Finally, the Emperor looked away from Eric and addressed the crowd.
“Marquis Philippe, tell us what you have discovered about the case.”
Marquis Philip bowed his head slightly before standing up.
“Three weeks ago, on the 7th of June, the Duchess Brant was out with her mother-in-law, Grand Madame Brant, and her cousin, Madeleine of Argens, and her carriage fell into a ravine.
During the investigation at the scene, I confirmed that Bianca Marche Brant, mother of the Duke of Brant, and Madeleine of Argens, the Miss of the Marquis of Argens, were connected with this accident.”
Marquis Philippe then presented a wheel and a letter found at the scene as evidence to the Emperor and the judges.
"If the wheels had been worn out, dust would have been generated during the friction process, but as you can see, the wheel joints have been artificially smoothed.
Moreover, Madeleine Arguin's letter clearly expresses her hatred towards the Duchess Brant.
Also..."
Marquis Philippe offered something else.
"These are a tea bag found in the Duchess's room, and a bottle of medicine used by Grand Madame Brant.
The ingredients contain a large amount of the herb tisalcho.
Surprisingly, tisalcho has an abortifacient effect."
Before he could finish speaking, Grand Mrs.
Brant's defense attorney raised her hand.
“Your Majesty, I object!
The Taisalcho is not only effective for abortion, it is also used to treat menopausal symptoms!
However, Marquis Philip presents his testimony in a manner that is unfavorable to the Grand Lady.”
The Emperor nodded and opened his mouth.
"acceptable."
The defense attorney then began to respond, stating that the Central Cavalry Commander's claims were based on circumstantial evidence and speculation.
"First, it is certain that a tea bag containing the taisalcho, which Grande Brant drank, was found in the Duchess's room.
But the maid who ran that bag was the head of the maids working in the palace.
There were also signs that the driver had tampered with the carriage, but there is no evidence that the Grande Lady ordered him to do so."
The defense lawyer raised the corner of his mouth, staring at Marquis Philip.
“Therefore, based solely on the evidence presented by the Central Cavalry Commander, it is difficult to conclusively determine Grand Madame Brant as guilty.
While Madeleine Arguin’s letter leaves no room for a response...”
The defense attorney looked at Madeleine for a moment before continuing.
"There is no evidence that the deceased driver carried out her instructions or Grand Madame Brant's instructions to sabotage the carriage.
In other words, while Madeleine Arguin's grudge in her speech is true, doesn't everyone hold a grudge against someone at some point?"
The defense attorney's argument made Grand Madam Brant smile.
Indeed, the trial was going as I expected.
Then she looked at the higher-ranking man she couldn't get.
‘Your Majesty, you surely realize that this is a waste of time.
Please, pass judgment.
'I declare my innocence!'
At that moment-
“I object!”
The Grand Lady sneered at Marquis Philippe's sudden interruption.
'Marquis Philip, you seem very determined!'
Yes, as a Marquis, he should be afraid.
Once Grand Lady Brant is acquitted, the consequences and implications for him will be great.
'But no matter how hard you try, you can't touch me!'
However, her expression hardened at Marquis Philippe's next words.
“There are witnesses who can testify that Grand Madam Brant orchestrated this incident!
Your Majesty the Emperor, I humbly request that you allow them to speak.”
The Emperor nodded.
“Allowed.”
When the courtroom doors opened and the witnesses entered, the grande dame jumped to her feet.
“You, you, how could you...!”
They were Landon and the head maid, whom the grand lady could not find no matter how hard she tried.
Soon, the two stood on the witness stand, repeating their oaths.
“I swear to speak only the truth before His Majesty, the Great Emperor.”
Before the witnesses could complete their oaths, "Scarlett!
Where have you been hiding all this time?"
“Bianca Marsha Brant, shut up!”
At the Emperor's sharp command, Grand Madam Brant closed her mouth and gritted her teeth.
'How did they find that woman?'
Eric clenched his jaw as he watched the scene unfold.
'So, she's been plotting all this time, even while in prison.'
Eric turned his cold gaze to the head maid.
'But this time, things won't go according to your plan.'
The Emperor spoke.
“Marquis Philippe, continue.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.
The first witness is Landon Meyer, the butler of Brant Palace.
Witness, recall what you saw three weeks ago.”
