After a while, the chairman, ready for the trial, announced the beginning of the trial.

First, all those present were explained the precautions during the trial and according to the rules, the right to speak first was given to the side of the baron.

"In accordance with all procedures, we will first hear the statements of the prosecutor, Baron Payles."

Following the judge's instructions, Royer got up from his seat and decided to express the position of the Baron and Luna.

"Recently, Baron Payles, announced his intention to resign, due to the presence on his land, a gold mine, expressing his desire, he was forcibly held by Fersen Rodrian. Keeping my client out of control, he tried to convince him to transfer him the rights to distribute gold from the mine of Lady Luna Pales."

After the words "gold mine", the eyes of the people present in the court opened wide in surprise.

Gold mine, in the Pales family, one of the poorest among the aristocrats. It was something unreal, they thought that he was lucky overnight.

"Let me introduce you to Lady Pales, my second client and owner of the gold mine. She arrived at the Duke's residence and saw that her father had spent the whole night in custody with Fersen Rodrian."

Royer paused briefly so that everyone in the audience could express their displeasure and curse at Fersen, and then he handed the papers to the judges.

"In the process, Lady Pales hit Mr. Rodrien twice on the cheek, but this would not have happened if her father had not been imprisoned, she did it to save the baron. That's all."

It sounded like a childish joke that the problem of imprisonment was so acute that she had to hit the heir to the duke.

After listening to the lawyer of the baron's family, the judges, who wrote something on the papers, passed the floor to Fersen's side.

"The arguments of the baron's family are false. Baron Pales recently filed his resignation letter. He worked for the Duke for over twenty years. Because of this, my client just wanted to talk to him and convince him to stay. After all, he and the baron were on good terms, he just wanted to ease his regrets in connection with leaving his usual work."

This was the expected answer. Polkan, Fersen's lawyer, wanted to use these arguments from the start.

"Fersen even decided to spend the night in the baron's office, so as not to leave him alone. Everything was just the opposite, no one kept the baron by force. Lady Pales most likely just misunderstood the situation, and groundlessly used violence towards my client."

After a short refutation, Polkan sat down triumphantly. This was a clear and consistent argument.

In addition, Fersen had a good reputation, and the old rumors about Luna were not on her side, so their arguments seemed more convincing to the public.

"Are there any objections from Baron Payles?"

"There is. The conversation between my client and Fersen Rodrian was under duress, for the sake of the rights to distribute gold from the mine, which I mentioned earlier. Monsieur Fersen Rodrian would have kept the baron until he gave his consent."

Of course, Polkan decided to refute his words.

"This is ridiculous! This was just one of the topics in the course of their conversation. But that was not the main topic."

"Do you think it's okay to stay in the office all night for this?"

"Who cares? To justify the violence against my client, the lawyer sells the baron, and weaves unsubstantiated nonsense!"

Shouts flew from both sides.

"Stop!"

An emotional argument ensued, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court hit the table with a wooden mallet.

The judges whispered something with awkward faces. During the investigation phase, there was no definite evidence, so they needed to thoroughly understand the situation in order to finish this case as quickly as possible.

This was exactly what Polkan was striving for. Fersen's guilt was much greater, and all this confusion was to their advantage.

When the atmosphere was as he wanted, Polkan laughed merrily. He had a snide face, as if showing that he was ready for any challenge.

Fersen looked anxiously at Luna. It was clear from his eyes that he regretted starting this trial at all.

"Do the parties have witnesses who have not been declared? If there are any, please let me know now."

The judge said after a long conversation. If there is no evidence or witnesses, the trial will be over.

As if this was what Polkan was expecting, he presented the judge with a bunch of documents.

"This is a statement from employees who were at the residence on the day of the incident. As you can see, they indicate that the conversation took place in a friendly atmosphere."

The judges divided the documents and examined them. It was written in them that the staff heard loud laughter every time they passed the baron's office.

Of course, the employees were forced to side with Fersen. Because they understood that they would lose their jobs if they said what really happened.

"I have an objection. Statements of direct reports are biased."

Hearing these words, Polkan was indignant.

"What are you talking about?! Are you saying that I fabricated evidence? Maybe you have evidence or witnesses that say otherwise?"

It was fair. They had no witnesses who could express a different point of view.

