The Villainess's Secret Bedroom Service
Chapter 54: The Trial

Chapter 54: The Trial

The House of Judges, a majestic courthouse situated in the capital, stood tall with pristine white stone walls, symbolizing justice and order, nearly shimmering under the bright afternoon sunlight.

Inside, the courtroom emanated an air of solemnity and authority. Elaborate oak paneling adorned the walls, while the polished mahogany benches provided seating for nobles and spectators. Above, a magnificent stained-glass dome bathed the room in colorful light, casting an awe-inspiring glow on the trials of those accused of crimes.

The atmosphere in the grand hall was charged with hushed whispers and murmurs, a testament to the urgency and gravity of the impending trial. Distinguished members of the Imperial Council, representatives of justice, knights, and spectators all filled the space, their minds entangled in both mystery and curiosity, anticipating what would undoubtedly be a long and arduous proceeding.

The courtroom was meticulously divided into sections, carefully separating the observers from the active participants. On either side of the imposing figure of the Imperial Judge and his first assistant, the esteemed members of the Imperial Council were seated. Above them, on a designated bench, the Imperial family and Revered Altair Ashter occupied a special table, surrounded by an air of significance and authority.

Lady Rosalie found herself seated next to Sir Logan on the foremost bench, a place designated for witnesses and the families of the accused. Despite not being the one on trial and not required to testify, she couldn’t shake the nervous tremors that seemed to engulf her entire being. Her heart pounded like a drum, its frantic rhythm drowning out the surrounding noise, leaving her perplexed as to the source of her unease.

The anticipation of the crowd grew palpable as they awaited the commencement of the main event. Finally, the imposing, tall doors of the courtroom swung open, inviting the young Lord Raphael Ashter inside. His hands were bound behind his back, and he appeared disheveled and fatigued, with dark circles under his deep gray eyes standing out against his pale complexion. Rosalie couldn’t help but notice her brother’s restlessness, as if he were on the verge of jumping out of his skin or crawling the walls like an insect.

"He must be going through withdrawal... Indulging in opium every night, he seems deeply addicted now. What a pitiful sight."

After Raphael took his seat behind the small brown desk reserved for the accused, the Imperial Judge made a brief motion with his large, wrinkled hand, commanding silence and spoke in a loud, solemn voice,

"Today, we are gathered here to witness the trial against Lord Raphael Ashter, the only son of Marquess Ian Ashter, with His Grace Grand Duke Damien Dio as the representative of the prosecution. Your case, Your Grace, please."

With a regal nod, Damien acknowledged the Judge’s words and gracefully rose to his feet, holding a substantial black folder in his hands. He then turned to face the attentive observers and initiated his accusation,

"The prosecution alleges that Lord Raphael Ashter has provided aid to the forbidden religious organization known as the Demonic Cult. His involvement was verified during a covert inspection before he attempted to leave the Empire through the trading gate. Esteemed members of the House of Justice may find all pertinent details and testimonies in the prosecution’s comprehensive interrogation reports."

With a composed demeanor, Damien turned back to face the Judge and continued in a cool and authoritative tone,

"This heinous act amounts to treason, and therefore, the prosecution firmly advocates for capital punishment."

The Judge carefully perused the papers handed to him by his assistant, Eugene Hemill, his eyebrows furrowing as his pale green eyes scanned the contents. Finally, he raised his head and directed his attention to the duke,

"Your Grace, kindly disclose the names of any other individuals implicated in this crime."

The duke nodded, his sharp yellow eyes returning to rest upon Raphael, and he resumed his testimony once more,

"The other individuals entangled in his intricate schemes were the late Lord Sebastian Stainhem, Baron Alastair Black, who owns the tailoring shop that aided Lord Ashter in sewing the pelts, and Viscount Viden, who serves on the Export Licensing Committee. They all colluded with young Lord Ashter to facilitate the smuggling of cult members across the border. Furthermore, in unison, they affirmed that Lord Raphael was the mastermind behind the operation and generously compensated them for their cooperation."

The courtroom reverberated with a hushed wave of murmurs once again. The observers were already taken aback upon learning about the involvement of the Ashter family’s sole heir in such an undignified crime, but now the revelation of more noblemen embroiled in the affair left them shaken with bewilderment and disbelief.

Damien allowed the clamor to subside before continuing with his declarations.

"In addition to colluding with a forbidden cult, I accuse Lord Raphael Ashter of perpetrating an attack on and abducting my fiancee, his own sister, Lady Rosalie Ashter. He attempted to transport her across the border, concealed within one of the pelts alongside the other cult members."

Another, now more resounding wave of clamor echoed through the spacious room in a cacophony of frustrated voices. The Judge, evidently as perplexed as the rest of those present in the courtroom, arched his eyebrows and addressed the duke once more,

"Pardon, Your Grace, but what motive could Lord Ashter have to commit such an atrocity? He is known to be a good and loving brother. Could you not be mistaken?"

Damien shifted his golden eyes to the bench behind the Judge, fixing his gaze on a person next to the Emperor, then looked back at the observers, and declared in a firm and resolute voice,

"Thankfully, the prosecution has a credible witness to substantiate its accusations. I invite Revered Altair Nestor, the esteemed first disciple of His Holiness the High Priest, to testify against the accused."

"So Revered Altair was not here merely to observe? He is actually a witness?"

"The man of faith directly involved in the trial? I thought I would never live to see this day!"

The crowd’s reaction to Altair’s appearance behind the witness stand was quite understandable, especially since Altair remained somewhat enigmatic to most people, even among the nobility, due to the nuances of his education and the discreet nature of his work.

Yet, Revered Nestor testified resolutely, without hesitation, recounting everything he had witnessed upon arriving at the scene of the crime – the shattered carriage, the two unconscious attendants of the Grand Duke, the opium-laced sleeping powder found in the Tulip Room, and the tracks left by the horses that fled towards the eastern trading gate.

Upon concluding his statement, Altair turned toward the Judge’s assistant and nodded, accepting the envelope and a new item carefully secured as evidence, handed to him by Eugene Hemill.

"To substantiate my testimony, I present you with a compelling piece of evidence that implicates Lord Raphael Ashter as the abductor of Lady Rosalie. This opium pipe, bearing the engraved name ’Raphael Ashter,’ was discovered at the scene of the crime."

The courtroom buzzed with a fresh wave of hushed whispers and murmurs, all eyes riveted on the opium pipe in Altair’s hands. The man wore a slight smirk, clearly relishing the animated reaction, his pale platinum eyes fixed firmly on Raphael Ashter.

’I suppose having one of the courtesans steal his pipe turned out to be a wise move indeed.’