"I came to submit the lawsuit, then saw you standing at the opera house entrance, so I thought I'd ask if you wanted to head back together." Lynette briefly explained her reason for being there, then looked at Clorinde. "You look a little flustered. Did something happen on the way?"
"No accident, just that I… I suddenly remembered I left this morning without bringing my keys…"
A clumsy excuse.
Lynette could tell Clorinde wasn't being truthful, but didn't press further. Instead, she gave her a way out: "Do you want to come back with me? If we don't leave soon, we'll miss the last patrol boat."
"Let's go back together," Clorinde said.
The two quickly bought tickets and boarded the last patrol boat, sinking into the soft cushions while watching the scenery recede.
"What you said earlier, the lawsuit, does that mean tomorrow you're going to file charges against Marcel?" Clorinde asked.
"Yes. The evidence is nearly all collected. The only reason we pushed it to tomorrow is because it was already late today, and Neuvillette had already finished work."
"And who's the plaintiff?"
"Navia. Lady Furina will serve as her representative and make the accusations."
"And Richard?" Clorinde asked in confusion.
"He'll assist Lady Furina and stand with her at the accuser's bench."
Originally, Richard just wanted to stay off stage and watch, not attract attention.
But Furina wouldn't agree. She outright declared that Richard was the greatest contributor to this case, and in both fairness and principle, he should have a role in the climactic performance.
Richard insisted he was merely the playwright, while Lady Furina was both director and lead actress.
"As the playwright, that's all the more reason to obey the director's arrangement," Furina said as if it were obvious.
"Yes, Lady Furina," Richard could only agree helplessly.
Meanwhile, Navia stood by in total bewilderment, watching the back-and-forth. The young lady felt that this God was not quite as she had imagined.
She didn't seem nearly as flamboyant as the rumors suggested. In fact, when organizing evidence and discussing the lawsuit, Furina was so steady and meticulous that it was intimidating.
It was as though she had rehearsed every possible situation that might occur in the Opera Epiclese tomorrow, preparing countermeasures for each.
Perhaps this was Furina's true nature: careful, patient, composed. Words Navia found very fitting for her image of a god.
But only Richard knew the truth, that Furina's meticulousness came from having suffered too many losses before. She wasn't stupid; anyone would learn from experience after that.
....
The next morning, Marcel's door was knocked on. When he opened it, a Melusine in a Court uniform stood there, holding documents and addressing the half-awake Marcel.
"Good morning, Monsieur Marcel. I officially notify you on behalf of the Court that we have accepted Ms. Navia's charge against you. You are required to appear at the Opera Epiclese at ten o'clock this morning, where the trial will be presided over by Lord Neuvillette."
Marcel: "???"
Still groggy a moment ago, Marcel woke instantly, his aged face filled with shock.
'Wait a second, wasn't I a witness? How did I become the defendant?'
The man who, in public, was the president of the Confrerie of Cabriere, but in truth the leader of the murderous "Sinthe" gang, was utterly baffled. He even felt like maybe he was still dreaming.
"Monsieur Marcel, do you understand?" the Melusine pressed, seeing him stand frozen without a word.
Truthfully, she wasn't surprised. Her job often required her to notify all sorts of humans of charges against them, and their stunned reactions had long since ceased to amuse her.
What she did find curious today wasn't Marcel's reaction, but the reason for the lawsuit.
"May I ask what I'm being accused of?" Marcel asked.
"Because yesterday you failed to show proper respect to the Hydro Archon, thereby violating Clause 1, Subsection 3 of Fontaine law: all Fontaine citizens must express due respect when encountering the Hydro Archon in any situation."
"According to the report of concerned citizen Ms. Navia, and with the authorization of Lady Furina herself, the charge is formally filed against you, Monsieur Marcel."
The Melusine had professional training. No matter how absurd the reason, she wouldn't laugh before finishing her formal statement.
Now that she had finished, the corners of her lips couldn't help but twitch upward.
"For that reason?" Marcel was baffled. Why would Navia sue him for something so ridiculous?
Even more baffling was why the Court would accept such a frivolous reason, and why the Chief Justice Neuvillette himself would preside over the case.
"Ahem… yes, that reason. Please, Monsieur Marcel, mind your attitude," the Melusine replied seriously.
"So, do you acknowledge that you must appear at the Opera Epiclese at ten o'clock for trial?"
"…I acknowledge."
No matter how many questions swirled in his mind, Marcel could only nod.
Because he knew that resisting would only make things worse, perhaps even see him convicted immediately for contempt of court.
But deep down, he couldn't shake the thought of Richard's handsome face.
Could it be… he'd already been exposed?
Looking out the window, he remembered noticing discreet stares at him ever since checking into this guesthouse yesterday. At the time, he thought it was just good hotel security. Now, it seemed more like surveillance.
Anxiety gripped him. He felt like a sewer rat suddenly thrown onto a sunlit street for all to see.
