Chapter 80

Silence fell over the banquet hall. However, in the next moment, gasps of shock erupted from all corners, causing the hall to buzz with whispers.

"An emergency trial?"

"His Majesty the Emperor to Her Majesty the Empress?"

Lionel instinctively turned to look at the Empress. He could see the corners of her usually calm eyes trembling. Grinding his teeth, Lionel shouted at the judge.

"A trial?! Without any prior notice, right now?!"

The judge took a deep breath and said,

"His Majesty the Emperor, considering the Empress's honor, has decided to proceed with an informal trial. As it is an internal trial of the Ulrich royal family and an emergency trial, it can proceed without separate notification."

At that moment, Elizaveta stepped forward, growling like an angry beast.

"So, on the national holiday today, and at a banquet, you're requesting a trial? That's unheard of!!"

"……His Highness Grand Duke has also been summoned as a witness. Please come with us."

The nobles of the Valder family immediately began to strongly protest. As they raised their voices, saying that it was impossible to start a trial in this manner, the judges broke into a cold sweat. Amidst the chaos, the Empress, who had been silently observing, walked up to Lionel. As the hall, which had been noisy, fell silent again, the Empress approached the judge and spoke directly to him.

"If it's a trial, then you intend to question my guilt."

"……"

Overwhelmed by the Empress's presence, the judge bowed his head, unable to answer.

‘You refused. You failed to fulfill your duty.’

It seemed as if the Emperor's voice was echoing in her ears. Adel took a deep breath and exhaled. Her chest felt tight, and it was hard to breathe, but there was no place to retreat, no place to run. A trial?

"Alright, let's go. Lead the way."

Her voice was so calm, and her attitude so composed, that people were left speechless, blinking in surprise.

"What are you doing? Take the lead."

The judges, startled by the Empress's calm urging, quickly turned around. Lionel tried to stop her as she was about to follow them. He looked at her with a face that seemed about to crumble, ignoring the numerous gazes pouring down from all around. He still didn't know what she liked or what she wanted. But there was one thing he was certain of. The burden on her slender shoulders was so heavy that she seemed about to collapse at any moment. She would carry it alone, even if it crushed her, and would never share it with anyone. Even when she asked to call the people she had left behind in her homeland, she changed her mind, deciding that she couldn't do it.

"I will accompany you."

Lionel vowed to stand by the Empress's side until the end. However, it seemed that the Emperor did not even want that. A servant appeared and announced loudly to the nobles,

"His Majesty the Emperor has declared that the banquet is canceled due to an internal emergency trial of the royal family! Furthermore, an order to leave the palace has been issued, so please return home!"

With that, Adel gently released Lionel's arm. She turned and smiled reassuringly, as if to say, "Don't worry."

"I'll be fine. Go back for now."

As Elizaveta passed by Lionel, she whispered to him. Lionel's heart pounded heavily. It felt as if lava was boiling up inside him. But he tried to calm his mind and think. This was not the time to be blinded by anger and burn with rage. He needed to remain calm to protect the Empress. What kind of trial is this? What crime are they trying to pin on the Empress? Crime?! Crime?!

Lionel clenched his fists tightly.

‘If it's a crime, I should ask the Emperor! The one who has failed to fulfill his duties as an Emperor should be immediately removed from his position...’

Lionel's eyes widened as a thought suddenly pierced his mind. Servants and soldiers were surrounding the banquet hall, pressuring everyone to leave. As the nobles streamed out like a tide, Theseus approached Lionel. The anger in his brother's eyes was palpable. Before Theseus could say anything, Lionel spoke.

"Brother, gather the nobles."

His voice was so sharp that Theseus, who had been about to pat Lionel's back, lowered his hand.

"Before the situation tilts further, we must do something. We can't just stand by and do nothing."

Lionel left those words and stormed out of the banquet hall.

＊ ＊ ＊

Meanwhile, judges had also arrived at the Empress's palace. The startled maids ran to Lady Giselle to inform her of the situation.

