* * *
Noa’s voice rang clearly through the courtroom, leaving no opportunity for her sentence to be misheard. She surveyed the crowd for a moment while nonchalantly shuffling the documents in her hands as though she hadn’t just sentenced the previous Minister of Magic to what would amount to a life sentence.
“Well… I suppose one year of imprisonment can be substituted with five hundred hours of community service for a maximum of ten years. Are we agreed?” she continued, staring firmly at the Minister of Justice. A new wave of murmurs erupted in the crowd as the public and the nobles alike speculated the identity of the woman and her harsh punishment.
“Send Minister Rossinell to the slums?”
“Surely that must be a joke!”
“That child, though… he is the dragon, right? I saw his picture on the imperial family’s bulletin after he shattered part of the palace.”
“Then… she must be telling the truth…”
