(#16)Court Hearing 2

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

It was a maid, maybe in her late 30s.

Everyone was confused of her cheerfulness.

"Actually, Sir Ruenti... " Maylene stood up from her place and the court turned to her.

Seriously, they were able to find a scapegoat? I was genuinely confused.

"Miss Searah was very sad about the incident. She just didn't know how to come forward. So when she came to me, I informed the court."

"She admits that it was an accident. And she wants to use this opportunity." Maylene said.

One thing, this Searah is too cheerful. Second, Marylene is sweating. Third, she is not saying anything clearly and at times, Searah looks at Marylene's face in a confused way.

And this all points out that there are loopholes in this witness.

I then saw a paper crumbled in her hands. I could make out a bit of what was written.

Lucky...

Oh My Goodness... Suddenly it all made sense.

I then stood up from my place. "Miss Searah?" I called and she turned to me.

Exactly, I doubt she even knows why is here right now.

"Yes?" She answered.

"To make everything clear, are you admitting that you pushed Lady Aesther into the Holy Pond in the Garden while she was taking a stroll, accidently?" I asked.

Searah looked at me with a ­what-the-hell-are-you-talking-about look. I knew it.

"What are you talking about?" She asked me and looked at Maylene.

The look I saw on Maylene's face made it all clear.

The witness was like a paper plane. All we can do is to pray that the plane won't encounter any problems. But after all, a paper plane is paper.

Such a frail witness! Did she think that the Avalons are such idiots?

Searah then handed me the paper.

"Lord Ruenti." I said and bowed. "You have been given the permission to speak." Sir Ruenti said and I nodded.

"I am afraid that this Searah misunderstood the situation and went to Maylene. Maylene thinking that the culprit has been caught send the word. I am afraid that it is no one's fault." I said.

"The maid is still at fault." One of the Jury said.

"No. This is clearly fabricated. One can understand it by just reading. Someone wanted her to come in here." I said.

"If Lord Ruenti?" I asked and Lord Ruenti nodded. Then handed the paper to the court reporter. He handed it to Lord Ruenti.

"Alright. The maid is not going to be held accountable. So, Miss Maylene will be given a small penalty for not analyzing the witness well and for wasting the court's time." Sir Ruenti said.

Maylene was clearly shocked. She hadn't expected this at all. Her plan backfired. Well, thinking about it, it can't be called a plan at all.

"I apologize for the fruitless court day we had today, You Highness." Sir Ruenti said to King Adelouis.

"It's alright. Looking on the bright side, a noble lady was not charged unrightfully." King Adelouis said.

"Yes, Your Highness. It is indeed true." Sir Ruenti said and stood up.

"And thereby announcing the punishment of Miss Maylene, which is two weeks of house arrest for not analyzing the witness well, I end the court deal of today." Sir Ruenti said.

Everyone stood up and bowed to Sir Ruenti.

It was a tradition of Avalon. Bowing to the law, symbolizing that we will always be under the law, no matter the circumstances.

Even the King has to bow before Sir Ruenti.

Then from the court room, we moved to the celebration room, which was beside the Grand Fare Hall.

Every time after a court deal will be closed a party will be conducted, to celebrate the success of the judiciary and its ability to withhold the rights of every man.

When we got into the Celebratory Hall, the King sat on his usual seat. Sir Ruenti on his right and Father on his left.

It's a round table. So I sat beside my Father. And this round table is for the Assembly members.

There is a separate table for Jury members and other guests.

"So Sir Ruenti." King Adelouis called. "Yes, Your Highness." Sir Ruenti replied.

"Since you were the lord, you make the toast." King Adelouis said. "My Pleasure, Your Highness." Sir Ruenti said and stood up.

He then turned to me and said. "I toast to Lady Aesther for becoming a charge-free noble lady." I then stood up and accepted the toast.

"Never thought that Lady Aesther would finish it in a gulp." Count Barrel from the aristocrats said.

I smiled. "Even though it was a first time, it is a blessing to be able drink a toast from Lord Ruenti." I said back, without dropping that smile.

