The line separating good and evil was something that did not exist for Dylan. She wasn't a good person, or an honest person—but she wasn't someone who acted cruelly without reason. Maybe that's why she didn't feel a single ounce of guilt when she looked into Axil's eyes.

Did he deserve it? Did he deserve to die for sins he didn't commit? She had to admit, maybe he did. Maybe he deserved to feel the kind of pain he had inflicted upon Dylan.

The world was a cruel place, but human beings were the ones who made cruel acceptable. Dylan was only following the example of those around her—selfish and cruel humans who only cared for themselves. She grew up surrounded by such people.

Axil's eye looked up and down her with hostility. That look—it was hatred. He hated Dylan with every inch of his soul. He loathed her being so deeply.

'Even if you glare at me, the one in the sinner's seat will always be you.'

Since the underground casinos have been a problem within the Empire of Oberon for a very long time, Axil was essentially going up against the Empire itself. The Senate, which became increasingly representative of the Empire as a whole, sent a representative to act as the plaintiff.

'Since Cas is the Crown Prince, he can't appear in court directly.'

Axil chose to remain silent and not testify in his own defence, so the Duke would be acting in his place.

"Well then," said the judge, leaning back in his chair tapping his fingertips against his elevated desk. "Calling the case of the Empire's Senate versus Axil de Beaumon. Are both sides ready?"

The room went silent. It was quiet enough to hear your own breath.

"Yes, Your Honour," said the Duke.

Though he appeared outwardly composed as always, Dylan noticed he went rigid in his seat next to hers. She suppressed a smile. Seeing him struggle brought about a satisfying sense of accomplishment for her.

The judge glared at the Duke. "Very well," he said. "And the opposing side?"

"Yes, Your Honour," said a man Dylan had never seen before.

'He must be the member the Imperial Senate sent.'

"Will the clerk please swear in the jury?" the judge asked.

As the clerk swore in the jury, Dylan glanced around the courtroom and spotted a familiar face in the crowd. He gave her a fond, almost fatherly smile when their eyes met. His presence relieved her almost immediately.

'It's Edwin.'

Then her eyes narrowed as her gaze fell to Laikin, who was seated beside him. A smile crossed Laikin's lips as he winked at her. Dylan's face flushed red, then she quickly turned her head to keep her eyes focused on the judge.

The judge said, "The prosecution may call its first witness."

The witness stood up and walked to the front of the courtroom, just as the judge had asked him to. His cape fluttered out behind him when he walked, and the symbol on the man's chest belonged to the order of knights that served directly under the Crown Prince.

"Raise your right hand," the judge instructed him. "Do you promise that the testimony you shall give in the case before this court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"

"I do," the man said.

"Please state your first and last name."

"Aurelius Lucian," the man replied, standing upright. "I am the Captain of the Crown Prince's Order, Your Honour."

"Is it true that you personally led the investigation regarding the underground casinos?" he asked. The judge was looking at some papers on his desk and didn't look at Aurelius as he spoke.

"Yes, Your Honour," Aurelius said, and adjusted his cravat. "I personally led the secret investigations."

"You claimed to have seen Lord Axil de Beaumon entering and exiting the underground casinos on more than one occasion," he said in a pompous voice. "Do you have any proof?"

"Yes, Your Honour." Aurelius gestured to the clerk who had been seated in a corner during the trial. "These are verified and credible reports from the investigation."

When the judge beckoned to him, the man rose and approached the judge's desk. He laid out various documents, including copies of the reports.

The judge spent several minutes reading over the papers. Then he finally said, "Thank you." He sighed, leaning back in his seat. "I have no further questions."

Dylan raised her hand to her lips, ostensibly in an effort to hide her smirk. The reports were completely altered by both her and Caspian. She glanced at her side—where the Duke was seated. His fists were clenched into tight balls, the shock and disorientation of the trial leaving him pale.

'How amusing.'

"Your Honour," the Senate member interrupted, rising from his seat. "May I call forth my next witness?

"Yes."

The next witness made his way across the courtroom.

'Ha, it's nice to see you, Mr. Victor.'

As Victor began to speak, Dylan glanced around the room in search of Caspian. She saw him earlier, but he had disappeared as soon as she turned her head—like smoke. Where did he run off to?

Victor adjusted his spectacles. "When the casino was raided by the Crown Prince's Order, they found several illegal documents," he explained. "These documents include recorded transactions of money used for funding the casino."

The judge looked straight at the documents with an unreadable expression.

"As you can see," Victor continued, "there are several recorded transactions in which Lord Axil de Beaumon provided funding for the illegal casinos' activities."

As soon as these words were uttered an eruption of whispers filled the courtroom. Illegal casino sites accept weapons, drugs and other commodities as bets—not only money. Some casinos are even hotspots for slave trading and human trafficking. For someone to fund these activities is—unimaginably disgusting.

The judge lifted his eyes and slammed his gavel against the desk. "Quiet!" he ordered, slamming his gavel twice. "Order!"

Axil trembled in his seat and shook his head. He didn't do it. He didn't do any of it. Why was this happening to him?

"It's her fault!" Axil screamed, and pointed at Dylan. His voice was bordering on hysteria. "That bitch had something to do with this! I know she did!"

Dylan looked at Axil, her lips curling with disdain. "What are you talking about, brother?" she asked, loudly. "How could you accuse me of that. All this time I've been helping father and supporting you."

He wanted to hit her, kick her out of his sight. "Shut up!" he yelled. "I fucking hate you!"

The courtroom erupted once more, and this time the judge made no move to contain it. It was obvious she didn't want his position. Instead of meeting with other nobles to gain support, Dylan isolated herself to help her father. The nobles in the courtroom whispered that he was going insane.

"Axil de Beaumon, shut your mouth, right now!" the Duke said. His voice was cold and unforgiving.

Axil's eyes turned frantic and his face distorted in disbelief at his father's words.

Dylan put her hands over her face and dropped her head forward. Her shoulders and arms were shaking violently in a feeble attempt to suppress her sobs. At least, that's what it looked like. Truthfully, Axil's deranged expression made her want to laugh so badly. She wasn't sure if she could control herself.

"Order in the court," the judge finally said, hitting his gavel loudly on his desk.

The Duke slid his arm around Dylan's shaking shoulders, pulling her into an embrace. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "Axil's just stressed, he doesn't mean any of it."

'You're still the same, father. How abominable.'

"You may be seated," the judge said to Victor. He sighed and massaged his temples. "Is the defence ready with its case?" he asked.

"Yes, Your Honour," said the Duke.

Dylan lowered her hands once she regained her composure, and her glance fixed with interest on Sir Pennel. When she looked back at him, Sir Pennel was studying her intently but glanced away as soon as they made eye contact.

'This is going to be a problem.'

Everything in Dylan's world was always carefully crafted and calculated. Sir Pennel, however, was an anomaly—a deviation from her common arrangements.

'Let's see you try to mess my plans up.'



AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes!! My heart feels so happy.

Here's a sneak peak of a little something I'm working on... another reincarnation story ;)