Chapter 18 Murder Trial
Chapter 18
18.1
When Anne's father struck the Drum of Themis, there were few people in the Judgment Square.
This was the busiest time of the day at the market. The people of Oprunsi usually spent the day working and trading, leaving them no time to gather in the square for idle chatter. However, when the "Drum of Themis" was struck, the vast majority of Oprunsi citizens stopped what they were doing and looked in surprise towards the direction of the Judgment Square.
"Someone actually struck the 'Drum of Themis'!"
At the market place, a mason's child asked, "What is the Drum of Themis?"
The child's father looked a little embarrassed and didn't say anything. The blacksmith's child next to him shouted, "Don't you know this? If a commoner wants to sue a noble, they can beat the 'Drum of Themis'! This means someone wants to sue a noble!"
The children cried out "Wow!" and rushed to the Judgment Square: "Let's go and see, let's go and see!"
People quickly gathered in the Judgment Square, and Anne White's father, the old gambler Pushin White, was still beating the "Drum of Themis" -
"Boom", "Boom", "Boom".
The dull, heavy sound rang out slowly and regularly, striking the hearts of everyone who heard it, making their hearts jump slightly with the sound of the beating.
The Drum of Themis had not been struck for a long time. Normally, no one would approach it easily. Citizens almost treated it as a statue in the square, almost forgetting that the Drum of Themis could be struck.
The sheriff of Oplenci, Adelaide, was quickly alarmed.
When she arrived at the Judgment Square, it was already packed with people who had come to watch the excitement. Citizens suppressed their suspicion and excitement, and a sense of restlessness floated in the square. Adelaide's brows knitted slightly.
She looked at the man who was beating the Drum of Themis:
Old Pushin White was no longer young. His hair had turned gray, his body was hunched, and his striking movements were somewhat laborious.
He was wearing a thin short coat and old boots, and looked very pitiful.
Adelaide knew him:
Pushin White was a cloth merchant in the city of Oplenci. He was originally hardworking; however, since he became a gambler, Pushin White had a lot of debt problems, which made him a frequent visitor before County Judge Adelaide.
Of course, most of the time, Pushin White took the stand as the accused, rather than being the plaintiff suing others as he did now.
Adelaide's frown deepened. She waved to the knights around her.
The knights marched in unison, escorting the judge to the trial square. Their boots clanged on the ground in unison. The low voices in the square suddenly quieted down, and the sound of old Pushin White's blows also paused slightly.
"I have heard your voice," said Judge Adelaide. "Before the goddess Themis and Queen Lucinda bear witness, I listen to your request."
The judge paused. Although she had recognized old Pushin White, she still asked according to the procedure of the trial: "Who are you?"
The old man who beat the drum answered, "I am Pushin White, and I run a dry goods store in the city of Oplenci."
The judge nodded and asked: "Why do you want to beat the 'Drum of Timis'?"
Pushin White moved his throat and replied, "I hope that my daughter, Anne White, who is a maid at Fort Oplensey, will get justice and fairness."
When old Pushin White mentioned "Opulensi Castle", a low uproar was heard in the Judgment Square; and Pushin White's next words made the crowd in the square boil -
He said: "I want to sue Countess Euridice Aquitus for the murder of my daughter Anne!"
18.2
Olidesi stood outside the gate of the city of Oplunsi and admired the "reward wanted poster" on the city wall for a while.
"It doesn't look like me," she said. "I'm not that pretty."
As she spoke, she stood outside the city for a while, not rushing to move.
Sure enough, not long after, a group of knights quickly rushed over from the city of Oplunsi, charging towards her with a clear goal -
"Eurydsey Arquitas."
The knights, wearing silver armor engraved with the "Star Compass" pattern and holding their knightly swords, surrounded her tightly in a corner of the city wall; the citizens around the city wall retreated one after another, lowered their heads and walked away quickly.
The leading knight had a stern expression. Euridice didn't recognize him. He said coldly, "Euridice Aquitus, you are accused of murdering the maid Anne. According to the Hydebot Code, you will be immediately detained and taken to the dungeon of Oplency Castle to await trial before the judge."
Olidisi didn't move.
She neither resisted nor obeyed, but suddenly laughed.
"Reynard," she called out the name, "I saw that you have returned to the ranks of the Knights. Congratulations."
