For Clea, this was now the real beginning.

Dealing with Aria and the Hersher family wasn’t much of a problem,

as it had already gained the tacit approval of the nobles since the wedding.

The urgent issue for Clea now was the matter with Grit.

“Treason!”

As soon as Odin finished speaking, Grit rose from his seat.

“For what reason would I commit treason! Your Majesty, I am wrongfully accused!”

Grit pleaded his innocence to Odin.

As he said, there wasn’t really any reason for Grit to commit treason.

He wasn’t even the type of person capable of attempting such a thing in the first place.

Anyone who had ever conversed with him would know this.

Meanwhile, all the spectators were busy gauging Odin’s reactions.

“Your Majesty, wasn’t this gathering arranged to deal with Aria Hersher and the Hersher family?”

That was as far as the nobles had agreed.

The matter concerning Grit hadn’t been mentioned at all, so the audience was showing a slightly ambiguous atmosphere.

Rather than immediately taking sides, they wanted to know why the topic had suddenly shifted in that direction.

Of course, it wasn’t that they had no inkling of the reason.

Everyone knew that the relationship between Clea and the Odoi family wasn’t good.

Still, they were puzzled.

No matter how bad the relationship, why would someone lead their former family to the path of ruin?

“It was suddenly added this early morning due to someone’s accusation.”

“An accusation, you say?”

The nobles were surprised by this unexpected information.

“Who on earth has accused me!”

Grit shouted towards Odin.

Normally, it was the law not to disclose the identity of the accuser to protect them.

But no one pointed this out and everyone looked at Odin.

They were all curious. Was their guess correct that Clea was indeed the one who accused Grit?

“Are you sure you won’t regret it?”

“What is there to regret? Rather, I want to know exactly who has slandered me!”

“Steve Odoi accused the Duke.”

Words that overturned everyone’s expectations came from Odin’s mouth.

“Steve Odoi is…”

“Isn’t he the son of Duke Odoi?”

“Huh, that family really…”

The person people had expected was Clea.

Apart from her, there weren’t many who would accuse Grit.

Treason wasn’t something to be brought up lightly.

If one couldn’t prove that Grit had committed treason, the accuser would face tremendous hardship instead.

So it was a somewhat risky card to play without solid evidence.

But for Steve to be the one to play that card.

He was Grit’s only son and the heir to the Odoi family.

The place instantly turned into pandemonium.

“That’s nonsense!”

Grit shouted as if he couldn’t accept it.

He was certain that Steve would never have accused him.

After all, if treason was proven and Grit fell, Steve would also fall into ruin.

Grit insisted that Steve, who was like one body with him, couldn’t have done such a thing.

“Why do you say it’s nonsense, Duke?”

Clea spoke with a confident voice in response to Grit’s protest.

Every time she had shown a confident attitude until now, she always had sufficient grounds.

Because Clea never stepped forward without certainty, Grit felt a slight fear creeping in.

He now had no cards left in his hand.

Even the butler and retainers he could once control had long since gone over to Clea’s side.

All his actions were being reported to her, so it was impossible for him to play any tricks.

No, it was possible.

However, because Clea overlooked it, he became even more anxious and unable to do anything himself.

Grit looked at the surrounding nobles.

They all would know that he hadn’t done such a thing. But no one stood on his side.

“Bring in the accuser.”

No sooner had Odin finished speaking than the door opened, and soon Steve’s figure appeared.

Grit finally saw his son, whom he hadn’t been able to see since Clea’s wedding day.

He looked a bit gaunt, but judging by his neat clothes and fair skin, it didn’t seem like he had suffered much.

As Grit was momentarily relieved.

“I, I saw it clearly with my own two eyes.”

Steve blurted out shocking words.

Seeing him speak while trembling with fear, people began to focus.

“Stop.”

Watching this, Grit shouted at him to stop with a dazed look.

But Steve continued speaking.

“Fa, Father was waiting for the moment when Her Highness came home to…”

“Your Majesty! This must be due to someone’s threats! Otherwise, my son would never accuse me!”

