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The mercenary, after hesitating for a moment, finally opened his mouth with difficulty.
"My real employer... is Grand Duke Zahir."
"What orders did you receive from Grand Duke Zahir?"
"Grand Duke Zahir ordered me to eliminate His Highness the Crown Prince at the hunting festival. If things went wrong, he also ordered me to reveal only about Duke Farnese."
At that, the courtroom began to stir greatly.
This wasn't the first time someone had dared to harm a member of the imperial family.
Everyone was shocked by the fact that Deon had been preparing for treason for a long time.
"As such, Deon Zahir used the borrowed money as an excuse to induce debtors to participate in his misdeeds. He also provided a considerable amount of funds to Count Cannon's business."
"..."
"I rest my case."
Azef struck the gavel, calming the increasingly noisy courtroom.
And he asked Deon one last time.
"Grand Duke Zahir, do you have any evidence or witnesses to refute this?"
However, Deon only quietly gazed at Azef, offering no rebuttal.
After waiting for a moment, Azef declared.
"Then, let the jury begin the vote. Those who believe that there is sufficient evidence of Deon Zahir's treason and that he deserves appropriate punishment, please raise your hand before this hourglass runs out."
A negative vote was not conducted separately, and those who did not agree were considered to be against, and a simultaneous vote was conducted.
This was because if a separate vote was held, they could be swayed by the atmosphere and make a wrong decision.
The majority of nobles raised their hands without much hesitation.
Objectively, and for their own benefit, there was no need to deliberate for long.
And even those who were part of Deon's faction slowly raised their hands.
Not just any crime, but treason itself.
There was no need to oppose it here and risk being targeted.
Soon, the vote ended unanimously.
Azef looked around the nobles and finally gazed at Deon, who was standing calmly.
Then, his solemn voice echoed through the courtroom.
"According to the verdict of the majority of the jury, Deon Zahir's treason has been established."
"..."
"The criminal has abandoned the duty of an imperial family member to protect and care for the empire and is heavily responsible for causing chaos..."
At that moment, a complicated emotion flickered in Azef's eyes as he looked at his younger brother.
But it was fleeting.
"...According to the gravity of his crimes, he shall be sentenced to death by hanging."
With the Emperor's final verdict, the trial came to a complete end.
Imperial knights who had been waiting approached and led Deon out of the courtroom.
Leticia quietly watched Deon's back.
It was a futile end for a villain who had committed evil deeds in both her past and present lives.
But for her, it was a more than satisfactory ending.
'I changed fate.'
Turning her head slightly to the side, the man who was the proof of that changed fate met her gaze with affectionate eyes.
"Shall we get up now?"
Now reaching out his hand naturally.
Letica smiled softly and took his hand, asking.
"Are we going straight home?"
Then, after pondering for a moment, Idris smiled and replied.
"Before that, it would be good to check the airship one last time. The day of departure is not far off."
Hearing those words, Leticia remembered the promise she had made with Idris before luring Deon.
"After this is over, shall we take the airship and go to the central continent together?"
Letica readily nodded and followed Idris.
She didn't see it because of that.
The corners of Deon's mouth, as he left the courtroom, were twisted strangely.
A week later, the long-awaited day dawned.
That's right. Today is finally!
'The day the airship officially goes into service.'
And it was also the day that she decided to travel to the central continent with Idris.
Because it was a rare trip, she prepared very thoroughly.
When she thought about it, she had been busy running around with revenge and business, and she had never really rested properly.
But right now, she didn't have time to properly enjoy the excitement, and the reason was...
'Because I stayed up late with excitement and overslept...'
Normally, Erin would have woken her up, but Erin, who was also planning to leave with her, had also overslept.
Because of that, Erin was now busy checking her luggage and getting her ready.
Watching Erin put so much effort into her styling even in the midst of all this, she suddenly asked.
"By the way, Erin, are you really going to be okay?"
"Yes? About what?"
"Even though the airship is said to be safe, everyone is afraid of it. If you're forcing yourself to go because of me, you don't have to go—"
"That's absolutely not true! If you had told me not to come, I would have begged to come anyway."
"Really?"
"Yes! It's a historic moment when humans fly in the sky, right? I can't miss the chance to experience such a moment firsthand."
...Hmm. Seeing her jump so high before she could even finish her sentence, it seemed like she was worried for no reason.
"I heard the sea is so beautiful in the central continent, I'm so excited."
While talking to Erin and sharing the excitement of the trip, the styling was finished.
"Then I'll pack my luggage and go straight down. Take your time coming down, Miss."
She could feel Erin's footsteps as she left the room, as if she were dancing lightly.
Her cuteness made her unable to stop herself from laughing.
'Then shall I go down too.'
After Erin left the room, she looked at herself in the vanity mirror one last time.
It was a place where many people would gather as it was the first day the airship was officially operating, and more than anything else.
'...I haven't answered Idris's confession yet.'
Today, she wanted to give him that answer on his airship, which had fulfilled her childhood dream.
Of course, her answer had already been decided a long time ago, and Idris probably guessed it too...
But, even so.
'I want to tell you directly.'
That her heart is the same as his.
From a very long time ago.
After calming her pounding heart and finishing the check, the sound of the grandfather clock ringing the hour was faintly heard.
She left the room and went down to the first floor of the mansion.
She could see the servants loading luggage onto the carriage. And the familiar face next to it as well.
"Wig?"
"Boss! Did you sleep well?"
"Of course, I slept well. It's going to be a long trip, so I need to get plenty of sleep."
Of course, that was a lie.
But in order to protect her pride as a boss, and to tease Wig for a long, long time, she must never reveal such a childish appearance.
"Have a safe trip. I'm saying goodbye now because it seems like it will be crazy at the airfield."
"Yeah, thank you."
"Get some rest, and if you happen to think of me while I'm working instead of you, bring me a gift too."
Wig decided to stay here instead of taking the airship.
This was because the fearful Wig was reluctant to board the airship, and a responsible person was needed to manage the boutique in her place.
"Well, I'll buy it if I think of it."
While teasing Wig, Idris, who had finished preparing, came down to the first floor.
Idris, who had approached her with a delighted look, narrowed his brows when he saw Wig next to her.
"Why is this guy here? Is he going to follow us?"
"Ah, no! No way!"
Wig turned pale, waving his big hands, as if Idris would put him on the airship.
Then Idris's expression softened.
"That's a relief."
She didn't know why, but Idris didn't like Wig.
Well, in her opinion, he didn't really hate him, and it seemed like his own way of teasing him.
"Shall we leave now, Leticia?"
Idris looked at Wig and smiled, as if he had never been serious, and reached out his hand to her.
She took his hand and waved at Wig.
"I'll buy you a gift, Wig."
Then, a beaming smile spread across Wig's rough face, which now looked a little cute.
"Have a safe trip!"
They left the mansion, receiving enthusiastic farewells from the servants and Wig.
Ten years ago, in order to fulfill their dream.
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