Chapter 134: 134

After a brief period of silence, the man spoke in a deadpan tone.

“The horrific incident happened on the XXth day of the month of XXXX. Location, the basement of the Royal Palace.”

Then followed the explanation of what Carynne supposedly did. She listened to the dry voice recite what she had personally been repeating over and over before. It was quite a refreshing experience to hear it from another person’s mouth, especially since they organized it.

“This woman here, Carynne Evans. Towards Crown Prince Gueuze, in that place—”

“—and strangled him to death whilst—”

Carynne heard that Crown Prince Gueuze was quite a handsome man back in the day. But when he died, he was just ugly.

Did Catherine choose men by looking at only their face? As a matter of fact, if she had also died dozens or hundreds of times, aesthetics might not have mattered to her in the end.

Was there a time when Crown Prince Gueuze had revealed this hobby of his?

Carynne thought, perhaps next time, she could just be Crown Prince Gueuze’s pet so she could ask him about Catherine. She loathed how she’d have to take leftovers, but nothing’s taboo when she had eternity to look forward to.

“—cut her own maid’s limbs, then—”

Donna…

Carynne recalled the round-faced maid. Carynne didn’t know much about Donna. And Donna didn’t know much about Carynne either. They were equally strangers to each other. Donna was a mere temporary replacement after Nancy was gone. However, Carynne quite liked the courage that Donna showed at the end. It was pleasant to see such grit and humanity as she did not give up until the bitter end. Because Carynne herself did not have it anymore. Next time… Next time.

“—As such, it is undeniable that Carynne Evans’ necklace was the tool that was used to strangle Crown Prince Gueuze. Tell me, Countess Elva, have you ever seen the defendant wear this necklace?”

“…Yes. I’m certain that it’s her necklace.”

Carynne only now realized that Countess Elva had been called as a witness. She wondered if Lady Lianne was here as well, but she doubted it. She tried to see through the white cloth, but she couldn’t find the girl anywhere.

“What more needs to be said?” the prosecutor asked.

“With all due respect, that is nothing but mere conjecture. First of all, there’s something about Crown Prince Gueuze that needs to be revealed. Please take a look at this.”

Carynne’s lawyer spoke with a distinct voice as he stood up from his seat.

The prosecutor became flustered, and at this, the lawyer delivered his rebuttal. On and on, their argument continued endlessly. Strangely enough, it didn’t feel quite real to her. Was it because her eyes were blocked by the white cloth? Carynne was just looking forward to staying in this chair.

“Crown Prince Gueuze was a serial killer.”

Outside this white cloth over her face, it seemed like they were discussing something fun. It was a cycle of the lawyer respectfully presenting his arguments, of the prosecutor countering back, of the audience going abuzz, then of the judge bringing down his gavel while shouting, ‘Order! Order in the courtroom!’

“……”

In his own way, it seemed like Marquis had set the stage for Raymond. Even though Carynne had killed Crown Prince Gueuze, the swearing that’s directed at her was clear but minimal. Beyond the white cloth, she could feel people walking on eggshells throughout this situation.

The crown prince was dead anyway, so was the young prince.

Now that Marquis Penceir had decided to give Raymond his full support, it would be insane for anyone to show any blatant hostility against Carynne.

“There’s only one reason that the defendant acted in the way that she did in that basement, and it was to protect the late Prince Lewis.”

What did Raymond decide to give Marquis Penceir in return? Carynne leaned back against her chair. This was going smoother than she was expecting. She already did not care whether she’d be sentenced to death. Well, at the end of the day, she already had a death sentence to her name, but in a different sense.

Still, Raymond had painstakingly made his own efforts, and the results were now showing.

Would this life end like this?

Yet another ‘the end’ with Raymond again? If the end was going to be the same anyway, why must it always end with her death? Carynne was curious about that. Was it the same with her mother? And with her mother’s mother? Did they just decide to pass on the curse because they had gotten too tired and lazy to keep repeating the same cycle of dying and living again?

Well, did that even matter.

Through the white cloth, Carynne could see the golden hair of Raymond. The man who Carynne had chosen.

“Think of it… as your courtesy towards me.”

Raymond did not say the word ‘love’.

“It seems as if I truly do love you.”

Even though he confessed to her like this, he also knew. He was well aware that Carynne would never be capable of loving him in the same way.

Carynne closed her eyes, then opened them once more. Just one glance, and she could see him at once through the white cloth. Just as the sun never failed to rise, he was as beautiful as ever. Raymond never changed.

“……”

Carynne would die now. And she’d die again in the future. The restraints around her wouldn’t change. She didn’t know how she’d live from now on.

