Alpha's replacement bride is destined mate-Chapter 87 Showdown in the Courtroom
Three days later, in the morning, representatives of the royal family arrived in person to collect Emily, and Klaus was unable to attend the trial due to his status as a northerner. As stipulated by the Congressional Court, neither the accused nor the plaintiff could leave the Capitol until the trial had concluded, and their every move was monitored.
Given Emily’s unique position, the proceedings would not be open to the public, and no one else would be permitted to attend the trial.
The clerk of the court escorted Emily to a spacious room. As she threw open the door, she saw that it was furnished like a miniature courtroom, with seats for the plaintiff and defendant on each side of the room, and the presiding judge in the center.
Unlike ordinary courtrooms, there were two seats on either side of the judge’s seat, designated for the jurors.
One judge, four jurors. Emily mused to herself that if King James himself had presided as judge, the other four jurors would have been exceptional.
The atmosphere in the room seemed to freeze for an instant as the ancient and imposing hand of the clock on the wall silently indicated 8:53. In the hush, the door opened slowly once more. This time, Emily saw King James, attired in a dark gray suit with a black striped tie, striding towards the judge’s seat with a stern expression.
He did not need to wear a special judicial robe; the gold-plated insignia he wore on his chest sufficed to signify his royal status.
King James was accompanied by Prince Adam, dressed in a black suit as deep as night, along with three other jurors. Prince Adam, who had previously been amicable, became solemn at this moment, his countenance taking on an air of attention and gravity. His eyes were steady and calm. Without glancing at Emily as he passed her, as if pulled by an invisible force, he made a beeline for the first seat on the left-hand side of the bench.
With the judges and jurors all seated, an atmosphere of tension and solemnity filled the courtroom. The air seemed to congeal, and everyone awaited the commencement of the trial.
At that moment, Katherine entered. Her footsteps echoed distinctly in the hushed courtroom, and the instant she stepped inside, Emily’s gaze locked onto her face like a sword.
By this time, Katherine had lost her old haughty demeanor; her face was somewhat worn, and her eyes were sullen and cast downward.
She must not have anticipated that I was still alive. Emily wondered if she felt a twinge of guilt in the nights after poisoning her mother, if she was haunted by nightmares and unable to sleep, as Judy had been.
When Katherine raised her head to meet Emily’s gaze, however, Emily saw a malicious glint in her eyes.
At that moment, Emily finally understood that the wicked woman before her felt no remorse for killing her mother.
"Katherine, I will never let you leave this courtroom without facing your guilt, never!" Emily thought to herself.
Suddenly, one of the staff members shouted, "Stand up." Then everyone stood, including the king.
After the clerk of the court read out the regulations, the clock on the wall struck nine precisely, and the court session began.
Since the General Court prohibited counsel from representing themselves, Emily was not only the plaintiff but also her own defense attorney. All the evidence had been presented to the court the day before, and Emily had to explain it to the judge and jurors, in addition to stating the facts.
It was the accused’s turn to speak after the plaintiff’s exposition, and Katherine vehemently denied Emily’s charges, which, of course, Emily had anticipated.
"It’s absurd to conclude that I poisoned Luna Diane based solely on one woman’s recording," Katherine said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. Realizing she was in a courtroom, she quickly adjusted her tone. "I mean, I don’t know the woman named Judy at all, and I have no idea why she would record me supposedly poisoning Luna Diane. Is it possible that the woman was being threatened while making the recording? As for the death report, perhaps the doctor manipulated the cause of Luna Diane’s death, but what does that have to do with me?"
As Katherine concluded her statement, she glanced at Emily, her eyes brimming with defiance. Clearly, the evidence presented thus far was not a deterrent to Katherine.
Emily sneered inwardly, thinking, "Take your time, Katherine."
