Alpha's replacement bride is destined mate-Chapter 88 You Are on an Adventure

"We have decided to examine the remains of Luna Diane," King James’s calm voice boomed through the room, each word carrying a weighty authority. He sat tall on the bench, his face solemn, his eyes exuding justice and regality. As his words echoed, silence descended upon the courtroom, the air seemingly frozen.

The tribunal staff then adjourned the trial until the results of Luna Diane’s post-mortem examination were available.

At this, Katherine jolted, her body tensing into stillness. Her eyes widened with shock and horror, as if she couldn’t comprehend what she was hearing. After a moment, she forced herself to regain her composure, lifting her chin slightly in an attempt to mask her alarm. As she left, she didn’t fail to shoot Emily a venomous glare, like a poisoned dart, brimming with hatred and malice.

Once everyone had departed, Emily was the last to exit the courtroom. Her steps were heavy as she made her way down the hallway.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, yet she felt no warmth, only a deep chill. The court had granted her request, yet why did she still feel so uneasy?

Katherine was right; she had violated her mother’s final resting place. Emily could envision the medical examiner unearthing her mother’s coffin and dissecting her body in a room filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant.

"Sorry, Mother. I had to," Emily whispered, looking up to find a man in a black suit standing at the end of the corridor, regarding her with a serene gaze.

"Emily," Prince Adam’s voice was as soothing as ever, like a gentle spring breeze. He watched Emily intently, a hint of concern in his eyes. Dressed impeccably in a black suit, he stood tall and elegant. Then, his expression clouded slightly, as if he were genuinely worried about her.

"You know what? Your decision is fraught with risk," Prince Adam said, hitting the nail on the head. "You have little chance of winning this lawsuit, don’t you? You’re gambling everything on an autopsy, but have you considered that your mother’s body has been buried for so long that even an autopsy might not be able to conclusively determine if she died of poisoning? Emily, have you thought through the consequences of this decision?"

"The consequences?" Emily knew full well what awaited her if she failed. But she had no choice.

She understood that a werewolf’s body could metabolize poison to some extent, but she also knew that her mother was Luna, and with her werewolf constitution, ordinary poisons wouldn’t have killed her instantly. It must have been a potent, violent poison.

And such a violent poison would surely penetrate the werewolf’s body, quickly reaching the marrow. Over time, the flesh might decay, but the bones would remain.

If her mother had died from poisoning, the medical examiner would uncover traces of poison in her mother’s bones.

Prince Adam was right; she had staked everything on it. She knew she was taking a risk.

"The consequences don’t matter to me anymore," Emily’s eyes twinkled with determination. "I care about the truth behind my mother’s death."

"If your decision is wrong, if the medical examiner doesn’t find that your mother died of poisoning, you’ll..."

"I’ll lose all my titles and be banished from the South," Emily interrupted Prince Adam. "I’ll be chastised by everyone, and my father will surely want to disown me. I’m fully aware of it."

Emily paused for a few seconds, meeting Prince Adam’s gaze. "But if my decision is right, I’ll triumph."

That’s correct. Once the medical examiner discovers that her mother died from poisoning, all she has to do is present a list of suspects to the court, and the judge will undoubtedly assign someone to investigate. No, it’s King James.

Upon learning that King James himself would preside over the case, she embarked on her plan. Even if she knew that the evidence she possessed might not conclusively incriminate Katherine, as long as it established that her mother had died from poisoning, King James would undoubtedly delve deeper into the matter.

She intended to harness the king’s authority to thoroughly uncover the cause of her mother’s death.

Though she was unaware of the nature of her mother’s relationship with the king, the mere fact that he was willing to hear her mother’s case personally suggested that their connection must have been significant.

With every step she took, she was gambling. She was wagering that King James would lend her a helping hand. She was betting on victory.

Perhaps Prince Adam discerned her resolve from her eyes, and he didn’t press further. He merely gazed at her, his eyes filled with scrutiny and inquiry, as if he were earnestly attempting to comprehend the woman before him.

After a moment, Prince Adam withdrew his gaze and said to Emily, "Give me your list."

"What?" Emily asked, surprised.

"Your list of suspects," Prince Adam added. "All those you suspect are connected to your mother’s death, give me their names."

"But I haven’t compiled it yet," Emily said.

Under the protocols of the congressional courts, once all the evidence favors the plaintiff, the plaintiff may submit a request for assistance. The court will then investigate those individuals based on a list of suspects provided by the plaintiff.

"Give me the list," Prince Adam repeated.

"Now?"

"Now."

"Only one person," Emily said slowly. "My father’s housekeeper. She’s Katherine’s lackey. She must know all of Katherine’s dirty secrets. Her name is Nancy."

"Okay," Prince Adam said, nodding slightly. With a flash of thought in his eyes, he bid Emily farewell before departing.

For the rest of the time, Emily could only await the results of the medical examiner’s autopsy. Unable to leave the Capitol or communicate with the outside world, she was confined to her room day after day.

She waited, and waited, a day passed, then two more. It seemed she was waiting longer than she had anticipated. Could something be wrong? She began to contemplate the present, and every possibility made her heart clench.

It was only on the morning of the seventh day that a member of staff knocked on her door and informed Emily that the trial was underway.

"The outcome of the trial?" Emily clarified with the staff. "Why the results of the trial and not the autopsy?"

"The king has already passed judgment on this case," the staff said. "Just come with me."

There was no second hearing, but a direct verdict, which was the sole prerogative of the king. A medley of emotions swelled in Emily’s chest, both astonishment at the king’s decision and trepidation about the unknown outcome.

Emily’s heart sank as she arrived outside the courthouse. The closed door stood like a mysterious barrier between her and the answer. An uncertain thought clouded her mind, and all the possible results kept playing through her thoughts. Would she lose or win?