The Royal Romance - The Valtoria Diaries

One didn't come

"Have the jury reached a decision on which they are all agreed?"

"We have, your honour."

"On the first count of plotting to assassinate the Cordonian monarch, His Majesty King Rick of Cordonia, do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty?"

"Guilty," said the head juror.

Jen jumped out of her seat in elation, and received a high-five from her whooping husband. Thank goodness. This was finally over.

"On the second count of organising a terrorist attack on the Royal Palace, do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty?"

"Guilty."

Jen looked at Rick, who was sitting stoically, but she could see a little smirk of satisfaction on the corner of his mouth.

"On the third count of administering a terrorist attack on the Royal Cordonian Orchard, do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty?"

"Guilty."

"On the fourth count of arranging a terrorist attack on the Royal Palace, do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty?"

"Guilty."

Maxwell and Bertrand were hugging each other, she decided to let them get on with it, proud of them both.

"On the fifth count of poisoning Countess Madeleine of Fydelia, do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty?"

"Guilty."

Madeleine huffed to herself from her seat just in front of Jen.

"On the sixth count of holding Duchess Jen of Valtoria and Duchess OIivia of Lythikos at gunpoint, and causing significant damage to the Nevrakis family vault, do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty?"

"Guilty."

Jen laughed as Olivia blew Anton a kiss. He was frowning forlornly.

"On the seventh count of being responsible for a terrorist attack on the cathedral boutique, do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty?"

"Guilty."

"And finally, on the eighth count of kidnapping and assault, do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty?"

"Guilty."

"Thank you, head juror. You and the rest of the jury are dismissed. We will return tomorrow for sentencing." The judge turned to Anton. "It would seem that your desperate attempts to divert the blame from yourself onto innocent parties were fruitless, and this malicious attack on certain individuals will not go unpunished, and will be reflected when your sentence is considered. Until then, you shall be returned to your holding cell. Court is dismissed until tomorrow morning."

Anton was led away, and Jen threw her arms around Maxwell in jubilation. "It's over."

"It really is." He kissed her gently.

"It makes me feel better that he's going to get a longer sentence for what he did to us this week," she sighed.

There was a tap on her shoulder, and Hana was behind her, a huge beam on her face. "I'm so happy that's over!"

Drake was with Hana, his arm linked through hers. "It's been a tough week. But we did it. We all did it."

Jen nudged Rick who was beside her. "The dream team does it again!"