News of Ariana’s custody trial reopening spread rapidly. When the carriage of Duke Seo arrived at the courtroom, the place was already filled with people.

Ariana walked alongside Duke Seo and Rachel, her breath growing increasingly shallow due to the pain. With each step, it felt as though a knife was tearing at her flesh.

‘It’s okay. This is nothing. I’ve been through worse. I can handle this.’

She forced herself into the courtroom, lashing her consciousness to keep from fainting.

‘I must not collapse, at least not until the trial begins and the witness reveals themselves.’

Duke Dong was already present. This time, he was the one sitting at the defendant’s seat. The trial was so sudden that neither party had legal representation.

Duke Dong, Russell, looked at Ariana with a sorrowful gaze, but she was too preoccupied with not fainting to respond. She was relieved when they finally reached the plaintiff’s seats and sat down.

‘Quickly…’

Although she knew that impatience wouldn’t help, she couldn’t help but feel anxious.

‘Before I collapse.’

To distract herself from the pain, Ariana looked around the spectator seats and spotted the third prince, Herald, in the front row.

Her breath caught in her throat.

‘Herald Blenwit!’

She nearly screamed.

She almost felt like she was transported back to the times they had spent together, on the brink of wailing.

Images of her pitiable self, easily deceived by his sweet words, flashed before her eyes.

How foolish had she looked back then? How idiotic had she been to be lured by mere sweet talk, to be coerced into making dreadful choices?

She wanted to rush over and grab him by the collar.

‘Was it fun exploiting me? Was the high seat you got by driving a desperate woman to the edge satisfying?’

‘Hold on. Not now.’

She quickly lowered her head before making eye contact with Herald.

‘He must have come to enjoy the show. I can’t attract his attention.’

Another reason not to faint was added to her list.

At least in front of Herald, she would never, ever want to show any sign of weakness.

Cold sweat trickled down her back. She felt both cold and extremely hot. She fought off the encroaching darkness several times.

After what felt like an eternity, the judge and the archbishop arrived. This time, it was Chief Justice Tube and Archbishop Eodes. However, they did not immediately take their seats.

“The Emperor has arrived.”

Someone announced loudly from outside the courtroom door.

Everyone stood up, including Ariana.

“Behold, the Sun of the Empire!”

The Emperor walked in, his footsteps silent on the long, red carpet. His red cloak, embroidered with gold, fluttered.

The Emperor walked to the elevated chair between the judge and the archbishop and briefly looked at Duke Dong. For a fleeting moment, his eyes glinted with an inscrutable emotion. The Emperor sat down and nodded to his adjutant.

“Everyone, please be seated.”

At the adjutant’s shout, everyone sat.

Ariana lowered her gaze and sank into her thoughts. The situation did not seem as favorable as she’d initially thought.

‘There’s no guarantee this will work in my favor.’

The Emperor had ill feelings toward Duke Dong.

‘Perhaps this witness is a last-minute arrangement by the Emperor to bring down Duke Dong. No, it’s highly likely. The Emperor wouldn’t personally attend a mere custody trial, no matter how interesting.’
If the Emperor favored the Western Empress and set up this situation to undermine the Eastern Empress, then it was over.

‘The Emperor sitting there means he might deal with the trial’s outcome as an imperial edict. If an edict supporting Rachel’s custody rights comes out, and it undermines the Eastern Empress… there’s nothing I can do.’

Facing the Emperor at this point was far beyond Ariana’s plans. She had no way to counter an imperial edict at the moment.

If an edict about custody rights were to come down, Ariana would be unable to escape Rachel, even if she were openly tortured or killed by her.

Because an imperial edict is absolute and unchallengeable.

If Ariana were to flee in disagreement with the verdict, imperial knights would mobilize to capture and kill her.

Anyone who doesn’t submit to the edict shouldn’t exist in the world.

‘What can I do? Is there nothing I can do right now?’

As she pondered whether it would be better to reveal her condition and faint, the Emperor spoke. His solemn voice echoed through the expansive courtroom.

“A witness has come forward to express doubts about this trial and requests a retrial from me. It seems urgent, so I had to issue an edict reluctantly.”

People in the courtroom widened their eyes in surprise. Who could possibly rush the Emperor into issuing an edict?

“The arguments of the plaintiff and the defendant ended yesterday. Now, let’s hear the testimony of this witness. Witness, speak.”

Everyone craned their necks to see the witness who had moved the Emperor.

The courtroom door opened.

The figure of a person standing in the center was only visible as a black silhouette because of the light coming from outside.