XI. The Hearing

The pulsating threatened to still itself, when Judge Tony called out to me to begin with an opening statement. I rose up to my feet, and with a deep sharp breath, I spoke.

"I have requested a hearing with solid claims against Lord Jake, and Governor Philipps. I carry along a critical document, and testimony that will reveal the sordid lies beneath the accused." I pressed on. "They are involved in shady activities such as illegal operations in the black market, and a prostitution ring, and bribery withal."

Judge Tony talked to the audience. "Usually, a court hearing would focus on your arguments, and the evidences later on in a trial. Since this case is serious, and involves defendants in power, we shall proceed." He signaled Lady Deanne who acted as the prosecutor, to stand in the center.

Lady Deanne smiled as we held the gaze of one another. "Lady Arabelle, I appreciate the prompt attendance. Your Honor, and the twelve jurors." She greeted. "Now, let us go straight to the point." She glanced at Lord Jake, and Governor Philipps who wore withering glares, before returning her gaze at me. "Lady Arabelle, you say that the two defendants are closely associated in the black market. Do you have a physical evidence in any means to confirm that?"

I nodded, and withdrew the parchment paper, unrolling it. Lady Deanne made her way over and took the document to display it in front of Judge Tony, the jurors, the Heads of Houses, and the audience in the back.

"This document was retrieved from the bedchamber of Lord Jake Partridge, during his soirée. Indicated in the document is the membership bind of Lord Jake under the guide of Governor Keith Philipps," I stated. "As well as his shareholder records in which he profits illegally."

Lady Deanne glowed with pride at my words. "In which part of Lord Jake's bedchamber did you find this document?"

I answered effortlessly. "It was shrouded in cinders, in the hearth of his fireplace as though he was planning to burn the evidence away, or just hide it there."

I looked to Lord Jake, whose jaw was clenched, and his eyes burning with hate and fury.

"Alright, then. This document contains vital data." She gestured with a bob of her head, cueing me to prepare a folder with Governor Philipps's draft proposal. "How about the governor, Lady Arabelle? Any other striking evidence to share?"

"I do." I put out the folder, and rested it atop the table. "Inside this contains rough outlines of the governor's voting rights proposal. This policy aims to renew the civil rights of the civillians, in order for them to be capable of voting for electoral candidates."

"This sounds innocent, and in fact, convenient for our people who will finally be able to share the privilege of the elite." Lady Deanne responded, her eyes bouncing from me, to the jury box, to the audience. "Are there any concerns troubling you about this proposal?"

I exhaled a sigh. "I believe that this was planned to be passed on, not just for image, but for a gate pass to bribery. Not only do the nobles' votes count, but the people as well. With the money Governor Philipps gained from illegal operations, he could use it to buy off votes."

"That is quite the analysis, Lady Arabelle." She faced the public. "May I remind to everyone that the governor's term in the seat of Parliament shall end in two years, but he may be re-elected. Considering Lady Arabelle's words, this proposal sounds like an advantage to keep one's seat in the Parliament, and remain in power."

The public audience muttered among themselves, generating noise from the back of the courtroom. Judge Tony struck his gavel to quell the cresting cadence of whispers. "Silence. The only sound we will hear shall come from the defendant, the defense attorney, the prosecutor, the plaintiff, and the witness." He nodded at Lady Deanne to presume from this abrupt interlude.

She closed in on our table, setting down the document. "Lady Arabelle, do you have a witness who wishes to come forward?"

I moved to stare at Sir Martin, and beside him, Lady Anthanasia in a wheelchair. Sir Martin, and I exchanged a knowing look before he ascended from his seat, and wheeled his sister near the witness stand. Judge Tony instructed that the witness remained in her wheelchair, and she was not required to transfer to the stand. "Before she testifies in behalf of Lady Arabelle, she shall pledge to an oath."

She swore to tell nothing but the truth in the courtroom. After she took her solemn word of honor as a witness, Judge Tony warned her. "As you have taken the oath, the law forbids committing perjury as it is a serious offense, and will ruin your credibility."

"I understand," Lady Anthanasia replied.

The hearing went on, with Lady Deanne urging candid answers from the witness.

