Chapter 208: Chapter-208

’’The Consorts’ Defense:’’

Kieran stepped forward first, his military bearing straight and formal.

“Your Majesty,” he said, “I wish to present my defense.”

Heena nodded. “Proceed.”

“I have kept detailed records of my movements and activities for the past year,” Kieran said, gesturing to a stack of documents his attendant held. “These records show that during the time period when Lady Seraphina claims conception occurred, I was leading military exercises in the northern territories. I was away from the capital for three consecutive months.”

He presented signed testimonies from multiple officers and soldiers.

“Furthermore, I have never been alone with Lady Seraphina at any point. Every interaction was witnessed by guards or attendants.”

Adrian spoke next, his scholar’s precision evident: “Your Majesty, I also have documentation. During the relevant time period, I was conducting a diplomatic mission to the eastern provinces. I have travel records, meeting minutes, and testimony from the ambassadors I accompanied.”

Damien added, “I was recovering from injuries sustained during the southern border skirmish. The physicians can confirm I was bedridden in the medical wing for two months during that time.”

Lucian stated flatly, “I have kept a personal journal with daily entries, all dated and witnessed by my secretary. None of those entries mention any interaction with Lady Seraphina.”

Only Raphael remained silent, looking uncomfortable.

—

’’Seraphina’s Response:’’

Seraphina, looking disheveled and desperate, suddenly screamed:

“LIES! All lies! You’re all lying to protect yourselves!”

She pointed at each consort in turn.

“You!” She pointed at Kieran. “You came to my chambers in secret! You told me you loved me! You—”

“I did no such thing,” Kieran said coldly. “And you have no proof.”

“You!” She turned to Adrian. “You wrote me poetry! Love letters!”

“I wrote political correspondence during that diplomatic mission,” Adrian replied. “All of which was copied and filed with the imperial archives. Show me one love letter with my handwriting and seal.”

She couldn’t.

“You’re all abandoning me!” Seraphina wailed. “You all said you loved me! You all promised—”

“We promised nothing,” Damien said harshly. “You imagined affection where there was only political courtesy.”

Seraphina’s face twisted with rage and desperation.

“Then HIM!” She pointed directly at Raphael. “HE was with me! He came to me seeking comfort about his faith! About the pressures of the Church! We—”

“Stop,” Raphael said quietly, but his voice carried across the room.

Everyone turned to look at him.

He looked pale, but determined.

“Lady Seraphina,” he said clearly, “I did have conversations with you about matters of faith. That is true. But those conversations were always in public spaces—in the church gardens, in the library, in the presence of other clergy members.”

He met her eyes directly.

“I never touched you inappropriately. I never made promises of love. And I was never alone with you in any private chambers.”

“You’re lying!” Seraphina shrieked. “You—”

“I am a man of God,” Raphael said, his voice strengthening. “I have many flaws. But I do not lie. Especially not under oath in a court of law.”

—

’’The Confrontation Escalates:’’

The consorts’ supporters began shouting:

“The woman is clearly lying!”

“She’s trying to trap them!”

“She’s a scheming seductress!”

But the Seven Guardian Families and their allies shouted back:

“Then why did she claim pregnancy in the first place?!”

“Why would she risk her reputation on a lie?!”

“Someone is the father! The child is real!”

“Then let the testing prove it!” the consorts’ faction yelled back.

“Yes! Test it!” the opposing faction agreed. “And when it’s proven one of them IS the father, they should be executed for adultery!”

The courtroom erupted into chaos—nobles shouting, accusations flying, Seraphina sobbing and screaming, the consorts standing rigid and pale.

Heena sat on her throne, watching it all with cold calculation.

Then she raised one hand.

Silence fell immediately.

“Enough,” she said quietly. “We will conduct the paternity test. Now.”

She gestured to the royal physicians who’d been waiting.

“Test the child’s parentage against all five consorts. I want definitive answers.”

The physicians bowed and approached Seraphina and the consorts with their testing equipment.

The entire courtroom held its breath.

This was it.

The moment of truth.

And Heena sat on her throne, her expression unreadable, already knowing what the results would show.

Because she’d planned this entire thing from the beginning.

The paternity test was conducted right there in the throne room.

And you couldn’t believe the scene—the five consorts’ faces were deathly pale. Just looking at them, you could guess that even ’they’ weren’t sure of the outcome anymore.

These bastards had been so confident before, but now?

Heena sat on her throne, positioned higher than everyone else, watching it all unfold.

The System floated beside her invisibly and whispered, “Host, are you really sure about this?”

Heena looked at the scene below with a small, knowing smile curling at her lips.

Seeing this expression, the System was confused. What was she planning?

Heena just muttered in her mind, ’Do you really think I’d fail to verify the System’s information before acting? I’ve known the truth from the beginning.’

The System wasn’t entirely sure, but he knew his Host didn’t fail easily. She’d clearly planned something.

—

The testing process was surprisingly efficient—you had to give credit to this world’s medical technology. Within just half an hour, the results were ready.

Five royal physicians entered the hall in formal robes. They bowed deeply to Heena, then presented the documents.

A thin white envelope, sealed with wax.

You could feel it—this thin piece of paper was going to define the future of the entire empire.

Everyone in the hall felt their heartbeats rising. Faces turning pale. A mixture of expressions crossed their features: fear, expectation, dread of the unknown, desperate hope.

The document was carried up to Heena by the head physician.

Following royal protocol, Heena could not directly take anything from a person’s hands. Secretary Chen stepped forward, received the envelope, examined the seal to verify authenticity, then handed it to Heena.

As Heena opened the envelope, she casually tossed the outer covering to the floor.

She read the contents.

Then she looked up sharply.

Her gaze fixed on Seraphina.

“Lady Seraphina,” she said, her voice cutting through the tense silence like a blade, “this is the last chance I am giving you. Do you want me to reveal these results publicly, or not? And remember—after I show this to everyone, there will be no mercy. No appeals. No second chances.”

Seraphina, hearing Heena’s tone, assumed the document must prove her victory. She looked at Heena with desperate triumph in her eyes.

“I want you to show it, Your Majesty!” she declared loudly. “Let everyone see the truth!”

Heena then turned her cold gaze to the five consorts.

“Consorts,” her tone was absolutely frigid, “are you certain you have nothing to say before I reveal these results?”

The consorts literally trembled. Their male pride and arrogance warred with growing fear.

Finally, they bowed their heads stiffly and said in unison, “No, Your Majesty.”

Heena looked at them with something like pity mixed with contempt.

“Good,” she said. “Then what happens in this court today is impartial and completely truthful. I am doing this in front of everyone so that no one can blame me later for bias or deception.”

She raised the document high so everyone could see it.

The entire throne room fell into absolute silence. Even the sound of breathing seemed too loud.

“According to this paternity test,” Heena said clearly, pausing to let the tension build, “it has been proven that the father of Lady Seraphina’s child is…”

She let the silence breathe. Everyone was holding their breath, leaning forward.

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