BRRC CH 26

Chapter 26 – The Trial of the Coel Family

I didn’t have the courage to face that shimmering blue blade.
So, I shut my eyes tight—
and clung to Sharon Abner’s arm with all my strength.

“Y-you can’t kill her! If you do, we can’t use the recording I made with Uncle Wendel!”

While Camilla was confessing every one of her crimes in the tent,
I had been waiting outside with Wendel—
holding tightly to the magical recorder in my hand.

Explaining how things ended up this way… well, it’s a bit complicated.

***

Two weeks earlier.

I had been summoned to Sharon Abner’s office.
It was to discuss the purification formula that Owen and I had finally completed.

After listening to Owen’s explanation about the formula,
The Duchess asked him a few questions about how my lessons were going.

And then the topic of the Coel family came up.

“I figured out most of the situation when I executed Roman.”

“Oh, you mean that contamination fraud case?”

“Yes. I plan to report the Coel family to the Imperial Court.
but the legal process is… bothersome.”

I pretended to focus on my snacks.
But my ears were wide open to the voices of Sharon Abner, Owen, and Wendel.

‘As expected, she’s going to report them.’

I already knew she’d reach that conclusion.

The Taranta Empire had a very strict class system.
But that didn’t mean high nobles could act however they pleased.

‘Even if she’s a duchess, Sharon still has to go through the official process to punish Camilla.’

And since the Coel family was rich and influential in the noble society, it’d be even harder.

“The royal advisors say it won’t be an easy fight,” Sharon murmured.
“They say trials in the Imperial Court aren’t about truth… but about power.”

That, unfortunately, was true.

Once a case reached the Imperial Court,
facts didn’t matter anymore unless there was clear, undeniable proof.
like a recorded confession or a visual document.

“But still,” Owen said, “we know Baron Roman took bribes from Camilla.
Wouldn’t filing the report still be better?”

Sharon was silent, lost deep in thought.

That’s when I spoke up.

“Teacher! That’s not real proof, that’s just… belief!”

Sharon turned toward me.
Owen looked confused, as if wondering why I was talking again.

“To win a trial, you need real evidence! Like papers, witnesses… or a confession!”

The Imperial Court these days was a joke.

They made all sorts of laws and talked about “justice.”
but never actually used any of them.

In my previous life, every time the Longton family was dragged into court,
Lambert Longton would rage for days afterward—because he knew the truth.

Judges didn’t care about the case or the truth.
They sided with whoever they wanted—
usually the ones who paid them the most or were socially connected.

‘That’s why material evidence became everything.’

Without it, the side with better connections always won.

‘And for the Abners, evidence is absolutely essential.’

They didn’t have endless money.
and they weren’t especially close to the Imperial Family either.

But the Coels?

The wealthiest house in the empire.
If the Abners were known for their military,
and the Longtons for knowledge—then the Coels were power through money.

And Camilla Coel, the Marchioness,
was adored by the noble social circle—
even personally close to Empress Karin.

‘Without solid evidence, we’ll lose for sure.’

“Oh, and I read in a newspaper once,” I added brightly.
“that the most convincing evidence these days is a recording of the criminal’s confession!”

Sharon’s expression turned thoughtful.

She murmured quietly,
“A confession… so we’d have to make Camilla admit her guilt out loud.”

I kicked my legs beneath the sofa and asked,

“Why, Duchess? Do you need someone’s confession?”

Then I shot my hand into the air.

“Then I’ll go and ask her myself! I’ll record it secretly for you!”

Sharon stared at me for a moment.
then burst into a quiet laugh.

“If you went, she’d probably confess everything just to please you.
Unless someone she doesn’t recognize sets a trap…”

Her voice trailed off.

Wendel’s eyes widened too.

After a long silence, he spoke seriously.

“Your Grace, may I suggest something?
What if you go to the mine yourself?”

That was classic Wendel—sharp and dependable.

“The woman bribed Roman and stole resources for ten years.
She’ll definitely try again if she gets the chance.”

Inside, I was grinning.
‘Yes, that’s exactly what I wanted you to say.’

Once the idea was on the table, things moved fast.

“I still know a few workers who secretly communicate with the Coels,” Wendel said.
“I’ll use them to leak a false investigation date.”

“…”

“They’ll take the bait. They have no other choice.”

“You’re right,” Sharon said firmly.

She stood up from her chair.

“Do it immediately. I’ll deal with Camilla myself.”

Then she paused by the door and looked back at me.

“…If you want to come, you may.”

“M-me?”

“You’re the duchy’s ward. You should know where your family’s funds come from.”

I quickly shut my mouth.

But then I jumped down from the sofa and saluted.

“Yes, ma’am!”

***

And that’s how I ended up all the way out here in the far north.

“You can’t kill her! If you do, W-Wendel Unc—!”

I hung from Sharon Abner’s arm like a desperate little doll.
pleading with teary eyes.

Wendel hurried over and spoke to the Duchess.
“Lady Annelia is right. You didn’t come here for punishment—you came for justice.”

He was right.

If Sharon killed Camilla now,
there’d be no trial, no compensation,
no way to reclaim the fortune that had been stolen from House Abner.

Sharon exhaled slowly.

“I’m not going to kill her,” she said. “Do you think I went through all this trouble just to end it here?”

Only then did I breathe a sigh of relief and let go of her sleeve.

Then I handed the magical recorder to Wendel and glanced toward Camilla.

She sat frozen in the chair, trembling.
Her pale face was blank with shock.

I noticed the glittering bracelets and jewels still clinging to her wrists.
I couldn’t help but think bitterly.

‘You thought money could buy everything, didn’t you?’

Now she’d lose not only her stolen fortune,
but also the reparation fines and the bail required by the Imperial Court.

Honestly, I was still angry—
especially remembering how Soya had been slapped by Ruby Coel.

‘Let this trial go smoothly,’ I prayed silently.
‘That’ll make it worth it.’

It didn’t take long for the news to spread across the Empire—
that Camilla Coel had faked the mine contamination for profit.

“I didn’t even try to make it public,” Sharon said in confusion.
“Yet the rumors spread everywhere.”

But I knew why.

‘So I told my friend about it, and she was shocked! She said she had to tell her mistress immediately!’

‘Camilla might act polite in noble circles, but among servants?
Everyone hates her. Even the commoners know what she’s like!’

***

The Coel family were simply facing the consequences of their own actions.
Their reputation had finally caught up to them.

Because public opinion was so strongly against them,
The trial date was set in record time.

While waiting for the court session, my daily life didn’t change much.

I’d wake up early and eat breakfast.
Read with Miel and Soya before lunch.
Then lessons with Owen, snacks with Arwin, and dinner afterward…

‘I keep eating all the time. I’m getting chubby! Who’d need a chubby genius?’

I poked my round cheeks in dismay as I jumped down from the carriage.

Today was the day of the trial.

And once again, I was at the Imperial Palace with Sharon Abner—
because, as her ward, I had to “observe important family matters.”

But then I remembered something Owen had said earlier.

‘Apprentice, can’t you tell? That’s just an excuse.’

‘An excuse? You mean her saying it’s because I’m her ward?’

‘Yeah. If you ask me…’

‘If you ask you what?’

‘It’s separation anxiety, that’s what.’

I froze on the palace steps, blinking.

‘Wait… separation anxiety? From me?’