That day, Ariana looked terribly pale and frail. Her body had various bruises, both large and small, some of which had even turned yellow as if they were old. Her cracked lips and scrawny arms didn’t look like she had just gone hungry for a day or two. However, it seems she has improved a lot since being in custody. It’s a relief; I’ve been quite concerned since that day.
There was no falsehood in the soft, tranquil voice. The compassionate look towards Ariana conveyed genuine concern that had been harbored for a long time.
Rachel’s attorney spoke up.
“The witness is giving subjective testimony. I understand the witness has had long-standing connections with the White family.”
“If that’s the case, then the same could be said for the defense’s witnesses…”
Just as Ariana’s lawyer tried to argue, Duchess Rovanta raised her finger to interrupt. She then glared at Rachel’s attorney.
“Are you implying that I, a cousin to His Majesty the Emperor and the lady of the House of Rovanta, would give false testimony due to personal relationships?”
“That’s not what I meant… Could your judgement be clouded due to your relationships…”
“Do you think my vision is so clouded that I would distort the truth due to mere friendships?”
Duchess Rovanta’s voice was soft, yet it left a deep impression on the audience.
After Duchess Rovanta stepped down from the witness stand, the back and forth between lawyers continued. Witnesses came in intermittently to testify, and debates among lawyers persisted.
Finally, it was time for closing statements, and both the defendant and the plaintiff were given the opportunity to speak.
Rachel summarized her lawyer’s arguments, holding back tears. She added that despite all the love she had given, she didn’t understand why it was not acknowledged. Rachel then took her seat.
Ariana, who had been emotionless throughout the trial, changed when she made her statement. Her blue eyes filled with fear but striving for composure, she spoke.
“I believed that one day you would love me, so I tried to act according to my mother’s wishes. I believed that if I endured and persevered, there would come a day when you’d love me. But ever since I found out that you were trying to frame me for murder, there was only one thing I could do. I was just…”
Never to be loved again.
Neither yearning for love nor offering it.
“I just wanted to be loved, like other children.”
I used to want to be loved.
Not anymore, but I could certainly pretend.
Just like a child craving their parents’ affection, I could muster a trembling voice.
Just to repeat the person I used to be.
Her flaming eyes veiled in tears.
Throughout the trial, Rachel’s plot to paint Ariana as a vile and disgusting child had made her blood boil, but she barely held it in. Her feelings towards Rachel and the House of Bronthe had turned colder than before.
Her heart was frozen, yet the hatred simmering within was hot.
Even after the judge and the archbishop had gone out for deliberation, Rachel continued her impeccable portrayal of a wounded mother.
Russell seemed worried as he asked,
“Are you okay, Ariana?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“Don’t worry too much, we’re going to win. Don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried.”
As Ariana quietly responded to Russell, a man sitting in the front row of the spectators’ section was watching her with interest.
It was the third prince, Herald.
Next to Herald, who wore a wide-brimmed fedora, sat his longtime friend, Viscount Fabric Gio. Fabric asked,
“Who do you think will win?”
Herald answered without hesitation.
“Rachel.”
“But don’t you think the arguments from the imperial consort’s side also make sense? I think everything she’s saying is true.”
“It’s true. However, the outcome of the trial isn’t determined by such things. While the claims from the side of the Eastern Emperor might shake people’s hearts, they can certainly be dismantled. Then, the side that has had custody all this time can only benefit.”
“I see. After all, there’s no evidence of abuse on that young lady’s body now… Moreover, even if she made it all up, there’s no evidence to prove that it’s a lie. So that unfortunate girl will fall into Duke Bronthe’s hands again.”
“Well, that’s another possibility.”
“Huh?”
“The Eastern Emperor still has two ways to win.”
Fabric’s eyes widened.
“What are those?”
“One is to get testimony from a being so noble that no one would dare to challenge it.”
“Like the Emperor?”
“There’s no need to go that far; I would suffice.”
“Ah, and the other?”
“To prove that the person rendering the judgment is not impartial.”
“You mean… we have to expose the corruption of Chief Justice Tubezon?”
“Exactly. However, the Eastern Emperor only arrived a few days ago. He wouldn’t have had time to investigate the reputable Chief Justice’s corruption. Thus, the outcome of this battle is clear.”
Herald fixed his gaze on Ariana.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
_____
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
