Mr. & Mrs Meropide

Chapter Fifty-Seven: A Public Truth

The court date arrived only two days later, and Clorinde was nervously pacing back and forth in one of the opera house's preparation rooms before the proceedings began.

"What if they request a duel?" she asked, her voice tense as she glanced at the Duke.

"Stop pacing, Clorinde," Wriothesley replied, leaning casually against the wall. "I'm sure they won't. They'll take prison over death—I'm certain of it."

"I know," Clorinde said, stopping briefly before resuming her pacing. "But I don't want to kill the parents of a friend again!" she admitted, frustration evident. "Last time, it made everything so... complicated."

"We're all adults here. I'm sure nobody would hold a grudge—even if it came to that," he said, amused at her overthinking.

Meanwhile, Maria sat alone in a small preparation room, her hands trembling as she read through her notes. The paper crumpled slightly under her grip, betraying her nerves. The sound of the door opening startled her, and she looked up to see Vire entering with quick, determined steps.

"You didn't seriously think I would leave you to face this alone," he said, his voice steady as he approached her.

Maria's hands shook harder, and her voice wavered. "I don't know if I can go out there," she admitted, fighting her nerves.

"You can do it," Vire said firmly, taking her hands in his. His warmth contrasted with her cold, trembling fingers. "I know it's asking a lot, but I believe in you."

She nodded slightly, though her hands continued to tremble. Vire squeezed them gently. "I'll be right beside you every step of the way. I'll go stand behind them—don't look at them. Look at me," he reassured her.

Maria nodded again, taking a deep breath. From outside the room, the sound of Clorinde's footsteps echoed, the click of her heels unmistakable. Vire quickly hid behind the door as it opened gently. Clorinde stepped inside, her usual poise and confidence restored.

"Ready?" she asked, her voice steady, betraying none of the nervous energy she had shown earlier with the Duke.

Maria glanced down at her crumpled notes, then stood up, nodding. "Let's do this," she said, determination flickering in her eyes as she followed Clorinde out of the room.

Vire slipped out quietly as they turned the corner, moving quickly to make his way to the other side of the courtroom. He needed to be there, standing behind Maria's parents, ready to offer her the silent reassurance he'd promised.

Vire hurried past the gathered spectators, weaving through the crowd with practiced ease. The courtroom was packed, a tense air of curiosity and judgment hanging heavy over the assembled audience. Reaching the other side, he found Maria's parents in a secluded corner, having a moment to prepare their defense. Chevreuse soon approached and collected them—it was time to begin.

The court case began slowly, with Maria's parents presenting their arguments. They claimed they had been framed, insisting that someone had forged their signatures on the incriminating documents. They further emphasized that the man they were accused of selling the children to, while a real person, was currently untraceable, casting further doubt on the allegations.

They leaned heavily on their reputations, pointing out that both of them had spotless criminal records, with no prior accusations or suspicions of wrongdoing. They extended this defense to the alleged buyer as well, claiming that his clean record only added to the implausibility of the accusations against them. Their calm and calculated approach painted them as upstanding citizens unjustly caught in a web of deceit.