Lady Anthanasia spilled the truth. "I was young when Governor Philipps roped me in a prostitution circle. Elite clients would throw their money at me as I stripped down. There were several other women who were in that ring. Some scared. Some satisfied."

"Are there any other secrets that the governor has told you that wasn't explored yet?" Lady Deanne questioned.

The witness closed her eyes, and inclined her head. "I remember when he said that the Queen dying, and Princess Salome vanishing was coincidentally convenient for him. He used their horrifying situation as a plan to push Lord Jake to run for monarch."

"So with the competition put out, and Lord Jake in the line. We learn that the governor, and him are affiliated not only in one crime, but many." Lady Deanne furrowed her eyebrows, a question forming again. "What was the reason behind shoving Lord Jake to run as candidate in the election?"

"There were two reasons. One was to masquerade the bribery among nobles, which became less secret with the soirée. And the other was to ensure that with Lord Jake as King, he'd have the power to promote the governor in ranking." She swallowed the lump in her throat, looking over at the governor. His very presence threatened her, but she chose to go on. She needed this. She needed the governor to suffer.

"Did he mention being involved in the assassination of the late Queen, or the kidnapping of the Crown Heiress?"

"Not at all."

"Thank you, Lady Anthanasia. We appreciate your testimony on behalf of the plaintiff," Lady Deanne beamed at her, then at me. She turned to address Judge Tony, "Your honor, the witness has attested, and clarified completely."

Judge Tony absorbed the words of Lady Deanne, taking the situation into account. His eyes flew over to check on Governor Philipps, and Lord Jake who both had their attention to each other, murmuring their plan. He then rapped his gavel, producing noise. "We will now have our brief recess, before we resume the latter half of the hearing with the defense attorney interrogating the defendants."

The defense attorney of Governor Philipps, and Lord Jake stood up to their feet, and made their way to the judge. Judge Tony leaned forward, hearkening to the hiss of the defense attorney. His honor agreed to whatever statements were being whispered.

I wondered what it was about.

The recess pulled me out of the heavy atmosphere of the courtroom, and in the idle hall. Lady Deanne clasped my shoulder with a firm squeeze. "You've presented yourself quite well with that opening statement."

"I appreciate that," I smiled, which wavered.

"Why? What's wrong?" She knitted her eyebrows together, her reaction affected by the expression plastered well on my face.

I answered her. "The defense attorney talked to the judge, and I have a feeling that it's not good."

There was a glimpse of her frown, which she concealed quickly with an assuring look. "Whatever it could be, know that you have outdone the hearing today. That is what matters."

"Had you not been the one presenting my case to the judge, and the audience, then it would not be the same," I grinned, slowly drifting away from worry.

"Great. Now you have your chin up," she positioned two fingers below my chin, and lifted it as she said that.

Aunt Genevieve, and Rosalie closed in on us, making Lady Deanne take a step back and spare us familial space.

When she was an inch away, Rosalie encompassed me in her hug. "Hey. How do you feel?"

"I feel fickle. We might, or might not win this thing," I said.

Aunt Genevieve tilted her head. "How about we take a breathing exercise, shall we?" She guided the movement of wind in my lungs with her instructions. "Slow, and deep inhale. Hold it in, then unleash." I did as she told, and repeated a few more times.

"You're getting there," Rosalie commented as she noticed the tense frame of mine easing up.

"Great, now keep doing that if you must," Aunt Genevieve beamed. She sat on a chair against the wall.

"How long is this recess?" I inquired.

"About ten minutes," Rosalie replied.

I felt the leg of Aunt Genevieve stutter in movement. She had her arms folded over her chest, her eyes roaming everywhere, growing impatient. "I need to smoke a cigarette," she told us, still could not release that addiction of hers. Vixens was consuming her lungs, ravaging it with fumes.

There was a disappointed, and upset sigh from Rosalie, who had her hands her hips. "What did I tell you? Can you please redirect that energy somewhere else? Like cleaning up your study. It's a mess of papers everywhere!" She exclaimed.

"We already have the servan–"

"Servants, or not, it's your mess," Rosalie shot a half glare.

