(#15)Court Hearing

"My Lady, I am very worried about this." Belle said, for the fifth time already. "I am going to be alright. I have prepared everything." I said. "But still... " Belle said and I rolled my eyes.

"Fine. But promise me." She said and I rolled my eyes. "Yes dear, sure." I said. "Remember, you promised." She said.

"I am the Lady of House Aesther, and I never go back on my word." I said.

"That's my daughter." Father came and hugged me.

"Seriously Lord Aesther. You know that I am really happy, but during times like these, I can't just tell which one of you is worse, Lord Aesther or Lady Aesther." Belle said and I and Father laughed.

"That's why we are Father and Daughter." I said. "Well spoken, My Child." Father said and Belle rolled her eyes again.

"Well then Belle, you get ready, we have to leave soon." I said and she nodded.

"You have it all sorted, don't you?" Father asked and I nodded. "Good." Father said.

He then looked out of the window. "It is becoming evening. We need to leave soon." Father said and I nodded.

There was a knock on the door. I adjusted my veil. "Come in." I said and Belle came in. I heaved a sigh of relief.

"I am ready, My Lady. We can start moving." Belle said and I looked at Father. Father nodded and I looked at Belle and nodded.

We then got into our carriage. Behind us, in another Aesther carriage, two of the superior knights followed us.

"Belle told me that you had something to do after you get inside the palace." Father said.

"Yeah, there will be our knights at the palace. Right?" I asked and Father nodded. "Every Family's knights will be there." Father said.

"Exactly. Since I am a Dame I must be present as well." I said. "So, you are going to cross dress?" Father asked and I nodded.

"Whoa, you are indeed a strong pair of Father and Daughter, Lord Aesther and Lady Aesther." Belle said and all of us smiled.

Once we got inside the palace grounds, the Knights came to us. "You haven't forgot what I have told you right?" I asked and they nodded.

"We wouldn't dare forget." They said in unison. I nodded and turned to Belle. She nodded in return.

We both quickly headed to the washroom. "Belle, where are the clothes?" I asked. "Here, My Lady." She said, retrieving my clothes.

I then changed into my Dame clothes and got out, without wearing my veil.

"I am going to follow you to the knight quarters. And keep in mind, I won't be right behind you. I will keep a distance." I said and Belle nodded.

Belle started walking in front of me. I kept my distance and followed her. "You cheap maid." I heard someone call Belle and turned, as the sound was found familiar.

"Miss Maylene?" Bella asked loudly, to make sure that I heard too.

"Anyway, where is that Lady of yours?" Maylene asked. "I lost her, Miss Maylene. I am actually looking for her." Belle said.

"What a waste! Anyway, when you find her, tell her that I looked for her." Maylene said and walked off in her real arrogant method.

After Maylene was out of view Belle heaved a sigh.

"Completely believe me now?" I asked. "I have no choice." Belle said.

"Anyway Miss, we are close to the knight quarters." Belle said and I nodded.

"And the cost is clear, Lady, you may go forward." Belle said I nodded.

I got inside the knight quarters.

"Ella!" I heard someone call. Yep, that's my dame name, ooh, it sounds rhyming, and I sound childish.

"Ah, Yes." I turned to them. "We were waiting for you." Naina, one of the few dames told me.

"Actually, I have something I need to tell you people. I can't attend this ceremony. Something happened at home. I have to-" I was cut off.

"Ella?" I heard a voice and turned. "Sir Cross!" I said and bowed. "What happened?" He asked.

"Something happened at home, so I need to go home. I have already informed the Head Knight and the Assistant Knight." I said.

"Oh, if they have already decided, I don't think there is anything I can do." Sir Cross said.

"And on more thing, if you meet any of the Auburn House Members, don't talk about me. I have not informed them of me moving into House Aesther. And considering the fact that I ran away, they might threat like they have no house member by the name Ella." I said.

"I understand." Sir Cross said. I then bowed again and left.

"Belle." I called and she came.

We then left for the washroom, and changed my clothes back to normal.

I then headed over to the court.

All of the important members were already there. Like Count Viscount, Count Barrel and Count Millow from the aristocratic side and Count Welds, Count Auburn and Count Damiel from the Imperialist Side.

