DISCLAIMER:

This chapter is brought about as a courtroom scene. Beware that it is not written professionally nor co-produced by a person expert in law. Also, I used the concept of a jury trial considering the story happens in a classic empire setting. Please, please, please expect that there will be mistakes in terminologies, process, and grammars you will encounter while reading. Please bear with this Dora-the-Explorer writer. The courtroom scene in this chapter will differ from real-world proceedings.  I’m sure you noticed that I am making a whole weird world here so if you happen to be a law student or so, I’m warning you; this should never be a basis to mock trials. The author is not knowledgeable enough to give you a perfect thrill, but at least I’m proud I pulled off a major element of the story’s plot. This is the continuation of the trial of Duke Ryo's case. Enjoy reading. 

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"Kid. It really suits you. Don't walk too fast, kid."

Of all the memories that could have stuck, it was the young lord’s words from last night that popped into Lara’s mind. She was still sitting in the courtroom, overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information she'd absorbed in just over an hour. Those words echoed back, cutting through the chaos.

Kid. Bagay nga sa'kin, she thought bitterly. I feel like such a kid in this room—just sitting here while strangers know more about my family than I do.

She felt the need to freeze her thoughts as the man in the witness stand began to talk.

"His Grace, Duke Ryo, had always been benevolent," Mr. Tides casually remarked, followed by a slight cough that left the audience in an awkward, heavy silence. Kahit ang sabay na pagsinghap ni Rory at Iya ay rinig ng dalagita.

“Ano raw?” Rory whispered sharply, leaning closer. “A-Akala ko ba'y sa panig siya ng—” She stopped herself abruptly as she noticed Lara twitching. “Are you still alright, young miss?”

Tipid lamang itong ngumiti sa kaniya at huminga nang malalim bago pinakinggan ulit ang pagpapatuloy ng lalake.

"Out of all his guards, I was the first ever employed since the passing of the former Duke of Charlotte. So, I have been serving him for more than two decades—had been, I should say," Mr. Tides said, stumbling over his words. "Because, well, His Grace fired me a couple of weeks ago."

Lady Lara didn't mind the other audiences' reaction on that. Napakurapkurap siya nang may maalala.

Fired? But I just saw him in Dad's chamber. That was days ago, not weeks.

"The testimony I'll be sharing today is not entirely against him, as I have witnessed the duke's good character over the years—as a man, as a leader, and even as a husband. However, as a man who abides by the law, I believe that no one should ever be exempt from the consequences of taking another person's life, regardless of how justified they believe their reasons to be."

Maririnig ang halos sabayang pagpakawala ng hininga mula sa mga tagapanuod. Ngunit hindi kasali roon ang dalagita, dahil sa halip ay hindi niya mapakawalan ang hininga. Her chest tightened, and she bit her lip, frustration building with every second of the man’s pause.

"It was for the couple's most recent anniversary when I booked a reservation at Asull Phragrance, the empire's most regarded restaurant. However, the supposed romantic date ended miserably when the two fought, causing a commotion in the place."

It was as though the said commotion was relived when the spectators started chattering around.

"That's what I've been saying! I was at that restaurant that night—it was like watching the climax of a classic theater play!" one voice said, drawing chuckles.

"Now, that sets the mood!"

"The following night," Mr. Tides resumed, raising his voice to regain order, "I excused myself to leave my post at his office so that they could talk privately. I thought they’d reconcile, but the next day, things seemed worse. His Grace ordered us to prepare renovations for a vacant room in the manor. Soon, it was revealed to the household that they had split up. Duke Ryo moved into the new room."

A ripple of laughter broke out among the crowd, some unable to stifle their amusement.

"This testimony feels more like gossip!" a woman’s loud voice chimed in, sparking more laughter.

"Kung gayo’y naghiwalay muna pala sila bago nangyari ang krimen?"

Mr. Tides shifted uncomfortably, his voice lowering as though the weight of his words pressed heavily on him. "It went on for months, and not a single servant or guard dared to spread gossip. Everyone kept quiet—for the sake of Their Graces' daughter.

"Your Honors . . . what I’m about to reveal is something I never thought I’d have to say. It’s not easy, but I believe it’s crucial to understanding the events that followed," he said, facing the jury.

The room fell silent, the tension thick in the air. 

"It wasn’t His Grace who sought companionship outside their marriage. It was . . . it was his wife." He cleared his throat, his voice wavering slightly. "Her Grace, Duchess Liria, was involved with someone else."

It hit Lara like a slap. Her hair started to lift on her arms. Her lips began to tremble as well, even though no words could escape from her mouth.

Gasps rippled through the courtroom, followed by a flurry of hushed whispers. 

"No'ng una'y ayaw ko ring maniwala," pagpapatuloy ng saksi. "The Duchess had always been poised, graceful—a perfect image of nobility. But there were . . . signs. Late-night visits from a man who wasn’t a member of the household. Letters exchanged, delivered discreetly by her personal maid. At first, I convinced myself it was nothing—a misunderstanding, perhaps—but then I saw them."

The murmurs grew louder until the presiding judge banged a gavel for order.