Because of this, everyone considered Fersen a victim. They believed that Luna and her father had filed such absurd claims in order to take advantage of Fersen's kindness.

Thinking that the gold mine was just a lie, they decided it was an attempt to sue the Duke's heir for money, damaging the young man's reputation.

"What would you say if we had proof?"

Royer broke his silence. Polkan laughed at his words.

"If they were, why didn't you present them at once?"

This was done so that the situation escalated to the maximum.

"If you yourself confessed, it would be easier. In fact, I didn't want to do this until the very end."

Royer lied, but did it with the most sad face, and then gave the judge Fersen's letter.

"This is a letter from Mr. Rodrian, in which he personally confessed his guilt."

"... WHAT!?"

It was like a bolt from the blue.

At the same time, Fersen, who was looking at Luna all the time, hit the table with his fist and jumped up from his chair. There was shock in his eyes.

"In almost four pages, he described how and why he kept my client and what conditions he demanded."

Royer said, confirming Fersen's surprised look.

Three pages detailed what happened that day, and the last one about how bad Antares was.

There was a moment of silence after the publication of this evidence.

"What you said...!?"

"Oh, one of the pages is gossip about another person, so she's not really needed. I'll correct it now. This is a three-page confession letter."

The judges hastily read Fersen's letter.

The letter described in detail that day, and the fact that the baron did not want to listen to his little request trying to end their conversation.

"Mr. Judge! I do not know what it is, but most likely it is a fake!"

Of course, Polkan, who was unaware of the letter's existence, suggested the possibility of a forgery. He couldn't believe it.

"Never! Fersen would never have written such a letter!"

"Can you ask him whether he wrote it directly or not?"

After Royer's words, all eyes were on Fersen. Then he, petrified with shock, began to make excuses.

"What are you talking about! This is just a letter of reconciliation! Luna told me that she would make peace with me if I explained what happened that day! I was just angry that day, so I had to hold back the baron!"

Fersen was in complete indignation, as if trying to understand why he did it. As a result, Polkan, with a pale face, sat down in his place, it seemed as if his world had collapsed.

He tried to justify himself by perverting what really happened.

In the midst of the turmoil, the presiding judge, who is making the key decision in this case, spoke slowly.

"If it is true that Herr Fersen wrote this letter ..."

Polkan, barely getting up, holding on to the chair, desperately objected.

"Your Honor! Let me read the contents of the letter! I have to check the handwriting for authenticity. "

"Good. I will give you time for this when the trial is over."

But it was useless. After all, shortly before this, Fersen himself almost admitted.

As the evidence and confessions were gathered, the judges talked for a while. It didn't take much time because everything was already clear.

After a while, the chairman, referring to the relevant bill, began to announce the verdict.

"After the evidence provided, I fully acquit Baron Payles, and sentence Duke Rodrian Fersen to a fine of one thousand gold pieces."

"Lord, a thousand gold ...! "

Polkan swallowed nervously. No matter how loud the trial between the nobles was, the fine of a thousand gold was huge.

However, he could not challenge it. He should be grateful that he was not sentenced to imprisonment, because in addition to forcibly restraining a person, he gave false testimony. The court, given the status of Fersen, limited itself to just a fine.

The verdict did not end, so the judge continued.

"Out of a thousand gold pieces, five hundred gold pieces belong to the empire, and the remaining five hundred gold pieces go to the injured family of Baron Pales. As for the attack, Lady Luna Pales is acquitted as she had to use force in self-defense."

"Your Honor. I wasn't filing for money, so I'll donate money to settle the Empire. My father and I are pleased with the preservation of our honor, so I hope that they will contribute to the development of the empire."

"... Good. Then I will send the entire fine to the budget of the Empire."

People might have spread the rumor that Luna was suing for money, but now that she gave it up in favor of the empire, the enemies of Luna had no reason to start up such rumors.

The audience was amazed at the court's verdict. Polkan was so tired that it seemed to him that this was the worst day of his life.

"If you have any objection, please file an appeal."

But everyone understood that as long as Fersen's letter existed, there would be no appeal.

After the announcement of the verdict, the judges rose from their seats. This was the end of the trial.

As if expecting this, Fersen ran up and grabbed Luna by the wrist.