At Akhia’s response, all the nobles in the hearing chamber took a collective gasp.

‘Akhia is the leader of Maggnolia Upper Estate…?’

The Emperor’s hand, gazing at Akhia, turned pale.

Where is Maggnolia Upper Estate? It opposed the Parthia Upper Estate, known as the pinnacle of the empire. No, now it seemed to be an emerging upper estate surpassing even Parthia.

‘But Akhia is the leader of that place.’

When was it that frail Akhia, who was expected to live for only a short time, became the leader?

Ilei couldn’t hide his embarrassment and bit his lip.

However, unlike Ilei, who immediately wiped away his expression, there was a man who had his mouth wide open. It was none other than Viscount Leorode.

He was also one of the central nobles who attended the hearing.

‘That little kid is the leader of Maggnolia! Not Duke Bellarus?!’

Viscount Leorode swallowed a sigh inwardly. He considered that Maggnolia Upper Estate was related to Duke Bellarus because he had obtained the rights to the hot spring business.

However, the leader of such Maggnolia Upper Estate turned out to be Duke Heidern.

‘I suggested to hold this hearing without knowing this. I have a bad feeling.’

In fact, he didn’t like opening this hearing from the beginning.

That was because the Botox used by Viscountess Ruisel had been manipulated under his name. When Botox became popular within the empire, he tried to develop a similar medicine.

But developing Botox was not easy.

However, he couldn’t just let go of the situation where Maggnolia monopolized Botox.

“If you can’t make it the same way in Parthia, make sure that medicine disappears from the world forever.”

So, following the Empress’s will, he decided to blame side effects on the Botox made by Viscountess Bellarus.

Maggnolia’s Botox was secretly traded in the black market because there was a long waiting line.

Viscount Leorode had mixed a chemical substance that would melt faces into the Botox distributed in the black market.

As a result, nobles who complained of minor side effects appeared in large numbers.

Viscountess Ruisel, who had injected much more chemical substances into her face, was found as a cold corpse.

‘The distributor is trustworthy, and there is no problem.’

The person who distributed the Botox in the black market was an employee of Maggnolia Upper Estate, whom Viscount Leorode had purchased in advance. No, to be precise.

‘I planted my person in Maggnolia.’

Therefore, there was no revelation that he was the culprit behind this side effect incident.

Moreover, after the victim, Viscountess Ruisel, was found as a cold corpse, Viscount Leorode stole the distributor.

He instructed him to hide for a while, so this matter would be concluded as the mistake of ‘Maggnolia Upper Estate’ and the wrong medicine developed by ‘Viscountess Bellarus.’

‘It’s unsettling that Viscountess Ruisel died. ‘

The cause of death of the Viscountess who revealed her appearance at the party was still an unresolved mystery.

Viscount Leorode, who didn’t directly give the order to kill her.

‘Even more so, it wasn’t Lady who directly ordered it.’

Viscount Leorode, who seemed to be thinking for a moment, soon nodded. Although there was some doubt about whether the side effects were enough to kill a person, it wasn’t important.

‘If she turns things upside down like that, it’s over.’

Even if Duke Heidern says that Maggnolia’s leader, this time, there is no way to escape from this hearing.

The viscount looked at Leia and smiled warmly. If she had quietly accepted the Emperor’s proposal, things wouldn’t have come to this point.

‘Tsk, foolish.’

With the sound of the Chief Justice’s gavel, the hearing began. The questions directed at Leia and Akhia were sharp.
Maggnolia Upper Estate’s owner, Akhia, was criticized for distributing medicine without proper verification, emphasizing his relationship with Leia.

Leia, on the other hand, was suspected of developing medicine without proper clinical trials, raising doubts about the safety of the medicine.

However, Leia calmly asserted her innocence, citing the results of numerous clinical trials she had undergone. Viscount Leorode, who had been observing Leia, raised his eyebrows.

‘Something seems off.’

The attitudes of the two facing the hearing were too calm.

Even if it was Akhia, Viscountess Bellarus was in a situation where people had died because of the medicine she created.

Despite presenting evidence against them, the nobles continued to push forward, yet they remained composed.

‘Is it boldness, or… is there some trust?’

The viscount looked at Leia countering the evidence presented by the nobles. He was undoubtedly sure that the Bellarus family would protect her.

Well, there was no other way to think. That old man, who couldn’t even use his title with his lineage, must have reassured the frightened child.

‘But, what should I do about this apology?’

He couldn’t just let this matter slide.

Even considering Empress’s gaze behind him, Viscountess Bellarus had to taste bitter defeat this time.