Giving in to her daughter's irked tone, she swore to tidy up her study. It had been long since I last visited it. Aunt Genevieve would frequently retreat to her study, either to work, or to read. It was a special place to her.

* * *

Those who egressed the courtroom returned to fill it up. Recess had ended three minutes ago. The interval had been broken, with Judge Tony carried on with the hearing. But first he made an unexpected announcement in the name of the defendants. "I shall let you all know that a character witness will take her place at the stand to vouch for the governor, and Lord Jake's decorum made questionable by the prosecutor and plaintiff."

Despite a character witness being called in, I was confident that the female figure was a courtesan, and was carrying biased testimony to demonstrate their defense. Not soon after, a voluptuous woman with a bold face, and winking pearls around her neck, pranced toward the witness stand. She swept her gaze at my side, as if thinking of a subtle manner to mock the prosecution party. But what she summoned was a sly smirk that exuded an unpleasant flavor in my sight.

She underwent the same process with Lady Anthanasia – to swear on an oath to tell the truth, and to be interrogated for answers. She mostly leaned on the positive angles on Lord Jake, and the governor. She mentioned that the governor made sure that he brought the interests of the people to focal point, hence the draft proposal. She, as well, mentioned that Lord Jake had been a charismatic gentleman, which negated the troublesome experience I had with him.

But when asked about the prostitution ring, she did confirm. It came over as a surprise. I expected that they'd defend themselves, and dig out of it, but they sure as hell affirmed. Although, what she said next made sense as to why she guaranteed.

"Yes. The ring is true, but it isn't like what Lady Anthanasia describes it as. Whosoever joined the ring, chose to join in a consensual manner." Her lips curled up, satisfied with what she put out to the crowd. She continued to invalidate the turbulent journey of Lady Anthanasia. "You see, I've always noticed that Lady Anthanasia has been impelling the governor for money. This usually comes in bank checks. She's desperate once she had the taste of nouveau riche wealth. I... I find it unfortunate that she became volatile at times, resorting to physical violence."

With a gasp nearby, Lady Anthanasia hissed in her wheelchair, sneering at the woman. "I begged him because he underperformed his promise. I only received a small portion of an expected pay!" Her tone bled with wrath, and she battled the dark desires of strangling the character witness out of the stand, and to the floor.

I overheard her brother trying his best to calm the building inferno in her. As the words of the character witness dropped out of her tongue, I felt the snicker of Lord Jake, and the governor burn at my side. I avoided the sight of them at all costs.

The defense attorney appeared pleased with the result of her responses. He then faced the defendants, and began asking them questions to shed a redeeming chance of shielding their reputation from falling to the mud. "Since the other party clearly defined that a document was retrieved from your bedchamber, do you mind recounting to us the events prior?"

Lord Jake glanced at me, then answered the defendant attorney's inquiry. "I hosted a soirée, then when I was headed upstairs, Lady Arabelle came from behind. She said that she wanted me, and not Lord Adrian. Of course, with that innocent smile, who would have thought it would end badly?"

"What happened afterward?"

He began acting oddly, attempting to gather pity from the audience with his tremble, his frown, his tone. "I brought her over to my room. She asked for wine, and I prepared two glasses for us. She then asked me to stay outside of the bedroom for a surprise. I came back in, and drank the wine. After that... I couldn't feel anything. Merely a dreamless sleep."

"There were certain inspectors that announced the probability that you were sedated... How did you feel when you woke up the day after your soirée?" The defense attorney pressed another question to him.

He gestured at his head. "My whole body was sore. Aching. Aching badly." He stammered, but continued. "And I was exhausted even when I had already slept. This fatigue was nothing like I've experienced before."

The defense attorney took in his response. His assessing gaze reached out to our table, but it wasn't for too long. "Do you have reason to believe that Lady Arabelle herself sedated you with a soporific fluid she added in the wine?"

"I do. There is no other way to explain it. After all, she was the last person I saw before falling into darkness," Lord Jake gave out his reply.

"Thank you, my Lord."

It was time for Governor Philipps to preserve his name, his reputation, and his fate. The defense attorney loomed with questions, and if done right in a cunning way, we'd... lose.

"Before we begin, governor. May you tell me what any first impressions about Lady Arabelle?" He lifted an eyebrow.