"I am indeed pleased to know that it is your first time." Sir Ruenti said.

"You don't need to be courteous, Lord Ruenti." I said and sat followed by Sir Ruenti.

The party went on. After a while, I excused myself and went to the hallway.

Many Knights were standing. All of them bowed when I passed through.

I raised my hand to stop them and they gladly obliged.

I went to the Knights of House Aesther. They all bowed again.

"Congratulation, Lady Aesther." One of them said. "Thank You." I said. "Where is Elle?" I asked.

"She had some things she needed to take care of at home." I heard a familiar voice from behind and turned.

It was Sir Cross.

"It's a pleasure meeting you, Sir Cross." I said and bowed. "Oh My, You don't have to do that." Sir Cross said, clearly surprised.

The response from the Knights were also not unveiled.

"Oh, it's good to know that she already went, I came to inform her that it will be safe to leave now." I said.

"Oh, but I still find interesting that the Auburns will let her inside and more suspicious is that the Auburns are here while one of their family members is sick." Sir Cross said.

"Oh, for your first question, they are not residing in the Auburn mansion anymore. For your second question, they don't know that one of their family member is ill." I said.

"They moved out from the Auburn House." I said. "Oh." It seemed to make sense for him, then.

"Then, I will leave. Father will get worried, else." I said. "And, work hard all of you. I won't be able to visit you when you guys are working. But I will make time for you." I said.

"Oh, you don't need to do that, My Lady." One of the Dames said.

"Oh, I am not doing it as an obligation, but rather with love." I said and I earned a series of smiles from the knights.

"Then I will be leaving." I said and slightly bowed.

I turned to Sir Cross.

"You need to work hard too, Sir Cross." I said. "There is no way I can refuse that if you say it like that, My Lady." Sir Cross said and I smiled.

"Everyone one of you, enjoy the party." I said and all of them nodded.

I then left for the part hall.

"My Lady!" I heard Belle's voice and turned. "What's the matter?" I asked.

"Lord Aesther asked me to send you to the room upstairs." She said. "You sure?" I asked.

"I am sure." She said and I nodded.

Why would he call me to there? It's the place where the King's and Father's private conversation takes place.

"Lead the way." I said and she nodded.

"Ana!" I heard a screeching voice ringing throughout the air column.

I plastered a smile on my face and turned. "What's the matter, dear?" I asked.

"I knew that this idiotic maid wouldn't tell you about me." Maylene said and gave a glare to Belle.

"Belle did tell me about you looking for me when she was looking for me. I was in the washroom at the time. So, you can apologize to her." I said.

"Sure dear, what-" She was confused.

"Because you blamed Belle for something she didn't do." I said and Maylene became even more confused.

I then went closer to her.

"Look, because you screamed my name, a lot of people will be giving us their attention. So, if they see that you are apologizing they will have a good image of you. And also, it's good for your safety if people think that we have enmity between us." I said.

"Ah, true." Maylene said and I nodded.

Finally! Making believable lies are quiet a pain in the

"I am very sorry that I screamed at you." She said and slightly bowed.

"And, my Father just called me. So I have to be there. We will talk later." I said.

'Oh, sure." She said and I nodded.

I started walking towards the private chambers.

When I reached, I knocked on the door three times, then opened it at an ajar and asked, "May I come in?"

"Yes, please." A voice came from inside that surely belonged to the King.

I got in.

"Please have a seat, Lady Aesther." The King said and I nodded. I sat beside my Father.

"Lady Aesther, we were talking about the envoy from Isla. He travelled for three weeks to reach our country." The King said.

Wait, WHAT?!

I then turned to Kyle. "That is amazing." I said, with a bright smile. He then returned that smile to me.

"But I knew Lady Aesther before." Kyle said and every eyes fell on him. "What do you mean, dear Minister of Isle?" Father asked. "We exchanged letters." Kyle said, smiling.

I blinked my eyes several times. "It was you?" I asked. "You didn't check the name of the person who sent you letter?" The advisor asked.

