“Objection. The counsel is currently questioning matters unrelated to the case.”
As expected, Crystal’s husband sprang to his feet, and Liselotte raised one hand toward him.
“It is not unrelated. You stated that on the auction confirmation notice verified at the auction house, Mrs Hezela clearly signed it. However.”
Holding the documents, Liselotte moved slowly so everyone could see and continued speaking.
“This is the handwriting on Matella’s witness attendance confirmation. And.”
Turning the page, she again showed the contents to the audience.
“This is the handwriting on the auction confirmation notice. Do you see a difference?”
Bracing one hand on the witness stand table, she thrust the evidence forward in front of Crystal, whose eyes were wide and trembling.
“Handwriting analysis results. Probability that both handwritings belong to the same person: 98%.”
“W-We don’t know anything about that! This must be a mistake on the auction house’s side…”
As Crystal hastily tried to deny it, Liselotte shook her head mockingly.
“No. Why would Matella go that far? The estate going to auction brings nothing into her hands.”
Thud. Setting the documents down in front of Crystal, she turned to the next page.
“Exactly two years ago, the defendant rented out a villa in the southern countryside. Is that correct?”
“It’s a personal asset. Is that a problem?”
“No. It is not a problem. However, the monthly rental fee was ten gold. Over two years, that totals 240 gold. When we checked with Rogers Bank in the South, the property owner was the defendant, but the rental payments were transferred to her husband.”
Tap. The bank-issued confirmation was clearly written in the documents.
Liselotte tapped the line that read, “Imperial Larde Year 24, Week 48,” with her finger.
“It was withdrawn from the Eastern Regaten Bank. On that exact day.”
Turning another page, this time a confirmation issued by the jewelry shop appeared.
Liselotte pointed to the date written on it.
“Imperial Larde Year 24, Week 48. It lines up exactly with when Matella registered at the jewelry shop.”
Purchase histories from the shop could not be disclosed due to customer privacy.
However, the registration date could.
When someone registers, the shop sends a small gift to VIP customers, so it was effectively impossible to hide.
“W-Why would the Southern bank give you this kind of information…?!”
As Crystal tried to snatch the documents, Liselotte was faster and snapped them back.
Neatly closing the documents, Liselotte replied with a bright smile.
“Unlike the East, the South will disclose information as long as there is evidence that a lawsuit has been filed.”
Thanks to that, Hedmilton and Ail had gone through quite a bit of trouble.
With time running short, it was evidence obtained only after Eren had even written to Jeyord to request a swift reply.
Liselotte walked confidently toward the presiding official.
“The person employed by House Rovans was Mrs Hezela, not Miss Matella. Therefore, the claim that an employee received the notice on behalf of House Rovans is false.”
The spectators stirred.
Rarely, even Ollas was proceeding with the trial seriously, without dozing off or showing annoyance.
Though his eyes could not be seen, Liselotte looked straight up at him and spoke.
“Therefore, I submit this content as evidence and will amend the lawsuit and cause of action to damages resulting from fraud.”
According to the evidence, the auction would be automatically invalidated.
A manipulated auction notice confirmation had no legal effect.
It had effectively become a matter that no longer even required dispute.
Handing the evidence to the clerk, Liselotte continued with a bright smile.
“The plaintiff nearly had her estate wrongfully sent to auction due to the defendant’s fabricated accumulated rental fees. Accordingly, we will claim damages equivalent to half the value of the estate.”
She returned to them exactly what the Gaol couple had done.
Not through auction, but through the law.
Mixed emotions spread through the room.
Lady Rovans covered her mouth to hold back tears, while Hedmilton clenched both fists and let out a small, triumphant “Yes!”
Behind them, Ezel was already sobbing openly, drawing glares from those around her.
In contrast, the defendant’s bench was in turmoil.
With a contorted expression, Crystal’s husband sprang to his feet.
“This is unjust! Is there evidence that this constitutes fraud?”
Circumstantial evidence had been submitted, but there was no definitive proof of fraud.
Knowing this, Ollas skimmed the list of submitted evidence and asked,
“I will ask Matella. Have you ever received money or valuable items from the defendant’s side?”
“Uh, no. I didn’t. I never…”
The activation condition for the incantation was fulfilled.
Three lies.
The last one.
Her mouth, which had stubbornly denied everything to the end amid the tense atmosphere, paused for a moment, then spilled out her crimes in a rush.
“I did receive it. I was to receive the southern villa rental fees for three years… Wh-what? Why is my mouth moving on its own?!”
“Are you insane?! Are you trying to ruin everything right now?!”
In a panic, Crystal’s husband grabbed her by the collar.
Flustered, Matella frantically waved her hands and shook her head.
“No, what I just said was… A few days after my mother left House Rovans, the Gaol couple came to our house. They promised to pay me if I intercepted the letter and helped the auction proceed.”
As her mouth kept moving against her will, Matella shuddered in terror.
Crash. As Matella fell backward, Crystal’s husband hurriedly waved both hands in all directions.
“That is not true! This ill-bred wench is lying!”
“Lying? You said everything would be fine as long as the auction went through!”
Driven by resentment, Matella sprang up, shouting incoherently.
“You never said I would have to testify as a witness! Because of you, now I am going to have to pay damages too. What are you going to do about it?!”
“If you took in that much money, you should have been prepared to take that level of risk! Do you think money comes that easily?! You should blame your own stupidity, why are you blaming me?!”
“S-stupidity? Did you just call me stupid?!”
“Yes! If you had just kept your mouth shut, we could have managed somehow! You are the one who flipped the whole board over. Do you get it?!”
In a word, it was a complete mess.
‘No wonder I have been having bad dreams lately. Hahaha.’
As the two nearly came to blows, court guards rushed in, flustered.
Liselotte simply watched the scene with warm interest.
Surprisingly, Ollas was also lifting the hair that covered his eyes with both hands, watching the spectacle with keen fascination.
It crossed her mind that this must be what a Yorkshire terrier looked like when its bangs were brushed up.
‘…So he did have eyes after all.’
Perhaps sensing her sideways glance, Ollas cleared his throat and let his hair fall back down.
Moving as slowly as possible, he reluctantly struck the gavel twice, bang, bang.
“Order, order! The defendant’s representative and the witness will be removed from the courtroom! After a ten-minute recess, I will render the verdict!”
“Aaaah! Let go!”
“If I am going down, you are coming with me, you fraud!”
Even as they were dragged out, the two continued to struggle violently.
Watching them, Crystal covered her face with both hands in utter devastation.
***
As soon as the recess was called, the nobles in the spectators’ gallery kept stealing glances at Liselotte.
She had an ominous feeling that the moment she left the plaintiff’s bench, she would be bombarded with questions.
That feeling was especially strong just from looking at Ezel in the back, who could not move due to the crowd but was clutching a handkerchief tightly with eyes full of emotion.
‘Ah, I want to drink tea.’
This was exactly the kind of moment when a bit of caffeine would lift her spirits.
Just as she was gazing wistfully at the open yet unreachable door.
Following her line of sight, Eren swept his gaze across the gallery.
Lacking the nerve to meet his golden eyes, everyone hurriedly looked away or pretended to be distracted.
That sight irked her again, and Liselotte deliberately held out her hand.
“Would you like to take a walk?”
“…If you wish.”
He bowed politely and kissed the back of her hand.
