Tales From The Kronos

Emely stood at the defendant's place, waiting for the trial to start. Silva reviewed a bunch of notes next to her, trying her best to act as a makeshift lawyer. Gwyn managed to get out of this situation and was declared innocent, all she could do now was watch over her friends and hope that everything would work out.

The judge towered over them, intimidating the court into a dead silence. Emely turned toward her friend, worried about the legal battle that was about to take place.

"Silva, I'm not sure about it anymore..."

"Don't worry, it's going to be alright."

"Maybe you're right..." Emely said with worry in her voice "Are you reading the laws of this world?"

"No, I can't read. And even if I could, I don't speak their language."

"But, why are you acting like you can read those papers?"

"I don't want others to think I'm doing nothing."

Despite her trust in her friend, Emely knew that this trial wouldn't last long. The judge hit his gavel on his table, forcing everyone to pay attention.

"Today is an important day, we are judging Lady Emelya's case, the princess of the holy lake. She's guilty of a love crime with a man."

"Objection!" Yelled Silva from the top of her lungs "My client isn't guilty yet!"

"That's... Not how you use an objection... Are you telling me you're actually going to defend her?"

"Indeed!" Announced proudly the unofficial lawyer, visibly annoying the judge.

"I thought I would finally have a rest day... Arya, can you give the opening statement?"

"Yes, your honor." The elegant man named Arya seemed to be the prosecutor of this case. His condescending voice already irritated Silva, who had now a new reason to win this case.

"I hate him already..."

"The defendant came to the Great Tree for a political meeting. It was supposed to be nothing more than that, but she was spotted by a witness in her room, along with her lover. The witness was the housekeeper of the hotel, coming to clean the room. She was the one reporting the crime, at midnight."

The judge and the jury already seemed convinced of Emely's culpability, the man turned toward Silva with a tired voice.

"I suppose you argue against that?"

"Of course, I want the witness to testify!"

The judge let out a sigh before asking for the witness to come. It was a woman in her 40's, unhappy to stand here today.

"I thought I'd see someone burn today, not talk about the horrible crime I saw." The woman said with an unpleasant voice.

"You and me both, why don't you start by introducing your name and occupation?"

Silva felt a bit annoyed by the judge's lack of neutrality but stayed silent to listen to the woman.

"My name's Myra, I manage the fancy hostel of the Great Tree. Most of the nobles come here."

"Very well, can you testify about what you saw that night?"

The woman nodded her head. Silva knew everything would play here, she couldn't let her chance to win the trial go away.

"It was around 11 pm, I usually clean the hallways since most of the clients are sleeping at this time. I entered the princess's room to see a horrible crime, just thinking about it scars me for life. She was with that man, their mouths were both glued to each other, exchanging saliva. I can't believe the things people do. Anyway, I went away as soon as I could and called the guards."

"I see." Said the judge while nodding his head "A horrible sight indeed. Are you convinced now, Miss Lawyer?"

"Silva, I don't think we can win." Emely whispered to her with worry "We should just leave."

"Your lack of faith is worrying, I already know what we'll do, you'll soon be a free woman." Silva cleared her throat before answering the judge "I have some questions for the witness."

"Very well, make it quick."

"You said you were cleaning the hallways, correct?"

"Yes... It's my job."

"Your job is to clean in the room too?"

"Yes, I like doing everything myself."

"Even when your clients are already inside?"

"What? Of course not, it was just by luck that I entered there, I thought it was empty..."

"Isn't it strange? You happened to forget where the princess, an important person, was sleeping?"

"Well..."

The jury talked with each other about this question from the lawyer, creating noise in the courtroom.

"Silence! Miss Lawyer, what are you doing? You cannot accuse the witness like that!"

"But admit it's strange, I won't rest until we learn the real reason that she entered the room."

"I do admit it's curious."

Silva was satisfied that she finally was able to make the judge doubt, maybe she wasn't so bad of a lawyer after all, or so she thought.

"Witness, explain the reason you entered the room and why you forgot about the presence of the princess inside it!"

"That's ridiculous." The woman complained but still complied with the judge's demand "I have to deal with a hotel, you think I have time to worry about things like that? I see important people every morning, I don't care about a princess. I came to clean the room, what else would I be here?"

"Yes, you're right... Miss Silva, please interrogate the witness."

"I will." Silva wasn't sure what angle she would use but the witness was clearly losing patience. She was sure she could exploit that "So you just forgot? Not very professional."

"Aren't you a lawyer without a degree? Doesn't feel like you're much better."

"I'm just asking if it happens often."

"Of course not, I'm a hard-working woman, I have a good reputation around here, ask anyone!"

"So you happened to see them kiss, it's quite lucky."

"I'd rather say unlucky."

"I don't think you'll say that with all the advertisement it brings to your establishment."

"Objection!" Yelled the prosecutor "The lawyer is just bullying the witness, this is unrelated to the case!"

"I am forced but to agree, is it leading to anywhere?"

The judge looked at Silva expectantly, waiting for her answer.

"I have reasons to think that the witness is lying to the court. I think she's using this trial as a way to advertise her business!"

"What is the lawyer saying, is she drunk?" The woman looked at Silva with a deadly stare to intimidate her, not knowing it did not affect her "If you think it's true, then you need arguments."

"Are you sure of what you're saying?" Emely whispered to Silva "I feel like you're just saying random stuff and hope it's working."

"It's because that's what I'm doing. Just trust the process, I feel like I may be right. The witness seems enraged, I think we're actually not far from the truth." Silva turned toward the judge, hoping to convince him "Has anything like that happened before? Has the witness already accused someone without any basis?"

The judge looked at the bailiff with his gavel in his hand.

"Can we get the witness's record?"

"Yes sir, it will take a few minutes."

The judge hit his desk with the gavel and announced with his deep voice.

"The court will take a ten-minute break, you may rest!"

Emely and Silva both let out a relieved sigh, glad to have time to rest. Gwyn went with her two friends during the break, visibly surprised to see Silva doing so well.

"Everyone here is so incompetent, it hurts."

"Come on, you should be glad! I think the judge starts to agree with me."

"In a court from my world, you would already be in jail... You're breaking so many laws."

"But, she's doing alright so far." Said Emely with a shy voice "I think we might be able to win."

"Yeah, sure. Anyway, look at what I got."

Gwyn got a blue orb out of her pocket, Emely looked at it closely with shining eyes.

"that's it! That's the soul!"

"It was easy, everyone is so focused on this trial. Can we leave now?"

"Wait, I think I might win. I want to at least try."

Gwyn wasn't surprised, she talked in a voice softer than usual, taking her friends by surprise.

"I'm sure you can win, just be careful. I'll get you out of trouble if something happens."

The woman took her place back in the crowd before the break ended. The prosecutor as well as the judge took their places, ready to start the second part of the trial.