looked at Helena with a sincere expression and apologized.
"Sorry, we're late, Lady Blackmoore."
Helena dropped to the floor. Her knee felt weak when a wave of relief struck her. Tears fell from her grey eyes as the burden inside her heart became lighter. A light of hope shone brightly from her bleak past. What she did this whole time was not futile. Her good deeds finally paid off in this life.
Duke Vermillion rushed to her side and helped her stand. "Lady Blackmoore, are you all right?"
"I-I am fine. I thought you all abandoned me..."
Duchess Vermillion huffed. "Don't be ridiculous! You've been helping us this whole time. How can we abandon you?"
The Duke agreed with his wife. "We received a report about Paradise Star at the kingdom border. Both of us went there to investigate the information and left the capital. Imagine how surprised we were when Prince Sapphire came out of nowhere. He told us that you had been arrested!"
The Crown Prince nodded his head. "I realized something was wrong when I saw your name on the list. I took my horse to chase Duke and Duchess Vermillion. They are the only ones who can prove your innocence." He reassured and winked at Helena. "Don't worry. I'll take the problem from here."
King Opal was baffled by their arrival. "Sapphire, what is going on? Why do you appear with the Duke and the Duchess?"
The young man walked toward the royalty seat and bowed toward the King. "Father, please forgive my tardiness. I had something important to do."
The King touched his head. "Is it more important than the trial?"
"Yes. I believe there is a mistake. The list of Paradise Star members is not accurate. Lady Blackmoore was indeed involved with the cult, but not in the way everyone thought. She is a hidden member of my investigation team. Lady Blackmoore was the one who sent us the location of Sabbath."
The judge was surprised and looked at Helena. "Why didn't you say anything about it?"
"Will you believe me if I say it?"
Everyone was silent. Helena had a point.
Duke Vermillion bowed his head. "I am ashamed to admit it, but Prince Sapphire spoke the truth."
"I still have the letter she sent me," the Duchess added. "You can use it as evidence."
The Crown Prince continued his speech. " I hope this will make my intention clear. This is why I want to delay the trial. I understand the noble opposed further investigation because they want the punishment done soon. That's why I need the Vermillions to help me."
The noble faction was on the opposite side of the royalty. Prince Sapphire did not have enough power to hold them all. However, the Vermillion couple had some connections with neutral nobles. Not to mention, some of the neutral nobles's relatives had been apprehended, like Helena. They would choose to stall the punishment rather than push it.
Helena glanced at Prince Ruby. He must be the one aiding the noble to push the trial. Everyone lost their trust when they learned the royalty hid the Paradise Star. The nobles thought punishing guilty people would make people's trust return to them.
Prince Ruby stood from his seat. He walked in their direction while provoking his brother. "Honestly, I don't trust you at all, Sapphire. What else have you been hiding from us? "
The First and Second Princes finally clashed against each other. The atmosphere in that place turned cold within a second. The trial had turned into a big mess. Prince Heliodor shrunk in his seat while King Opal touched his head. It might end in a civil war if he did not intervene. However, the King was not sure what the best step to do.
"Would you allow me to speak, Your Majesty?"
Everyone forgot about Helena for a moment. She curtsied and greeted the King. Her manner remained poise despite standing in the defendant's stand.
The King sighed, hoping Helena would give him an insight. "I allow it."
Helena was smiling. Now that her innocence was proven, she could move to the next step. It was time to counterattack.
"Your Majesty, please pardon my rudeness. As you heard before, I am not a member of Paradise Star. Yet, my name still appeared on the paper. I believe something is wrong with the list because..."
All eyes on the court stared at her. She only had one chance to do this. Helena took a deep breath and exhaled it. She was aware of the consequences of her words.
"... it might have been forged."
The whole place became silent. People in the investigation teams were under the jurisdiction of the royalty. Saying the list had been forged was equal to saying there was a traitor inside the palace. Prince Ruby was angry at her insinuation. He raised his sword at her neck.
"I'm going to end your absurd behaviour right now!"
Prince Sapphire tried to halt his brother. "Ruby, stop!"
What Helena did next made everyone speechless. She held the sword blade with her bare hand. Blood was dripping from her pale skin, but her eyes showed no doubt or hesitation. Prince Ruby was taken aback and dropped his sword to the floor.
