I Caught the Villain’s Attention - Chapter 111
Only Krnovel
I Got the Villain’s Attention Episode 111 – #111.
The noise of people’s commotion suddenly stopped. The silence that suddenly descended was so suffocating that I couldn’t breathe.
Duke Franz was rather calm.
After he sat down in the defendant’s seat, he leaned back against the seat and crossed his arms.
And yet, he was scanning the crowd with sharp eyes, as if he was looking for someone.
Eventually, his gaze landed on the second floor. That was where Alex and I were now.
I was wondering who they were looking for earlier, and it seemed they were looking for us.
The mood of Duke Franz watching me became tense.
I felt a sense of intimidation even though I had done nothing wrong. Strangely, my body tensed up automatically when I was under Duke Franz’s gaze.
At that moment, I felt a warm sensation in my hand, as if telling me that everything was okay.
I turned my head in surprise and saw Alex looking at me with a worried look.
As I looked into those eyes, I felt the tension melt away.
“are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. I just feel a little intimidated.”
Alex smiled, curling his lips in a reassuring way. He nodded reluctantly, looking away from me and looking straight ahead, but he didn’t let go of the hand that was wrapped around me.
I deliberately pulled my hand out of Alex’s. As I pulled my hand away, I felt Alex’s hand falter.
I smiled to myself and held his hand straight.
I felt Alex’s gaze from the side, but I looked back at the courtroom as if nothing had happened.
I saw Duke Franz, who had been watching this scene, shift his gaze from me to Alex.
Unlike me, who had initially cowered, Alex did not show any particular movement, either because he was unaffected by the gaze or because he was not interested in Duke Franz’s gaze at the moment.
“I guess I should start going down now.”
Alex suddenly opened his mouth.
Now that I think about it, I remember you saying that I should go down once the trial starts.
“I guess so.”
Since Duke Franz was already on the stand, Alex should also start getting ready.
When I realized this and tried to let go, Alex grabbed my hand tightly again.
I looked back at Alex. He was looking at me.
“It’s a shame to go.”
I let out a small laugh as I watched Alex speak with a mischievous expression.
“Have a nice day. I’ll be here.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back.”
“yes.”
Alex, who had been holding my hand until I got up, reluctantly let go.
“Sit down.”
Alex stopped me as I tried to get up to follow him. Then he left the place alone.
I looked at the door he left through and chuckled.
As I was watching the courtroom, it didn’t take long for Alex to appear.
Alex, who was standing in the seat I had been directed to, looked up and checked me out. Then he nodded briefly.
I calmed my nervous heart and waited for the trial to begin.
Without waiting long, the courtroom door opened again.
“rising.”
The employee shouted in a deep voice.
As I stood up from my seat, the judges came in through the door.
Their footsteps echoed loudly in the still courtroom.
They arrived at the courthouse straight away and took their seats. Only after that did everyone in the courtroom take their seats.
“The plaintiff in this case, Captain Rohaman Dale, and the defendant, Duke Caron Franz, are you correct?”
The judge asked the captain of the guard and Duke Franz, who were on the stand.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Captain Lohaman answered first. Then everyone’s eyes turned to Duke Franz.
“… That’s what they said.”
Duke Franz answered in a mocking tone.
“Then, the manuscript side, please speak first.”
“I indict Duke Charon Franz for the crimes he has committed against Duke Alexander Berzel over a period of years and for the assaults on Duke Edwin Anstis and Lady Veronica Maynard.”
As soon as Lohaman finished speaking, Duke Franz snorted. Because of that, everyone’s attention turned to Duke Franz.
“This is ridiculous. What on earth is the basis for that? How many times do I have to tell you that the Duke of Berzel framed me… …!”
“Defendant, I have not yet given you permission to speak.”
“what?”
It was the judge who interrupted the growing Duke Franz.
He was looking at Duke Franz with an expressionless face.
As Duke Franz’s face faltered, the judge spoke again.
“Your turn will come soon, so if you have anything to say, please do so when I permit you.”