“Yes, at that time, I was trying to regain the favor of the eldest lady, the eldest in the family, in order to be reappointed as the head butler.
In the process, I accidentally overheard her orders to the head maid.”
“What orders did the Grand Madam give the head maid?”
Angrily and angrily, Landon stared at Grand Mrs.
Brant and spoke.
“She said that since the Duchess was pregnant, you should give her a gift.
A gift that would surprise her so much that she would lose her baby.”
At Landon's words, the eldest lady raised her voice and pointed her finger.
“You bastard, don't lie!”
The one who responded was the Emperor.
“Bianca Marsha Brant, if you continue to disrupt the trial, I will have you dismissed.
Marquis Philippe, continue.”
Marquis Philip bowed his head, then asked Landon again.
“Did you tell the Duchess this fact?”
“Yes, I was worried she would be shocked, but I told her.”
“How did the Duchess react?”
“She thanked me and said she would be careful.
And she was careful—she checked every dish for poison, and had the slave Sardine taste it first.”
“Do you know about the tea bag found in the Duchess’s room?”
“I'm not sure if it was the same, but the Grand Lady gave tea to the Duchess.”
“Did the Duchess drink the tea the Grand Lady gave her?”
“Yes, she tested it for poison, and since Sardine showed no signs of illness after drinking it, she drank it herself.”
“But isn’t that strange?
The Duchess drank the tea even though she knew the Grand Lady’s intention to harm her.”
“The Duchess always wanted the Grand Madame’s approval.
She could never refuse the hand that the Grand Madame extended first.
In the midst of this, it was difficult for her to refuse a gift and ask for reconciliation from her mother-in-law.”
Landon gritted his teeth and continued.
“Moreover, the Grand Madam sent the head maid to monitor the tea every day.”
At those words, a look of disapproval crept into the eyes of those present in the courtroom.
“Is this even human?”
“How could she do that to her daughter-in-law who only wanted her approval...”
After the audience's murmurs subsided, their attention returned to Landon's continuing testimony.
“Moreover, the day before they left, the head maid went to the deceased driver’s residence to check whether the safety devices and wheels of the carriage were slightly damaged.”
Marquis Philippe nodded and spoke.
“Scarlett Owen, is Landon’s testimony now true?”
At that, the head maid hesitated.
'If I twist the answer a little, I can shift the blame to the Grand Lady, right?'
Then, she felt a frightening look from somewhere, and the maid shuddered.
Duke Brant was staring at her with murderous eyes.
At that moment, she felt a shiver run down her spine as she remembered the words the Duke had said to her that morning.
Trembling with fear, the head maid nodded enthusiastically and answered.
“Yes, it's all true!”
“I understand.
So, tell me everything you did.”
“I received orders from the Grand Lady to sabotage the Duchess’s carriage!
I also monitored whether she drank the tea containing the poisonous herb in time.”
At that moment, the Emperor spoke.
“Scarlett Owen, do you have evidence to support your testimony?”
In response, the head maid took something out of her pocket and held it up.
“Yes, here!”
When she saw him, the eldest lady's eyes widened, and she raised her voice.
“This vile thing!
How do you have this?”
Then, the emperor's stern voice was heard.
“Bianca Marsha Brant, I thought I told you to keep quiet, didn't I?”
Although it was not loud, the Emperor's voice was clear and carried a sense of authority.
Above all, his gaze revealed a faint flash of determination.
Driven by the momentum, the eldest lady, instead of defending herself, could only bite her lip in frustration.
The Emperor turned to the head maid again and asked, “What is this?”
The head maid looked around nervously and swallowed.
Indeed, because this was not something she had brought out herself, but something the Duke of Brant had handed to her.
“It is the secret book used by the grand lady.
There, the records of the purchase of the poisonous herb and the money paid to the driver are written.”
The Emperor nodded slightly and then spoke.
"I'll ask you one last time.
What exactly was the Grand Lady's intention in sabotaging the Duchess's carriage and giving her poison?"
“It was… to cause a miscarriage in the Duchess’s pregnancy.”
The maid's comment made the courtroom even more turbulent.
The Emperor spoke again.
“After reviewing the testimonies, we have confirmed that Madeleine Argen and the Grand Madame conspired to influence this incident.
Therefore, I...”
At that moment, someone raised his voice defiantly, shaking his head.
“Your Majesty, I cannot accept this!”
It was Madeleine.