An eternity of silence, solitude, desolation.

What lay ahead of her terrified her.

However.

“Your Honor, and members of the jury. I respectfully ask that you give this your thorough consideration.”

Carynne didn’t know how to describe what she was feeling.

To feel sympathetic? To be moved? But even if Raymond was not the answer, even if Raymond was of no help to her at all, she did not like that his efforts would result in futility.

‘Should I die next to him this time?’

Carynne would never be capable of loving Raymond Saytes, but at the very least, she would like to keep the courtesy she promised him. That much had enough weight.

* * *

And so, the trial came to an end. Carynne remained seated as she closed her eyes, tired of fidgeting with her fingers.

Before she knew it, the sun had already fallen to the west, now seen through the courtroom’s window, and she was feeling drowsy. At the time that most people had become weary, the judge banged his gavel.

“It is now time for the final cross-examination.”

Was it finally over? Carynne straightened her posture. If she were to be honest, too, the atmosphere inside the courtroom was not so bad.

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Under the law of this country, the jury’s opinion played a significant role, and the nobles were driven by their own self-interests. Besides that, the people who previously followed Crown Prince Gueuze while he was still alive were shocked to hear about his misdeeds, and so they seem to have eased up on Carynne.

However, it was at that moment.

“Just a moment, Your Honor. The last witness has arrived.”

The prosecutor interrupted the judge in a hurry. The judge merely polished his glasses. He skimmed through the list of witnesses and the list of all the evidence that had been submitted by the prosecutor. He furrowed his brows.

“…It was a belated addition, I see. Alright, let the witness in.”

“Thank you.”

Who was it?

Carynne peered through the white cloth.

Then, the heavy doors opened.

Someone came in.

Ah!

Carynne nearly shouted out in pure delight.

It’s him again, even this time. She could hear the sound of his shoes across the marble. The entire courtroom fell to a hush. She heard someone say, ‘Carynne Hare’. Then, she heard that person laugh.

Laughter directed at Carynne.

Oh, at this derisive twist of fate.

To whom would she die this time?

It’s going to be difficult to guess.

“Entering, Verdic Evans, and his daughter, Isella Evans.”

Clack, clack.

Isella Evans walked into the dead-silent courtroom.

* * *

Her dull blond hair shone in the afternoon sun. Carynne lifted the cloth that was blocking her view and looked at the other woman. Isella Evans also looked back at Carynne.

For a moment, their eyes met. She seemed to be trembling a little. However, it was not enough to stop her from walking.

Clack, clack.

Isella Evans approached the bible and placed her hand atop it.

“I do solemnly and sincerely declare that I shall utter the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

Her tone of voice was different from the usual, perhaps because she was nervous. With the cloth still up, Carynne leaned her upper body forward.

“…Isella.”

How long had it been since she last saw Isella’s face? Her face looked a bit swollen. It also seemed like her hair was a little damaged. She didn’t seem to be in her best condition either, huh. Carynne closely inspected Isella’s dry hair, which was neatly tied in an updo. The hairstyle did little to hide the fact that her hair was damaged, even if it was done with a delicate touch.

This life truly was distressing, yet so very refreshing.

“Witness. You are Isella Evans, Carynne Hare’s legal sister. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s right, sir.”

Isella’s voice trembled finely, and she sounded awkward. Carynne had never seen her be so nervous. It was also her first time seeing Isella in those clothes, and her first time hearing her speak in such a voice.

Huh. There truly were some things that you’d only get to see if you live long enough.

Isella’s clothes were completely devoid of any adornments. She was in just a neat, dark blue dress.

Carynne’s heart started pounding. That girl’s appearance in this courtroom was bound to be unfavorable to Carynne, but she couldn’t stop her heart from racing.

“Up until three days ago, Miss Isella Evans had been completely unconscious for seven months, ever since the fire that broke out in the Hare manor.”

“Hmm. It doesn’t seem like she’s well enough yet… Will the witness be able to testify?”

When the judge asked, the prosecutor answered confidently.

“Of course, Your Honor.”

Isella Evans kept looking consciously towards Carynne’s direction. With a weak gaze, the pupils of her eyes seemed to be quivering minutely.

“Carynne Hare… No, Carynne Evans, my legal sister, is not a mentally unwell patient. Rather, she has committed the terrible crime of murder.”

“So you mean to say… that the defendant has intentionally killed someone?”

Isella Evans nodded.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Isella Evans raised a hand and pointed her index finger directly at Carynne.

And she continued in a crawling, trembling voice.

“Seven months ago, I saw her kill someone and set the mansion on fire.”

t/n: *ace attorney ost ‘pursuit~ cornered’ intensifies*

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