Chapter 127: Chapter-127

One to Helena: Trial in three days. Need your lie detection testimony. Will expose your existence but Emperor promises protection. Your choice.

One to the beast knight delegation: Fourth Princess arrested. Trial is political attack. Stand ready to mobilize if conviction seems likely.

One to Elara’s Port Crestfall staff: Maintain operations. Await further instructions. Do not panic.

Within hours, responses came back.

Helena: I’m coming. Father, I’ve hidden for forty years. Time to stop hiding. If my magic can save Elara, I’ll use it.

Beast knight delegation: We’re ready. Thousands standing by. Give the word and we move.

Port Crestfall staff: Operations continuing normally. Standing by for orders. We trust Your Grace.

Duke Romian compiled everything into a folder and went to visit Elara in detention.

The guards searched him, confiscated any weapons, then allowed him into the visiting room—a sparse space with a table and two chairs, guard watching from the corner.

Elara entered looking calm, composed, wearing the same white suit she’d been arrested in.

“Husband,” she said, sitting across from him. “I assume you’ve been working on the legal defense.”

“Yes. And I’ve spoken with the Emperor. He’s ensuring the trial is fair and that the Lin Mei evidence gets proper examination.” Duke Romian slid the folder across the table. “Legal precedent, witness lists, strategy recommendations.”

Elara opened it and scanned quickly. “This is comprehensive. Good work.”

“Helena is coming. To testify using her lie detection magic.”

Elara looked up sharply. “That exposes her existence.”

“She knows. She’s willing. The Emperor has promised protection afterward.”

“That’s a significant risk on her part. For someone she barely knows.”

“She said you’re worth it. That if your magic can save the empire’s best chance for reform, she’ll use it.” Duke Romian leaned forward. “Elara, this trial is a turning point. If you win, you expose Lady Chen and damage the First Consort’s power base significantly. If you lose, you’re exiled or imprisoned, and everything we’ve built collapses.”

“I’m aware of the stakes.”

“Are you afraid?”

She considered. “I recognize the situation is dangerous and the probability of negative outcomes is higher than I prefer. If that qualifies as fear, then yes. But it doesn’t impair my decision-making, so it’s manageable.”

Duke Romian almost smiled. “Only you would describe facing trial as ’manageable.’”

“Panic would be counterproductive. Calm analysis is more efficient.” She continued reading the folder. “This legal precedent—the Harrington case from sixty years ago—is useful. Similar situation where evidence obtained through irregular means was deemed admissible because it exposed greater crime.”

“That’s what we’re arguing. That even if your methods were irregular, the evidence of murder is too important to dismiss on procedural grounds.”

“Good strategy.” She made notes on the margins. “I’ll need Helena’s testimony coordinated precisely. Lord Marcus Chen testifies first—probably tomorrow during preliminary hearings. Helena needs to be present for that testimony so she can contradict it immediately.”

“I’ll arrange it.”

They worked for an hour, refining strategy, preparing arguments, anticipating the First Consort’s attacks.

When visiting time ended, Duke Romian stood. “Elara. Whatever happens at the trial, know that I’m committed to this. To you. To everything we’ve built.”

She looked at him with those emotionless eyes. “I know. You’ve demonstrated reliability consistently. That’s why this partnership works.”

“Is that all it is? Partnership?”

“What else would it be?”

He smiled. “Nothing. Just checking.” He paused at the door. “Helena wants to meet you. Properly, before the trial. I’ll arrange it for tomorrow during visiting hours.”

“I’d like that.”

Duke Romian left.

Elara returned to her cell and continued planning late into the night.

Three days until trial.

Three days to build a defense that would not only prove her innocence but destroy the First Consort’s power base and expose a forty-three-year-old murder.

Most people would consider it impossible.

Elara considered it difficult but achievable.

She just needed to execute perfectly.

Like everything else in her life.

Efficiently.

Thoroughly.

Irreversibly.

The First Consort had made one critical mistake.

She’d given Elara a public platform—a trial—to present evidence of Lady Chen’s crime.

And Elara was going to use that platform to destroy them both.

Starting in three days.

.

.

.

The imperial courtroom was packed.

Every noble family of significance had sent representatives. All the princesses sat in designated positions—First Princess Eleana near the front with the First Consort beside her, both wearing expressions of controlled satisfaction. Third Princess Sera lurked in shadows at the back. The younger princesses clustered together, looking nervous.

Ministers, military commanders, wealthy merchants—all gathered to witness the Fourth Princess’s trial.

And at the highest seat, elevated above everyone else, the Emperor sat on his throne. His face was unreadable, but his presence made everything official. Legitimate. This wasn’t political theater—this was imperial justice.

Elara was led into the courtroom in manacles, wearing her white suit. They’d allowed her to dress properly, at least. Small mercy.

She was seated at the defendant’s table. Duke Romian sat beside her as legal counsel—he’d invoked spousal privilege to serve as her advocate.

Across from them, the prosecution table held three imperial lawyers, all wearing formal robes. Behind them, Lady Chen sat in the witness section, looking frail and victimized. Perfect performance.

The head magistrate—an elderly man named Lord Justice Harwick—called the court to order.

“We are assembled to hear charges against Her Highness, Fourth Princess Elara Blackwood,” he announced. “The charges are: unlawful coercion, conspiracy to commit theft, blackmail of a noble, and improper investigation into imperial family matters. How does the defendant plead?”

Duke Romian stood. “Not guilty on all charges, Your Honor. Furthermore, we move to introduce evidence of a greater crime that will demonstrate the defendant’s actions, while irregular, were in pursuit of legitimate justice.”

Murmurs through the courtroom.

Lord Justice Harwick frowned. “This is a criminal trial against the Fourth Princess. What ’greater crime’ are you referencing?”

“Murder, Your Honor. Specifically, the murder of Lady Lin Mei forty-three years ago, for which we have documentary evidence implicating Lady Chen, who sits in this courtroom as supposed victim.”

The room erupted.

Lady Chen shot to her feet. “This is outrageous! I am the victim here—my home was violated, my property stolen—”

“Order!” Lord Justice Harwick slammed his gavel. “Order in this court!” He turned to Duke Romian. “Your Grace, these are serious allegations. You’re claiming that the supposed victim in this case is herself a murderer?”

“Yes, Your Honor. And we have proof.”

The First Consort stood, her voice sharp. “Your Honor, this is a transparent attempt to distract from the Fourth Princess’s crimes. We should proceed with the charges at hand, not entertain wild conspiracy theories—”

“First Consort,” the Emperor’s voice cut through like a blade. He hadn’t moved, but suddenly everyone was looking at him. “This court will examine all relevant evidence. If Duke Romian claims proof of murder, we will hear it. Continue.”

The First Consort sat down, fury barely contained.

Lord Justice Harwick nodded. “Very well. But we will proceed with the original charges first, then examine the defense’s counter-evidence. Prosecution, call your first witness.”

The lead prosecutor stood. “The prosecution calls Lord Marcus Chen to the stand.”

Lord Marcus entered, looking nervous. He’d been coached—that was obvious. His movements were too practiced, his expression too carefully arranged.

He was sworn in and sat in the witness chair.

“Lord Marcus,” the prosecutor began. “Please describe your interaction with the Fourth Princess three days ago.”

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