(54) Custody Trial
The Western Duke didn't have much to worry about in this trial.
She was concerned about Cardinal Eodes Cediora sitting on the bench, but fortunately, the judge was Tubeson. The Western Duke and Tubeson had a fairly close relationship.
When he promised gold, various jewels, and even ten young slaves, Tubeson smiled and told him not to worry.
If the Western Duke were to offer even more money to sway Tubeson, he had another move in mind.
"We'll win, right?"
Rachel asked anxiously. The Western Duke smiled coldly and replied.
"When have I ever lost to the Eastern Duke?"
The palace maids were chattering in the garden.
"What's so exciting about that you're all so excited?"
A cheerful voice cut through the maids' voices.
The maids suddenly stood up and bowed gently.
"Your Highness."
"Hey, if you greet me so politely, it'll seem like I'm interrupting a good time."
"Interruption? It's always a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. Would you like to sit here?"
"Yes, good. I was just craving cookies,"
Third Prince Harold Blenwit said cheerfully and sat down among the maids.
The maids stared at Harold, dazzled.
The sunken eyes beneath his luscious blond hair were kind yet mischievous, and the hazel eyes within them were as beautiful as the sun. His red lips, which matched his fair skin, always wore a gentle smile.
Third Prince Harold was kind and gentle to everyone, and he was popular with the palace. There were rumors that the Emperor cherished Harold more than the Crown Prince, but Harold showed no interest in the Crown Prince position.
"So, what were you all talking about?"
"Oh, that's right. The custody trial between the Eastern Duke and the Duchess of Bronte is scheduled for May 7th at the Grand Court."
“If she’s the Duchess of Bronte... is she the daughter of the Western Duke?”
“Yes, that’s right. I heard she married the Eastern Duke a long time ago, but after a year or two, she ran away and divorced him, saying she couldn’t live with him anymore. It wasn’t long after she gave birth at the time, and she took her daughter and returned to her hometown.”
“And then a while later, she married Duke Jacob Bronte and became the Duchess of Bronte.”
“But there have been a lot of rumors about the Bronte family lately. A few months ago, the ladies who were invited to the Bronte garden party were really upset with the Duchess of Bronte. They said she mistreated the second daughter so much.”
“And besides, was it last month? The youngest daughter of that family was arrested for murder. They say the maid later confessed to it, but surely it wasn’t really her? It must have been a cover-up.”
“Anyway, the Second Princess wasn’t doing well either. I heard she was treated very badly. Even though she was a Princess, she was supposed to be in charge of things like laundry and cleaning.”
“It’s fortunate that it was just household chores. She must have been beaten a lot, too. I heard she was covered in bruises.”
Harold listened intently to the maids’ chatter.
He already knew that the Western Duke and Duke Bronte and his wife were visiting the Empire for a trial, but he didn’t know there were such inside stories. As expected, hearing rumors from the maids was the best.
“The Second Princess must have been unable to bear it any longer and ran away to her father. Isn’t the Duchess of Bronte quite thick-skinned? I would have quietly handed over custody, but she held a trial.”
“Yes, she’s no ordinary woman.”
“It’s the social season, so everyone is in the capital, so there will be a huge audience.”
It was an exciting case. Regardless of the Second Princess's circumstances, he couldn't miss the opportunity to witness the battle between the Western Duke and the Eastern Duke.
Even when the outcome of a trial seemed clear, it was not uncommon for the verdict to be overturned at the last minute. This would be an interesting fight. "I should try to get a ticket to attend."
Harold said with a cheerful smile.
She was concerned about Cardinal Eodes Cediora sitting on the bench, but fortunately, the judge was Tubeson. The Western Duke and Tubeson had a fairly close relationship.
When he promised gold, various jewels, and even ten young slaves, Tubeson smiled and told him not to worry.
If the Western Duke were to offer even more money to sway Tubeson, he had another move in mind.
"We'll win, right?"
Rachel asked anxiously. The Western Duke smiled coldly and replied.
"When have I ever lost to the Eastern Duke?"
***
The palace maids were chattering in the garden.
"What's so exciting about that you're all so excited?"
A cheerful voice cut through the maids' voices.
The maids suddenly stood up and bowed gently.
"Your Highness."
"Hey, if you greet me so politely, it'll seem like I'm interrupting a good time."
"Interruption? It's always a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. Would you like to sit here?"
"Yes, good. I was just craving cookies,"
Third Prince Harold Blenwit said cheerfully and sat down among the maids.
The maids stared at Harold, dazzled.
The sunken eyes beneath his luscious blond hair were kind yet mischievous, and the hazel eyes within them were as beautiful as the sun. His red lips, which matched his fair skin, always wore a gentle smile.
