NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 147
Knock, knock, knock!
At that moment, a sharp knocking sound echoed.
“Huff.”
Returning to reality, Zenith took a deep breath.
She immediately raised her voice.
“Yes, I’m coming out!”
When she opened the door, the lawyer provided by the Empress was waiting for her.
“Let’s go, Lady Rondini.”
“…”
Zenith stared blankly at the lawyer.
Ever since she accepted the Empress’s offer, everything had changed.
The neat house she stood in and the tidy clothes she wore.
And even the lawyer who would represent her in the lawsuit, despite being a minor.
All of it was arranged by the Empress.
‘But… is this really okay?’
A strong feeling of anxiety brushed through her mind.
At the same time, the lawyer urged her again.
“Lady Rondini?”
“Ah, yes.”
Zenith quickly followed the lawyer out.
The Empress’s laughter echoed in her ears.
‘The way you act will determine how your parents are treated.’
“…Empress.”
‘Is that not the case?’
The Empress’s eyes, looking down at Zenith, were filled with a sinister smile.
‘If I grant you a favor, I might just rescue your parents from prison.’
Swallowing hard, Zenith climbed into the carriage.
The carriage headed toward the courthouse.
***
At that moment.
The carriage from the House of Balua smoothly stopped in front of the courthouse.
“Lily.”
Just before stepping out of the carriage, Anriche gently held Liliana’s hand.
And she flinched, her shoulders stiffening.
‘It’s cold.’
Perhaps it was due to anxiety and fear.
The child’s hand felt icy cold.
Anriche’s heart ached at the touch of that cold, tiny hand.
“Everything will be fine. Do you understand?”
“…Yes, Mother.”
Liliana nodded weakly.
Anriche forced herself to speak cheerfully.
“Then let’s go.”
With that, Anriche and Liliana entered the courthouse.
All eyes were drawn to the two of them.
While trying to appear composed, Anriche couldn’t help but think of Alexei.
‘…It would have been nice if Alexei were here.’
Since Alexei was the lead investigator in this case, he couldn’t participate in the trial for reasons of impartiality.
While she understood the situation, it didn’t lessen her sense of loss over his absence.
And just then.
“You wretched girl!!”
Someone shouted sharply and charged at Anriche.
“How dare you constantly undermine my brother? Are you even human?!”
It was the Marchioness of Sachsen.
Anriche stared at her mother with a dismayed expression.
The Marchioness’s face was flushed with anger.
“It’s shameful to have someone like you as my daughter!”
“…Mother.”
“Why on earth did I give birth to you? If only you hadn’t been born…!”
The Marchioness hurled curses in a frenzied rage.
The guards, unable to watch any longer, stepped in to restrain the Marchioness.
“This is a courthouse.”
“Please maintain silence, or you will have to leave.”
Only then did the Marchioness sit down, grumbling.
But her gaze, which was fixed on her daughter, was truly menacing.
“How truly…!”
However, Anriche no longer had the time to pay attention to the Marchioness.
Zenith entered the courthouse with her lawyer in tow.
‘A lawyer?’
Anriche furrowed her brow slightly.
‘…Rondini wouldn’t have the financial means to hire a lawyer.’
Yet, the lawyer representing Zenith was one of the most renowned attorneys in the Empire.
A former judge who could expect to receive preferential treatment.
The very fact that such a person was representing Zenith…
‘Proves that there’s a powerful figure behind Zenith.’
Her violet eyes sharpened.
Just then, the judge appeared.
“Everyone, please take your seats.”
At the judge’s command, everyone sat down in their respective places.
“M-Mother…”
Liliana couldn’t hide her terrified expression.
No matter how much she tried to act brave, this was far beyond what a seven-year-old could handle.
Anriche hugged the cowering Liliana.
“It’s okay, it’ll be fine.”
“…Y-Yes.”
Hearing that gentle whisper, Liliana tried her best to calm her racing heart.
A solemn voice rang out.
“Then, we shall begin the trial.”
