"That witch set me up! She tied and drugged me! She deserves death for daring to do such a thing to nobility! No body should ever fall for whatever she had to say against me today!" Gideon shouted, spit covering the air around him as he spoke.
The nobles in the court flinched as the judge's hammer struck twice, silencing the room.
"I will have order in my court! The defendants are permitted to plead their cases, but you will address only me. Understood?"
"Understood, Your Royal Highness," Gideon murmured bitterly.
"Understood," Vivienne said in a small voice.
The Princess took a deep breath and then turned to Vivienne. "Vivienne, the first accused, no last name, age forty-three, commoner and owner of a brothel called Summer Strawberry. Do you confirm that all of what this court has stated about you is true?"
Vivienne briefly glanced at Rosa who made sure not to return her gaze.
"...It is true, Your Royal Highness."
