With the sound of the priests and the royal family swearing oath in the witness of the gods, it finally began.
The Royal Trial.
As the victim, my family and I were given a seat in the front row. Both the crown prince and the second prince is in the arguing counsel table, with the emperor and empress observing both of them at the side, obviously, with a disappointed face.
"Carina, you don't have to do this," Caspian leaned in and whispered.
His face showed such anguish at the thought of his own little sister having to attend a trial over an attempted murder of herself. He couldn't imagine how much of a mental shock it may be for Carina to unravel the truth in this trial.
Little did he know, Carina is just as ruthless as him. Things like this won't bother her.
"Don't worry brother! Since father isn't here, I am glad that you are with me," I smiled reassuringly.
Caspian's face immediately changed into a smug one. "Heh of course. Your brother is more reliable than your father,".
I sighed. I quickly focus on my surroundings. A lot of nobles came to watch this trial but I still haven't found Vance. What did he mean by a show? Is he even allowed to come out of his own palace?
While I was thinking that, I glanced towards the emperor. He is old and exhausted, but even with decent observation you can see that he is quite the looker back when he's young. Although he has gentle eyes, a seeming feature of both Hern and Wilhem, I know for sure that he is as ruthless as the emperor back in my day.
Tutoring Vance, it gave me enough evidence. First he took a concubine from a fallen kingdom and does nothing to do damage control, thus making Vance and Uld living in such a state. He, too, does nothing when Vance was mentally sick, and shows bias to Hern by eliminating other 'potential threats' to the throne, by marrying all his other daughters and sending his sons to war.
It reminds me too much of the past, and it gives me chills.
"This is truly a bad idea then. Carina, maybe you should...," Caspian misunderstood when he saw my grim face.
I shook my head and gave him a reassuring smile.
The high priest in charge hammered the gavel. The sound alerted everyone in the courtroom, me included. "It begins...," I muttered.
One by one, Hern and Wilhem spoke their piece, objecting each other. The emperor was even more disappointed, as it sounds like them bickering which is an unrefined attitiude.
However, the royal trial is needed because the issue concerns Aspera, the most important ducal household that holds most of the emperor's power. If there is no royal trial, the nobles would scorn the emperor for disregarding his strongest right-hand man and also for offending the family that is responsible for the empire's defense.
"There are no presence of poison in Lady Carina's blood. She is not poisoned," crown prince Hern objected. Wilhem gritted his teeth.
"But in the end, you still hurt her. You did something to her physical constitution!,"
"I have a witness and she saw that I did not lay a hand on her. The lady's maid can clarify this with no bias,"
"Alas, I would have believed you but you were there without invitation,"
Hern jolted in shock. He clicked his tongue, but quickly smirked and glanced at me. "Me and Lady Carina, we are both soon to be engaged. We do not need to bother with such mere trifles,".
I widened my eyes in shock. Caspian stood up quickly, veins popping out on his temples. "How dare you drag my little sister's reputation to the mud like this?!,".
When Hern said that, it is akin to him saying that we both commit adultery.
I quickly pulled the sleeves of my brother. "Brother, please calm down. We don't know what he's planning," I whispered.
But Wilhem doesn't seem to be faltering any minute either, as he soon returns again with a smile. "Oh but... I do have proof that you plotted against your own beloved. Shall we call that witness?," he said.
Not only Hern, but the rest of the people in the courtroom turned towards the door.
There revealed Vance, waving happily, unbothered with the situation.