Chapter 131 – Lily's Disposition – Second Half

“Silence! We will now discuss the sentencing. Confirm the placards in your hands.”

The White Priest said that, and everyone began raising their white placards.

A white placard had been prepared for me as well.

“Marie. When you have an opinion, raise that. You can speak if called on by a priest.”

“The lowest seats get called on first, so you’ll be right up, Lady Marie.”

The Pope and Bishop Moras taught me from either side.

Heh. Being at the very bottom means my opinion might actually carry some weight…

“If Saintess’s little sister had been poisoned to death and there had been no betrayal by the maid on the First Prince’s side, would the Second Prince have been pinned as the mastermind of the kidnapping?”

Someone’s voice rang out from the upper seats into the chamber.

“In this kidnapping, the number of people involved was extremely small. The perpetrator was the Second Prince’s former head guard, and there was the coincidence of the Second Prince taking Saintess’s little sister home. The possibility is high.”

The murmurs suddenly grew louder.

That’s true, indeed.

If Suzy hadn’t told me, I would have been completely fooled by the First Prince.

But without Lily’s information, Suzy might have been dismissed as lying out of spite for being rejected. Lily’s testimony was crucial and indispensable.

“Silence! The maid has already been commended for her achievement in saving Saintess, and she has been awarded a special medal by the neighboring kingdom!”

The murmurs in the chamber grew even louder at that information.

A medal… that’s incredible.

She played a huge role, so it’s only natural, but still.

I felt happy, and my face naturally broke into a smile.

“Then what about Saintess’s little sister, the other informant? Even if she was used, she still spread poison on Saintess!”

“No, she needs a reward just like the maid!” “What are you saying? Assault is assault!” “She’s Saintess’s family!” “She was just used! She’s not guilty!”

The placards were forgotten as everyone shouted whatever they wanted.

The Pope watched it all in silence.

“It’s fine. Once they let it all out, they’ll calm down eventually.”

Bishop Moras nodded too.

Is it always like this?

I decided to stay quiet and watch how things played out.

Gradually, the commotion shifted to a heated debate over whether or not to attach the “Saintess Assault” status.

“Saintess! Please give us your opinion, Saintess!”

Someone shouted that loudly, and the chamber fell silent. I had all eyes on me.

“Marie. If it’s too much, I can…”

The Pope started to rise from his seat, so I held his arm and shook my head.

“Thank you. But please, let me speak.”

The Pope nodded slightly and gestured for me to stand with his hand.

I stood up slowly and took a big, deep breath.

Lily’s fate was on the line.

Calm down, me. I’ve been given this chance to speak.

“First, allow me to express my thanks. To everyone who worked tirelessly through the night for my rescue, I offer my heartfelt gratitude. Next, I apologize for my little sister Lily getting dragged into such a terrible mess and causing trouble for all of you.”

In the silence enveloping the room, I bowed deeply.

“Saintess believes her little sister was ‘dragged into’ it?”

Someone from the middle rows broke the silence.

“Yes, that is what I believe. She did something foolish, but it was certainly not of her own will.”

“So you believe acquittal is appropriate?”

This time, a different White Priest stood up.

The White Priests, who normally couldn’t go against Saintess, were equals in this meeting.

“No. Even if she was unaware, she still participated in a crime. If I recall correctly, in cases like this, it’s standard to attach the Capital Exile status and release them.”

The murmurs in the chamber grew louder and louder.

Everyone was whispering to their neighbors or aides, hands covering their mouths.

Don’t underestimate archive duty. Lily had no malice, and she was the top informant.

If she hadn’t spread the poison on Saintess, acquittal wouldn’t have been out of the question—she might even have gotten a reward.

But this is the “if she hadn’t spread poison on Saintess” scenario.

There was no precedent for something like this.

“Silence! If you have an opinion, raise your placard!”

Everyone glanced my way, but no one raised a placard.

“Is that all right, then?”

The Pope looked into my eyes with a hoarse voice, as if confirming.

I deepened my smile and nodded firmly.

The Pope stood up smoothly, and everyone held their breath, focusing on him.

“I too believe attaching the Capital Exile status to Lily and releasing her is appropriate.”

The White Priest conducting from below nodded to the Pope and shouted loudly, “We’ll take the vote!”

Lily’s sentencing was decided. Lily would be released with the Capital Exile status attached.

The First Prince would be confined for life in a tower detached from the castle. The perpetrators and their aides would face execution.

“Marie. You did well.” “Good work.”

As I left the room standing tall and resolute, the two called out to me from behind.

It was scary.

I was scared thinking Lily might get the death penalty or imprisonment.

Now my legs were starting to shake.

Relieved from the bottom of my heart at the best possible outcome, tears streamed down my cheeks for some reason.

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