The trial began in a solemn atmosphere.

“Duke Delmark, you have claimed that the perpetrator of the fire incident at the Empress’s Palace ten years ago was not the former Empress. Do you have any evidence or witnesses to support this claim?”

“Of course.”

Herdin stepped forward in front of Ivan, with an air of confidence that could be perceived as arrogant.

“First of all, the Empress Dowager’s claim that the former Empress attempted to assassinate the Imperial Princess is not true. The Imperial Princess herself, who is the sole survivor and witness of that incident, will testify about it.”

Next was Blair’s turn.

Blair took a deep breath, then rose from her seat and calmly stepped forward in front of Ivan.

“I, Blair Delmark, swear before God and His Majesty the Emperor to speak only the truth.”

After the oath of truth was completed, Ivan asked Blair.

“I understand that the witness had lost her memory of the accident ten years ago.”

“That was true until just a few months ago. However, a few months ago, I was kidnapped by unidentified assailants and experienced a fire incident, which helped me regain my memories of the accident from ten years ago.”

“Witness, recount everything you saw that day without omission.”

Blair recalled her recovered memories and recounted the truth of that day.

She told of how Esmeralda had sensed something was amiss and hidden her in a wardrobe, how she had woken up to find Marina Florang, the maid of the Empress’s Palace who was said to have saved her, strangling Esmeralda.

And that she had killed her.

“The former Empress was not the perpetrator who tried to harm me, but the benefactor who saved my life.”

At Blair’s words, the crowd began to stir.

To think that the former Empress, who had been branded a traitor for attempting to assassinate the Imperial Princess for a full decade, was actually the opposite.

“Thus, I stand here today to clear the name of the one who closed her eyes unjustly, albeit belatedly.”

Blair spoke calmly as she looked up at her mother.

Katrina’s expression hardened as she met that gaze. At that moment, the look in Blair’s eyes as she gazed up at her was terrifyingly similar to Esmeralda’s.

‘So you’ve decided to drag your mother through the mud to clear the name of that dead woman.’

Having finished her testimony, Blair returned to her seat. Behind her, she could hear the nobles whispering.

“Does this mean the true culprit of the incident falls back into mystery?”

As if in response to that voice, Herdin spoke up again.

“Based on this testimony, I reconstructed the incident and traced clues to reveal the true culprit. And I found both clues and witnesses.”

Herdin nodded to Luth, who was waiting nearby. Luth then approached the chamberlain standing below the courtroom and handed him something.

The chamberlain passed it to Ivan. It was a coin.

“What’s this? It doesn’t seem to be a gold coin used in Ardel or other countries.”

“This is a coin that was in the possession of Marina Florang, the perpetrator who murdered the former Empress. If you take this coin to a pawnshop, you can receive the promised payment. This method was chosen to minimize contact with the perpetrator.”

“Where was this coin found? I recall that no such evidence was discovered at the time of the incident.”

“That’s probably true. Because the soldier who arrived at the scene first concealed it.”

At Herdin’s nod, a man who had been waiting came forward. He was the soldier who had concealed Marina Florang’s coin.

He testified that he had pocketed the coin thinking it was gold to use for drinking money, but later realized it was not a simple coin. He had hidden it out of fear of being punished if it was discovered that he had concealed evidence from the scene.

After watching the soldier’s exit, Ivan asked.

“Do you also know the owner of that coin?”

“The pawnshop owner refused to testify, but fortunately, we were able to find the craftsman who minted the coin.”

“So who is the owner of the coin?”

Before answering, Herdin looked at Katrina. Katrina’s complexion turned pale as she stared at the coin in Ivan’s hand.

“It’s Viscount Vernon.”

At the name that flowed from Herdin’s lips, the nobles began to stir greatly.

“Viscount Vernon? Isn’t that Countess Magrid’s brother?”

At that moment, a man among the jury stood up abruptly. It was Viscount Vernon.

“Th-this is slander! I’ve never seen such a coin!”

“A few days ago, I confirmed with the pawnshop owner that there is still someone who brings that coin to receive payment. The source of the payment is still Viscount Vernon.”

As if he had anticipated Vernon’s reaction, Herdin immediately countered. The courtroom buzzed again.

“Then the real mastermind behind that incident is…”

Viscount Vernon is the brother of Countess Magrid, who is Katrina’s close lady-in-waiting.

With that fact alone, everyone could infer one person, but they dared not speak it aloud.

Amidst the great commotion in the courtroom, Ivan nodded to the chamberlain. Understanding the meaning, the chamberlain shouted.

“Silence!”

As the room quieted, Ivan resumed the trial.

