Chapter 026: The Theater
On this beautiful sunny morning, Esther, who had just woken up from her sleep, was immediately greeted by a roll of dark red paper. Everyone in the Nightingale Kingdom would know the meaning of the red scroll of paper. The red roll of paper is an official summons to attend a trial chaired by His Majesty the King. Usually the trial was specifically for people who committed very extreme crimes and the wives of kings who committed crimes such as infidelity, murder, poisoning other people.
Wait a moment. Affair? Now Esther knew the reason she got the red scroll. Moreover, after asking Helena, she just found out that the one who sent the red letter scroll to his palace was Queen Averia's personal maid. It seemed that the bastard was still not satisfied with interfering with Esther's life.
Esther immediately cleaned herself and changed clothes. As usual, today she is also wearing a black dress. The only difference was that the dress she was wearing was the most worn out of all the dresses she owned. She also asked Helena to apply makeup to make her look pale and like a weak person. She also styled his hair to look like someone who was not well cared for. Looks like Esther will already be preparing for some performances at the trial later.
Before leaving for the main palace, Esther first had breakfast with her beloved son. After a few days of returning from the residence of Count Arbellion, Arthur was back to normal. He no longer silenced Esther and wanted to talk to her.
"I saw Helena carrying a scroll for mom. Did you get an invitation to a tea party?" Arthur asked as he chewed his food.
Esther smiled a little. "I got a red letter scroll."
Without being explained, Arthur already knew the meaning of it all. Arthur's brow, which was already wrinkled now, became even more wrinkled as he thought about the reason Esther was able to get a very rare red letter scroll because of the peace of the Nightingale kingdom.
"What did you do wrong to make His Majesty the King send a red letter scroll?" Arthur asked again.
Esther, who was eating, immediately put her spoon and fork on the table and used her hands to support her face.
"Actually, the one who sent the red letter scroll was that bastard."
Arthur was quite surprised to hear that. Even though he knew that the red paper scroll could only be used by the King and the Queen.
"Looks like she wants to cause more trouble for mother. So, when are you going to the main palace?"
"Right now."
"May I come with you?" Arthur asked.
Esther got up from her chair and walked over to Arthur who was sitting not too far from her. Esther stroked the boy's head gently.
"Stay in the palace and don't go to the main palace! I'll just be the center of attention there. Besides, if you were there, that bastard would definitely try to disturb and trample your pride. Let your mother take care of the problem herself...Okay?"
Arthur took a deep breath and nodded his head. "Okay, mom."
Esther just smiled a little and left the dining room. She came out of the palace and went to the main palace. Fortunately, this time, she was not escorted by the escort knights to the main palace. The distance from the Marigold palace to the main palace was not too far. It only took fifteen minutes to get there.
Arriving there, Esther was immediately greeted by hundreds of pairs of eyes staring intently at her. The atmosphere in the main palace room, which was usually warm because it was used for a celebration party, suddenly turned very cold. Even so, it did not prevent Esther from stepping her foot into the pulpit reserved for the person who was considered a suspect, namely herself.
Now in front of him was His Majesty King Lucius, the great Queen Mother, and Her Majesty the Queen. The three main pillars of the kingdom sat on their thrones looking at Esther. Her Majesty the Queen looked at Esther with joy. It seemed that she had already thought that his plan would work.
Then on the left and right there are chairs provided for the spectators whose contents are all nobles. Esther looked at it all while chuckling in admiration. She never thought that the bastard Queen was so diligent that she gathered hundreds of nobles in that place to overthrow her. Because Esther was already present in the room, the trial began.
"Beatrice Valentina de Nightingale, do you know your wrongdoing that you were summoned here to attend this trial?" asked His Majesty the King began the trial.
"No, Your Majesty!" Esther answered firmly but still maintained her gentleness.
"Yesterday my queen reported that you had an affair with one of the commanders of my trusted army, Raymond Treliz von Seandeell," said Lucius, who looked embarrassed but still maintained his authority as a king.
As soon as Lucius finished his words, a furious looking Raymond walked in. Raymond walked and climbed the same pulpit as Esther.
"Your Majesty, that is slander. I feel very humiliated right now. Is there any evidence or witnesses who saw the allegations against me or Her Highness Concubine Beatrice?" said Raymond who looked like he was about to explode the anger he had been holding back.
Her Majesty the Queen began to speak. "I don't have evidence but I do have witnesses who can prove the affair that you two did. Please witnesses are asked to come forward to give testimony!"
A woman wearing a maid's dress came forward to testify. Esther kept looking at the woman's face because it felt very familiar. After looking at it, she realized that the woman was the bastard's personal maid.
"I am Sarah, Her Majesty's personal maidservant. Today I will testify. A few days ago I saw Her Highness Beatrice who deliberately changed her hair color to silver and was embracing the army commander in love. In addition, the troop commander also kissed Her Majesty Beatrice's forehead. That's all from me. That's the only testimony."
"So do you want to dodge again, Beatrice?" asked Her Majesty the Queen who was trying to corner Esther.
