Trying to hide her smile

"I didn't expect it to be this crowded," Janette commented.

"I didn't even expect it either. I mean, His Grace won't be executed here," added Zen, the chief knight of the Dulcia residence who was escorting Selah today.

"People don't come to see Duke Dulcia die," Selah said. "They want to see the fall."

"My Lady…" Zen took a deep breath. "I don't mean to question your decision, but… are you sure about what you're going to do?"

"Yes, I'm sure," Selah said with conviction. "No matter how much I hate Father, I can't let Dulcia's family fall. Duke Dulcia may fall, but the family itself does not. We need to find a new replacement like what Jeremiah said."

"Mr. Jeremiah looked really worried," Janette told him. "I, who just started working for the Dulcia family, still don't have strong attachments. It's just that Mr. Jeremiah…"

"In a way, currently, only Mr. Jeremiah has worked for the Dulcia family the longest," said Zen. "It's only natural that he's that loyal."

Selah smiled upon hearing that. Jeremiah's dedication to the Dulcia family is enormous, and this is an opportunity for her to get Jeremiah.

The trial was opened. Aeneas as a victim, is present. Beside him sits his older brother, Blair. People didn't think they could get along sitting next to each other after what happened. Yeah, but everyone also knows how much Blair loves Aeneas and vice versa.

So Blair may leave the final judgment on Aeneas. But Selah's talk with Blair yesterday made her a little doubtful. However, Duke Dulcia is his ally in obtaining the Tullia Mines. Blair might change his mind and instead, just let Duke Dulcia go.

"The suspect, Duke Dulcia, entered the room!"

Either way, it doesn't matter to me, Selah thought as she watched her father enter the courtroom.

Even though he had only been in prison for a week, Duke Dulcia's appearance was already bad. His clothes were still the same as the last time he wore them, but they were messier this time. His face also looks like it needs a shave. He had noticeably lost a lot of weight, even though Selah was sure the prison at the Palace still fed him at least twice a day.

Selah looked down, trying to hide her smile.

"Father, that's how I feel every time you give me a prison sentence," she whispered.

***

From one corner of the room, Evanthe could see him enter handcuffed. His appearance looked so pathetic that even Evanthe was moved to tidy it up. His head kept hanging down as if embarrassed, even though Duke Dulcia, she knew was a man full of confidence.

"Dad…" Evanthe muttered under her breath.

She looked around the room, seeing how everyone's expressions were. Most of them looked enthusiastic, and some openly showed happy expressions. A black-haired woman on the witness stand was also looking down while covering her mouth. Even from a distance, Evanthe could see the woman's body shaking.

She laughed at his own father's appearance.

"That woman-!"

"Evanthe, ssh!" said Viscountess Gilmore. "Be careful. There are many looking here. This is also not the time to worry about others."

"But, Mom… That woman laughs at her own father!" She was laughing at my father, Evanthe added silently.

Viscountess Gilmore was mimicking sharply towards Selah. "That woman must have stopped considering Duke Dulcia as her father anymore," she said. "So stop thinking about her, Evanthe and trust that Duke Dulcia will be fine."

Evanthe had heard from her mother that she had bribed several witnesses and a judge to commute Duke Dulcia's sentence. They weren't at Baron Tullia's charity ball at the time, so that was all they could do.

The trial was opened with the reading of the charges against Duke Dulcia. He did not appear to deny his accusations, and witnesses, including Selah, confirmed them. Aeneas also says nothing as a victim.

And the Judge began to call witnesses one by one.

All in all, it was clear that Duke Dulcia did hit Aeneas. But as it turns out, what actually happened was that Aeneas was hit by that punch while trying to protect Selah, who was the real Duke Dulcia's target. In a way, the beating of Aeneas was not accidental.

"Our witness speaks well," commented Viscountess Gilmore as the Judge summed up what some of the witnesses had just said. "Everyone now understands that it was just an accident."

"An accidental incident… Will that lighten the sentence?" Evanthe hoped anxiously.

"Yes, it should. Since Duke Dulcia was the head of the family, he could propose a duel of honor as punishment this time. But…" Viscountess Gilmore looked at Selah and Baron Tullia, the only witnesses yet to be called. "The real witnesses will be speaking now."

Evanthe didn't like Selah's expression right now.

"Thank you for the opportunity given, Your Excellence. I am Selah Dulcia, present as a witness for the second prince, Prince Aeneas," said Selah.

Her last words caused whispers in the room. Those words were a statement that Selah's presence was not to defend Duke Dulcia. Selah has publicly stated that she is on the opposite side of her father.

"As other witnesses have said, Duke Dulcia did beat Prince Aeneas. Not only His Highness but before that, His Grace also threw Baron Tullia to the ground," said Selah, adding story.

"I-Is that true?" Evanthe muttered.

"What Lady Dulcia said is true, witnesses?" asked the Judge, who had just heard the last thing.

"Yes, that's right, Your Eminence," one witness confirmed. The others nodded.

After being gestured to continue, Selah said, "Duke Dulcia did it all because he was about to beat me up. Duke Dulcia doesn't accept it because I accepted Prince Aeneas' proposal."

"Would it be a shame to say that Duke Dulcia not only beat up Prince Aeneas but also went against Prince Aeneas' decision?" asked the Judge later.

"Yes, Your Eminence. Duke Dulcia did it."

The room became lively in an instant.

"T-that's not true!" Only then did Duke Dulcia raise his voice. "I was just shocked to hear that!"

"You were surprised to hear that you hit Prince Aeneas?" asked the Judge in disbelief.

"My daughter… She has done such an embarrassing thing by accepting that proposal! How does a woman accept offers from other men after she just broke up–"

"You also don't accept Crown Prince Blair's decision?" interrupted the Judge.

"N-no, that's not it…." Duke Dulcia seemed to be trembling.

Evanthe noticed Duke Dulcia glancing at Blair. But Blair just stared at him coldly.

It was then that Evanthe realized something.

Blair will not help her father. Duke Dulcia would be punished, and he would lose faith as a duke.

And it's all because of Selah's words.