Third Prince Harold was kind and gentle to everyone, and he was popular with the palace. There were rumors that the Emperor cherished Harold more than the Crown Prince, but Harold showed no interest in the Crown Prince position.
"So, what were you all talking about?"
"Oh, that's right. The custody trial between the Eastern Duke and the Duchess of Bronte is scheduled for May 7th at the Grand Court."
“If she’s the Duchess of Bronte... is she the daughter of the Western Duke?”
“Yes, that’s right. I heard she married the Eastern Duke a long time ago, but after a year or two, she ran away and divorced him, saying she couldn’t live with him anymore. It wasn’t long after she gave birth at the time, and she took her daughter and returned to her hometown.”
“And then a while later, she married Duke Jacob Bronte and became the Duchess of Bronte.”
“But there have been a lot of rumors about the Bronte family lately. A few months ago, the ladies who were invited to the Bronte garden party were really upset with the Duchess of Bronte. They said she mistreated the second daughter so much.”
“And besides, was it last month? The youngest daughter of that family was arrested for murder. They say the maid later confessed to it, but surely it wasn’t really her? It must have been a cover-up.”
“Anyway, the Second Princess wasn’t doing well either. I heard she was treated very badly. Even though she was a Princess, she was supposed to be in charge of things like laundry and cleaning.”
“It’s fortunate that it was just household chores. She must have been beaten a lot, too. I heard she was covered in bruises.”
Harold listened intently to the maids’ chatter.
He already knew that the Western Duke and Duke Bronte and his wife were visiting the Empire for a trial, but he didn’t know there were such inside stories. As expected, hearing rumors from the maids was the best.
“The Second Princess must have been unable to bear it any longer and ran away to her father. Isn’t the Duchess of Bronte quite thick-skinned? I would have quietly handed over custody, but she held a trial.”
“Yes, she’s no ordinary woman.”
“It’s the social season, so everyone is in the capital, so there will be a huge audience.”
It was an exciting case. Regardless of the Second Princess's circumstances, he couldn't miss the opportunity to witness the battle between the Western Duke and the Eastern Duke.
Even when the outcome of a trial seemed clear, it was not uncommon for the verdict to be overturned at the last minute. This would be an interesting fight. "I should try to get a ticket to attend."
Harold said with a cheerful smile.
***
May 7th. The grand courtroom, where the custody trial between Duke Russell White and Duchess Rachel Bronte was being held, was packed. The spacious galleries in the grand courtroom were filled an hour before the trial began. Nobles and commoners who couldn't get tickets waited in nearby salons and shops for the results.
The trial began with arguments from each lawyer and testimony from witnesses. The judge representing the law and the archbishop representing the religion exchanged opinions, and then the judge announced the verdict. This trial was especially significant and meaningful because the chief judge and the cardinal were sitting on the bench.
Ariana sat at the plaintiff's table, with the Eastern Duke on her left and her lawyer next to her. Rachel and her lawyer sat in the defendant's table, with the Western Duke occupied directly behind them. While not quite the defendant's table, it was a comfortable enough spot to offer appropriate advice in a low voice.
Rachel quietly lowered her eyes. Her appearance was so pitiful that it seemed as if she had been falsely accused and dragged out of the courtroom despite having given birth to four children. Rachel's seemingly innocent appearance, despite her purity, resonated deeply with the audience. They had thought she was the greatest villain who had abused her own daughter, but now they realized she had a deeper truth.
However, the audience's hearts were changed the moment they saw Ariana. She had a petite frame that belied her sixteen years of age, her emaciated frame, and her pitiful eyes. Her lush eyelashes, covering her slightly downturned eyes, glistened with moisture.
The audience anticipated that this seemingly obvious trial would be a difficult one.
Soon, Chief Judge Tubeson Hearn and Cardinal Eodes Chediora entered the courtroom and sat side by side on the bench.
Tubeson announced in a solemn voice,
"The trial begins."
Ariana's lawyer spoke first.
“We argue that Arianna Bronte should be given custody of the White family, and we request that the Bronte family be barred from accessing her because of their persistent abuse.”
Rachel’s lawyer said.
“We argue that Arianna Bronte should remain in the Bronte family’s custody, and we are suing Russell White for his unauthorized confinement of Arianna.”
Chief Justice Tubeson said.
“Let the plaintiffs begin their arguments,”
Arianna’s lawyer said, moving to the center.
“Ariana has been treated with utmost respect and has been subject to persistent abuse throughout her time at the Duke Bronte Mansion.”
The lawyer recounted the abuse Arianna had endured, one by one. The account was so long and heartbreaking that the faces of the audience, the judges, and even the cardinal grimaced.