The Royal Assembly is the main body of the Empire. The head of the Royal Assembly is the King himself.

The Royal Assembly is mainly composed of two factions. The Imperialists and the Aristocrats.

The number of factions are proportional to number of eligible princes that have chances of inheriting the throne.

The Aristocrats support the Second Prince, Louis.

The Imperialists support the First Prince, Lindon.

My Father is among the Imperialist, or the Head of the Imperialist.

The Head of Aristocrats is Duke Vendom.

The only neutral person in the Royal Assembly except the King is Sir Ruenti or Commander Ruenti.

Commander Ruenti has control over all the Internal and external forces of Avalon. He is the Defense Minister of the Avalon Empire.

He is also the Justice Minister of the Avalon Empire, since only he can decide impartially.

So yes, today's matter shall be decided by Sir Ruenti as it is directly connected with the factions.

I walked in and went straight to my Father.

She is so in trouble this time. Said one person. I know right. Her head has been in the clouds for quite some time. Another. I so... pity her, not. And now, her dear papa can't rescue her. Another.

I smiled brightly, and acted as if I didn't hear those comments.

Then we heard the sound of the gavel hitting the surface to call for order. "Order, order." The judge said and everyone sat on the seats.

"Lady Aesther?" The judge called me and I nodded. I then went and stood.

Because I am of nobility, they won't call me the accused, till I am charged of the crime.

So in short, nobilities are never accused, only guilty.

"Because of foreign envoys have come to the country, I have been advised by the King to make this court hearing, as short as possible." Sir Ruenti said and everyone nodded.

"First of all, I would like to declare something important. Lady Aesther is removed from the eyes of accused." As Sir Ruenti said that, there were a lot of uproar.

"Noble status doesn't mean that they can be free of guilty when they have committed a crime." Said one of the jury.

"Exactly, Lord Ruenti. If the peasents were to hear this, they would hold riots and rallies." Said another.

"Lady Aesther had proved her innocence herself. The record has been given to me." Sir Ruenti said.

"That's a nice joke." Said a Jury member. "True. Since when has Lady Aesther been, at least a bit resourceful?" Another asked.

"The guards have been questioned under the presence of Lady Aesther, Lord Aesther, His Highness Adelouis and some others." Sir Ruenti said and everyone fell quiet.

"The guards have informed that there were suspicious people who entered the Holy Garden after Lady Aesther had entered, on the request of Lady Aesther." Sir Ruenti said.

Every member of the jury had looks of displeasement on their faces.

"There is a possibility that Lady Aesther bribed the guards." One of the Jury said.

Seriously, why are they so adamant in getting me be guilty?

"In case you forgot, I didn't get out of the Garden with consciousness. And also the first time I enter the Palace after the incident was under the supervision of His Highness King Adelouis." I then smirked.

"You possibly wont be telling that His Highness is partial, are you?" I asked.

All of the members of the Jury had looks of horror on their faces. It was evident on some of the audiences too.

"Well... Lord Aesther can do it." Another said, but rather discreetly.

I smirked. They are being cautious.

I then suddenly changed my facial appearance to rather a serious one.

"When you blame a nobility, you need to have material proof or at least a witness. Do you have anyone who saw my Father bribing the guards?"

"And when you make that statement, you are not only inferiorating the Royal Family, but also am important member of the Assembly, the Royal Advisor, who is having the next most power after the King." I said.

The court became very silent after that statement.

"Yes, just like Lady Aesther mentioned. No we have already wasted enough time. We shall proceed." Sir Ruenti said and looked at me.

"Lady Aesther, you can go back to your seat." Sir Ruenti. I then bowed and returned to my seat.

"You did well." I heard Father whispering to me, trying to be unnoticed by others.

And that was all I needed to be happy for the rest of the day.

"That was hella amazing!!" I heard a sound and turned. It was the Kyle. "Thank You." I smiled.

"So, I have been informed that there is someone who admitted that they are the one who pushed Lady Aesther in." Sir Ruenti said and the whole court got quiet.

Sir Ruenti showed a face of impatience. "Come on People." He said. Okay, that was completely informal.

"It's me." We all heard a cheerful voice and the whole court turned to her.

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