Chapter 163

I sat in the empty gallery of the courtroom. Since the defendant was a princess consort, admission had been restricted, leaving the courtroom feeling hollow and bare.

I lifted an opera glass to my eye and looked up at the balcony. Above the judge's bench at the center of the courtroom, the balcony was reserved for the royal family.

I'd wondered what expressions Julia and Dayson were wearing, but the balcony held only Karman and Cassion.

The two of them were deep in a serious conversation. Then Cassion suddenly lowered his head. He smiled, aimed precisely in my direction.

Even though we were far too far apart for him to actually see me, the certainty in his eyes was enough that, without realizing it, the fist I'd been clenching tight finally relaxed.

For this unprecedented trial of a princess consort, the Minister of Justice himself had stepped in as judge.…