Governor Philipps cleared his throat, sharing his answer. "At first, I thought Lady Arabelle and I would become allies. She had this wonderful charisma of someone who had recently been catapulted to the political world." His reminiscent smile turned sullen. "But it turns out, she was the opposite. She schemed against me. She was snooping around property that didn't belong to her."

"How come?"

"For starters, she stole that folder of draft proposal without permission. And she used the passion project that I was hoping to publish for the good of people, against me." He scowled. "I am kind to her, then I receive this kind of treatment?!"

"Lady Arabelle has tricked the both of you. Now, I investigated on Lady Anthanasia, seeing that she had been wounded in the night of the soirée." The defense attorney's eyes climbed over Lady Anthanasia. "It was reported to be a stab wound caused by the governor. Was it truly you who impaled her?"

Governor Philipps frowned, looking apologetic. But that was bull. He faked that expression. "I didn't mean to. Lady Anthanasia is known for being physically violent. When she wanted more money, and I refused, she tried to force the cash out of my will. When I stood my ground, that is when she hurled herself at me with force and threw punches across my face."

"That is one devastating event... Can you tell us what you did when she attacked you?"

"I attempted to wiggle out of her grip, and was able to grab the fire poker, therefore piercing her in the side. I acted out of self-defense," he replied.

The defense attorney wanted further corroboration of the scene. "Was there anyone else in the room, or was it only a between you, and Lady Anthanasia?"

The governor snuck a peek of me. "There was Lady Arabelle, who watched without doing anything to stop Lady Anthanasia, or help me."

"Thank you, Governor Philipps. I appreciate your effort to give out your responses." The defense attorney began a statement using the words of the character witness, and the defendants. "You see, with what was told by the whole party, Lady Anthanasia is violent. These startling testimonies show that Lady Arabelle picked an unstable witness to back her up."

Lady Deanne poked out of her seat, intervening, but her focus on the judge. "Your honor, I beg to interrupt."

Judge Tony denied, leaving Lady Deanne to perch back down in momentary defeat.

Adding fuel to the fire, the defense attorney rambled on, continuing his mission to shield the defendants in this case. "Lady Arabelle is a deceptive snake who covers her vile motives with a glamorous mask. This case being forwarded to open court was a ploy to try to win the competition, with her competitor wrecked in shambles. She–"

"Bullshit!" A loud voice chimed through the courtroom, familiar but I couldn't quite place it.

All eyes transferred to see a figure by the door, leaning against its frame. The mysterious stranger walked down the aisle, their robe veiling their face. But it was when they reached the center to disclose their identity to everyone, in which it rallied shocked reactions - gasps were the only music in the air.

She gathered full attention. She came back.

"Princess Salome?!" I held my breath. Was this a dream?

Princess Salome, the Crown Heiress who vanished, had flounced through the courtroom to reappear in front of a gaping audience.

"Excuse my language, your honor, but I have physical evidence to nullify every shitty defense coming from the inane mouth of this so-called defense attorney, and its pathetic defendants." Princess Salome made her way to the judge, and slammed a piece of substantial evidence for him to see.

"This is the illegal trade contract between Governor Philipps, and the Somersets." She put another evidence in front of Judge Tony while he was still in state of shock. "This is a documentation of the governor's purchase of estate in Monaco, with the Somersets as the benefactor."

Sensing that Judge Tony was stunned, an onset of irritation claimed Princess Salome, which resulted in her snapping her fingers to pull him out of a fixed trance. "M-my apologies, your Highness–"

She repeated to the him what she said, in case that he did not soak in the information while he was stupefied.

Judge Tony dived back into his professional behavior, meanwhile the rest were in awe at the Crown Heiress. Governor Philipps, and Lord Jake ripped out of the daze they were in. Governor Philipps called out, "Princess Salome! Where, and how did you get those?!"

