“What does that have to do with the current trial?”

“It’s a statement you’ve been consistently making, as well as anyone. Evidence can be manipulated.”

“I’ve never manipulated anything! There are so many pieces of evidence…”

“That’s Lady Fisher’s claim, her own presented evidence. Even what she cites as evidence relies solely on testimonies, witnesses even.”

Human testimony is easier to manipulate than physical evidence. That was the point I wanted to make.

The attorney, sensing this, urgently retorted. It was evidence of his growing impatience.

“Love is something you can’t see. Trying to prove it materially is just forced speech.”

“What if I can prove it?”

“Well, that’s nonsense. That’s impossible.”

“Take a good look back at Lady Fisher’s claims. Considering that, it might not be impossible.”

Seeming unsure of how to handle the situation, the attorney tightened his jaw, closing his eyes slightly.

It was a brief silence. However, for Margaret, it seemed to drag on, and she, who had been silently observing behind her, finally spoke up again.

“What are you talking about?”

“Lady Fisher claims to have had an ardent love affair with my husband, and I allegedly allowed it to happen. Is that right?”

“…Yes, that’s correct.”

Perhaps due to the ripples caused by my statements, Margaret’s face as she answered was notably pale.

“If my husband really loved her, wouldn’t he have received gifts from her over the years?”

“Just a few gifts?”

Margaret’s tense shoulders, stiffened with anxiety, seemed to suddenly drop. A small, ironic smile played on her lips.

“Are you saying that you can show me the gifts your husband gave you?”

“That’s easy. Well, look. I haven’t shown them on the surface until now, but I’ve been well-loved by him.”

Margaret rose from her seat like a shot, raising both arms in a flashy display.

Adorned gorgeously, she looked stunning, and more than anything, from head to toe, everything she was doing was obviously extravagant.

Not the kind of things usually done by Lady Fisher.

Instead of words, Margaret, without the help of Lord Crateon, was showcasing that she could indulge in such extravagance.

However, even knowing that, I raised my left hand calmly.

Feeling equal to the opponent was rather on my side.

“I submit the expenditure list of Lord Crateon, my husband, as evidence.”

“What is that?”

“It’s evidence that he hasn’t bought gifts for any other woman but me.”

“Th-that can be easily manipulated…”

Margaret was about to say more but stopped herself, covering her mouth with both hands. She seemed to have belatedly realized that she couldn’t use the term manipulation in the changed atmosphere of the audience.

But in the current situation, prolonged silence only worked against her. Eventually, Margaret, her lips twitching, desperately opened her mouth again.
“He hid it! Our relationship is not something that can be openly revealed.”

“If Lady Fisher’s words are to be believed, then he wouldn’t need to care about my suspicions, right?”

“T-that hiding was not because he saw through my wife’s suspicions, but rather due to societal dignity, oh, yes! It was concealed for societal dignity!”

“Then, may we investigate Lady Fisher’s mansion items?”

“…What?”

“Even if you erase the purchase records, the items don’t disappear, do they? Since you claim to have known for a long time, we just need to look for items that bear the traces of time.”

Except for the gifts I gave, there was nothing extravagant for Margaret; Lord Crateon was as discerning as Margaret was indulged.

There were no luxurious items in Lady Fisher’s mansion that befitted her noble status.

I locked eyes with Margaret.

We all know the truth. It’s just a matter of perspective.

“That’s due to the fire at the mansion.”

“Can a fire burn everything, though?”

I placed my left hand on the desk. Today, for the trial, I wore my wedding ring after a long time.

An item well-preserved yet showing signs of time—a relic.

The very item that met the conditions of evidence Margaret needed right now.

“That day, the entire town was mobilized to put out the fire at Fisher Mansion. How could I secretly take away items amidst the chaos?”

“Even if that were true, usually, people try to find things once they realize they’re missing.”

“Normally, yes, but at the time, I was in a state of losing my family. It wasn’t a situation for such a cold-headed approach.”

“More precisely, shouldn’t it be called your husband’s family? Lady Fisher clearly mentioned that the relationship with her husband wasn’t good.”

Her own words became chains, tightening around Margaret even more.

After all, lies work that way. Initially, they seem to help avoid a crisis, but the more you use them, the more contradictions pile up, eventually crushing you under their weight.

“It’s natural for people to be shocked when someone dies.”

“Well, then, this should also be a shock for Lady Fisher.”

I glanced at Secter. In the current situation, he couldn’t say anything, but his eyes were questioning me.

What are you doing now?