“So, Ariana left the West to survive and went to the East alone as a young girl to ask Russell White for help. However, the defense is using the expression that Russell White imprisoned the young girl for her desperate courage to survive, and is holding Russell White responsible for trying to protect Ariana. This cruelty is endless. I hope that Your Honor and the Cardinal will make a fair judgment for the sake of the poor girl’s future.”
Rachel’s lawyer stepped forward.
“Rachel and Jacob Bronte raised Ariana with love. However, Ariana’s innate temperament was so eccentric that from a young age, she did many things to embarrass her parents. From small things like inflicting injuries on herself to big things like pretending to be abused in front of others to make them feel sorry for her.”
The lawyer recited the same excuses Rachel always used.
It's because Ariana has a bad personality. She tries to embarrass her parents childishly. She pretends to be abused when she wasn't. She calls her sisters "young lady" even though she never asked her to...
While the lawyer defended her, Rachel wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. The audience also glared at Ariana as if to say, "Is there such a vicious child?"
Ariana's lawyer said,
"Ariana just turned 16. Are you claiming that this young girl has been doing this since she was younger?"
"Donna of Caron City, at the tender age of twelve, poisoned her brother and sister, intent solely on inheriting her parents' fortune. Banner of Vienna City, at the tender age of eight, killed his friends by drowning them in the river or pushing them off a cliff. The plaintiff's attorney will know that there are plenty of examples to prove that cruelty is innate, and that age doesn't matter."
The audience whispered.
The incidents Rachel's attorney had described had actually occurred in the past few years, and the fact that they were committed by a child had made the world even more buzzed.
Hearing her, it seemed as if Arianna had really made it all up.
Ariana's attorney, not expecting the other side to mention the incident, was momentarily speechless. Riding the momentum, Rachel's attorney said,
"We call for witnesses."
The witnesses Rachel had prepared appeared. Nobles from prominent families in the West. Even in the imperial social scene, renowned ladies came forward, confirming Rachel's words.
Ariana, who was acting as she pleased, would suddenly call her sisters "Miss" and pretend to be a servant.
If she made a mistake, she would kick and spit at her employees.
When Rachel, flustered, tried to stop her, she would kick Rachel, too.
When she heard that guests were coming, she would beat herself up, causing injuries, and then pretend to be pitiful and go to where the guests were.
The audience clucked their tongues at the continuous testimony.
Ariana's lawyer said,
"Isn't the fact that all the witnesses are nobles of the West largely due to Rachel Bronte's status as the daughter of Lord Duke Rodian Oblen?"
"The plaintiffs are accusing Rachel Bronte of an unrelated issue. If the witnesses have lied, it's our priority to bring the evidence."
“Of course, the plaintiff has prepared a witness. You may remember the murder of a man named Rounder in the forest of the Duke of Bronte in March. The Chief Inspector who investigated the case said that he suspected that the Brontes were constantly trying to frame Arianna for the crime. So he tried to summon the Chief Inspector as a witness, but for some reason, he disappeared on his way to the Empire.”
“He has nothing to do with this case!”
Rachel’s lawyer cried.
The judge sided with Rachel, acknowledging her side, but words had already been spoken, and it was impossible to erase them.
The audience whispered that the Chief Inspector’s disappearance was truly strange. Those familiar with the case murmured, “They say the youngest daughter of the Brontes was taken away because of that.”
Arianna’s lawyer seized this opportunity. He smiled and said,
"Unlike the defendants, the plaintiffs have summoned a witness who has no connection to either the East or Ariana. We will call Duchess Juliana Rowenta as a witness."
The courtroom fell silent at the Duchess Rowenta's appearance.
The Duchess Rowenta was the Emperor's cousin and held the second-highest social influence after the Empress.
Rachel glared at the Duchess Rowenta for a moment, but then her expression returned to her usual pitiful expression and her eyes lowered.
The Duchess Rowenta stood in the witness stand, looked once at Rachel, then once at Ariana, and then spoke.
Rachel quietly lowered her eyes. Her appearance was so pitiful that it seemed as if she had been falsely accused and dragged out of the courtroom despite having given birth to four children. Rachel's seemingly innocent appearance, despite her purity, resonated deeply with the audience. They had thought she was the greatest villain who had abused her own daughter, but now they realized she had a deeper truth.
However, the audience's hearts were changed the moment they saw Ariana. She had a petite frame that belied her sixteen years of age, her emaciated frame, and her pitiful eyes. Her lush eyelashes, covering her slightly downturned eyes, glistened with moisture.
The audience anticipated that this seemingly obvious trial would be a difficult one.
Soon, Chief Judge Tubeson Hearn and Cardinal Eodes Chediora entered the courtroom and sat side by side on the bench.
Tubeson announced in a solemn voice,
"The trial begins."
