For the heart - Chapter 57

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 57

 

Only after Casian slowly pulled his lips away did Nina’s eyelids lift.

 

When he brushed away the tears on her white cheeks with his thumb, he felt a gentle warmth.

 

Her blue eyes, which had been unfocused for a moment at the sight of Casian’s grinning face, became clear again, and Nina unwrapped her arms from around his neck.

 

Her cheeks had turned bright red after all.

 

Nina took a step back and rubbed the ground once with her toes. Then she touched her lower lip with her fingertips.

 

The wound on her lip had completely disappeared.

 

She could accept the kiss as healing, but not only had she responded actively, she had even pulled Casian into an embrace.

 

“Th-this is only for healing, only when healing.”

 

Casian let out a soft laugh at Nina’s words as she avoided looking at him.

 

“Very well.”

 

“Then, go inside carefully.”

 

As Nina tried to turn around quickly, Casian’s hand swiftly grabbed her wrist.

 

“…Why?”

 

“Tomorrow, please stay only in the Satellite Palace.”

 

The public trial was the day after tomorrow.

 

When he needed to do everything he could tomorrow and it still wouldn’t be enough, he was telling her to stay only in the Satellite Palace.

 

Casian smiled knowingly as if he knew exactly what Nina was thinking.

 

“As soon as you go inside, don’t think about anything and sleep deeply. Tomorrow, wake up late and make sure to eat all the meals Tila prepares for you.”

 

“What are you saying? I was planning to go to the courthouse as soon as I wake up tomorrow. I need to find out which judge will be presiding over this trial.”

 

Casian quietly shook his head.

 

“Such things are all useless. It will already be a trial that flows according to His Majesty the Emperor’s will. Do you know what’s most important in this public trial?”

 

“Evidence?”

 

“No. Presence.”

 

“Presence?”

 

Presence in a trial.

 

Nina looked into Casian’s eyes with a face that asked what he meant.

 

“Yes. Presence. The only thing Your Highness needs to prepare is presence. I’ll handle the perjury they’ve fabricated.”

 

“…”

 

“So, focus on recovering your strength and rest well. In the trial the day after tomorrow, you just need to show the dignity that makes it clear Nina Arsed, who achieved continental unification, is not the kind of person who would do such things.”

 

Nina watched Casian’s retreating figure as he returned to the Western Palace for a long time.

 

Even though she might be framed for murder and thrown into prison…

 

Strangely, after hearing his words, her heart felt at ease.

 

“The kiss… must have made my head strange too.”

 

* * *

 

The morning of the public trial.

 

Following yesterday, the dining table in the Satellite Palace was packed with food, leaving no empty space.

 

It was Tila who had woken up at dawn to prepare the food.

 

Tila, who had placed a fork in Nina’s hand, widened her eyes and spoke in a firm voice.

 

“You must eat heartily. People can only hold onto their wits until the end when their stomach is full.”

 

“Yes. Thank you, Tila.”

 

“Pieruto, you eat well later too. We’re also going to the square today. Let them try spouting nonsense. That night, Her Highness went straight to sleep in the bed I watched over. What kind of ridiculous nonsense are they talking!”

 

Tila spoke with indignation and wiped away tears with the back of her hand.

 

“Tila.”

 

“Oh my, why am I crying so foolishly. Hurry, hurry and eat.”

 

If she had just placated Michelle nicely when she came to the Satellite Palace and sent her away, this might not have happened.

 

It was what happened when Nina, angry at seeing her with broken arms from the servants Michelle brought, chased after her to the Main Palace.

 

Thinking that Nina might be framed for murder because of her, Tila’s heart was breaking.

 

“Tila.”

 

“Oh my, why aren’t you eating?”

 

Tila turned her back to Nina who had approached her and wiped away tears.

 

Nina quietly embraced her and patted her back.

 

“Don’t worry. Since I didn’t kill Michelle, it will work out.”

 

“Really, it will be okay, right? If something happens to Your Highness, I really can’t live. Sob sob.”

 

“That won’t happen.”

 

While comforting Tila, Nina secretly let out a faint sigh.

 

Because she couldn’t be certain of anything either.

 

* * *

 

The Main Square where the public trial was being held.

