Tales From The Kronos

The judge hit his desk with his gavel, ready to continue the trial.

"The witness, Myra, was retired from the court. Her record shows that she accused multiple persons of love crimes. Her testimony has been considered unreliable and is no longer acceptable. As the only witness, I don't think it's necessary to continue any longer."

Silva and Emely high-five together, thinking they won the case. Their joy didn't last long, as a voice echoed in the courtroom.

"Hold on, this isn't over yet!" The prosecutor said with a strong voice "I still have a witness, the victim himself!"

"You have the victim here!" The judge leaned toward the prosecutor, unable to believe his words "Please bring him here as soon as possible!"

The jury shared their surprise as a man with long white hair walked toward the bar, waiting for everyone to calm down in the court. Once the silence came back, the prosecutor talked to the man.

"Witness, can you introduce yourself and decline your occupation."

"My name is Kiro, I work in a bakery not far from here."

"Have you ever met the defendant, Emelya?"

"Yes, a few times."

"Can you testify about the moments you shared together to the court?"

The man nodded his head, the courtroom stayed silent, all waiting for his words.

"Emelya is famous but I didn't know what she looked like. When she came to the bakery, I thought she was a fancy rich girl, nothing more. We talked for a moment and she invited me to her room. I didn't think much of it, just that it was the polite way to answer. She kissed me suddenly, I was at a loss but I decided to come to her trial today."

"Does he hate his lover? I thought the feeling was shared." Emely looked at him with a saddened expression on her face before being cut by Silva.

"He knows that you're not the girl he kissed. I think he's trying to make you guilty so his lover is safe."

The judge closed his eyes to think before looking at Silva.

"I feel like this is pretty clear, don't you agree?"

"I'll see after the interrogation. I'm going to reveal the truth."

The man looked at her with a cold expression on his face. Silva knew there was a way to reveal his lie, she only had to find out how to do so.

"You followed a girl you never met before to her room for no reason?"

"Not without a reason, she seemed to be quite important and in a good financial situation. Love never went through my head but I would be lying to say that she wasn't a good person to reproduce with."

"I see, so you only saw her as a way to perpetuate your bloodline?"

"Of course, are you implying I had other plans?"

The young lawyer thought for a moment. It appeared that the man wouldn't slip as easily as the last witness.

"You mentioned that you talked with her, right? What did you talk about?"

"I..." The man glanced at the prosecutor, prompting him to intervene.

"Objection! This information isn't relevant to the case!"

"I have to agree, do you think that this is related in any way?"

"I'm... Not sure." Silva answered the judge "I can't tell without asking more information."

"I provided proof that Emelya committed the sin of love, you'll have to do better than asking for information."

The judge agreed with the prosecutor, nodding his head at his words. Emely couldn't believe how harsh the court was suddenly and shared her worries with her friend.

"Why is the prosecutor so violent suddenly? We barely asked anything."

"He's just trying to prove your culpability." Silva answered her friend "He probably knows that his witness is lying, he's just trying to protect him."

"I think the defense is over." The prosecutor stood up from his chair, stretching as he spoke "This lasted way too long, we already know who's the culprit."

"You're right... I thought this promising lawyer was onto something, but maybe not. Any last words, Miss Silva?"

Silva's time was limited, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find an answer. When she was about to give up, a voice next to her yelled with strength.

"Objection your honor! We still have to hear the defendant's testimony!"

Silva and Emely turned toward their friend Gwyn, standing next to them proudly. They weren't expecting the doctor to intervene in the trial so suddenly.

"This can only be considered a farce of a trial if we only do half of the work, aren't we here to search for the truth?"

"Do you think we'll listen to a random woman?"

"Silence!" The judge interrupted the prosecutor and pointed his gavel at Emely "Come to the bar and give your testimony, we need to hear the full story of this case."

Emely took a moment to look at her two friends and headed toward the bar, next to the man.

"I gave you a chance Silva, it's going to stress Emely, so don't make it last too long."

Silva nodded her head, she wasn't sure what her friend was going to say and hoped it would lead to something helpful.

"So... I don't really remember a lot to be honest. I know he kissed me but that's pretty much it..."

The court waited for the rest of the testimony only to realize that it was all of it. The judge looked around in confusion before continuing the trial.

"I see... So, Mister Arya, you can interrogate the defendant."

"Such a distasteful joke, but alright, I'll play along." The prosecutor looked at Silva directly, talking to her in a cold tone "You know that lying in a court is perjury, one of the worst things you could do in a court of justice."

"Why are you telling me that?"

"It's not the defendant that you're trying to save, right?"

Silva stayed silent at the man's words, the judge hit his gavel on the desk and commanded the prosecutor.

"This is not the place to fight, interrogate the defendant!"

"Yes, I know. Anyway, you said you have trouble remembering, right?"

"Y-Yes." Emely answered with a shy voice "It was quite traumatic."

"As one can expect, if love didn't exist, none of that would have happened." The judge said in an understanding tone.

"I can't help but feel like you don't remember much at all, how can we trust you then?"

"Well... I..."

"Objection!" Yelled Silva "My client has shown no problem with her memory, this event just made her forget everything related to the case."

"So she should remember the reason she came to town, right?"

Silva and Emely both stayed silent at the word of the prosecutor, having no idea why the princess was here in the first place.

"It is quite well known, after all, she came here to discuss-"

"Hold on your honor. I want to hear it from the defendant."

The court stayed silent, waiting for an answer that never came. Emely stayed silent, unable to provide an answer. The court got more and more concerned a Arya continued his arguments.

"I think that the defendant is unreliable, she obviously doesn't remember the most basic information about herself."

"It seems like it. Emelya of the holy lake, how do you plead for the crime of love?"

"No, I never loved him, I swear!"

"Do you have anything to add Miss Lawyer?"

"I'd like to interrogate the victim again!"

"For how long will you keep this joke going? Princess Emelya committed the crime of love, you have to admit it." The prosecutor's voice appeared tired, a feeling shared by the judge.

"I agree, it's time to get this over with. Miss Lawyer, you were strangely skilled for someone that never defended anyone before, you can be proud of you."

"I'll be proud of myself when I prove this dumb princess's innocence!"

Emely looked at Silva's determined eyes. Even if they could leave at any moment, she still fought all she could. Emely herself wasn't sure why, was it for her honor? Was it to protect the princess? It didn't matter for her, just seeing her friend give her all until the end meant a lot for her.

"If only there was a way to prove that she wasn't in love with that guy."

Emely overheard her lawyer's words. She took all the courage she could get and raised her hand in front of the court.

"I have a statement to make."

"I'm afraid it's over."

The judge hit his gavel on his desk with authority while looking meanly at the prosecutor.

"I'm the one that says when it's over. We're listening to you, Princess Emelya."

A smile appeared on her face, her heart was pounding in her chest, and sweat appeared on her body despite the weather. She couldn't explain this feeling, the feeling that gave full control of her and was bothering her at the same time. The feeling that made her act before she could think, filled her with happiness instead of dread.

"I can prove without the shadow of a doubt that I do not love that man!"