Grit could no longer hold back and cut off Steve’s words midway.

Then he appealed to the people. That Steve must have been threatened by someone.

But no one agreed with Grit’s words.

“Father, I also heard what Steve is saying.”

If the accuser had been Clea, they might have sided with him.

However, if the accuser was Steve, it was a different story.

Whatever had happened between father and son, or even if Steve had really been threatened by someone, there was no reason to get involved if the details were unlikely to be revealed.

Clea poured oil on the rising flames.

“Father tried to kill me because of the truth he wanted to hide.”

Although Clea spoke calmly, people were shocked by her too direct words.

Clea was his child before being the Crown Princess.

People were curious if Grit really tried to kill his own child. So they asked what that truth was.

“Truth? What is that?”

Clea looked at Grit’s face.

He was looking at Steve with a completely distorted expression. His clenched fists were trembling.

Clea smiled at his helpless state and said.

“Not content with killing Mother, you tried to kill me, the child of your legal wife, and pass on the title to Steve, your illegitimate child.”

At the word ‘illegitimate child’, all the spectators rose from their seats.

People’s gazes poured towards Steve, who was still lingering near the door, unable to enter.

It was a gaze asking for an explanation of what on earth was going on, but Steve couldn’t utter a word.

For him now, life was important, not honor.

However, Grit hoped Steve would deny it.

He didn’t want to see all the efforts he had made for him so far turn into bubbles.

“Really, this is ridiculous. I believe you told me that the Duchess died of illness. Moreover, isn’t Clea your child?”

Odin asked Grit with an incredulous face.

No matter how much one hates their child, how could they think of killing them?

Grit glared at Clea with bloodshot eyes.

Then suddenly he lunged at Clea.

“Kyaa!”

“Stop him!”

He lunged with both hands stretched out exactly towards Clea’s neck.

His appearance could hardly be called that of a father.

“It’s all because of you!”

Grit whispered. His voice was full of murderous intent and resentment.

Meanwhile, Clea silently listened to the words he was spitting out.

“If only you hadn’t been born, everything would have been perfect! If only you hadn’t been born!”

Admund, who was nearby, tried to cover her ears from the words cursing her.

He didn’t want her to hear any more of these useless words, but Clea rejected his gesture and approached Grit.

“Haha, how is that my fault?”

“What?”

“All of these things are what you brought upon yourself, Father.”

Caught by the Imperial Guards and forced to his knees, he looked truly pathetic.

Seeing his distorted face that showed no dignity at all, Clea felt like laughing.

“If you had treated me well from the beginning, things like today wouldn’t have happened, right?”

If he had chosen her as the heir from the start instead of Steve.

If he had believed in her and given her full support and backing.

Even if he had just stopped the engagement with Lloyd Percy, things would have been different.

But Grit didn’t do any of the three.

“Honorable judge, Duke Odoi not only ignored the sacred laws set by the Empire but also attempted to assassinate a member of the royal family.”

As there was only the matter of wrapping everything up now, Clea spoke without hesitation.

On the other hand, Grit tried to resist desperately until the end, as if he couldn’t fall like this.

“You witch! I never…”

However, thinking there was no more value in listening to his words, Odin gestured to the guards to silence him.

“If anyone has an objection, quietly raise your hand and speak.”

The situation was over.

The spectators had completely turned their backs on him, perhaps because of Steve’s matter.

Grit tried to keep speaking even with his mouth covered, but no words came out.

“Then I shall pronounce the verdict.”

Unlike with Aria, there were some parts that weren’t handled cleanly, but Odin was satisfied with this much and pronounced the verdict.

“Grit Odoi, who attempted to commit treason, is sentenced to death, and a detailed investigation shall be conducted on the internal issues. And all matters related to the title shall be handled within the family.”

Now that Steve was revealed to be an illegitimate child, it was impossible for him to inherit the title.

The right of succession to the title could go to a collateral line, but probably no one would want to inherit a title that was like a poisoned chalice.

“Additionally, I will also pronounce the verdict on Aria Hersher and the Hersher family, which I haven’t given yet.”