"Your Highness, you cannot kill a tree without taking its root. Paradise Cult will still lurk beneath our kingdom as long the mastermind is alive. Does title, reputation and respect are more important than innocent souls? Can we truly turn a blind eye toward their suffering?"
Helena spoke from the bottom of her heart. At first, she just wanted to investigate her regression. She did not care about anything else. Yet, that path had led her to new experiences. Helena met different types of people, learnt how to wield a weapon, danced with Princes of the kingdom and saved many people from the cult. She had gained many precious things in her third life. Helena would hold onto it and never let it go. She would face her past to create a better future.
Helena put her right hand in front of her chest. She spoke in an appealing voice for the whole courtroom to hear. "On the name bestowed by God and the nobility, I, Helena Blackmoore, ask for investigation of the list. Were you find this result false, I am ready to pay it with my life."
King Opal was stunned. In front of him was a brave woman, betting her life for justice. Her idealism remained strong and was not shaken by fear. For a second, he saw his younger self standing behind herâthe naïve young man who still held to ideals.
When was the last time he acted like that?
The King laughed in his seat. Helena had managed to persuade him. Her bold behaviour slapped some rationality into his mind. "Ah, screw everything."
Everyone was surprised to hear him cursing. King Opal ignored it and determined his answer. "Let's delay the trial. We cannot continue since it is disrupted. Ruby, get back to your seat."
Ruby was shocked. "But-"
"Don't make me repeat myself." The King spoke with a cold tone. "This is supposed to be a trial for guilty members of Paradise Cult, but we almost send an innocent woman to death because of it. As Lady Blackmoore stated, perhaps there is something wrong with the list."
Ruby was upset, but he obeyed his father. However, he did not return to his seat yet. That man pulled Helena's hand and frowned. Blood was dripping between her veins and skin, staining his white gloves. Prince Ruby threw his dirty gloves to the floor. He took a handkerchief from his white suit and used it to stop her bleeding. Helena noticed his hand covered by a bandage when he wrapped her hand.
"What happened to your hand?"
"Forget my condition. Take care of yourself first."
He glared and left Helena alone. The courtroom became noisy after Prince Ruby returned to his seat. The judge used the opportunity to announce the verdict. "Honestly, this is the most surprising trial I've ever worked on in my entire life. It's more interesting than the time the lawyer cross-examined a parrot, the prosecutor ended up being the killer, or the victim returned alive." He knocked his hammer to the table. "Because new circumstances appear, we will postpone Helena Blackmoore's verdict. In exchange, she will do house arrest."
Helena was dumbfounded. Did she pass her death flag? That woman was smiling brightly. She shouted and jumped out of happiness. Tears fell from her right eye. Helena could finally kiss her goodbye to the guillotine.
"I-I AM FREE! I can go- AW! My hand!"
The pain finally hit her. Helena forgot about her hand for a moment. The adrenaline dulled her pain. Prince Ruby's handkerchief also helped slow the bleeding. Duchess Vermillion gave her emergency treatment while giving her an earful lecture.
"Helena Blackmoore! What did I say about danger?"
"I'm sorry!"
Lady Nora touched her head. "I should have guessed you would be a reckless lady. First, I found a strange report of a long black-haired woman saving people from Paradise Star. When that Whitesmithe kid appeared on the report, I somehow knew that woman would be you. Did you know how wide my jaw opened when I received a report from Matthew next? You infiltrated Sirius and disregarded my warning. After that, a nun knocked on my door and gave me a letter. They told me it was your order. I just knew it related to Paradise Star."
Helena remained silent. She had no right to refute the Duchess's words. Everything the older woman stated was correct. Helena was lucky just to be alive, considering the danger she faced before.
"Unfortunately, you must stay in prison for a few more hours due to the release procedure. You can go home today."
Helena stunned. "Already?"
"The witnesses' statements are nothing against concrete proofs."
Helena exhaled a long breath. Staying one more night in the cell was luxurious compared to execution. She was worn out from the trial. Helena did not mind sleeping in a cell as long she could get a rest.
Prince Sapphire and The Vermillions wrapped the trial for her.
Helena returned to her prison accompanied by an officer. She could not wait to tell Lady Lilac and Sir Navy about her story. However, the officer had brought her to a different location. Helena was annoyed and complained to the officer. "I might be blind in direction, but I am sure this is not-"
The officer already held a sword above her head. Helena barely managed to avoid the assault by stepping back. Her heart was beating fast and loud. The man in front of her was not an officer.
He was an assassin.