"Even if I didn't check the name of the person who sent me the letter, I will still remember the person, to whom I am writing to, right, Your-"

Shit. I bit my tongue.

"Excellency." I completed.

"You don't need to call me Your Excellency. You just need to call me, Sir... " He was confused.

I kept myself from smiling.

"Lin." He said. "Then that will be it, Sir Lin." I said and smiled.

"And yeah, what you told, is true. I am sorry that I didn't think it that way." Sir Lin said. "So then I am assuming that, Minister Lian kept himself anonymous." Sir Lin said.

"Yes, precisely." I agreed.

"But Minister Lian," I turned to Kyle. "Yes?" He asked.

"Shouldn't you be from, Gelna?" I asked and his eyes widened.

"Estimating from your reaction, I assume I am correct, amnt I?" I asked.

"H-how did you know?" Kyle was purely surprised.

"What do you mean? You mean, you are really from Gelna?" King Adelouis asked.

Kyle then stood up. "I apologize from the bottom of my heart." He said and bowed.

I was told to keep my identity a secret, as a straight command from King Zulious. I was going to inform You Highness and the other respected official, towards the time of my departure." He said.

"It's alright. You may sit down." King Adelouis said and Kyle sat down.

"How did Lady Aesther understood that?" King Adelouis asked ad everyone nodded.

"Your Highness, Birds are only trained and tamed, in two of the western countries, that are Milena and Gelna. So I was very surprised to hear that you were from the Isles, which is a southern country." I said.

Kyle smiled. "But how did you predict that I am from Gelna, precisely?" Kyle asked.

I smiled.

"You did mention to His Highness that you had weeks of travelling. Milena is one of the closest country to the Empire of Avalon. It only requires days of travelling.

Even if you did lie in that, Milena is a country, where the Kings, in a hereditary manner, have a dislike to the birds. Then there is no way that a Minister like you will have a falcon with you. Which is rather hard to train and requires time." I said.

"I have never been this scared a person, let alone a woman." Kyle said, smiling.

"That's the second time a person told me that, and the first person is still in the room, Your Highness." I said.

King Adelouis laughed out. "Didn't I tell you? I was right when I told you boys to be wary of her." King Adelouis said.

"I assure you, Minister Lian, that I will keep this matter from the other ministers till you are comfortable with." King Adelouis said.

"Thank You, Your Highness." Kyle said.

"Um... Lin?" King Adelouis turned to Sir Lin. "What is it, Your Highness?" He asked.

"You wanted to talk about something with Lady Aesther, was there not?" King Adelouis asked.

"Yes, Your Highness." Sir Lin said. "Then we shall leave." King Adelouis said and stood up, followed by my Father.

"What is it that you want to talk with me, You Highness?" I asked to Sir Lin and everyone looked in my direction.

Shit, shit, shit. How can I make this mistake.

"I am very-" Sir Lin cut me off. "You knew who I am, may I say, right from the beginning." Sir Lin told and everyone eyed me suspiciously.

The King then looked at Father.

"No, Your Highness. It was not my Father." I said. "You knew it?" King Adelouis asked.

"It was quiet evident, regarding the situation, Your Highness." I said.

"Yes, now will you please tell me how you found out his identity? If you could have found out, then the others... " King Adelouis clearly had a look of uneasiness.

"No, your Highness. Not everyone would be able to tell it. I had once seen the portrait of the Eldest Prince when I was quiet young." I said.

"Oh!" King Adelouis heaved a sigh of relief. "You... didn't forget my face?" Sir Lin asked.

I smiled. "The face of a God-like person is hard to forget, Your Highness, even though you are hiding part of your face." I said.

"You are really good with your words. I must say, a good daughter of Lord Aesther." Sir Lin said.

"You are not so bad yourself, Crown Prince Lindon." I said. "Seeing how you are currying up favors with my Father." I said.

"I can't believe that I got scared of a person, let alone-" He stopped himself, realizing that he was about to say something that was just said moments ago by another man.

"That's the third person in this room." I faked a sigh and the room erupted with laughter.

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