Lara desperately looked at her father, who did not seem a bit moved by everything happening. She bit her lip bitterly, mentally begging him to speak.

"It was late one evening," Mr. Tides pressed on. "I had been patrolling the estate grounds when I saw her, out by the orchard oranges at the back of the manor, speaking with the man. Hindi lamang iyon isang pag-uusap." Saglit siyang huminto, bahagyang nag-init ang mukha na siya namang nakita ng madla. "Nagyakap sila at . . .  naghalikan."

Hinayaan niyang magtagal ang mga salita sa ere habang pinipigilan ang sariling tumingin sa pinag-uusapang duke.

"I kept silent about it," he admitted. "I thought . . . perhaps it was just a fleeting mistake." He sighed, and then sped up his speech. "I wanted to believe that. But eventually, His Grace found out. He never said how—he was far too proud to discuss such things—but after that night, everything changed."

Now, his voice softened, regret creeping in. "The fights between them grew unbearable. He moved to another room, and she—she didn’t even deny it. She told him outright that their marriage was broken and that she had found solace elsewhere."

He looked up, his gaze briefly meeting Lara’s, as though he had already spotted her from the very start, then darting away. "I know this isn’t easy to hear. It wasn’t easy for any of us to witness. But this . . . this was the beginning of the end for their family.

"They fought again, even after they had split up. It was impossible for me not to hear everything when, one afternoon, Duchess Liria rushed into the duke's office while I was already inside, locked the door, slammed the envelope she was holding onto the duke's desk, and slapped him hard across the face. 

"I heard every bit of the fiery discussion that followed. The late duchess made accusations that the duke had already sold their daughter to the devil—her exact words—referring to Duke Ryo's friend. 

"Duke Ryo, frightened, didn't waste any time and immediately opened the envelope. He read the letter aloud. I cannot possibly recite the exact words, but as the duchess explained, its contents promised a marriage between their daughter and the son of the duke's friend. 

"Although that fight ended with the duchess walking out, another began as their daughter's debutante ball approached. Duke Ryo discovered that Duchess Liria had enlisted their daughter's name among the crown princess delegates. It so happened that Duchess Liria threatened the duke with a formal divorce if he ever attempted to twist her decision." 

Mabilis na tumayo mula sa kanyang upuan si Adeliya, ang babaeng abogado, handa nang kwestiyunin ang lahat ng sinabi ng lalake, kabilang na ang pananahimik ng prosecutor, na nagpatuloy sa halip na magbato ng mga tanong sa kanyang saksi mula pa sa simula ng testimonya. She almost forgot it wasn’t yet her turn to cross-examine Mr. Tides, who noticed her movement and gave her a sharp stare.

"This . . ." the man proceeded with a louder voice, as if he were an attorney himself. " . . . is not hearsay." This just made Adeliya more appalled. Ngunit kinailangan niya pa ring umupo ulit, at dahan-dahan niya itong ginawa habang nakatitig pa rin sa lalaki.

The other male, Solicitor Seeds Jewelrite, finally made a presence as he advanced his steps near Mr. Tides and face the people. "For the first 'fight' Mr. Tides had witnessed at Asull Phragrance, two signed sheets of paper were admitted as Exhibit B, revealing the payment procedures requiring the couple to compensate for some ruined items in the restaurant."

"Huh?" some of the audience reacted. "Gano'n kalala?"

"Furthermore," the prosecutor stated, "Exhibit C consists of a copy of the unsigned divorce writ, which was provided solely by the temple of the capital." He genuinely smiled at Adeliya before facing his own witness. "Now, continue your testimony, Mr. Tides."

Tumango naman ang lalake.

"As I was saying, the duchess threatened her own husband with making their split official. I only learned about it when Duke Ryo got drunk with us guards for the first time. He let everything spill—how she never gave him any property of Charlotte to his name and how her threat would leave him with nothing but the clothes on his back. It wasn’t just anger; it was desperation. 

"That night dragged until dawn, the duchess asleep in the palace. At first, I thought he was just spewing drunken nonsense when he told us to help him plan her murder. None of us said a word, hoping he’d forget it by morning, but then he said, 'Fine. I’ll hire another gang instead.' And the way he said it—cold and certain—still haunts me." 

Haunted. It was an understatement of how Lara felt within the suffocating confines of the courtroom. Her eyes had already begun to pool with tears, the hot streams on her cheeks burning her skin like daggers. Rory's blurred image flickered in her vision as her breaths grew shallow and labored. 

"Young miss!" Rory, standing before her, shook her gently, alarmed by the stillness in her trembling frame. The young lady’s tears were the only sign of motion, tracing fiery trails down her face. Her chest rose and fell unevenly, but no words escaped her parted lips.

Nagsimulang maalerto ang mga tao sa paligid, pinuno ng ingay ang buong espasyo. The witness had stopped speaking. The judge did not bother to strike the gavel. Nakababa na mula sa kanilang kinauupuan ang Empress at ang prinsipe.

As these royalties echoed closer, a tense silence filled the room, thick with expectation. And then, just as they reached her, the young lady's body went limp, her eyes . . . losing in a final . . . shuddering breath.