As soon as the declaration was made, Zenith raised her hand.
“Plaintiff, Zenith Rondini. I request to speak.”
“You are permitted.”
The presiding judge nodded.
Hesitantly rising from her seat, Zenith turned to face the audience, specifically Liliana.
Their gazes met.
“…”
“…”
At that moment, sparks of anger flickered in Zenith’s eyes.
‘This is all that girl’s fault!’
Zenith clenched her fists tightly.
‘If it weren’t for that girl, our family wouldn’t have fallen. And I wouldn’t be here!’
She shouldn’t even have to stand here!
Zenith turned back to face the judge.
A voice filled with venom echoed.
“The first person to produce counterfeit currency was Count Aberit.”
Anriche reflexively turned to look at Liliana.
Liliana’s face had gone as pale as a blank sheet of paper.
“Lily.”
Anriche called the girl softly.
“Y-Yes, Mother…”
Liliana tried her best to remain calm.
But it was inevitable that tears welled up in her eyes.
Meanwhile, the people in the courtroom began to stir at Zenith’s words.
“Oh my…”
“Is that really true?”
However, Zenith’s false revelations were not yet finished.
“And…”
Swallowing hard, Zenith continued clearly.
“Our Rondini family also cooperated in the production of counterfeit currency.”
“W-What did you just say?!”
“Is the Lady Rondini actually accusing her own family?”
People widened their eyes in shock.
On the other hand, Anriche glared at Zenith, clenching her fists tightly.
‘How cunning.’
Zenith was now confessing that the Rondini family bore some responsibility.
And that very confession gave her credibility.
It’s easy to accuse others, but it’s difficult to expose your own family’s flaws.
‘She probably didn’t come up with that approach on her own.’
She must have received advice.
It was far too effective to have come from the mind of a mere sixteen-year-old girl.
But just then.
Tears began to well up in Zenith’s eyes.
“We will gladly accept the consequences for our crimes. However…”
Zenith’s voice was already trembling faintly.
“Before punishing us, I believe we must first punish the true mastermind behind all this.”
“Plaintiff, the mastermind?!”
The judge looked down at Zenith with a surprised expression.
“Please clarify.”
“I am here to…”
Zenith raised her tear-streaked face.
“I also wish to accuse the House of Balua.”
Silence fell.
“…”
“…”
The impact of those words was monumental.
After a moment passed.
“W-What did Lady Rondini just say?”
“She wants to accuse the House of Balua?”
People murmured in disbelief.
With tears streaming down her face, Zenith continued.
“Only then… do I believe that true justice can prevail in society.”
“Plaintiff, please elaborate.”
The judge urged Zenith to explain further.
Zenith began to stammer her words.
“In fact, when the counterfeit currency was first produced by the Aberit family, the Balua family also played a part.”
“What exactly do you mean by ‘played a part’?”
“It means that Balua also profited from the production of counterfeit currency.”
“Your Honor, I object!”
At that moment, Balua’s lawyer urgently requested the floor.
But the judge refused him.
“Overruled. Let’s first hear all of the plaintiff’s statements.”
“Thank you, Your Honor.”
Wiping away the tears pooling at the corners of her eyes, Zenith continued.
“When Count Aberit died unexpectedly, Balua stopped production, claiming it was too difficult to manage the counterfeit currency.”
Anriche stared at Zenith with her mouth agape.
‘Wow, her words are flowing smoothly!’
Alongside that, Zenith looked around the courtroom with her tear-filled eyes.
“However, counterfeit bills were already circulating in the market, and Balua wanted to conceal that fact.”
“W-What?!”
“This can’t be happening…”
The people had become completely absorbed in Zenith’s words.
“Above all, the last daughter of the Aberit family is engaged to the younger Duke of Balua.”
Zenith lowered her head in a pitiful manner.
“So… they tried to cover that up by causing our family’s downfall.”
But wasn’t it because they had committed a large-scale tax evasion!?
Anriche barely managed to swallow the words rising in her throat.