*“**Everything will be resolved without a hitch.*
*— Duke Macturn Willias —**“*
Recalling those words, Duke Kineart pushed aside the unease gnawing at him.
Just as his aide had said, the man simply disliked showing his face in noisy places — that was all. He had merely passed by.
“Now then, Your Grace must enter the courtroom, so please clear the way.”
The aide carved a path through the crowd of journalists as he spoke.
The reporters made no effort to hide their disappointment, but they parted reluctantly nonetheless.
None of them moved far from the entrance, however.
They all knew that door would open again before the day was out.
The verdict would come today — that much was certain.
⁂
At that very moment, Riersha had just finished preparing to leave.
Dressed in a fur-trimmed hat and coat, she was pulling on a pair of boots that rose to her knees. Her small hand was clasped firmly in Pernoa’s.
She had just glanced at the time when Oberon stepped inside.
“Shall we depart, Miss Riersha?”
“What about the others?”
“Prince Isierd is already in the carriage. Miss Sonnet, the defendant, as well. Though… there seem to be quite a large number of journalists gathered in front of the courthouse.”
Sona, who had been listening, pressed her lips together with a worried expression.
She was concerned about Riersha being bombarded with questions from the press.
But her anxiety dissolved just as quickly with Oberon’s next words.
“There’s no need for great concern. I’ve already submitted a request to use a transit gate at the courthouse.”
“There’s something like that?”
Sona blinked, round-eyed at the unfamiliar concept.
Oberon gave a nod.
“There are a few conditions that must be met, but… thanks to Duke Kineart, we were able to satisfy the requirements.”
“How generous of him, helping us in all sorts of ways.”
Pernoa clicked his tongue and gave a derisive sniff.
Whether to call the man’s efforts admirable or pitiable, he wasn’t quite sure.
One thing was certain, though — unintentionally or not, Duke Kineart was doing them favors.
Oberon glanced at his wristwatch once more and spoke.
“Then shall we go? The mages who will open the transit gate are waiting outside.”
“Mm. Let’s go. Bye-bye, Tona.”
“Yes, Miss Riersha. Have a safe trip!”
Before stepping out of the manor, Riersha turned back to look at Sona and gave her a small wave.
Then she walked outside and climbed straight into the carriage.
Nearby, a group of mages stood waiting, a large magical circle drawn out on the ground around them.
The eldest-looking among them approached with a kind smile.
“Very well. I will now activate the transit gate.”
“Please do.”
As Oberon answered, the mages took their designated positions and began channeling their magic.
Riersha looked across the carriage at Sonnet.
She had been eating and resting well during her stay — her face was smooth and glowing.
“Long time no see, Sonnet. Looks like you’ve been doing just fine.”
“Yes, thanks to your consideration, Miss Riersha.”
“Oh, that reminds me. Seventy million gold!”
That was the sum Sonnet had billed her in the interim.
Riersha said it with a bright, cheerful smile, and Sonnet flinched, suddenly finding the carriage window very interesting.
Not that Riersha had any intention of making it an issue.
As a commoner, the mere fact of having become a target of Duke Kineart would have put Sonnet under tremendous psychological strain.
Seventy million gold as compensation for that — when she thought of it that way, it wasn’t so steep a price after all.
Riersha waved her hand to signal she wasn’t bothered in the slightest.
“That much is fine. As long as today’s trial goes well, it’ll all work out. Right?”
“Ha, haha…”
Sonnet laughed awkwardly, looking as though she might burst into tears at any moment.
A burst of radiant light flooded the space — and when it cleared, they found themselves standing in the rear courtyard of the Declair Imperial Courthouse.
“We’ve arrived. Best of luck to you all.”
One of the mages announced their arrival.
Riersha blinked several times, her vision still swimming from the transit. Pernoa had already stepped out and was standing at the carriage door, hand extended. Riersha took hold of that steady hand and carefully climbed down.
