For the heart - Chapter 58

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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 58

The Emperor, who had returned to his seat, nodded at Judge Elbar Grein.

Bang!

As the judge struck his gavel once to signal the start of the trial, the murmuring town square quickly fell silent.

“Defendant Princess Nina Arsed, please come up to the stand.”

So many people had gathered in the square not only because it was a murder case between royalty and nobility, but also because of the anticipation of seeing Nina Arsed, the last recipient of divine oracle and hero of Arsed, the ‘Frost Sword,’ in person.

Unlike Lillien, who frequently appeared at official imperial events and whose portraits were sold everywhere, Nina Arsed had never appeared at official events, and the paintings that occasionally appeared claiming to be her portraits only showed her wearing a helmet, looking no different from a man.

People’s gazes turned toward where the Emperor and nobles had entered.

But true silence came when the Princess revealed herself at the far end of the square.

One riding a dazzling white horse.

It was Nina Arsed, wearing the intense red dress uniform that symbolized the Knight Commander.

Clop, clop, clop.

Unlike the Emperor’s family and nobles who had entered by carriage, Nina leisurely entered that path on horseback.

Though she wasn’t riding fast, her entrance was like a storm approaching, cutting through the entire square.

Last night, Tila had adorned her red Knight Commander uniform with abundant golden tassels, and the collar was pressed more stiffly and firmly than ever before.

The black leather boots that wrapped around her calves also gleamed as if sharpened.

Everything was an outfit prepared for today, for this moment.

Her short blonde hair caught in the wind swayed lightly.

Her blue eyes, tinged with an icy light, pierced straight ahead.

A serene face showing not a single emotion.

Her presence overwhelmed the entire square with a chilling aura just by being there.

But beneath that dazzling appearance lay Nina’s effort.

Her hot pulse was beating frantically, her fingertips kept trying to stiffen, and her tensed toes trembled slightly.

Nina controlled herself so that not even a single step, breath, or glance would waver.

Because today, showing fear even once would mean defeat.

Meanwhile, after a brief silence, deep sighs burst out from among the people watching Nina.

It was because the Princess’s appearance, revealed to the public for the first time, was so different from what they had imagined.

“That beautiful woman is really the Frost Sword, Princess Nina Arsed?”

“Impossible. How could such a delicate body achieve the unification of the entire continent?!”

“Why is it impossible! Look at her eyes and presence. She’s so intimidating!”

What is that.

Fire flashed in Lillien’s eyes as she glared at Nina, gripping the front of her dress tightly.

She had expected her to be haggard from her fate of becoming a murderer and going to prison!

Nina, who appeared under the morning sunlight receiving everyone’s attention, was not a criminal now but a protagonist making a spectacular entrance.

Nina lightly jumped down from her horse and stepped up onto the platform.

“Ahem, Princess Nina Arsed. Do you admit to the crime?”

“No. I did not kill Michelle Puaco. The hair found in her bedroom was confirmed by the Magic Forensics Institute to not be my hair.”

“There is a witness who saw the defendant jumping from the victim’s bedroom window on the night Michelle Puaco died. House of Puaco has requested a witness, so bring him to the stand.”

At the judge’s dignified voice, two executioners went down below the platform.

The prison guard who had been holding a man staring into space and pacing around handed him over to the executioners.

“Witness, Craven Dalk.”

“From Michelle Puaco’s bedroom window… I saw Princess Nina Arsed jumping down…”

Even though he had come up to the stand, the man continued muttering only the words he had been repeating, regardless of the judge’s call.

But in the square that had fallen silent again, his voice was heard quite clearly to those nearby, and people in front murmured and passed it on to others.

The murmuring of the people was growing louder and louder because of the man who kept repeating the same words.

“Really, Princess Nina killed Count Puaco’s daughter?”

“My goodness. How could that be.”

“Isn’t that man saying he saw the Princess?”

Emperor Rainer, who had been displeased with Nina’s spectacular entrance, finally showed a satisfied expression.

As he had instructed, Nina was helplessly becoming a murderer in front of the public.

Count Puaco clasped his hands together and bowed his head as if his daughter’s injustice had finally been resolved.

Now everyone’s gaze was directed at Nina.

In the eyes of her standing with straight shoulders, she could see two men in the distance wearing hoods.

“The moment perjury comes out, you must never get excited.”

Those were the words Casian had said to me when we met this morning before coming to the square.

Nina clenched her fist tightly at the low nod of the tall hooded man, who must certainly be Casian.

“Princess Nina Arsed.”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

“There is a witness who says he saw the Princess, yet you still refuse to admit it?”

“I never left the palace that night. Therefore, I cannot accept that testimony.”

“Red silk fragments were found at the scene and blood traces were detected under the victim’s fingernails.”

Nina frowned.

“This is the first I’m hearing of this. Are you saying that the blood traces detected under the victim’s fingernails have been confirmed to be my blood?”

“The forensic results confirmed them to be identical.”

“I have never provided blood. Was the examination conducted by the Magic Forensics Institute according to proper procedures? I would like to ask whether that forensic result has legal validity sufficient to be adopted as evidence in this public trial.”

Nina looked directly at the judge with an unwavering gaze.

“They will definitely create other false evidence. So you must never get drawn in.”

Those were the words Casian had said to me.

“P-Princess Nina Arsed! Do not mock this courtroom!”

“Just because hair that appeared identical to mine was found, I provided my hair to the Magic Forensics Institute. If blood traces were discovered, shouldn’t my blood have been requested at that time as well? The first thing done when investigating a case is examining the victim. You mention evidence with extremely insufficient validity that was never shared before or requested for additional forensics. And that man’s testimony has nothing clear – not the time, location, or distance.”

Nina fixed her gaze on the judge for a moment.

“Could you please ask that witness what month and day it is today?”

The judge became even more flustered by her overly confident and unwavering attitude.

Just as the judge, who had been trembling in his seat, was about to raise his voice to break Nina down.

“That witness is committing perjury right now.”

Pushing through the crowd, a small figure wearing a hood appeared.

“What are you! Show your face and reveal your identity! How dare you appear in this sacred courtroom with your face covered and suddenly claim that testimony acknowledged by the judge is perjury!”

He was already being cornered.

Flustered by the sudden perjury claim, the judge glanced at the Emperor and then shot up from his seat, shouting.

“Remove that thing’s hood!”

As the judge pointed at the suddenly appeared figure with his finger and shouted, two guards rushed forward.

“That’s enough. Don’t come.”

It was a calm and clear voice.

Her voice carried such deep resonance and power to capture people’s attention that it instantly silenced the murmuring crowd.

The hand that had been hidden beneath the robe pulled off the blue cloth that had been covering her.

“Th-that person…!”

“This can’t be…”

“Could that person be…!”

The crowd couldn’t immediately recognize who she was, but the faces of the Emperor and the nobles seated behind him were instantly filled with shock.

And Nina’s eyes, who had maintained a composed attitude until now, widened like never before.

‘The Saint?!’

The identity of the hooded figure was the Saint that Nina had so desperately wanted to find.

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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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