"Are you not leaving yet?" the Melusine's voice broke his thoughts.
"Leaving?"
"It is now nine forty-nine. Although the Opera Epiclese is nearby, a human walking at a normal pace still needs about five minutes. Considering unforeseen delays, the best time to leave is ten minutes early. Do you need me to guide you?"
Marcel glanced at the wall clock, 9:50. Only ten minutes before court.
Just enough time to wash up, change clothes, and rush there. Nothing more.
…Well, maybe grab a copy of the Steambird on the way.
He felt as if an invisible net had closed around him, and he hadn't noticed until now.
With no better choice, Marcel reluctantly prepared to face trial, clinging to the faint hope that this was just some prank of Navia's.
But with Neuvillette himself presiding, how could it possibly be just a joke?
Trials happened daily in Fontaine, but not every trial was held at the Opera Epiclese, much less presided over by the Chief Justice himself.
Only cases of grave severity, wide impact, or special arrangements warranted Neuvillette's presence.
And clearly, this fell under "special arrangement," set up by Furina herself, using her authority as Water God to bump this trial forward.
Even if she seemed careless at times, she was still the nominal ruler of Fontaine, entitled to some privileges.
Under Melusine's lead, Marcel soon arrived at the Opera Epiclese.
By now, the seats were packed with spectators. At the accuser's bench stood Navia, Furina, and Richard, half a step behind them.
"The accused Marcel is present. Then… Monsieur Marcel, you don't require legal representation, correct?" Neuvillette, seated high above, asked with a calm gaze.
"Ah… forgive me, this all happened too suddenly. I haven't even figured out what's going on," Marcel replied, then turned toward Navia with confusion. "I think there must be some misunderstanding here."
Neuvillette said nothing more. In court, evidence spoke louder than words.
"Very well. Since all parties are present, the prosecution may present your case."
"Yes. Respected Chief Justice Neuvillette, honored audience, I will now state my argument…"
Navia truly lived up to her reputation as the heiress of Spina di Rosula. She spoke clearly, with composure, unshaken by the hundreds of eyes upon her.
But instead of talking about Marcel's "disrespect to the god" yesterday, she brought up the case of Callas from years ago.
After laying out the background, Marcel couldn't help but object: "Navia, those are old matters and unrelated to your accusation. What exactly did I do that you and Lady Furina consider 'disrespect to the god,' to drag me to court?"
His words stirred murmurs in the audience. They weren't here just because Neuvillette and the celebrity Hydro Archon were involved; they were intrigued by the bizarre charge itself.
Today, they learned, to their surprise, that the Fontaine law indeed required citizens to show respect when encountering the Hydro Archon.
It was as obscure a law as the one banning flying objects in Fontaine for the first three days of each month.
Not that Fontaine's people lacked respect, but codifying it into law was another matter.
So not bowing to Lady Furina was actually illegal? That was news to most.
That curiosity alone was enough to fill the Opera Epiclese an hour after the notice was posted, with even more people lingering outside waiting for word.
Fontainians' love of spectacle was in their very DNA.
"That was merely a pretext to bring you here," Navia continued. "My true accusation is another matter entirely."
"To prevent you from learning ahead of time and escaping, burdening the Court staff, I intentionally used a trivial-sounding charge. I already explained this to Lord Neuvillette before the trial."
"Yes, Ms. Navia did inform me beforehand," Neuvillette confirmed.
Marcel's heart skipped. He forced a pained look. "You don't mean to say… You believe I was behind Monsieur Callas's death? That's absurd! He was my benefactor. And at the time, both you and I only rushed out after hearing the gunshots. I had a perfect alibi. If I'm a suspect, then everyone present should be too!"
Since many in the audience weren't familiar with that old case, Neuvillette himself explained:
"On the day in question, Spina di Rosula and its guests attended a banquet at a Cabrierre estate. During the event, two gunshots were heard. When they arrived, suspect Carres was holding a firearm, and his associate Jacques, lay dead. The Guard found no other weapon, so it concluded that Carres missed the first shot and killed Jacques with the second.
"Callas did not deny this inference, nor did he defend himself, but instead sought to prove his honor in a duel. He lost to his proxy opponent, Clorinde, and perished."
"That is the complete situation. Ms. Navia, do you have anything to add?"
Navia shook her head, Neuvillette's recounting was already thorough.
Marcel, however, interjected: "Navia, I know this is hard for you. I, too, believe, emotionally, that Monsieur Callas was innocent. But that doesn't give you the right to accuse me without basis."
"I watched you grow up. As your elder, I ought to forgive your mistakes, but do you realize how much this hurts me?"
He even squeezed out a few tears, perfectly playing the part of a victim wrongfully maligned by a willful girl trying to prove her father's innocence.
The audience's sympathy began to tilt toward Marcel.
He skillfully invoked seniority, gratitude, and emotional ties, winning the crowd and cornering Navia.
And at that moment, it was time for Navia's representative, Furina de Fontaine, to take the stage!
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu