An incomprehensible event, an incomprehensible sight. Her first thought was that a war had broken out, but that couldn’t be the case. If such a thing had happened, Cediloy would have gone to the capital…

Then why were the vigorous soldiers in the Valtminster Duke’s residence? The words spoken by the owner of El Lautica’s jewelry store suddenly came to her mind. ‘When the lady is officially appointed…’ If they had come from the capital for Arianthe, and if that little girl really kneeled before the king as the successor to Valtminster, then…
“I can’t let it happen that way,” Jocelyn thought. The sound of creaking in the harness rang out. She couldn’t let it happen that way!

The carriage, which seemed like it would run forever, came to a halt. Jocelyn saw that the front gate of the duke’s residence was tightly closed. Below the stairs, she saw Cediloy standing, and on either side, chairs were prepared. Although she didn’t know who the man sitting in the chair was, it was undoubtedly someone of high status.

“Please get off, Mistress.”

The driver, who opened the door, said. Jocelyn got off the carriage with a stiff expression. As the image of the deceased duke passed over Cediloy’s face for a moment, she felt dizzy.

The next moment, Cediloy spoke.

“Press the sinner and make them kneel.”

Jocelyn and the driver’s eyes widened simultaneously. As soldiers firmly grasped Jocelyn’s arms on both sides, the driver, even more bewildered, stumbled backward and bumped into the carriage. Startled horses neighed and kicked up a noisy fuss.

Then, the man sitting to the right of Cediloy, Clophe, spoke.

“What are you foolishly standing there for? Isn’t it proper to take the horses to the stable before enjoying the spectacle?”

“Yes? Oh, yes! I’ll do it right away.”

The driver hastily led the horses toward the stable, dragging the confused words. The soldiers, keeping Jocelyn in place, brought her to Cediloy. She still looked perplexed, unable to grasp the situation.

“Duke, what is this…”

“Kneel as a sinner.”

With force, the soldiers made Jocelyn kneel. Despite falling forcefully onto the cold stone floor, Jocelyn didn’t feel any pain. However, after that moment passed, she unleashed her anger as if she had been waiting.

“Duke! Why are you doing this to me? What on earth is going on!”

“Jocelyn.”

Jocelyn’s mouth hung open. The stern dry jaw trembled with a fear she was feeling for the first time.

Cediloy, looking down at her with dark eyes, said.

“From now on, if you utter a single word other than the answers to my questions, I will whip you until you speak properly. Do you understand?”

“Duke!”

That’s when it happened. With a sound that seemed to tear through the air, a whip flew onto Jocelyn’s back.

“Aaah!”

Struggling with her tied arms, she writhed in pain. Cediloy signaled the soldier holding the whip to stop, then looked back at her.

“That was a warning just now. There won’t be any forgiveness from now on. But I won’t kill you here. I hope you understand what that means.”

Between Jocelyn’s lips, which were bowed, sticky saliva dribbled down. With an empty stomach, nausea rose, and with just one lash of the whip, everything in front of her became dizzying.
However, more than anything else, what frightened her was Cediloy’s final words. The statement that he wouldn’t kill her here… It was as if he meant to inflict pain until the very moment of death.

“Duke…”

“Duchess Jocelyn Stapert, from now on, listen carefully to what I say and answer my questions.”

At that moment, Harmon, who was sitting in the left chair, handed something to Cediloy. Jocelyn, raising her head, tried to straighten her dizzying vision.

Cediloy unfolded the scroll handed to him by Harmon.

“El Bluyenn’s second pillar and a loyal friend to the Jabe Royal Family, Haman Roberts Jabe, the youngest son of the prestigious Valternminster Ducal Family, is unable to share anger and sadness for the tragic crimes related to a woman, Jocelyn Stapert.”

Jocelyn’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out. She looked at Cediloy, trembling without even daring to pout her lips.

“By the solemn laws of the kingdom, the sinner, Jocelyn Stapert, should be judged in the court that upholds sacred rules. However, fearing that the honor of the Valternminster family and the duke’s mission will be tarnished by the vile deeds of a despicable sinner, my son and the 2nd prince of El Bluyenn, Harmon Roberts Jabe, temporarily grants all the authority related to the judgment of the sinner to Cediloy von Valternminster, the duke and the victim.”

Cediloy, who folded the scroll, looked down at Jocelyn as if asking if she understood. His eyes were cold and silent. It was another side of Cediloy that even Jocelyn had never seen before.

“Our esteemed King has graciously bestowed mercy for the honor of the Valternminster family. Now, I will speak on behalf of the impartial judges of the kingdom, Jocelyn.”

Cediloy’s eyes blinked slowly.

“Jocelyn Stapert, you are accused of disguising yourself and murdering Verbo Valternminster, a member of the Valternminster Ducal Family, and his wife, Liria Celine. Do you admit to this fact?”

Jocelyn bit her lips until they turned blue, and her dry jaw became even sharper, and the wrinkles in her forehead deepened.

“Absolutely not!”

Jocelyn shouted.