 

More crowds than ever had gathered.

 

“Is it true that Princess Nina killed Count Puaco’s daughter?”

 

“But why?”

 

“Rumor has it that Princess Nina had always found that young lady disagreeable.”

 

“Even so, would she kill someone for that reason?”

 

“They say she climbed over the wall of Count Puaco’s mansion in the dead of night?”

 

“Does it make sense that someone who made great contributions to unifying the entire continent would do such a thing?”

 

“It might actually be easier. Having cut down countless enemy soldiers, what would one more life matter?”

 

Tila and Pieruto, who were waiting for the trial among the people, clenched both fists and trembled.

 

“You don’t even know anything! Our Princess isn’t that kind of person!”

 

“Oh my, what a surprise! This young one talking back to adults!”

 

It was Pieruto who cried out even faster than Tila.

 

When the man glared at them, Tila quickly pulled Pieruto behind her to hide him.

 

“Don’t speak carelessly when you don’t even know the facts properly. When our Princess’s innocence is proven today, I’ll report all of you for lese-majeste.”

 

“What, well, really now. Who said what…”

 

At the mention of lese-majeste, people closed their mouths with uncomfortable expressions.

 

A princess standing in a public trial like this was unprecedented in Arsed’s history.

 

Putting a princess on trial in a public court held in the town square was tantamount to proof that the princess’s guilt was certain.

 

But whether it was proof or not, things would only become clear once the results were out.

 

Before that, with poison-filled eyes glaring and mentioning lese-majeste, they had no choice but to shut their mouths.

 

“His Majesty the Emperor approaches, make way!”

 

People’s gazes turned toward the attendant shouting at the top of his lungs.

 

As the crowd parted to make a path, a large carriage bearing the imperial crest entered through it.

 

Behind it, carriages of prominent nobles followed in a line.

 

Shortly after, the Emperor and Empress, Lillien and Desmorak who had alighted from the carriage took their seats in chairs prepared in advance, with nobles densely packed behind them.

 

This trial drew great interest not only from citizens but also from nobles.

 

Count Puaco’s audacity in accusing a princess had focused attention, but also because almost no one had properly grasped the Emperor’s intentions in allowing even a public trial.

 

Soon, a judge wearing a white robe with wide, long sleeves symbolizing truth appeared on the prepared platform.

 

Murmuring sounds could be heard among the nobles who confirmed the judge’s appearance.

 

The one presiding over this trial was Elbar Grein of the Grein Family, who was no different from the Emperor’s confidant.

 

“I swear by His Majesty the Emperor’s will and the laws of the Arsed Empire that I will conduct this trial fairly according to truth and justice alone.”

 

After the judge’s oath, an announcer came out to proclaim the start of the trial, raising his voice in declaration.

 

“People of the Arsed Empire. From now on, by imperial command, I proclaim the official public trial! This trial is to determine the truth regarding the death of Lady Michelle Puaco, the only daughter of the Puaco County.”

 

The announcer paused until the murmuring of the people subsided, then continued.

 

“The accused is Princess Nina Arsed of the Arsed Empire. Regarding this case, a witness has appeared who spotted the accused near the deceased’s bedroom, and hair identical to the accused’s was found near the victim’s body.”

 

At the mention of witnesses and physical evidence, the area seemed to become noisy again, but soon quieted down.

 

“Therefore, this trial applies charges of murder within the empire and damage to imperial dignity to the accused, with the purpose of clarifying the truth and establishing clear responsibility.”

 

Despite the discovered hair already being proven not to be Nina’s, it was included in the trial’s declaration.

 

Just hearing this declaration gave the impression that Nina was indeed the murderer who killed Michelle.

 

As expected, the crowd who heard the content murmured even louder than before.

 

Then, the Emperor, wearing a cloak of dark purple silk embroidered with gold, stepped onto the platform.

 

He had a relaxed and pleased expression that was hard to believe belonged to a father who had put his daughter on public trial.

 

“I, Rainer Arsed, declare before all people of the empire! The law weighs heavier than bloodline, and truth is sharper than the sword. Even imperial blood cannot be an exception before justice. From now on, interrogate Princess Nina Arsed’s trial without sanctuary!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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