“what!”
“First of all, I have confirmed the records of the incident.”
When the judge came out with an obstinate attitude, Duke Franz looked dumbfounded for a moment.
Actually, I was surprised by the judge’s stubborn attitude.
No matter what, the opponent was Duke Franz.
The reality was that they had no choice but to bow down to him, if only out of fear of his wealth, fame, power, and connections.
Even though Alex and the Duke of Anstis were his opponents, it was best to avoid doing anything that would be unpleasant to either side.
However, the judge was being very forceful and seemed to not consider such things.
Duke Franz only then realized the situation and frowned.
dripping.
Just then a knock was heard on the door from behind.
I was startled because I didn’t expect anyone to come looking for me.
“The Count and Countess Maynard have arrived.”
“!”
I was startled twice by the sound of the staff outside.
“Please come in!”
He said, rising from his seat in a hurry.
Soon the door opened and a familiar face appeared.
“Claire, how have you been?”
“I heard from Veronica that you were here, so I came up.”
I bowed my head in greeting as I saw the two people greeting me with kind faces.
“It has been a long time since I have seen you, Count and Madam.”
The staff quickly arranged seating for three people.
“Claire, you should sit down too.”
I was wondering if I could sit with the two of you, and then the madam suggested it to me.
“But… is that okay?”
“then.”
I hesitated for a moment and then carefully sat down in the seat the madam pointed to.
“I couldn’t come out to pick you up because I didn’t get a call telling me you were coming. I’m sorry.”
“No. I was so shocked by the news about Veronica that I didn’t have time to contact you.”
“Have you come to see me, young lady?”
“Yes. We couldn’t be together because the trial started, so we came up separately.”
“okay.”
It wasn’t strange for the two of them to come here, after all, Miss Veronica was also one of the main victims in this incident.
By the time Miss Veronica was injured, news would have reached the Maynard household.
“I heard it was brief, but I heard a lot happened while you were here.”
“……yes.”
He nodded in agreement, then quickly bowed his head.
“sorry.”
“What does that mean?”
When I apologized weakly, my wife tilted her head and asked.
“Miss Veronica was attacked. It was because Duke Franz ordered me to be kidnapped. If it weren’t for me, Miss Veronica wouldn’t have been hurt… … .”
Without realizing it, my voice gradually became smaller and smaller.
You two were a great benefactor to me.
I was afraid that those two people would be angry with me if they found out the whole story of Miss Veronica’s injury.
“Why is that your fault?”
“yes?”
“Isn’t there a trial going on about that right now?”
“That’s true, but… … .”
“I heard the whole story from Veronica. And that you are the victim of this. But why are you apologizing when you are the victim? There are people over there who should be apologizing.”
The madam’s gaze was fixed on Duke Franz, who was protesting to the judge. It was a look of contempt.
“Of course, it would be a lie if I said that you didn’t feel resentful when you first heard the story. But I understand. What crime have you committed?”
The Count spoke on behalf of his lady.
“You must have had a hard time too. Right?”
The last question made me so emotional that I almost burst into tears.
I could only hold back tears by biting my lower lip.
It was only recently that I realized I was originally this tearful.
Madam lightly patted my shoulder as I barely managed to control my emotions.
“I would like to hear more, but I don’t think now is the time. After this trial is over, why don’t you and Veronica talk in more detail?”
“Yes, I will do that.”
I nodded and turned my gaze to the courtroom. Then my eyes met with Miss Veronica, who was sitting in the waiting room far away.
Miss Veronica smiled as usual and waved at me discreetly.
I returned Miss Veronica’s greeting with a faint smile.
In the meantime, the trial was going on at a furious pace. This was because Duke Franz denied and denied the evidence presented.
“Then I call on Jade Roblin as a witness.”
At that moment, Roheim’s voice rang out. As soon as he finished speaking, Lord Kruger appeared in the courtroom.
People were buzzing loudly at the word ‘Robelin’.
The only ones who remained calm were those who already knew of Lord Kruger’s existence.