Envy Is Deadly

Really, envy is a deadly thing. It can lead you to take a person's life and do things you don't even expect you can. That's why I also think that envy is the greatest sin. Envy makes you lie, it makes you kill a person, it makes you think of evil things, it turns you into an animal.

Caroline envies Lucia because of her position, and that is why she framed her up and even dragged innocent people to this. She wants the title of an empress for herself desperately. She wants Lucia to be thrown away in order not to go against her way.

The only thing left is my first grade servants. Why did they lie and turned their back against me? I don't know for sure, but the truth will be revealed after I am proven innocent.

Their investigation ended, and Sun sent me a letter that their investigation matched. Sun is a competent one, I won't deny that.

Now, I am preparing for the hearing.

Sun brought Mayka and the merchant as witnesses, Jin and Lady Caroline's were also called by His Majesty's order. My first grade servants were also called.

Noble men, chancellors and the higher ups are in the chamber of truth. They are here to also listen and of course, judge. I know that among these people, some knows the truth and are in favor of Lady Caroline. These noblemen who have high positions will be a pain in the ass someday. They will attack me and will keep on attacking me.

"Lying is a grave sin, will everyone vow to say the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? In the Empire's name, the perjurer will face the heavy consequences of lying." The judge said before looking at us one by one. "Is everyone ready?" He asked and we all responded.

I met the emperor's cold eyes, he's sitting next to the judge. I want to mouth him "what" but I kept my mouth shut and looked away from his fiery gaze.

"Everyone, this case involves the death of a young servant named Yeina and the fire in the Empress' Estate.  The plaintiff here are the servants who accuse our defendant, the Empress of murdering the late Yeina and for arson. Prosecution, would you like to start the opening statement?"

"Yes, Your Honor." The lady said, "The Empress, two days before the crime was committed, had burnt her frail hand when Yeina, her servant was serving her a hot tea. It left a scar on her skin. The late servant was found dead in the Empress' room with a stab on the chest, which caused the servant's death. In order to destroy the evidences and the body, the Empress put the estate on fire. We'll prove why the Empress has to be thrown in jail, or be given a death penalty as we provide our absolute evidences. The truth shall speak for itself." She said before sitting down.

"Defense?"

Sun stood up and cleared his throat before speaking. "Empress Lucia did not kill or burned anything. We'll reveal some facts about the body, and the fire. We'll use the evidences we gathered ourselves and prove that the defendant is innocent. The Empress never punished anyone even with the big mistakes they've made, what happened was a little thing. Everyone in the estate knows That."

"The prosecution may call its first witness."

The bailiff accompanied the servant as they walk in front.

"Do you vow that the testimony you shall give is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, in the Empire and Emperor's name?"

"I swear to," she answered.

"State your name."

The servant stated her name.

"You are one of the first grade sevant of the Empress, yes?"

"Yes."

"And you've witnessed how the late servant spilled the hot tea on Her Majesty's hand?"

"Yes, I was with Her Majesty that time."

"Did you see her face when the hot tea touched her skin?"

"Yes, she looked mad."

Who wouldn't? Lucia. She didn't get mad, it was an accident.

"Mad enough to kill someone?"

"OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR!" Sun exclaimed, "The prosecution is trying to articulate something that should come from the accused and not from the witness!"

"Objection sustained, ask another question."

"You and the other first grade servants saw the act of the Empress of trying to burn the estate, right?"

"Yes."

"And when was that?"

"Around 6pm."

"Your Honor, four of the Empress' first grade servants witnessed how the Empress tried to burn the estate. Not to mention, they were the Empress' closest servants. This could only mean that the servants are strongly against of the crime their lady did, even if they were close. The witness and evidence are strong, the accused is guilty. I rest my case." She said before sitting down.

"Defense, would you like to cross examine?"

"Yes, Your Honor." Sun said and straightened up. "Your Honor, we conducted further investigation about this case and later found out that stab were not the victim's cause of death. The victim was poisoned, we calculated that she was already dead before she was stabbed. Your Honor, I would like to call our first witness."

Caroline's eyes widened. It was known to the public that the late servant was killed because of the stab. So if they slip their tongue and mention something about the poison; it would only make them look guilty for having known such thing when it was enclosed to the public.

"Request granted."

Mayka was called and she stated her the oath to say the whole truth. "You are?"

"Mayka, Yeina's closest friend, a servant of the Empress."

"You said that Yeina didn't finish her lunch, yes?"

"Yes."

"And that she didn't feel good after eating her lunch?"

"Yes, she started to feel dizzy and nauseous. Hours after that, she started vomitting."

"Which is a symptom of being poisoned. Your Honor, the victim did not finish its food and it was preserved. During our investigation, we found out that there was a poison in it. The water hemlock. The sickness the victim had shown were the symptoms of it. Please take this root from the food as an evidence."

"The root of the water hemlock is taken as an evidence."

"Thank you, Your Honor. After a couple of hours, did the victim do anything?"

"She went to the Empress because she called for her."

"What did they talk about?"

"When she came back, she told me that the Empress said to her not to worry about what happened."

"Then?"

"Odd enough, but a minute later, the Empress called for her again. And she didn't come back anymore, and after that--" her voice cracked, "I apologize."

"It's okay, you may sit down." Sun said. "When the Empress first called for her, she already said what she had to say. But why would the Empress call her again when she already told her what she needed? Maybe, it wasn't the Empress who called her. They ate lunch around 12 pm, the poison would kill her 15 minutes to 6 hours. Around that time, the accused was said to be seen trying to burn the estate. The estimated time of death and the arson happened at the same time. If she was seen trying to burn the estate that time, then who possibly killed the servant around that time? Unless, the servant was already dead."

"Objection your honor! The defense is making assumptions and saying allegations!"

"Your Honor, I was only trying to ask and over view the situation. This is helpful to the investigation."

"Objection overruled, continue."

"Your Honor, I would like to call on our second witness."

"Request granted."

The merchant stated his name and the oath.

"You sell herbs, poisonous or not, yes?"

"Yes, but I always tell them--"

"Then do you admit that this man," Sun pointed Jin. "Bought a water hemlock from you before the crime happened?"

"Yes, I remember that man. He brought the water hemlock from me, I'd remember exactly since I don't have a lot of customers."

"Thank you, you may sit down." Sun said, "Jin is Lady Caroline's servant, and everyone knows how the Lady hates the Empress--"

"Objection Your Honor! The defense is dragging an innocent person and is making false accusations!"

"Your Honor, I am not. This is a highly significant information for this case, this is not just an allegation."

"Objection overruled, you may continue."

"Envy and jealousy can make a person turn into someone we never thought they can. That's also how it went with the Lady Caroline. She was swayed by her emotions and she framed up the Empress. Our evidences from the murder case are strong and absolute. The arson is also already an obvious lie. The defendant is innocent. The Empress is innocent. I rest my case," Sun said before sitting down.

"Prosecution, would you like to cross examine?"

"Yes, Your Honor--"

The prosecution was cut off by its witness which left the whole chamber speechless.

"Please! It's true! The Empress did not do anything, I can't take this anymore!"