Ariana's lawyer spoke first.
“We argue that Arianna Bronte should be given custody of the White family, and we request that the Bronte family be barred from accessing her because of their persistent abuse.”
Rachel’s lawyer said.
“We argue that Arianna Bronte should remain in the Bronte family’s custody, and we are suing Russell White for his unauthorized confinement of Arianna.”
Chief Justice Tubeson said.
“Let the plaintiffs begin their arguments,”
Arianna’s lawyer said, moving to the center.
“Ariana has been treated with utmost respect and has been subject to persistent abuse throughout her time at the Duke Bronte Mansion.”
The lawyer recounted the abuse Arianna had endured, one by one. The account was so long and heartbreaking that the faces of the audience, the judges, and even the cardinal grimaced.
“So, Ariana left the West to survive and went to the East alone as a young girl to ask Russell White for help. However, the defense is using the expression that Russell White imprisoned the young girl for her desperate courage to survive, and is holding Russell White responsible for trying to protect Ariana. This cruelty is endless. I hope that Your Honor and the Cardinal will make a fair judgment for the sake of the poor girl’s future.”
Rachel’s lawyer stepped forward.
“Rachel and Jacob Bronte raised Ariana with love. However, Ariana’s innate temperament was so eccentric that from a young age, she did many things to embarrass her parents. From small things like inflicting injuries on herself to big things like pretending to be abused in front of others to make them feel sorry for her.”
The lawyer recited the same excuses Rachel always used.
It's because Ariana has a bad personality. She tries to embarrass her parents childishly. She pretends to be abused when she wasn't. She calls her sisters "young lady" even though she never asked her to...
While the lawyer defended her, Rachel wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. The audience also glared at Ariana as if to say, "Is there such a vicious child?"
Ariana's lawyer said,
"Ariana just turned 16. Are you claiming that this young girl has been doing this since she was younger?"
"Donna of Caron City, at the tender age of twelve, poisoned her brother and sister, intent solely on inheriting her parents' fortune. Banner of Vienna City, at the tender age of eight, killed his friends by drowning them in the river or pushing them off a cliff. The plaintiff's attorney will know that there are plenty of examples to prove that cruelty is innate, and that age doesn't matter."
The audience whispered.
The incidents Rachel's attorney had described had actually occurred in the past few years, and the fact that they were committed by a child had made the world even more buzzed.
Hearing her, it seemed as if Arianna had really made it all up.
Ariana's attorney, not expecting the other side to mention the incident, was momentarily speechless. Riding the momentum, Rachel's attorney said,
"We call for witnesses."
The witnesses Rachel had prepared appeared. Nobles from prominent families in the West. Even in the imperial social scene, renowned ladies came forward, confirming Rachel's words.
Ariana, who was acting as she pleased, would suddenly call her sisters "Miss" and pretend to be a servant.
If she made a mistake, she would kick and spit at her employees.
When Rachel, flustered, tried to stop her, she would kick Rachel, too.
When she heard that guests were coming, she would beat herself up, causing injuries, and then pretend to be pitiful and go to where the guests were.
The audience clucked their tongues at the continuous testimony.
Ariana's lawyer said,
"Isn't the fact that all the witnesses are nobles of the West largely due to Rachel Bronte's status as the daughter of Lord Duke Rodian Oblen?"
"The plaintiffs are accusing Rachel Bronte of an unrelated issue. If the witnesses have lied, it's our priority to bring the evidence."
“Of course, the plaintiff has prepared a witness. You may remember the murder of a man named Rounder in the forest of the Duke of Bronte in March. The Chief Inspector who investigated the case said that he suspected that the Brontes were constantly trying to frame Arianna for the crime. So he tried to summon the Chief Inspector as a witness, but for some reason, he disappeared on his way to the Empire.”
“He has nothing to do with this case!”
Rachel’s lawyer cried.
The judge sided with Rachel, acknowledging her side, but words had already been spoken, and it was impossible to erase them.
The audience whispered that the Chief Inspector’s disappearance was truly strange. Those familiar with the case murmured, “They say the youngest daughter of the Brontes was taken away because of that.”
Arianna’s lawyer seized this opportunity. He smiled and said,
"Unlike the defendants, the plaintiffs have summoned a witness who has no connection to either the East or Ariana. We will call Duchess Juliana Rowenta as a witness."
The courtroom fell silent at the Duchess Rowenta's appearance.
The Duchess Rowenta was the Emperor's cousin and held the second-highest social influence after the Empress.
Rachel glared at the Duchess Rowenta for a moment, but then her expression returned to her usual pitiful expression and her eyes lowered.
The Duchess Rowenta stood in the witness stand, looked once at Rachel, then once at Ariana, and then spoke.
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