As the night deepened and all was quiet, the clamor of the lord's mansion receded like the tide, gradually settling down, leaving only silence flowing between the magnificent stone corridors and towering domes.
The embers in the fireplace flickered with their last red light, casting a dim glow over the hall, while the warm aroma of toasted bread and mead from the dinner party lingered in the air.
The children—Lillian and Allen, who were beginning to show signs of maturity, and Loy and Eileen, who were still jumping around and still had a childish air about them—were eventually sent back to their rooms under the mothers' repeated urging, which was half gentle and half firm.
As the last "goodnight" faded at the end of the corridor, the vast master bedroom area was finally left with only Lind and three women whose eyes shone with a light brighter and more complex than the stars outside the window.
Ten years of longing and waiting, on the magnificent carpet and in the soft glow of magic, quietly solidified into a silent and tacit "courtroom".
Alice, Nazra, and Leonis exchanged glances, their lips curving into a slight smile, conveying a tacit understanding.
Tonight is the final hearing about the "ten-year absence," and the only defendant is none other than the lord who has just returned home from his expedition.
The heavy, carved wooden door closed gently behind Linde, isolating him from the outside world.
He turned around, and his usually cold and stern face, like a frozen lake, melted away under the warm yellow glow of the bedroom's magic lamp, revealing a softness and weariness beneath.
His sharp purple eyes swept over the three "judges" before him, easily discerning the deep affection mixed with a firm resolve to "settle scores" in their eyes.
This made the corners of his lips unconsciously turn up, forming a very faint but genuine smile.
Chief Judge Alice was the first to step forward.
Her long golden hair was not tied up neatly as usual, but cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall woven from moonlight, swaying slightly with her steps.
She wore a soft, silver-blue nightgown, the hem of which trailed on the ground, her hands elegantly folded in front of her. But her sapphire-like eyes held an undeniable scrutiny as they carefully, inch by inch, scanned Lind's face, as if examining a lost and found treasure for any damage.
"Linde, for a full ten years."
Her voice was clear and crisp, like crystal glasses clinking, exceptionally clear in the quiet room, "Do you know how long those three thousand days and nights have been for us?"
Her tone deliberately created a solemn sense of accusation, but the slightly trembling tone at the end and the tears quickly gathering in her eyes revealed her surging emotions.
"Experienced juror" Nazla immediately voiced her support, approaching lightly like a ray of silver moonlight.
The soft fox tail gently wrapped around Linde's strong forearm, its warmth sending a shiver down his spine. The silvery-white hair brushed against the skin of his neck, causing a slight itch.
She tilted her head back, her naturally alluring fox-like eyes blinked, and her voice, soft and sweet, yet clear and distinct:
“That’s right, Your Excellency. You must undergo our most rigorous ‘interrogation’. We want to personally verify whether, after these ten years… you still care about us sisters as before.”
Her fingertips brushed lightly across his palm, a sly probing motion.
Even Leonis, who is usually calm and is now playing the role of "clerk," took firm steps to stand on the side of the "judgment seat."
She wore a simple linen nightgown, a faint blush on her resolute cheeks, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, seemingly a little nervous, but her eyes were unusually bright.
She took a deep breath, looked at Lind, and spoke in a low but exceptionally firm voice:
"We agree that you need to submit a detailed and accurate...statement report."
Her attempt to maintain a serious demeanor, yet unable to conceal her concern, was exceptionally touching.
Looking at this meticulously arranged "three-way trial" setup, Lin De finally chuckled softly. His deep voice echoed in the room, dispelling some of the heavy atmosphere.
Instead of defending himself, he cooperatively raised his hands, feigning helpless surrender, his eyes filled with indulgence and pampering.
“Very well, I plead fully guilty. So, my esteemed Chief Judge, beautiful jurors, and meticulous clerk, where would you like this 'trial' to begin?”
His concession instantly shattered the tense atmosphere of the "trial".
Alice could no longer maintain her solemn expression and burst out laughing, her eyes sparkling with a bright smile.
She stepped forward, naturally taking his arm and pulling him toward the large couch in the center of the bedroom, which was covered with a soft velvet mattress.
"First, start by explaining how you spent every important day of these past ten years! Not a single detail can be omitted!"
Nazla immediately grabbed his other arm, clinging to him tightly as if afraid he would run away, her fox ears twitching playfully.
"Yes! Then, focus on whether you encountered any particularly 'interesting' scenery or... 'interesting' people along the way?"
She deliberately drew out the word "interesting," her eyes filled with a sly, inquisitive look.
Leonis, however, had already turned around and silently walked to a small table to the side, where she skillfully prepared warm herbal tea and several delicate snacks, and lit a lavender incense burner with a calming effect.
Her silent actions indicated that although the "interrogation" was formally serious, it was essentially an intimate whisper of a long-awaited reunion that required a comfortable environment.
Thus, what seemed like a serious "trial" eventually turned into a private late-night talk that took place on a soft bed.
Linde was surrounded by three ladies, with soft cushions behind him.
He recounted the wonders beyond the starry sea, the mysteries deep within the veins of light, and the thoughts that arose during his solitary journeys.
Alice would sometimes exclaim in surprise, and sometimes ask questions; Nazra would let out a soft cry at certain thrilling moments, and would occasionally brush him gently with the tip of her tail, expressing her reproach and heartache; Leonis listened quietly throughout, adding hot tea to everyone's cups when appropriate, and handing snacks to Lind.
Outside the window, the night deepened, and the stars slowly shifted.
In the end, it was the most energetic and lively Nazra who succumbed to sleepiness first. Her voice turned into a muffled murmur, like a little animal seeking warmth. She rested her head on Linde's shoulder and fell into a deep sleep with a contented smile, her silver fox tail unconsciously draped over his knee.
Alice also gave an elegant yawn, her forced "judge" authority completely dissipating, and she transformed into a little woman nestled in her husband's arms seeking security, her long golden eyelashes gently drooping down.
Leonis gently covered them with a warm, plush blanket, then cast a tender look at Lind that spoke volumes—a look of longing, reassurance, and a silent "welcome home."
Linde sat quietly, like a steady mountain, letting the most important warmth and weight in his life rely on him.
His deep purple eyes peered through the sheer curtains at the sky outside the window, where the first hints of dawn were breaking. The chessboard on the continent remained intricate and complex, rife with undercurrents, awaiting his move and strategic deployment.
But at this moment, the small but real world he was protecting in his arms was warm, peaceful, and filled with a sense of peace that put his mind at ease.
The final verdict of this "trial" was clearly acquittal, with a sentence of lifelong companionship—and this was precisely the meaning of his journey across the stars and his eventual return.
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