“Are you Miss Sonnet?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
A court clerk confirmed Sonnet’s identity several times over, then gave a satisfied nod.
“Right this way, please. I’ll show you in.”
“Thank you.”
Sonnet followed the clerk toward the entrance.
Riersha fell into step right behind her.
“You can do this, Sonnet. Don’t worry too much. I’ve prepared everything well.”
“Yes… I’m putting all my faith in you, Miss Riersha. I really am.”
Sonnet murmured it like a prayer, her voice trembling.
The moment they stepped through the doors of the courtroom, every head inside turned toward them at once.
With each step forward, Riersha could practically feel the gazes prickling against her cheeks.
As Sonnet took her designated seat, whispers broke out around them.
“Hmph. I can’t imagine how a mere commoner dares to arrive later than Duke Kineart.”
“…The Willias ducal house will side with Duke Kineart regardless, obviously. Everyone already knows the outcome — they’re just here to watch. Apparently, the entire panel of judges this time comes from the Willias family.”
At the sound of those murmurs, Sonnet’s shoulders visibly tensed. The quiet tutting behind them never let up. Riersha sat down beside Sonnet and gave her a soft, reassuring smile.
Then she turned her gaze across the room toward Berun Kineart.
Just as she remembered from their first meeting, Duke Kineart held his wooden walking cane and wore an expression in his eyes that made her skin crawl.
“All rise, please.”
Someone announced the entry of the judges, and the entire courtroom rose to its feet.
The judges, robed in their formal court attire, each wore an equally cold and impassive expression.
Duke Kineart caught their eyes and smiled — a thin, knowing smile.
But then —
Someone hurried inside and leaned close to the most senior-looking judge, delivering a hushed message.
“Ahem. Mm… Is that truly what they said to convey?”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“Very well. You may go.”
The judge tilted his head with a puzzled expression and took his seat.
“Please be seated, everyone.”
“Now then, we will commence case number 10,384. Duke Berun Kineart and Miss Sonnet, please rise and read your oaths.”
Duke Kineart rose from his seat with an unhurried smile.
“I, Berun Kineart, declare before this sacred tribunal that I will speak only the truth, in accordance with my conscience.”
“…I, Sonnet, declare that I will speak only the truth, in accordance with my conscience.”
“Then let us proceed. The matter at hand is… a suit brought forth by the Kineart ducal house. Do you have sufficient grounds for this claim?”
“Of course. The writer Sonnet, acting under the instigation of the Arachrene ducal house, produced a thoroughly shameless production. Evidence to that effect has already been submitted to the court.”
Duke Kineart’s aide answered on his behalf.
The judge listened to the explanation and nodded as though he understood.
At the sight of it, the corner of Duke Kineart’s mouth curved upward in satisfaction.
However —
“I see. And yet… according to the laws of the Declair Empire, freedom of expression is explicitly protected under imperial law. I’m honestly not sure what the problem is here.”
“…What did you just say?”
The judge was leafing through the submitted evidence with an air of supreme indifference, clicking his tongue.
The room had gone so quiet that the sound of it carried to every corner.
Across the room, one of Duke Kineart’s other aides could be seen hastily vacating his seat — rushing off to find out what had gone wrong.
It seemed he had just realized that something was going terribly off course.
“Furthermore, it appears Miss Sonnet was once before sued by the Kineart household on a similar matter. This strikes me as retaliation driven by the personal emotions of a high-ranking noble, rather than any legitimate legal grievance.”
“…”
“Miss Sonnet, do you have anything you wish to say regarding this point?”
The judge pushed his glasses up and fixed her with an inquiring look.
Sonnet stared at Riersha with an expression of utter bewilderment.
No matter how much she had known Riersha had made her preparations — she had never imagined the judge would show such open, one-sided favor toward their side.
“Well?”
Riersha whispered, and Sonnet responded by lifting her thumb in a fervent, deeply moved thumbs-up.
