While waiting for the expected result of the hearing, he realized something. Akhia stood up and requested a witness.

“Witness?”

“Yes. This witness will prove that the investigation direction for this case has been wrong from the beginning.”

The Chief Justice glanced at the Emperor, and when Ilei, who had been silently standing, nodded quietly, Akhia’s witness was allowed.

“Let him in.”

Then a man walked in. At that moment, Viscount Leorode’s face stiffened as he discovered the man.

‘Why is he here…!’

The man who entered as Akhia’s witness was the distributor that Viscount Leorode had personally planted in Maggnolia.

At that moment, the viscount realized the identity of the strange feeling he had been feeling throughout the hearing. Despite the situation being forced, both Viscountess Bellarus and Akhia looked calm.

‘Could it be!’

The viscount quickly turned his body towards Akhia, thinking of the dead Viscountess Ruisel. Akhia’s eyes, looking at the viscount, were gleaming.

‘He set a trap! No wonder it felt strange. Damn it…!’

Today, as usual, his sharp intuition hit the mark.

“I-I am the trigger who distributed Botox from Maggnolia Upper Estate. No, to be precise…”

The trigger, whose gaze met with Viscount Leorode’s not far away, managed to speak.

“I am an employee of Parthia Upper Estate who infiltrated Maggnolia Upper Estate with the threat from Viscount Leorode.”

The introduction of the witness caused a stir in the hall.

“A person from Parthia Upper Estate. So, were you a spy for Parthia?”

As the audience buzzed with surprise, the witness continued to speak.

“Yes. Everyone knows that Botox with manipulated ingredients is traded in secret in the black market. The order I received from Viscount Leorode was to steal Botox, manipulate the ingredients, and then redistribute it in the black market.”

Instantly, all eyes focused on Viscount Leorode.

“You have a sick grandmother. However, you didn’t have the money to treat her. At that time, the viscount made me an offer. If I successfully finish this job, he promised not only to save my grandmother but also to help me go down to my hometown…”

“W-What are you talking about! I’m seeing you for the first time today!”

But unlike his denial, the trigger poured out evidence of his involvement in Parthia Upper Estate’s affairs.

“What on earth is going on? Are you plotting against Maggnolia now to restrain Parthia?!”
“Yes. The Botox that Viscountess Ruisel Youngae received was not the Botox we produced; it was Botox with manipulated ingredients under Viscount Leorode’s orders!”

At Leia’s shout, astonishment spread across the faces of the people.

“Viscount Leorode! Is everything she said true?”

“No! It’s truly unfair. Haven’t you all heard Viscountess Ruisel’s words? She had Botox from Bellarus Youngae and experienced side effects!”

“No, Viscountess Ruisel Youngae has never purchased Botox from us. We operate with strict reservations, recording who, when, and how much medicine is purchased in our ledger.”

Saying so, Akhia handed them their ledger.

“If you check the ledger, you’ll see that Viscountess Ruisel Youngae’s reservation date is three months from now. So, that means she didn’t receive Botox from us.”

“But the ledger could be manipulated!”

Despite Viscount Leorode’s desperate defense…

“Claiming ledger manipulation when a witness comes forward.”

“Admit your guilt now, Viscount!”

The reactions of the surrounding nobles were cold. Akhia, who had been watching the viscount, turned towards the emperor and, with a meaningful smile, spoke.

“I request one more witness.”

“…Let them in.”

When the emperor’s permission, after a brief hesitation, was granted, a veiled woman appeared this time.

“This woman is…”

And when the veiled woman’s face was revealed, everyone was shocked.

“!”

It was supposed to be the deceased Viscountess Ruisel Youngae.

“She… wasn’t she dead? What on earth…”

The emperor, who had maintained composure throughout the hearing, had a changed expression. Ignoring such reactions, Akhia asked Ruisel Yeongae with a significant smile.

“Are you indeed the daughter of the Ruisel Viscount family?”

“Yes. I am Caroline Cyrille de Ruisel.”

“Youngae stated that you purchased Botox. Did you really buy it directly from Maggnolia Upper Estate?”

“No. I bought it from an agent who came to the mansion. According to the agent, it was an officially distributed medicine in Maggnolia. I innocently believed those words.”

As Ruisel Youngae pointed to the distributor, the hall was stirred once again.

“So, you didn’t directly purchase it from Maggnolia Upper Estate.”

“Yes. My face suddenly changed like this, and I got agitated. I apologize for causing concern to both of you unintentionally. There was someone else who should be held accountable for the crime from the beginning.”

At the same time, Caroline’s gaze became fierce.

“Selling unverified and unbelievable medicine, claiming it to be Maggnolia’s medicine, and on top of that, the person who tried to kill me is sitting right there!”

As Youngae, with a heavily suppressed voice, pointed her finger sharply at the viscount.