Having almost uncovered the whereabouts of the maid who escorted Ishar from the banquet hall to the Duke’s mansion, all that was left was to catch her and make her confess the truth.

Hershis had been waiting for the judge to declare that the trial would end here today. Regardless of the outcome, in a trial, the judge was an absolute authority. Hershis had no intention of forcibly influencing that with power.

Not yet.

“This trial will be postponed until sufficient evidence is collected again….”

When the judge was about to declare the trial postponed,

“The real one is here!”

Suddenly, a shout came from behind.

The judge’s gaze turned beyond Hershis.

A mirror-like white light was reflecting from Ishar’s hand. When he tilted the surface slightly, the shape of an object started to appear.

It was another Lily Sentence Brooch.
“It was in the clothes brought from the Duke’s mansion this morning. It seems someone picked it up from somewhere inside the house and put it in.”

Ishar said that and passed by Hershis.

Hershis, shifting his gaze along with him, narrowed his eyes.

‘If you had something like that, shouldn’t you have mentioned it earlier?’

‘I was going to, but Your Majesty interrupted.’

Ishar retorted to his reprimand with a blunt gaze and then placed the genuine brooch in front of the judge.

“Please check.”

The judge counted the number of diamonds with eyes sharper than a sword.

It was seventy-seven, just as stated in the certificate!

He handed the brooch to the judges on both sides with a greatly dismayed face. When those who had finished reviewing nodded their heads, indicating that the brooch was undoubtedly genuine, he glared at Ishar as if resenting him.

But there was no choice.

With a long sigh and straightening his posture as if to maintain dignity until the end, he spoke, “Ishar Rodem Nillgrid Valdemion, wait at your residence until further investigation.”

Thump, thump, thump.

The sound announcing the postponement of the judgment cheerfully broke the frozen air.

The crowd exhaled the breath they had been holding. Some regretted missing the spectacle, and some clapped and cheered in relief.

Lady Ferrier, supported by her entourage, turned around. Before completely turning, she glanced at Ishar again, but it wasn’t as fierce as when she was about to throw a stone.

Hershis approached Ishar. It was to say something to him.

But Ishar was concentrating on a specific point, staring through it. So, Hershis postponed what he was going to say and stood beside him, aligning his gaze.

There was Duke Montaner. He stood among the elderly statesmen with a sluggish demeanor, gazing in their direction.

The Duke’s lips were forming a gentle curve.

It seemed to be a congratulatory smile sent to Ishar, who had escaped death.

‘But the eyes don’t lie.’

Hershis thought as he looked at the Duke’s unsmiling eyes.

It was a natural disparity since the plot to cut off my right arm had failed.

The Duke, who made a courteous bow, turned away. However, from a distance, Hershis and Ishar could see laughter quickly disappearing from the Duke’s side profile.

“You did well. Thank you.”

Ishar turned towards Hershis at his words.

“I wanted to get you out quickly, but it took a long time to handle some things, especially because of the certificate. No matter how much I searched, it didn’t appear.”

“Of course. I burned it earlier along with other documents.”
Ishar responded calmly. The regret that he could have left a little earlier if he hadn’t burned it couldn’t break his composure.

“Then you must have received a new one from Mendel Kyeong.”

“No, why bother.”

“…?”

“I wrote it.”

At his words, Ishar’s eyes widened. He quickly glanced around.

The judges had already left their seats, but Imperial citizens were still present. There were also guards and Hyungli, and Clowin.

Ishar lowered his voice.

“Are you saying you forged the evidence now? You know that’s a serious crime, right?”

“The guy who almost got executed for a crime he didn’t commit sure talks a lot.”

“…”

There was no rebuttal. Ishar sighed deeply, as if lamenting his fate.

Hershis, who had been enjoying the situation, suddenly touched Ishar’s hand with a burst of laughter.

Hershis pointed to Ishar’s hand with his chin.

“But did your servant really bring that brooch?”

“I gave it.”

Rene mumbled while looking through the telescope.

Even though their voices couldn’t be heard, one could roughly guess the content of the conversation through gestures or actions.

Just now, Hershis was undoubtedly asking about the origin of the brooch in Ishar’s hand.

“I saved your subordinate. Emperor, Your Majesty.”

Rene’s voice was full of leisure.

It was a leisure commonly seen in those who considered themselves the top predators in the food chain.

She was exuding the kind of leisure that came from knowing the fact that the situation would turn out like this earlier than the highest person below her.

However, her satisfied smile faded at the sudden thought.

Just like there is someone above the one running, there was Liz above her!

Liz designed and gave orders for this situation.

They had created an identical brooch with a different number of diamonds and switched it with Ishar’s.

When it was submitted as evidence in the murder case later, she believed that the Emperor would recognize it as fake. And that he would save her subordinate from the gallows.

‘But you weren’t completely sure either.’

Rene found the diamond brooch in the velvet pouch given by Liz. It meant she wanted it returned.

Of course, under the assumption that she wouldn’t take the path of betrayal.

As she intended, Rene, when Ishar came out of prison and joined hands with people, slyly handed the brooch to his hand.

“It’s over now.”

Rene mumbled to herself again while looking at the two from behind the telescope.

Ishar kneeled in front of Hershis. It was a perfect oath of loyalty and submission.

There would be no betrayal. Absolutely.

The fact that betrayal could happen without killing was extremely unfamiliar to Rene…

“But it’s not my style. It takes too much energy, doesn’t it?”

Rene put down the telescope and stood up from her seat.
She pushed one end of the long telescope in, and it transformed into a compact form. She put it into a sling backpack and draped it over her shoulders. Her clothes were already a comfortable outfit like those worn by men for activities.

The wind blowing through the open space tousled her short wig.

Now it was time to embark on the journey.

Rene turned her body towards the direction where the palace was. Then, she placed her arm against her chest and bent her knee.

It was the first and last voluntary submission she made in her life.

“It was an honor to meet you, Your Majesty, the Empress.”