The Talentless Wicked Prince Wants To Survive ~ The Only Way For Me, Reincarnated As The Punching Bag Third Prince In A Romance Smartphone RPG, To Live Is To Not Break Off My Engagement With The Duke’s Yandere Daughter Who’s Stronger Than The Heroine~ - Chapter 98: As expected, the Queen was also complicit in the scheme

“Silence! We shall now commence the trial concerning the attempted poisoning of His Majesty the King!”

Three days had passed since I’d revealed the name of the culprit to King Salomon. The knights had arrested Lisette as the prime suspect, and the trial was arranged with unprecedented speed.

During those three days, the royal knights had been busy interrogating Lisette and investigating the circumstances surrounding the case. Of course, not only the Knight Commander’s circle, but also those close to Queen Paula were involved.

As for me, I now sat alone in the accuser’s seat. Regrettably, Sandra and Monica had not been permitted to accompany me.

Across from me sat Lisette, the accused in this incident, glaring at me so fiercely that it felt as though her eyes alone could strike me dead.

Indeed, she had every reason to resent me. Especially Elyne, she’d called me a “monster”, a “traitor,” and even “a fool for ever believing in that talentless wicked prince”. Truly, I had been cursed from every direction.

But, unfortunately for them, the trial had already begun. Unless the true culprit appeared, Lisette’s guilt would inevitably be declared.

From the throne, King Salomon watched in silence, his expression hidden behind a veil. I could only imagine the bitterness on his face. Queen Paula, seated beside him, appeared almost amused.

For this trial alone, Jean’s house arrest had been temporarily lifted, and he was present as a spectator. After all, it would be strange if the very man whose actions had led to this scandal were absent from the proceedings.

“Now then, Prince Harold of Dehaubarz, as the accuser, please explain the circumstances that have led to this charge and the reasons for your conclusion.”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

I stood before the bench and gave my testimony, describing in detail how Lisette must have been the culprit. Fortunately, the knights had prepared a set of evidence perfectly supporting her guilt, though all of it was fabricated.

“Next, the accused, Princess Lisette Josephine de Capetien. Do you have any objections to Prince Harold’s testimony?”

“Yes, of course I do.”

Naturally, she would not meekly accept false charges. If she did, even as the First Princess, she would not escape execution.

“To begin with, every word spoken by Prince Harold… no, by the so-called ‘talentless wicked prince’, is utter nonsense. What possible benefit would I gain from such an act?”

“Princess Lisette, that does not constitute proof of innocence. Please provide concrete evidence…”

“If it is evidence, or rather a witness you seek, I shall testify! I have been by my sister’s side all along!”

“Silence in the court!”

The timid Elyne suddenly rose from the spectator’s seats, shouting with desperate resolve. However, the judge immediately ordered her to stand down.

Most surprised about Elyne’s outburst was Queen Paula. She had never imagined that her own daughter would rush to defend Lisette, the daughter of the woman she despised so deeply.

Yet Elyne was not the only one who disrupted the proceedings.

“Please wait. I, Alexandra of Chevalier, can also testify that Princess Lisette is not the culprit. Moreover, I have brought evidence… no, a witness.”

“W-what!?”

The one who strode into the courtroom was my beloved fiancée, Sandra, clad in armor and bearing the ancestral sword of House Chevalier, Balmung. Beside her, Monica appeared, dragging a bound attendant by a rope.

“Just now, His Highness Harold testified that poison was discovered in Princess Lisette’s chambers.”

“Y-yes, indeed…”

“This man unlawfully entered Her Highness’s room and planted that vial of poison. Is that not so?”

“H-hiiee!”

The attendant’s face twisted with fear as Sandra smiled, her lips curling sharply. It was obvious she had put him through quite the ordeal on the way here.

“Answer me.”

“Y-yes! I-I snuck into Princess Lisette’s chambers and placed the vial of poison there myself!”

It was clear to everyone that the man was speaking under duress, yet the oppressive atmosphere rendered the entire hall silent. All anyone could do was watch, holding their breath.

“Next question: were you acting alone when you planted the poison?”

“N-no, I was acting under orders!”

The attendant, nearly in tears, cried out his answer.

Now then, how would Queen Paula, his master, react to this?

“…”

…Well, would you look at that. She still managed to maintain her composure. Perhaps she thought she could simply discard him once his usefulness had ended.

Still, the sharp glare she sent Sandra’s way betrayed her fury.

Yet, inwardly, she must be shaken. After all, she had ordered her servant to plant the poison in my chambers, yet the man now testified that it had been placed in Lisette’s instead.

“By the way, Sandra, who exactly is this man?”

“Hehe… He is Queen Paula’s attendant.”

“What!?”

“…”

At Sandra’s quiet, mocking laugh, every gaze in the courtroom turned toward Queen Paula.