Only yours

Saphir's Trial

The prosecution presented its evidence against Saphir, and one by one, the witnesses took the stand. The first to testify included Kunzite, Kaori, and my father, who meticulously repeated what had been discussed with the lawyer. Their goal was to plead for Saphir's insanity, aiming to ensure he wouldn't go to prison but rather be transferred to a specialized facility in Sweden.

Finally, it was my turn to take the stand. As the defendant's brother, I had the right to refuse to testify if it would incriminate my brother. But I chose to make a statement. The prosecutor took over the questioning, and I felt immediately that he wouldn't be as lenient with me as he had been with the rest of my family.

"Mr. Prince, please describe your relationship with your brother." Coldly and distantly, I began: "Of course. Until a few years ago, my brother and I had a normal sibling relationship. There was nothing unusual, just the typical rivalries between brothers that were quickly forgotten. But all of that changed when my brother's girlfriend tragically died in a car accident."

As I spoke, I briefly glanced at Saphir. His jaw tensed almost imperceptibly, and a flicker of bitterness glimmered in his eyes. He would have liked to interrupt me, but his lawyer tried to calm him from the side. The tension in the courtroom was palpable, and I was acutely aware that my words would play a crucial role in this trial.

The prosecutor continued, "What happened to your brother after the accident? Did you notice anything about him?" I replied calmly, "Yes, he blamed me for the accident. He was driven by blind hatred, and for the first two years after the incident, we hardly spoke a word to each other. He even threatened me at the funeral, saying that if I ever fell in love again, he would take her away from me."

The prosecutor pressed further: "Did you believe there was more behind this threat?" I nodded and explained, "Yes, I know my brother well enough to understand that it wasn't an empty threat. Over time, the tensions eased a bit, but when I actually met a woman who piqued my interest, his grudge flared up again."

"Was this lady Ms. Usagi Tsukino?" the prosecutor asked. I confirmed, "Yes, that's correct. We went out a few times, and Saphir seemed to catch wind of it. He ambushed her at her workplace, and that same day, I found a written threat from him. This is also submitted as evidence."

The prosecutor inquired further: "How did you respond to this threat?" I answered, "I hired a bodyguard for Ms. Tsukino. Ms. Haruka Tenoh has been responsible for her protection since then. Of course, I also tried to contact my brother, but he remained elusive. He laid false trails to lure me out of Tokyo, making it easier for him to get close to Ms. Tsukino."

Finally, the prosecutor wanted to know: "Do you believe that your brother intentionally harmed Mr. Kou?" I shook my head, "No, he was targeting Ms. Tsukino. But Ms. Tenoh can provide more details on that, as she was present during the incident."

The prosecutor continued, "Please describe what happened on that evening from your perspective." I began my explanation, "I knew that my brother was in Tokyo, so I increased the security at the Winter Gala. When I received the report that he was approaching the building, I suspected he was planning something. I sought out Ms. Tsukino and suggested she head home. My chief of security was ready at the door to drive her, but she and Mr. Kou decided to walk. The next thing I heard was that Mr. Kou had been severely injured and was being rushed to the hospital."

"You were involved in apprehending your brother. Did he express any remorse for his actions to you?" the prosecutor asked. "No, on the contrary. He seems to feel no remorse and takes pleasure in the suffering he caused," I replied coolly.

The prosecutor thanked me and instructed me to return to my seat, indicating they might call me back to the stand if more questions arose. Next, Usagi was called. Her eyes briefly met mine as she passed by, a fleeting second at most. She tried to maintain her composure, though it was clear that this moment was difficult for her.

The judge began with the usual instructions, and then Usagi recounted the fateful evening. Her voice trembled with emotion, and she was on the verge of tears, her head held rigidly forward. I dug my fingers into my thigh, knowing she was crying once again because of what my brother had done to her. When she finished her testimony, her tear-filled eyes met mine, and then she collapsed. I was about to leap up, but Haruka was quicker. She was by Usagi's side in seconds and helped her back to her seat. Once she was out of sight, I turned my attention back to Saphir. Naturally, he hadn't missed my reaction. His lips twitched into a barely noticeable smirk, and I knew I had given myself away.

The trial dragged on for some time, with every aspect meticulously examined. Reports from doctors were presented, and finally, the court panel withdrew for deliberation.

Then came the relieving verdict: Saphir Prince was sentenced to life imprisonment for multiple counts of attempted murder of Usagi and for the murder of Seiya.

The judge's subsequent explanation of the verdict was irrelevant to me, as a massive weight lifted off my shoulders. Saphir would never walk free again. My goal was achieved. His dark gaze suddenly shifted past me, and I turned to see who he was fixating on. Usagi.

She panicked, jumped up, and rushed out of the building, with Haruka close behind. We remained seated until the trial was officially over. From afar, I could see my father's furious face. My testimony had been crucial in Saphir's conviction, which obviously didn't sit well with him. After all, he had other plans.

"Diamond! What was that about? Do you realize the consequences of this?" he hissed at me as soon as we were level. "First this business with that woman, and now you send your brother to prison. You've completely lost your mind." Kaori placed her hands soothingly on my father's shoulders. "Uncle, calm down, think of your heart... and while we're on the topic, Diamond needs to think about his heart too... I believe it could really do him good to finally settle down. You always wanted grandchildren; look at it this way, this might be your chance."

I looked at Kunzite, absolutely speechless. Father seemed equally perplexed, as he only let out a slight snort.

We reached the courthouse's main entrance, and Usagi immediately caught my eye. Kunzite was talking to Father, but I only half-listened to their conversation because I was mentally rehearsing what I would say to her. Kaori was already beside her and winked at me. "Diamond, I expect you to get back on track now. You know where the priorities lie," Father's cutting voice pierced through my thoughts. "Yes, Father, there will be no more incidents or scandals. I'll handle the press and our business partners. You don't need to worry about any financial losses," I replied absentmindedly. "Tomorrow evening, I want a full report. Until then."

Relieved, I exhaled as my father walked away. Now, the moment had finally arrived. This woman would be mine. Our eyes still hadn't left each other, and now I made my way towards her, unable to suppress a slight grin.

Kaori and her blonde friend had left us alone, and at that moment, the world around us seemed to disappear. I could hardly believe my luck as I stood in front of Usagi and looked at her. Our eyes met, and it was as if we understood all the unspoken words between us.

"Boss!" Massaru's loud voice suddenly boomed across the square. The tone in his voice made me instinctively know that something terrible had happened. I turned my head in his direction, and my heart raced as I saw Saphir pointing a gun directly at Usagi. Everything happened so quickly that my instincts took over. Without thinking, I pushed Usagi aside as two shots rang out near me. The pain that followed was overwhelming.

The last thing I heard was Usagi screaming my name.