chapter 20
The imperial princess, seeing that, awkwardly sat back down in her seat.
‘W-When did he get here?’
Startled, I looked at him, and as if he had been watching me, he gave me an apologetic glance.
“Magic is prohibited in the courtroom!”
Even the judge was so shocked that he forgot his composure and jumped to his feet. Killian’s lips curved into a captivating smile—but unlike usual, it was cold to the bone.
“It couldn’t be helped since the court convened 30 minutes earlier than expected. However, if the judge orders me to leave, I will do so.”
At his pointed remark about the early start, the judge’s mouth snapped shut like a clam.
Looks like the judge is thoroughly frightened.
The princess, who had been blinking in surprise at the unexpected situation, slowly opened her mouth.
“What the Archduke says is reasonable. Please proceed as is.”
With Princess Isabella taking his side as well, the judge’s spirit completely deflated, and he coughed awkwardly.
“…Ahem, understood. Please excuse the early convening.”
“I understand.”
Killian nodded with a gentlemanly smile.
“After all, one’s life is precious.”
He meant that he understood why the trial had been moved up due to the princess’s presence—but when something like that came from him, it sounded far more ominous.
“Thank you for your understanding.”
The judge, clearly sensing that undertone, forced a stiff smile.
Duke Adelheit, having noticed something amiss, was glaring at me with wide, restless eyes.
Ignoring his gaze lightly, I seized the opportunity, stood up, and declared:
“Then I will call Archduke Killian Orpheo as a witness!”
As soon as I finished speaking, the courtroom erupted into chatter.
“Approved.”
Bang! Bang!
The judge struck his gavel, and the noise died down instantly, as if doused with cold water.
In that moment, the tide of the trial flipped completely.
“Judge! What kind of outrageous nonsense is this?!”
A loud voice roared. Turning toward it, I saw Duke Adelheit’s face flushed red with fury.
“What kind of law allows an unregistered witness to stand in court?!”
“In principle, a witness can be accepted on-site, Your Grace.”
I spoke in the judge’s stead, feeling sorry for him as he had been pushed around by high-ranking nobles all this time.
“Edith…! You wench!”
The duke, face burning with anger, pointed at me. The fact that he couldn’t hide his emotions here only proved how much influence Killian wielded in this trial.
‘Yes, go on. Rage more.’
I had swallowed my anger because of the duke until now—so seeing the tables turned felt immensely satisfying.
The archduke’s elegant lips finally parted.
“Refrain from such irreverent remarks in a sacred court, Duke.”
His cold gaze held a subtle displeasure—almost disdain, as if looking at something vulgar.
That arrogant look, as though he stood above everyone else, was untouchable. And yet, it suited him perfectly.
“E-Everyone, please remain silent until you are given permission to speak!”
The judge shouted, gripping his gavel. I almost wanted to applaud him—he must’ve gathered ten years’ worth of courage for that.
“Now, let the plaintiff’s witness present testimony or evidence proving that the ownership of this business belongs to Edith Diel.”
“I will submit this magic device.”
At the archduke’s gesture, a robed woman stepped forward and handed the device to the judge.
“And how does this work?”
“If you press this button…”
“Oh, what a fascinating object.”
The judge, intrigued by the relatively new invention, pressed the button. A beep sounded, followed by a clear voice recording.
—“How dare she not know her place and try to grow a business and live in luxury on her own?”
—“Edith Diel—strip her of everything she runs. Leave not even a speck behind.”
Anyone could recognize it as Duke Adelheit’s voice.
The courtroom exploded into uproar.
“I—I never said such a thing!”
Duke Adelheit glared at Killian with bloodshot eyes, shouting in fury.
“To fabricate evidence like this—are you not afraid of the heavens, Archduke?!”
“Do you have proof that I fabricated it?”
“…!”
Killian smiled faintly as he looked at him.
“Then request an investigation from the Mage Tower. However, if this turns out to be true… you should be prepared for the consequences.”
His tone was casual—but the meaning behind it was anything but.
‘Consequences…’
Even Duke Adelheit seemed to know how dangerous it was to make an enemy of Killian Orpheo. He could only tremble, lips quivering.
‘So what will you do?’
Watching the situation unfold so entertainingly, I almost wished I had popcorn.
Starting with such decisive evidence…
Once again, it proved that exposing the opponent’s guilt was far easier than proving one’s own innocence.
‘Wait… then what about the evidence I spent a whole week preparing overnight?’
A faint sense of emptiness washed over me.
I glanced toward the gallery where Daisy, Mary, and Sir Marty sat. They, too, wore similarly liberated smiles.
“Defendant Duke Adelheit, can you prove that the evidence submitted by the witness, Archduke Orpheo, is fabricated?”
At the judge’s question, silence fell over the courtroom.
Could he possibly present such proof?
‘He absolutely can’t.’
I was certain. Everyone else must be thinking the same.
In an instant, the advantage had tilted entirely to my side.
The judge wiped the sweat from his face with a handkerchief and struck the gavel.
Bang! Bang!
“The court recognizes the originality of the business operated by Edith Diel. Duke Adelheit is ordered to compensate Edith Diel with 1,000 gold. This concludes the ruling.”
The verdict was delivered.
In cases involving embezzlement or industrial espionage, compensation usually exceeded 10,000 gold.
Yet even though the amount was much smaller, the shockwaves were immense—because no one here had expected my victory.
“As expected of the Empire—a most exemplary judgment.”
Killian smiled in satisfaction. Beside him, Duke Adelheit trembled with barely contained rage.
“Court dismissed!”
Sensing the tense atmosphere, the judge practically fled.
For a brief moment, silence hung in the air—
Then, like a dam collapsing, the courtroom erupted into chaos.
“Miss Edith Diel!”
The (former) investors rushed toward me all at once.
The moment Killian appeared, their faces had already been filled with anxiety—they had realized too late that they had thrown away a gold mine.
‘Ugh.’
I didn’t want to deal with them.
I already knew exactly what they would say—predictable, cliché, and a complete waste of time.
‘No refunds, people.’
As I tried to quickly leave, someone grabbed me.
At the rude contact, I turned around, frowning deeply.
“Caleb.”
Of course, it was him.
Not many people dared to grab me so rudely—but the lack of surprise only made it more irritating.
“Let go. If you have business with me, do it in writing. We’re not on friendly terms to chat like this.”
Caleb kept glaring at me before finally speaking.
“…What kind of trick did you use to seduce Archduke Orpheo?”
The nuance was strange. His golden eyes were filled with contempt and disgust.
‘No way.’
Did he really mean it like that?
I let out a hollow laugh. I wanted to believe otherwise—but his tone was unbearably crude.
I knew I should ignore him—but anger flared inside me.
And yet, Caleb kept talking.
“You didn’t… by any chance…”
What nonsense was he about to spout now?
Just as I was about to snap at him to shut up—
He spoke.
“Have you really sunk that low?”
Behind him, Riheart’s expression froze instantly.
“You really are the perfect example of ‘you see what you are.’ Do you think I’m as filthy as you?”
I shook off his hand with a sneer. Caleb’s face flushed red.
“You crazy bitch—!”
“Yeah, I must be crazy—to be talking to someone like you even for a second.”
Riheart’s expression behind him was equally irritating.
I was just about to decide whether to kick Caleb in the shin and make a run for it—
When he scoffed.
“Ha. So you went out to leech off someone by doing that—”
“Leech?”
At that moment, someone cut him off.
A floral scent spread through the air at the same time—sweet enough to momentarily make me forget the tense situation.