Reynardel had a complicated expression and said nothing - when he was no longer the Countess's guardian knight, the outstanding knight Reynardel naturally returned to the ranks of the Knights of Oprunsi.
Euridice asked him, "Where is Lorenz?"
Reinardel's lips moved slightly, his face was stiff, but he still didn't answer.
Euridice understood. "Oh, the Duchess has imprisoned him and won't let him get involved in this matter. It seems that this time, she wants me to die on another charge."
The leading knight was completely ignored by Euridsi. He frowned, took a step forward, and grasped the hilt of his knight's sword.
"Miss Aquitus," he said, "I beg you not to delay in vain struggles."
Facing the knight's subtle threat, Euridsi's brows didn't even falter. She glanced indifferently at the scabbards of the knights' swords, then smiled slowly.
"I will not go to the dungeon," she said calmly. "I demand: Now, immediately, that the county judge and the Knights convene a public trial for me in the Judgment Square."
The leading knight was slightly stunned, as if he had not expected that Oridsi would make such a request.
Olidisi raised her eyelids and glanced at him with a half-smile.
"Isn't this what everyone wants to see most?"
She smiled happily as she spoke. "A commoner suing a noble—ah, what an exciting thing! However, according to the Hydebot Code, as the accused, I also have the right to defend myself—don't forget, the Hydebot Code stipulates the 'presumption of innocence,' which means that any accused should be presumed 'innocent' until the trial is complete."
As she said this, Olide lifted up the hem of her skirt gracefully.
"Let's go." She smiled brightly. "Let's go to the Judgment Square now—Oh, goddess."
She whispered softly and laughed nervously, "I love that place so much... No one loves that place more than me."
18.3
"Hey, hurry up!"
"The trial is about to begin!"
"The trial of the Countess is about to begin!"
“…”
The originally empty Oprunsi Trial Square was now packed with citizens.
Two rows of knights in silver armor slowly walked to the sides of the judgment seat, maintaining order in the square; the sunlight shone on their armor, reflecting a dazzling light.
In the temple of the goddess Themis, the first bell rang slowly: "Ding——"
As the temple bells rang, County Judge Adelaide, wearing a dark gray robe, slowly walked up to the high platform in the center of the Judgment Square.
Her face was very serious. She held a thick book "Hydebot Code" in her left hand and a silver scale in her right hand, symbolizing the fairness of the goddess Themis.
"when--"
When the second bell rang, an old man in an old brown short coat stood to the lower right of the judge with his hands clasped and a nervous expression; it was old Pushin White, the father of the waitress Anne.
"when--"
When the third bell rang, there was a faint commotion in the square. Someone whispered, "Ah, the Duke and Duchess are witnesses to this trial."
Two gorgeous figures slowly walked up to the trial platform: Duke Luce Ebrard was wearing a black and gold robe, with a solemn expression and no words; while Duchess Beatrice Caragaran held her scepter, her chin slightly raised, and her expression was noble and proud as usual.
They took up position to the lower left of Judge Adelaide.
"when--"
The last bell of the temple rang out, and someone in the square murmured, "Ah, here he comes at last... the accused Euridice Arquitas."
When Euridsi walked into the Judgment Square, he was not wearing shackles and was not escorted by the Knights.
She stood alone in the trial square, not looking at anyone on the stand.
She just looked at the statue of Themis standing tall in front of the temple of the goddess Themis.
"It's so familiar," she said, with a complex emotion in her eyes.
Judge Adelaide on the bench lowered his eyes and coughed softly when he saw that everyone was present.
The noise in the trial square gradually quieted down. The judge placed the "Hydebot Code" in his hand on the stone table, placed his left hand on the code, and spoke:
"In the 637th year of the Ethereal Era, on the second lunar cycle of the cold season, on the sixth moonless Sunday, under the witness of the fair and just god Themis, we will conduct a fair and just trial at the Oprunsi Judgment Square."
The judge said this, his eyes gently passing over Oulidesi.
She said, "The trial of Anne White's disappearance begins now. The plaintiff, Pushin White, will make the first statement."
In the Judgment Square, everyone's eyes were cast on the ragged Pushin White. Old Pushin White's body trembled noticeably.
But he gritted his teeth, took a half step forward, and said loudly: "I want to accuse Countess Euridice Aquitas of killing my daughter, Anne White!"
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