"Judges have come?"

"Yes, they are looking for you."

Since the Empress had not returned yet, Lady Giselle was still in her neat dress. She stood up with a straight posture and went outside. The old lady, who appeared with not a hair out of place even at this late hour, left the judges speechless.

"What is this about at such a late hour?"

Her authoritative voice pierced the ears of the judges. Overwhelmed by the aura of the experienced old lady, the judges cleared their throats and carefully chose their words.

"His Majesty the Emperor has requested a trial for Her Majesty the Empress. According to the palace law, you, Lady Giselle, are summoned as a witness. Please come with us now."

Lady Giselle's eyes widened, and she raised her voice.

"A trial for Her Majesty the Empress? What do you mean by this?!"

"Since it will be conducted informally for the Empress's honor, I cannot disclose more here. Please come with us."

Lady Giselle's heart sank. Her mouth was dry, but she forced herself to speak.

"Please wait a moment. I'll put on my coat and come out."

Hiding her trembling hands in her skirt, Lady Giselle quickly put on her coat and came out. Her eyes, filled with worry for the Empress, trembled as she followed the judges through the pitch-black darkness. ＊ ＊ ＊

All citizens of Ehmont are tried according to the national law, but the Ulrich royal family is an exception. Members of the Ulrich royal family, that is, the royal family, are tried according to the palace law, and the trial is held in the courtroom set up inside the palace. Adel stopped in front of the heavy door. As the black door slowly opened, it felt as if the gates of hell were opening. At that moment, Elizaveta tightly gripped Adel's hand.

"It will be fine."

Their eyes met. Adel smiled faintly. After a brief moment, the massive door finally opened completely, and Adel slowly stepped forward. The judges, seated on the high dais, looked down at her. The Emperor, sitting on the throne to the right of the judges, met Adel's gaze in the air.

＊ ＊ ＊

Meanwhile, Renox was pacing anxiously, berating Dian.

"It seems the Emperor's affection for you has cooled! He doesn't even check on you once!"

"……"

"If this continues, he might take your child away and cast you out of the palace after you give birth!"

Dian closed her eyes, feeling an urge to twist Renox's neck. She thought the nobles' gazes were better; at least they didn't directly turn her world upside down. Despite this, Renox continued to talk.

"And why haven't the doctors officially announced your pregnancy yet? Think about it, Dian. Why do they keep delaying the announcement?"

"……Please shut up."

"Or perhaps... the Emperor has told them to delay the announcement?"

Dian slowly opened her eyes. The flickering lamp cast deep shadows on her sunken cheeks and eyes. Renox frowned and clicked his tongue at her skeletal appearance.

"You look terrible. Try to eat something and take care of yourself."

"……Is that what you're saying to me?"

"What do you mean?"

"What am I to you?"

Dian mustered all her strength to stand up and went to the next room, locking the door to prevent Renox from following. She leaned against the door, sliding down to the floor, and buried herself in the darkness. A sticky question clung to her ears.

"……Did the Emperor tell them to delay the announcement of my pregnancy? ……Why?"

Dian's eyes trembled in confusion. A question that she would have arrogantly dismissed and erased from her mind a few months ago, but now she couldn't. The gears of her memory slowly meshed and turned, bringing back past memories. What was the Emperor's expression when she told him she might be pregnant? He had stared at her with a chilling, cold gaze. Recalling that expression, Dian looked at her stomach in shock.

"Ah……"

Suddenly, her stomach hurt. It wasn't a sharp pain or a heavy discomfort, but a cold, dull ache in her lower abdomen.

"No, no……"

If she hadn't known, it would have been better, but it was a pain she was familiar with. Her body, buried in the darkness, trembled. The cold, stern face of Karl Ulrich, who had stared at her with a chilling gaze, appeared before her eyes like a phantom. Dian shook her head violently, and a scream-like cry burst out of her.

"It can't be!"