She merely twined a cunning smile on her lips, her eyes twinkling in the sunlight. She walked over to the defendant, and banged her palm against their table. That smile left her, and what came was a twisted glower of hate. "I despise the both of you for turning your backs against the kingdom. After this hearing, no matter the sentence. Guilty, or not, I will take away your titles, your perks, and the luxurious life you live in." Her tone gave me goosebumps, making the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

The governor vociferated at her, his face contorted in a scowl. He had no shame, nor fear in raising his voice. "Where were you? The nerve to say that when you disappeared from Helmburn all of a sudden, haunting every civilian with worry!" He exclaimed loudly. "Now you come back without the supposed decorum of royalty!"

Princess Salome suffocated the aiguille of outrage in her, straying from the precipice. When she finally anchored her emotion in place, she replied to him in an eerie tranquility. Her voice devoid of bile. "I left in search of evidence, after a witness came forward about your execrable and cheap acts." She rested her hands on her ribs. "Who's to talk about decorum?"

That was enough to silence the governor. He reclined in a frown. Princess Salome huffed, and pivoted to the jury box. "Jurors, I hope that the evidence I brought have spurred the motion of the final verdict." Then she faced Judge Tony. "A wise adjudication must be done, your honor."

She made her way toward us, the prosecutor, and the plaintiff's side. Her eyes burnt through mine. We waited for Judge Tony, until he finally shared the verdict. He addressed everyone in the courtroom who were attentive. "It has been decided..." He made his gaze travel from the defendants, to the audience, to us. Then, with a deep breath, he spoke again.

"Keith Allan Philipps, you have been ejected from the Parliament seat. You will no longer assume the title of Governor, nor will you continue exercising its power. You, as well, are no longer eligible for re-election of any position."

Keith gaped. He could not react.

Judge Tony resumed. "Jake Partridge, you are expelled from your social status. You, and Keith, shall be confined for twenty-five years."

Lord Jake, or must I exclude his former rank, drowned in a burst of tears.

Then... he looked at me, his expressions going sinister...

He let out a temper, a childish one. He shot out of his seat, and lunged for me with his hands stretched outward. I was about to move but his hands were tight around my neck, unforgiving. "This is your fault!" His veins popped out, his eyes wide, and his teeth gritted like an animal. He stole the wind in my chest, and I could barely breathe. Around me was a confusing commotion.

It was like a white light throbbed in my vision, as his grip around me went slack. I gasped and watched Lord Jake being dragged away. There was a syringe of a liquid sedative drug pierced into his arm. His eyes fluttered close, and his head fell back by itself.

"Ara!" Rosalie shouted, her worried eyes on me. She pulled me close to her warmth. "He hurt you..."

I coughed, but managed to reassure her that I was alright. Everyone around me began to shout in disapproval. At first, I thought it was pointed toward me, and there I realized that people were hurling hostile phrases at Keith, and Jake.

"They are shameless!"

"Jake is the violent one! Son of a bitch!"

Those catapulted remarks secured that Keith bent his head down. The two defendants, who were considered criminals in the eyes of many in the courtroom, were being ushered out. They were headed to the cells.

"Get out and never come back!" One cried out in haste.

Eventually the noise dissipated, and Lady Anthanasia approached me in her wheelchair. "We did it! We won!"

"Your frank testimony has secured our victory of this case," I smiled warmly at her.

"Now that his fate has been sealed behind bars, I can sleep safely, and breathe in relief," said Lady Anthanasia.

"Lady Arabelle, we owe you," Sir Martin told me.

"No. I owe you. You accepted, took the risks with your sister. And this is the reward. I will ensure that you both get the help you need. Financial wise." I insisted, and they wore grateful looks on their faces.

As Sir Martin wheeled her sister out of the courtroom, Princess Salome spoke. "This has ended just as planned."

"You... you came back," I stuttered.

"Yes, I came back, to witness you in your glory," she gave out a compliment. "Dwell no longer in this victory, for you shall be gifted with something else..."

"Something else? What do you mean?" I was baffled by what she said.

"Follow me," she instructed.

We egressed the courtroom, trailing after Princess Salome. She led us down the hallway, and veered left. Soon, we stopped.

"I don't understand... What is the gift?" I asked.

Princess Salome grinned. "It has been apart of your life, but not always there..." She gestured at someone in a robe. They turned around, and revealed themselves to us.

I stared, dumbfounded.

The Crown Heiress was not the only surprise.

"Mother?"