Despite the oppressive atmosphere emanating from the prince’s words, Roselia, with determination, met his gaze.

“How can we believe the words of those people?”

(Note: Please note that the translation provided here is based on the given context, and nuances may vary based on interpretation.)
However, the prince calmly spoke, indifferent to her rebellion.

“That day was the day of the monthly royal servant ritual.”

“…….”

She, too, knew about the royal servant ritual through the original work.

It was a day when servants were gathered periodically to convey important events or policies of the month and inspect the appearance of the servants. Although she didn’t know exactly when it occurred, on the day of the ritual, all servants, excluding the minimum required personnel assigned to important facilities, were present.

Of all days, it had to be the day of the ritual… Then, who was the court jester who brought her there?

While Roselia pondered such questions, the prince calmly opened his mouth.

“Do you have someone to prove your claim?”

Upon the prince’s words, Roselia’s gaze unconsciously scanned the surroundings.

Countless eyes were looking at her with a chilling gaze, like a flock of crows waiting for their prey to suffocate… The eyes that had stared at the original Roselia as she climbed the scaffold and her life was cut short were now staring at her intently.

Would she end up lonely and quietly disappearing like the original Roselia who had withered away alone on the scaffold without anyone shedding tears?

Feeling the bitterness in her mouth, Roselia calmly spoke to the prince.

“It seems there isn’t.”

Perhaps some sympathy arose for her appearance. In a slightly softened voice, the prince called her quietly.

“Antonio.”

In his somewhat calm voice, Roselia’s head turned towards him without much energy. The prince, with an inexplicable melancholy gaze, looked down at her.

“If Duke Baltezar’s conspiracy was merely using you, I might consider leniency. After all, you probably just followed your employer’s orders without knowing anything.”

“…….”

If that were the case, Klaus would be branded a traitor. And he would likely meet his end at the hands of the prince for the crime of treason.

Perhaps, following the prince’s words with falsehoods might be the easiest way to survive.

After all, whether the duke lived or died, she just wanted to cut ties with him and live thinly, quietly, and for a long time…

But why did she feel so concerned and troubled about the duke?

Perhaps she caught a glimpse of a different side of him, different from the original.

Despite his rough demeanor and misunderstood expressions, there was a side that cherished his younger sister.

Labeled as a monster devouring wealth by others, he, in reality, worked tirelessly in the office all day long, even sacrificing sleep, and was involved in building a school for poor commoners…

Though he appeared as a black sheep in dealing with nobles, he was, in fact, creating a school for the impoverished.

He was different from what she knew in the original.

Maybe, the original work couldn’t fully capture his unexpected facets…

Yes, perhaps it was because of these unexpected sides of him that she was more shaken.
Roselia immediately raised her gaze to Prince Esteban and spoke.

“Duke Baltezar has nothing to do with this matter.”

At Roselia’s resolute words without hesitation, the prince’s forehead wrinkled abruptly.

“I’ll give you another chance. Are you really saying it wasn’t Duke Baltezar’s orders?”

Even with the prince’s displeased expression, Roselia remained calm, lowering her head silently.

“How could I lie to Your Highness?”

“…….”

The prince, sighing deeply at her blunt words, suddenly stiffened his expression, gazing coldly down at her.

“Then, Antonio, it seems you orchestrated this on your own.”

Without a response from Roselia, she remained silent with her head bowed.

The prince, looking at her with disdain, addressed the audience.

“I will make a judgment. Even if it’s not treason, stealing the imperial seal warrants death. I, Esteban Vandelluf de Rugbeljet, pronounce the death sentence for Antonio de Hesing…”

At that moment, the huge doors of the closed hall creaked open, and a voice echoed inside.

“Please wait!”

Stepping into the hall with the support of Closet, Count Bernas, holding a cane, appeared. Roselia looked at the count with a puzzled expression. The count’s face, unseen for several weeks, had become noticeably haggard.

On the other hand, with the count’s sudden appearance, the nobles who recognized his face began to murmur. The count, supported by Closet, approached with a limp.

“Count Bernas?”

In the prince’s displeased tone, the count standing in front of the throne respectfully lowered his head.

“I will prove the innocence of this child.”

In the solemn voice of the count, the prince raised an eyebrow and spoke nonchalantly.

“Count Bernas, I heard you’ve been unwell and confined to your bed. How do you plan to prove Antonio’s innocence?”

Upon the prince’s cold words, the count, who had been holding his cane, lifted the pants of the leg on the side where he was supported by Closet.

Revealing gruesome scars obtained in the horrors of war, the nobles, including the prince, frowned at the sight.

“Shall I dedicate even my remaining leg to prove it?”