Unfortunately, I'm an Evil Villainess

Chapter 128 - Trial (I)

- - -

The heat of summer made Catherine fidget in the carriage. Through the windows she could see a crowd had gathered, her uninvited escort to the courthouse. She wanted to open it slightly for some fresh air, but it was locked. Maybe for the better, as a rotten egg was hurled from somewhere and landed squarely on the glass pane, followed by other various scraps of decomposing vegetables and chants from the mob. She pulled away from the window and Father drew the curtain. Uncle swore.

"Don't mind those barbarians," Father gripped her hand and smiled wearily.

"That's right, Cat!" Uncle slammed his fist down onto his thigh. "Just wait until they see you're innocent, and our knights track them down!"

Catherine nodded, shrinking into her seat.

She got a breath of the hot, humid air between stepping out of the carriage and entering the imposing hall that would decide her fate. Journalists swarmed them, barely held back by guards, but she did her best to ignore it, looking instead to the sky. Dark gray clouds loomed gloomily.

The courtroom smelled musty and the bright lights almost blinded Catherine, before revealing the large audience assembled, all eyes on her. She almost missed the safety of her quiet cell, like the old days at the bookstore, before she got swallowed into this mess. Despite the suspense of impending doom, the six months imprisoned there had been probably the most peaceful time she'd had since returning, and now it was back to the gazes and whispers of nobles and reporters who did not seem to like her very much. Her stomach churned.

"Lady Catherine Bryant, you stand indicted for attempting to commit murder by poisoning Lady Valentina Avington. How do you plead?"

"Not guilty."

Catherine's legs were wobbly, but thankfully, after saying that, her part was done for a good while. She looked down and tried to make herself as small as possible in her lonely, exposed box. The monotone droning of the clerk or the judge or the barrister helped a bit to calm her racing heart, but the air was so thick with tension that she almost couldn't breathe.

'It's okay,' she tried to tell herself. 'I am innocent. God will protect me. Father and Uncle will take care of everything.'

What would come after it was over, even if they did succeed? Catherine did not want to think about it, so she repeated the same mantra to herself again and again, twisting her cold and clammy hands. Then it struck her that Lady Valentina would be here, and curiosity overtook fear and she snuck a glimpse towards the public gallery.

There she was! Beautiful, as always, in a simple brown gown and her hair in loose waves. She seemed thinner and paler than before, did she not fully recover yet? Catherine's heart ached at the pitiful sight. Oh, they must catch and punish the real criminal! Lady Valentina looked up suddenly and met Catherine's eyes. She smiled faintly and glanced away quickly, and Catherine melted.

'Lady Valentina knew! She understood!'

Catherine was not good at reading expressions, but she could tell wholeheartedly just then that her friend did not blame her, and was sympathetic for her. The rest of the room could stare daggers at her with an accusatory edge, but as long as Lady Valentina believed in her innocence, she was satisfied, and half of the weight on her shoulders were lifted. She almost slumped over in relief.

Next to Lady Valentina was Damian. With how much she fantasized about him, she had dropped his title in her mind. He was even more handsome than she remembered, and her heart skipped a beat. Instinctively she reached for her locket, forgetting that it had been removed for the trial. He caught her staring and flashed a discreet but charming smile at her, elevating her spirits further. She turned away quickly so the court would not see her blushing, and upon making sure the colour of her cheeks were under control, turned back to find him concealing a laugh.

Next to the Avington family was Prince Oscar.

'Ah, so it was as I thought...'

The calmness of her heart, save for a slight twinge, confirmed a revelation, a theory, a decision that she had come to during her time alone, without Father and Uncle. Though she wasn't sure how to explain it to them yet, she would worry about if it was a problem she would still be allowed to have. Now, all she wished was that His Highness had not done anything else to upset Lady Valentina. He looked a little pale too, perhaps with due concern for his fiancee?

Catherine looked back to Lady Valentina, simply because she was mesmerizing. Did she know or guess who was truly behind this? Certainly not with proof, or she would not Catherine be accused so. What could she be thinking...?

- - -

Catherine was so incredibly doomed.

The pathetic little creature was so fidgety and worried, but after just a smile, it was as if she thought I'd forgiven her! I had to look away before I bursted into laughter. She didn't even seem to be paying attention to her own trial, perhaps she had lost the wits to understand it already, or given up hope entirely; for if she had half an inkling of what was occurring, she should not be in the mood to be flirting with my brother.

The prosecution finished its opening speech. Our barrister, a handsome old woman that had been friends with my family since before I was born, who also happened to be the best attorney in Orilon, summoned me, the lovely, tragic victim, as the crown's first witness.

I trembled with excitement that I disguised as fatigue. Finally, this was what I was born to do.

"Will you describe what happened at Lady Catherine's tea party?"

I dutifully outlined the events, with enough drama to entice the press and sufficient conciseness to please the judge. Deliberately, I included a list of the exact items I had eaten there.

"You ate and drank the exact same as the rest of the guests, with the exception of the initial cup of tea poured by Lady Catherine, correct?"

"Yes."

"Did you observe anything unusual when Lady Catherine poured you the tea?"

"Her posture was rather odd: she was positioned such that her sleeve blocked our view of what was actually going into the cup."

"How was the tea Lady Catherine poured?"

"It had some tiny specks that I thought were just residue from the teapot, but it struck me as peculiar because I had taken tea at the Bryant manor many times before with Lady Bryant, and their tea never had residue. The tea itself tasted strangely bitter, so I did not finish it."

"What was your relationship with Lady Catherine?"

"Ever since her debut, I have treated her as a dear friend. However, with rumours about her increasingly obsessive behaviour towards my fiance, His Highness, and her queer demeanour towards myself, I had grown wary."

Magazines and newspapers, several known to be moderately reliable outlets, were presented as evidence to support the story of Catherine's disgraceful pining after an engaged man. Outraged murmurs across the gallery! How dare she! Shame on House Bryant!

Cross examination. The defense's attorney was a weedy little man. I answered his questions easily. He was not going to get much out of me nor our other witnesses, not when we had everyone rehearse for every question possible repeatedly until the answer rolled off the tongue as naturally as one breathed.

As I sat back down, I clutched my hands together to calm myself, like a pitiful victim relieved to be done reliving the traumatic event. When I was sure I could do it without giggling, I glanced at Catherine, and looked away again immediately. It was too difficult! My years of self-restraint quivered before the absolutely adorable image of the stupid girl pale with horror, frozen in place with her eyes wide and her mouth agape. My stomach almost hurt from containing the laughter.

Oh, I was just getting started!