When the gazes of the numerous people observing, studying, and dissecting me moved, they followed in silence.

Even though it was quieter than the outside, the tribunal’s gazes were as cold as ice.

If the outside gazes were raw, unfiltered anger, here, it was threatening, as if ready to open its mouth and devour me at the slightest vulnerability.

As I approached the judge’s seat on top of the tribunal, the guards pulled me out of the reception carriage.

Puk!

“Ouch.”

My knees hit the cold and hard marble. A sharp pain shot up, making my face naturally frown.

“Igrene Lorenst.”

At the solemn judge’s call, I lifted my head.

I lowered my gaze a bit, which had been directed towards the ceiling of the dome-shaped royal tribunal. The judge, wearing glasses, was looking at me with cold eyes.

The royal tribunal was much larger and more magnificent than where I confronted Aris, and the judge seemed experienced.

In a solemn voice without intonation, the judge spoke.

“From now on, we will weigh the sins of the sinner.”
As the royal family directly accused and branded me as a sinner, there was no opportunity for questioning.

Soon, the judge began to recite my life.

“The sinner was born in the underground city of Amtein in Rioarsa. As a result, exposed to many sins with the most innocent body. Although brought into the Lorenst Viscount family under the guidance of the repentant mother, the infamous father, who was notorious as a heinous sinner in the kingdom, took the sinner back to Amtein.”

At that time, I was nothing but a crying newborn.

Mother, who had suffered from the wickedness of Father, saying that he kidnapped me because he was a bad person, explained that he couldn’t bear to see me crying in the mansion without being able to drink milk, so he stole me.

And I believe Father’s words.

The moment I heard the story, I remembered Father, who peered into the mansion from outside, trying to peek while I was crying.

“When the sinner turned ten, the sinner’s father, Yegor, presented the sinner to the Lorenst Viscount.”

Perhaps because of severe mental distress, Father fell ill at a young age.

Father judged that it was better for me to be by Mother’s side with our shared blood than living alone in Amtein, but he probably didn’t know.

That Mother’s hatred would be transferred to me.

“The sinner’s mother, feeling pity for the sinner, took charge of raising him. The virtuous viscount couple forgave him.”

“…”

“However, despite the mercy of all those people, the sinner committed many sins.”

“…”

“The sinner infiltrated even the royal family, who failed to discern the sinner’s true intentions, and the accumulated wickedness has now spread disease throughout the entire Rioarsa.”

“…”

“Thus, the sea to announce the sins of the sinner to the world.”

It was an arbitrary pronouncement as if someone had written it for them.

Tyrin growled in my ears.

“You were born at the very bottom of this land. Yet, you broke the wicked magic of the traitors. You are the only existence to condemn these insolent scoundrels.”

“Please clarify how she is related to the current situation.”

Someone raised their hand and spoke.

An assistant investigator supporting the judge stood up and shouted to everyone.

“When the sinner turned ten, the former Viscountess Lorenst contracted pneumonia. When the sinner turned fifteen, the jewel business invested by Viscount Lorenst went bankrupt and the family faced financial difficulties. When the sinner turned seventeen, the disease that penetrated the lady’s lungs eventually led to her death. She was a person who had been healthy enough not to need a doctor before.”

“That’s why.”

Not going to see a doctor. That’s why nobody noticed that she had weak lungs.

As Baron Jashk’s business failed and became economically difficult, the former viscountess’s illness deepened, and I didn’t know how unfortunate it was. She was a person who had treated me well with Hubert.

I didn’t want to see her die like Father.

While secretly selling the collected jewels and buying medicine, I personally brewed it.
Some servants mocked me, saying that I was trying hard to win the favor of the viscount couple.

“After that, Rozalina Emern became the stepmother of the former Viscount. It is known that she strongly warned against the sinner during her lifetime. It is said that she habitually told the maids that the sinner would ruin the family like a curse.”

“…”

“Even she returned to Marta’s embrace not long ago.”

“Unbelievable. It fits together so perfectly when you hear it like this.”

The man who threw the question shook his head with a sarcastic smile.

The investigator spoke thunderously as if the investigation was not over yet.

“In addition to harming Lady Emern, the sinner, not satisfied, also pinned the crime on Aris Dorensia. Originally, the princess’s title, which signifies the royal family’s trust in the Lorenst Viscount, was supposed to be bestowed upon Aris Dorensia. However, the sinner intercepted it.”

A bitter laugh escaped.

‘Quite fittingly fabricated.’

“Thus, beyond the misfortune of the Lorenst Viscount, the misfortune of the royal family, and the misfortune of the kingdom began. The misfortune manifests in various ominous events happening at present.”

As the investigator finished speaking, the faces of the people turned ashen.