“It seems we have enough witnesses and evidence. I ask the jury to freely express the results of their verdicts based on the testimony and evidence presented.”

The nobles hesitated, looking at each other, then one by one, they raised the placards placed in front of them.

As expected, the imperial loyalists leaned towards insufficient evidence, while Delmark’s vassals leaned towards sufficient testimony and evidence to overturn the previous verdict.

This result was predictable even before the trial began.

What really mattered was the verdict of the nobles who weren’t aligned with either side.

The other nobles who had been watching carefully began to raise their placards.

As a result, the final vote was very close, but slightly more favored that the testimony and evidence were sufficient.

In fact, everyone knew. That Herdin’s claim was more credible. They were just being cautious of the Emperor and the imperial family.

But the final decision rested with the Emperor, who was the judge.

Katrina looked desperately at Ivan.

‘Ivan absolutely cannot abandon me.’

Even though he had pushed her away when she failed to kidnap Blair, I am still this child’s mother.

She had unwavering faith in her son.

“Having examined the jury’s verdict and various pieces of evidence, it seems there are aspects we failed to consider in the previous judgment.”

“…”

“My father, the previous Emperor, was the most revered sovereign of the empire, but he was never ashamed of his mistakes and always listened to righteous words. If he were alive, I believe he would have reconsidered the previous judgment.”

Until Ivan’s verdict was announced.

“Following his will, I, as his son, will belatedly correct the parts we missed.”

At Ivan’s unexpected response, not only Katrina but even Herdin raised an eyebrow as they looked at him.

As the Emperor lent weight to Herdin’s argument, the nobles who had stood against Herdin began to lower their placards, glancing around cautiously.

Ivan, observing this, called the commander of the knights who was waiting nearby.

“Marcus.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Immediately escort Viscount Vernon to the imperial prison and interrogate him about who the real mastermind is.”

“As you command.”

The imperial knights, receiving the Emperor’s order, dragged Viscount Vernon away.

Vernon’s voice could be heard from the corridor, crying out that he was innocent, but Ivan pretended not to hear and moved on to the next order of business.

“And we must also clear the name of the former Empress.”

“…”

“As of today, I will remove the false charges against former Empress Esmeralda Delmark and the stigma of treason placed on the Delmark ducal family.”

This was the moment Herdin had desperately longed for over the past decade.

But for some reason, he felt uneasy, perhaps because of Ivan’s attitude.

He had expected Ivan to eventually accept the evidence he presented, but he hadn’t anticipated such ready compliance.

‘Is he cutting off his already tarnished mother to at least salvage his own image?’

It was good for him, but Ivan’s quick change of attitude, like turning over his palm, was not entirely pleasant.

“I am grateful for Your Majesty’s fair and just verdict.”

“No need for thanks. When there’s a misunderstanding between family, it should be resolved.”

The word ‘family’, which he had always heard, sounded a bit more meaningful today. Herdin found it strange, but soon put aside his thoughts at the sound of the trial’s conclusion being announced.

“With this, the trial is concluded.”

Ivan stood up and extended his hand to escort Katrina. Katrina placed her hand on her son’s, who was no longer on her side, and looked at Blair.

Blair met the emotions in that gaze without avoiding them.

You cruel child.

It was as if she could hear Katrina’s voice shouting those words. But now, falling out of her mother’s favor was neither frightening nor painful.

Now she had Asiel.

After briefly looking at Blair with resentful eyes, Katrina followed Ivan out of the courtroom.

Blair watched their retreating figures intently.

Her mother’s back, which had always seemed so large, looked small and pitiful today.

“Blair.”

Herdin approached Blair, who was lost in thought, and gently took her hand.

The two boarded the waiting carriage outside the palace.

As always, Blair quietly gazed at the passing scenery of the palace through the window. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she turned to Herdin.

“Herdin.”

His gaze had been resting on her all along, as if it had never been elsewhere.

After briefly meeting his eyes, Blair spoke.

“Let’s stop by the cemetery for a moment.”

* * *

Even in summer, a cool air lingered in the imperial cemetery. Perhaps it was due to its isolation, being far removed from other palace buildings.

The two crossed the empty cemetery and stopped in front of a gravestone.

Stripped of her title and the imperial family name, bearing a false charge, and unable to be buried beside the Emperor as an Empress, her grave would now be moved to the Emperor’s side.

Realizing this fact anew made her heart feel heavy.

On the day before her second marriage after returning to the past, she had finally kept her promise to herself in front of this gravestone.

‘Rest in peace now, Your Majesty.’

The gentle breeze felt as if it was softly caressing her hair.

Just like Esmeralda’s touch, like her smile, from that time long ago.