CHAPTER 322: COURT IN SESSION-II

Cassius strode with such ease into the court as though he had been walking into a rose garden. His confidence was brimming even when his entire body was exhausted but this to him, wasn’t quite bad. After all he had gone through worse, he had seen hell itself in all the battlefields that he visited since he was young.

How could he sees the dungeon as anything dangerous when npw he could simply turned to look upward and immediately find Arabella?

Her green eyes looked worried but when they met he could see how hard she tried not to show the fear and worry that had eat her heart from inside out.

When their eyes locked, he softened his gaze, his body felt relaxed just by being near her and without his knowing his own smile had appeared, one smile that felt so sincere and delighted.

Arabella couldn’t help but smile back at him, her eyes welling up with relief. She was worried, too worried but Cassius’s smile seemed to coax her, as if telling her that everything would be alright as long as he was there near her.

Then Cassius shifted his gaze toward the hyenas that wanted him dead. The queen of those hyenas is Morgana, the same woman who had gone so far as to kill her own daughter and then put the blame on him when she knew that he would have killed her in other ways rather than harming a baby that had done him no harm.

Morgana, on the other hand, when seeing him seemed upset.

Of course. She must have told the soldiers to give him the worse treatment but how could they do that?

Almost all the soldiers in the castle had served under him once in the battlefield, and almost all of them owed their life on surviving the battlefield because of him as well.

Cassius saw the chair for him and plop down with ease, his eyes then meeting the rest of the ministers as he noticed that a few more than half had seated on the side of Morgana’s.

He didn’t find this odd, nor did he felt hurt or betrayed. He simply watched and hummed, which seemed to be enough to scare the ministers who had turned away from him as they began to sweat and dropped their heads to look down on the floor.

"I shall be the leading judge for today," a voice cut through from a vampire dressed in the black gown. He seemed exhausted, lack of sleep which turned his skin paler, a silver framed glass that hung loosely on his nose.

The man is the famed judge in Versailles, known for his quick judgement but also his temperament. His name was Darling Rast, but was known better as Judge Darling, a rather adorable name that contrasted with his gaunt and strict appearance.

Cassius knew him and was rather surprised to see that Judge Darling was chosen here instead of someone who could easily be swayed by money... yes, perhaps someone Morgana can control.

But it seems that the people who realized the Crown Prince was about to be tried refused to choose anyone lesser... it wasn’t particularly because those people supported him either, sometimes it’s simply because the idea of letting an outside with no royal blood to the throne as the queen was worse than the idea of a rampaging murder as their King.

Judge Darling sat down with a huff and then pushed his glasses to look at Cassius.

He wondered how long has it been since he last saw Cassius the crown prince. He wasn’t the most beloved Crown prince in the history of their kingdom but no one had ever thought of passing down the throne to anyone but him.

Not out of love or admiration.

They just accepted the fact as though it was natural.

After all who else could show the authority that Cassius could easily shown?

His achievements speak louder than any of them could deny and his prowess and authority was innate, a suitable talent for a leader.

Judge Darling was one of the person who had thought that the seat had originally been made for Cassius. When they first met, Cassius was just seven years old.

He was dressed in a rather adorable garment but his eyes- it wasn’t the gaze of a child- it was rather the gaze of someone gouging their opponent, one that make others submit.

So he thought it was foolish that Morgana wanted to steal the throne, everything was clear to every living being in the castle what she had tried to pull.

Nevertheless, Judge Darling knew he had to be fair and despite being one of the citizen of Versailles, he had sat here to make a judgement for the one who sinned, not for the betterment of the kingdom.

"Today," Judge Darling began, his voice cutting through the murmurs loud enough without the need of amplification, "we gather to determine the truth, not to bend it toward any party’s gain. This court shall not be ruled by fear or for anyone’s advantage, but by evidence, testimony, and law. Regardless of blood, title, or allegiance."

A hush fell across the room, though a few audible scoffs and murmurs rippled from Morgana’s side. She, however, kept her poise intact. only her fingers tapping quietly against the carved arm of her chair betrayed her restlessness.

Cassius remained calm, almost too calm, like a wolf watching sheep pretend they were safe. His eyes roamed the court lazily until they fell upon Morgana, who was now smiling, too pleasantly.

Judge Darling continued. "Your Highness, Cassius. Do you acknowledge that the court will be conducted fairly?"

"That is all I need," answered Cassius with a grin, "How could a court not be ruled by the truth and fairness? That is what I expect from you, Judge Darling."

Even now he seemed at ease.

This was going to be a rather difficult battle.

Judge Darling nodded, "Prince Cassius is hereby charged with the unlawful murder of Princess Rahas, daughter of Queen Morgana. The court will hear testimony to prove or disprove this allegation. Let it be known that any attempt to manipulate or disrupt today’s trial will be considered an act of treason against the royal line, whichever it may end up being."

That final sentence earned a visible twitch from Morgana’s lips.

The judge looked to his scribe and nodded. "Begin with the first witness."

A rustle stirred through the room. Arabella tensed above, her gloved fingers tightening around the bannister where she sat. Cassius gave her a slow blink, then turned back to the center with a faint, lopsided smirk. If this was the circus Morgana had prepared, he would sit back and enjoy the act.

The one who had appeared was none other than Iliza.

But Arabella who saw her at first didn’t think it was Iliza.

Sure she had the same appearance... but now she looked barely a human.

Her body was beaten up and bruised. All side of her limbs were scars and even her face which she had always protected as an asset that would put her into the high position was filled with scars that left her with fresh bandages that had turned red.

It was hard to see Iliza and she had to wince upon seeing how Iliza had looked now, barely alive, trying to survive when dying seemed like the better option.

"I- I serve Minister Rueben," she spoke but her eyes seemed hateful every time she speaks. "My name is Iliza."

Arabella could only sigh seeing how even after being on verge of death it didn’t seem to bother Iliza, it seemed instead to her that this was all unfair and that this was a doing of someone evil, not something she had started with her own two hands.

"You are the first person to find Princess Rahas, correct?" Judge Darling asked sharply which made Iliza felt deterred. But under Queen Morgana’s glare, she could only nod quietly. "Begin to tell what you had seen then. Start the story in order."

"Yes, sir," gulped Iliza, "It was still early, not two hours after the Crown Prince left Queen Morgana’s room after threatening that he would one day kill her."

Judge Darling raised his hands, pausing her words at once, "Threatening that he would one day kill her. Can you repeat what His Highness had said?"

"H- He said that it was time for her karma to return to her."

"That is hardly counted as a threat," answered Judge Darling with a frown, "What kind of karma was waiting Her Majesty? How do you know that this was a threat that means one day the crown prince would hunt for her life?"

"OBJECTION!"

Queen Morgana from the side yelled with a grit of her teeth, "He also left an evidence by writing number on the floor and told me that my life is numbered."

"What was the number?" Judge Darling asked.

"Seven, it’s today," Queen Morgana eyed, Cassius, smiling as if she believes this was one point against him.

But judge Darling stared at the queen and hummed, "However you are still alive and isn’t it odd that your witness hadn’t mentioned about the numbers? Miss," he then turned swiftly to Iliza, "Did you really witness what had happened in that room, or did someone instructed you to say these words? You have to be aware that lying would warrant you a hefty punishment as all criminals do."