Chapter 287 (2/2)

“…”

“Anyway, you are here today on charges of having committed the crimes of attempting to kill the emperor, poison Lady Monique and ambush her recently. Do you admit the charges?”

“Not at all.”

Duke Verita looked at the old man silently, who turned up his mouth a bit sarcastically, and said, “Well, good. Marquis Mirwa, just continue. ”

“I heard that a few days ago the maid’s lover surrendered himself. Why don’t you question him first?”

“Who surrendered? What nonsense are you talking about? Don’t slander me like that! Stop that nonsense!”

I was lost in thought while watching the two engaged in a war of nerves. Isn’t the maid’s lover Ina Belot? If he surrendered himself, did he learn that his daughter who had been taken hostage was freed?

When I was pondering over several things, a haggard middle-aged man came into the courtroom. He, who got cold feet when he drew their intense attention, was obviously the very man who used to serve as the emperor’s wine.

Given the situation, he seemed to have been threatened by Duke Jena. If so, was Ian Belot also connected with Duke Jena in the past?

“Ian Belot, you are in charge of the emperor’s wine as a palace affair officer, right?”

“That’s right.”

“A few days ago, you came to me and accused the duke of his crime, right? Repeat what you told me.”

“That man, namely Duke Jena, kidnapped my only daughter and threatened me. He threatened to kill her if I didn’t put poison in the emperor’s wine. He also had me tempt a maid to poison Lady Monique’s tea. Then, he told me that if I got caught, I should say Marquis Mirwa was responsible! At first, I didn’t want to do it as he ordered, but I had no other way to save my daughter. So I did…”

Watching the man speak out, I turned up my mouth a bit. It’s not easy to save his life because he was a direct participant in treason, but when I see him speaking out so aggressively, I think differently given that he actively defended himself. Duke Verita, who was very good at persuading people, might have offered him a deal to testify in his favor. For example, he might have persuaded the man that he would be saved or he would take care of the man’s daughter for the rest of her life in return for his testimony against Duke Jena.

Listening to him silently, with his eyes closed, Duke Jena said, “So, do you have any evidence?”

“Well, yes, you clearly threatened me!”

“Duke Verita, do you have any evidence that I kidnapped his daughter or tempted the maid?

I don’t think you’re going to persecute the Jena family with that guy’s ridiculous claim.”

As expected, the duke was not a pushover. He was the leader of the noble faction.

No matter how much he denied and resisted, however, all he could do was drag his feet on this case. The game was already over because we had all the evidence that he asked us to present.

“Okay. Let’s move on to the next witness. Let me verify the truth of this man’s claim a little later. Let me bring the next witness,” said the duke, raising his glasses.

The next witness who came in immediately was very familiar to me like the man in charge of the emperor’s wines.

I let out a sigh, watching the man shivering a lot. I felt very suspicious about his behavior recently.

“Nove Senar, you came to me a few days ago and asked for leniency in return for your surrender. Tell me about your crime once more.”