"Your Excellency, I have another piece of evidence to present." When it was Emily’s turn to speak, she clicked on an image on the screen. It was a photograph of Katherine at a bank, making a transfer. Despite wearing a hat, her fiery red hair and profile were clearly visible as she stood from her chair. In her hand was a remittance receipt, and Emily zoomed in on the slip, "Look, the beneficiary’s name on this remittance slip is Walker Brighton." If she wasn’t in cahoots with the doctor, why would she be sending him money?"
Katherine, seated in her chair, was stunned, while a smirk played on Emily’s lips. This evidence had been provided to her by Mark the previous day, who had discreetly investigated Katherine’s bank account and discovered that she sent money anonymously to an account every month, with the recipient being Dr. Walker Brighton.
"That doesn’t prove anything," Katherine protested eagerly, but her actions drew the judge’s disapproval.
"It’s not your turn to speak yet," King James said calmly, his voice filled with authority, and Katherine fell silent for a moment.
When it was Katherine’s turn to explain, she claimed that Dr. Walker Brighton was being paid for counseling services. She informed the judge that Dr. Brighton was not only an obstetrician but also her personal psychiatrist, and that they communicated via video messages every month. Katherine alleged that she suffered from psychological issues due to the stress of Luna’s position, even shedding a few tears in an attempt to garner sympathy from the judge and jurors.
However, neither King James nor the jurors showed any sympathy for her tears, each maintaining a serious expression throughout.
"I must ask a question," Katherine said, wiping away her tears. "Thus far, there is no definitive evidence that Luna Diane died from poisoning. So, on what basis does the plaintiff accuse me of poisoning Luna Diane?"
King James raised his head, his brow furrowing slightly as he considered Katherine’s words. The other jurors, too, were gravely analyzing her statement, some nodding thoughtfully, others’ lips slightly parted in suspicion, and a few exchanging glances as if discussing their opinions.
After a few minutes, King James’s gaze slowly shifted to Emily. His voice was calm and authoritative as he asked, "Plaintiff, do you have anything else to say?"
Emily remained silent. She caught sight of Katherine smiling triumphantly. Did she truly believe she had already won?
"Since you seek proof," Emily began, her tone resolute, "then I will provide it." She faced King James. "Your Excellency, according to the rules of the Congressional Court, if a plaintiff requests assistance, will the court grant it?"
"Certainly, as long as your request is reasonable," King James replied, bowing slightly, his expression solemn.
Emily stood tall, her voice steady and strong. "My request is this: I demand an examination of my mother’s remains, as it is the only way to conclusively determine whether she was poisoned or not."
"What?" Katherine exclaimed. "You’re desecrating your mother’s memory. No one has ever dug up Luna’s body after burial, going against werewolf tradition."
Emily was fully aware that she was challenging werewolf customs, and though she didn’t wish to disturb her mother’s peace, she felt compelled to do so.
Taking advantage of the situation, Katherine hurriedly ordered Emily’s mother’s body to be reburied. But Emily knew that the truth, buried beneath the earth, would eventually surface. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
For a long moment, the entire court fell silent. The only sound was the hurried ticking of the clock, each beat echoing loudly in the tense atmosphere.
I watched as Prince Adam slowly rose and whispered something in King James’s ear. Finally, King James lifted his head, his face grave, his eyes deep and solemn. His steady, commanding voice broke the silence.
"Given the gravity of this matter, we must convene a meeting to discuss it further." His words were like a stone dropped into a still pond, creating ripples. The King then adjourned the court for ten minutes.
When King James and the other jurors returned to their seats, King James cleared his throat twice.
Emily’s gaze was unwavering, her lips pressed tight, and her hands slightly clenched, betraying her nervousness over the upcoming decision. Katherine’s eyes darted around, a hint of unease flickering across her face, as if she were anticipating something unpleasant.
All eyes were on King James, and the tension in the courtroom was palpable.
King James sat in the judge’s seat, his eyes slightly narrowed, his gaze scanning back and forth between Emily and Katherine. His face was grave and sculptural, making it difficult to fathom his thoughts at the moment.
The entire court was in a state of breathless suspense, with no one knowing what King James would ultimately decide.