"Your Majesty, may I present a defense?" Raymond asked.
"Please."
"As you know that a few days ago I was carrying out the task that you personally gave me. Then after the task was finished, I immediately returned to my residence early in the morning so I could have breakfast with my wife and child. Then earlier the witness said if Her Highness Beatrice has silver hair, from what I see now and hear from people Her Highness Beatrice's hair is dark brown. Did the witness not see her wrongly? Even as you know it's the first time I've met Her Highness Beatrice myself," said Raymond.
"Then does Beatrice not want to defend herself?" offered Lucius.
"Before I present my defense I would like to ask a question of the honorable Miss witness." Esther looked at Sarah with such a gentle yet intimidating gaze that made Sarah shudder in horror. "Are you willing to take responsibility for all your testimonies?"
"Yes, I am responsible for all my testimony," said Sarah, trying to hold back her fear. Esther smiled a little.
"Then may I ask you something, Your Majesty?"
"You don't know yourself! You've made a mistake but still want to ask Your Majesty something," scorned Her Majesty the Queen.
"Shut up, Averia!" Lucius snapped at his wife who was sitting right next to him.
"Please, say your will, Beatrice!" said Lucius.
"If I'm found guilty, you can just punish me to the fullest. But if I'm proven innocent, can you kill the witness lady right in front of my eyes and here in front of everyone," said Esther politely.
Without thinking, Lucius immediately agreed to Esther's request. The Queen immediately looked panicked and worried for the life of her beloved personal maid. Esther seemed happy that Lucius had agreed to her request. The reason is that the personal maid is the bastard's favorite lady who is considered like a sibling because they grew up together.
"As we know in the Nightingale Kingdom's judicial regulations in the fifth article it says that to hold a trial it takes at least five witnesses and six pieces of evidence to prove that someone is guilty. But today Her Majesty the Queen only brought one witness."
"Then as I said earlier, my hair was dark brown from the start. How could it possibly turn silver?" Esther said in her defense.
"Who knew you used a hair color-changing potion?" said the Queen.
"Her Majesty The Queen, I respect very much, the hair color changing potion is very expensive. How could I buy such an expensive item if you only gave me 300 gold a month during this time. Moreover, so far I have also never received money from people my parents."
The audience was immediately taken aback. Because so far Averia is known as a fair and honest person. In addition, the minimum monthly amount given to the king's harem is 2000 gold. Even the wife of a lowly aristocrat like the Baron was still given more than what was given to Esther. It's astonishing!
Now one of Averia's rottenness has been exposed. Of course everyone there believed Esther's words. Just look at the dress she's wearing. Very grubby! Moreover, her face and hair that look not like concubines in general. Surely it's all because the monthly money is very little. Her Majesty the Queen immediately fell silent.
She was speechless now. The atmosphere of the trial became boisterous because of the audience. Lucius immediately revealed his decision now.
"Since all the testimonies and defenses have been completed, then I will give my decision. Beatrice Valentina de Nightingale is found not guilty. Therefore, according to her request, Sarah as a witness will be executed by the troop commander," said Lucius firmly.
"What? You can't do that, Your Majesty!" protested the Queen.
"Stop talking. Because of you the image of the royal family is ruined in the eyes of the nobles," snapped Lucius.
Hearing that, Raymond immediately walked over to Sarah and pulled out his sword from its scabbard. He immediately executed Sarah in front of everyone including the queen who looked shocked to see the person she loved died just like that. Esther just smiled and enjoyed the sight that she thought was beautiful because all this time she had held her grudge against Averia who had killed Caroline.
After Sarah died at the hands of Raymond, Queen Averia was in shock. Looks like for the next few days, Esther will have a peacefull days. Lucius ordered Esther and Raymond to come with him to his workspace to discuss something. The three of them went straight out of the courtroom to Lucius' workspace.
Just like at the beginning, all attention was turned back to him who was walking out of the courtroom. The nobles were busy whispering to each other. Finally, Esther came out of the cold room.
After a few minutes of walking, the three of them finally arrived at Lucius' study. Lucius immediately lay down on the soft sofa, while Esther and Raymond sat side by side on the other sofa.
"I'm really tired. I'm exhausted now," complained Lucius.
"And when you're in bed, you're never tired," Esther commented.
"Stop teasing me, Esther!" protested Lucius, who got up and sat on the sofa.
"Never mind the two of you. From the past until now, the two of you have always argued," said Raymond, who was trying to break up the feud between the two living creatures.
"Ignore that for a moment! By the way, your play was so good that it fooled all the audience in the trial," said Lucius while quipping Esther and Raymond.
"We both just let go of the longing as brother and sister a few days ago. But it turns out that your motherfucker queen took the opportunity to bring me down," explained Esther.
"That Averia seems to have chosen the wrong opponent," Raymond said casually.
"You're right," replied Lucius, who agreed with Raymond's words.
The three of them ended up chatting together and discussing all their past memories together. At least today's trial ended well for Esther.