Nevertheless, the Emperor did not open his mouth until the end. Thanks to that, Margaret, whose color had returned somewhat, turned pale again.

The atmosphere was somewhat different from the beginning.

Everyone was suspicious of whether Margaret Fisher was truly a murderer. If the trial ended like this, she was truly finished. Unless the atmosphere was completely reversed in the next trial, she could no longer speak out.

But would there be a next one? Such thoughts might have crossed Margaret’s mind.

She always needed someone else’s power to raise her voice. With me and the Emperor turned away, she had no chance to counterattack.

Looking at Margaret intently, I spoke up.
“Your Majesty. Today, not as the Viscountess of Crayton but as your friend, for the first and last time, I earnestly request an investigation into Lady Fisher and Felt von Biden, who is presumed to be behind her.”

The Emperor’s stepbrother, Felt, must not be resurrected unscathed. Chains were necessary to ensure that he, though alive, could not exert his power properly.

In the end, he would be alive but become a sinner.

The stigma of a rebel attached to Crayton and Pierin would become his share beyond Margaret.

“Do you realize how dangerous words you are uttering, Madame?”

“If nothing comes out, I will take responsibility.”

“Viscountess of Crayton.”

“I say this because I am confident.”

In a situation with many observers, a declaration is risky. However, as the risk is significant, it is bound to leave a strong impression.

After taking a deep breath, I spoke directly.

“To protect Crayton.”

“…”

“Don’t listen to the absurd conspiracy! That woman is now insulting the sacred trial with lies! Originally, this trial was meant to hear such stories…”

Margaret’s cry, full of malice, stopped in the Emperor’s raised hand.

Margaret bit her lips tightly, and soon tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Do you really believe such nonsense?”

“Let’s halt the trial at this point today.”

“Your Majesty!”

“Quickly.”

“Yes, yes!”

The Emperor’s voice unexpectedly sank. It was evidence that his mood was not good.

The judge, who noticed this fact, hurriedly found a gavel. Despite dropping the gavel to the floor due to tension, he quickly struck it to signal the end of the trial.

That was the end.

While the Emperor glared at me without saying a word, he turned and walked outside. Crushed by the heavy atmosphere, the people remained silent, unable to open their mouths.

The trial ended up in a mess without a proper conclusion, but it brought significant repercussions.

Now, the ridiculous play had come to an end, and it was time for the actors to come down from the stage.

Looking at Margaret, who could not accept the current situation and wore a despairing expression, I slowly relaxed my body.

As if a person who had barely endured resentment suddenly lost all strength.

“Lady!”

“Doctors! Doctors!”

“We’ll take a look!”

My body collapsed like a piece of paper, and the doctors, who had been waiting, caught and supported me.

It was an obvious but intense exit. It was also a final gift for those who had missed the timing and failed to exit.

“Leviana, you damn wench!”

The trial, which had caused a commotion, not only failed to extinguish the flames but instead ignited even more fiercely.

Now, there was no one in the capital who did not talk about Leviana.

Margaret nervously bit the tip of her thumb, even chewing her nails with her incisors.

Although she thought she was winning, she could not understand why things had turned out this way.
I thought I had won the trial, but due to Leviana’s trickery, not only was my concealed birth revealed, but the events from over a decade ago were also entirely turned upside down.

Margaret looked at her reflection in the glass table and couldn’t endure it any longer, so she threw the sofa cushion over it.

The cushion, filled with cotton, only bounced off with a thud, making a sound, but it didn’t shatter the glass itself.

Margaret bit her lips tightly again as she faced her reflection once more.

After yesterday’s trial, she returned home without changing her clothes. She had stayed locked in her room, trembling while recalling the memories of the trial judge. In the darkening room, she had only caused a ruckus out of fear.

It was just that the lamp’s oil had run out, but in a psychologically anxious state, even trivial matters bothered her.

She tried to forget, but the more she tried, the more vividly the memories resurfaced.

Whenever darkness fell, that room always came to mind.

In the dim darkness, the room where she was treated like an animal and imprisoned.

The terrifying time when Leviana did nothing but left traumatic memories. At the slightest lapse of attention, insects like bugs tried to devour Margaret.

Especially in moments like this.

Margaret curled her body like a ball.

What would happen if everything were turned upside down? Would it be like back then?

No, it would be even worse.

Because Leviana had not forgotten anything.

Margaret’s body trembled uncontrollably.

Resentful yet fearful of Leviana, who had created the situation like this. She didn’t want to accept the fact that even the trial she thought she had won had slipped through her fingers.

“…An annoying wench to the end.”

Margaret weakly muttered, covering her face with both hands. Her vacillating emotions finally settled on one side.

“Just because I happened to have good parents, I thought I could be something….”

As Margaret’s fingertips gradually pressed against her palm, the fingertips that had lost their strength bent like hooks. Her eyes, visible through the slightly opened fingers, were a deep shade of red.

The more she thought about the past, the more it became resentment, not fear.

Originally, the reason Leviana could be so arrogant was not because she was well-mannered. It was because she was a Crayton.

Just being born had granted her so much. It was too unfair.

If she had been born as a Crayton like Leviana, she wouldn’t have done such things. Leviana, born with everything, had no right to blame Margaret for struggling to escape from her innate origin.

Even if Leviana had been born into Margaret’s position, she would have acted the same.

Yes, in the end, Margaret hadn’t done anything wrong.

She had simply done her best. No one could blame her.
“…Already talking about giving up. There’s still a chance. I have to try anything. Even if nothing else, I must see that unlucky face twisted in frustration.”

Margaret staggered as she rose from her seat.

Now was not the time to be absent-mindedly stuck in the room. It was time to find a solution. Not everything had ended yet. Just as she thought that, she felt a sense of presence.

Thump! Thump!

Along with the knocking sound echoing in the room, tension surged through Margaret’s body.