The Chief Magistrate interrupted Lady Ball.
“Speak of your own affairs. Do not drag others into this recklessly, and do not incite!”
Lady Ball seemed to have nothing more to say.
She had said enough.
A strange silence fell over the courtroom.
The nobles in the gallery held their breath.
Professional as ever, one of the magistrates continued to preside over the trial.
“Lady Ball has refused to plead guilty to treason, incitement to rebellion, or aiding a rebellion in her previous statement. Prosecutor, what evidence do you have to present?”
Julia calmly produced a sheet of paper.
“This is the testimony provided by the witness Marino Faliero. He attended a banquet at Lady Ball’s home, where he overheard her discussing the frustrated sailors in the city of Landingset with her confidant, Tiepolo. During their conversation, ambiguous terms such as ‘weapon stockpiles’ and ‘routes’ were mentioned.”
Immediately after, Julia produced another paper.
“This is a handwritten confession from Tiepolo, written after his arrest. He stated that Lady Ball did indeed contact the sailors in the city and promised to provide weapons. He claimed this was a necessary measure taken to counter the Republican Guard stationed in the city.”
Julia then reached her conclusion.
“Matteo Barbone, who was previously hanged, was the clear leader of those sailors. If the sailor rebellion was not supported by Lady Ball, then who could have supported it?”
The Chief Magistrate spoke up.
“Prosecutor, is there no other evidence? This is far too circumstantial. It does not prove that Lady Ball actually funded the sailor rebellion.”
Julia remained silent for a long moment.
This was the consequence of a troublesome complication.
The truth was that Tiepolo had refused to admit that Lady Ball provided the weapons for the purpose of actively starting a rebellion, no matter what.
In the end, the Council of Ten had accidentally killed him during the interrogation.
This made things difficult.
Tiepolo was Lady Ball’s most trusted aide.
Having other members of the Northern Faction supplement the testimony would be far less convincing than his words.
That was, unless a more persuasive individual came forward to testify.
Julia spoke.
“Grand Admiral Lorenzo Venier, please take the stand.”
The courtroom instantly erupted into an uproar.
Many people ignored the rules against whispering and began to discuss the development in low voices.
They never would have imagined that a man who had once been promoted by Lady Ball’s father—someone who owed a debt of gratitude to the Dandolo family—would actually choose to come to court to testify against her.
Soon, an elderly man with white hair and a vigorous gait entered the courtroom.
After bowing to the Chief Magistrate, he began his testimony.
“The Republic’s fleet has indeed been subject to Lady Ball’s interference and manipulation. This included using the fleet for smuggling and having ships visit the ports of other nations to serve as her personal tools for socializing with foreign dignitaries. But all of that pales in comparison to her financial support of lower-level officers and soldiers.”
“Lady Ball once sent someone to find me directly. She asked whether the frigate ‘March 13th’ could bypass the restrictions of the manifest to skip its stop at Porto Areo and instead be allowed to dock at Landingset for rest and refitting. She also asked if I could confirm the duration of its stay in Landingset.”
“That is all I know. I ask the Chief Magistrate to investigate the truth.”
Lady Ball, who had been hanging her head, suddenly looked up and stared fixedly at Lorenzo’s back.
“Venier, my father promoted you because he admired your honesty. Now you betray me, slander me, and throw non-existent accusations at me. You are even more loathsome than that dog, Domenico.”
Lorenzo Venier said nothing more.
He turned and left the courtroom, letting out a soft sigh as he passed the ‘Solitary Chair.’
This sigh was heard clearly by Liv, who was sitting the furthest away, her eyes fixed on Lady Ball.
Her pointed ears twitched.
The Chief Magistrate spoke again.
“Since things have come to this, Lady Ball, how do you explain your innocence regarding the charge of rebellion?”
Lady Ball could no longer accept death with calm indifference.
She argued her case forcefully.
“This is a slander against me and a slander against the Dandolo family. I never participated in any conspiracy to overthrow Hubrick, nor did I fund anyone to start a rebellion. Domenico and the others are fabricating evidence and twisting facts for the sole purpose of making the Dandolo family an object of scorn.”
The Chief Magistrate continued.
“Are you saying that the man your own father promoted is also participating in this slander against you?”
Lady Ball flew into a rage.
“My father was unable to see clearly and took a liking to an ungrateful dog. He even allowed that dog to rise in rank and prestige until he started looking like a proper human being. This was not my father’s fault, but rather the result of the Divine Light failing to project the true nature of that man.”
The Chief Magistrate sighed.
“Lady Ball, several hundred years ago, your ancestor, Ricardo Dandolo, led his fleet in a long snake formation when the battle was already turning against him. He forcibly cut through the center of the main Camelot fleet, attacking from a position of disadvantage.”
“His flagship was heavily damaged and sank, and his body was never found. But it was that very charge that miraculously and completely destroyed Camelot’s naval supremacy. From then on, the sea belonged to the Republic.”
“On that account, everyone present should thank your ancestor and the Dandolo family, not just Lorenzo alone.”
“Lady Ball, Madam Ball. Can you testify on your conscience that you did not participate in the rebellion? If you are willing to swear it, the court will not recognize the charge of rebellion. You will not be sentenced to death. In exchange, however, you must be exiled. Do you accept?”
“Furthermore, your daughter is currently under house arrest. She has not been humiliated, nor has she been subjected to interrogation under torture.”
Lady Ball’s proudly held head slowly lowered, like a tree branch weighed down by heavy snow.
“As long as you promise not to harm my daughter… I am willing.”
The Chief Magistrate struck his gavel.
“In view of the serious crimes of political transgression, disturbing the national market, and smuggling committed by Lady Ball, the High Court has conducted a trial according to the law and hereby fairly pronounces a sentence of exile. Lady Ball may choose an overseas colony for her self-exile. She may not bring family members and is permitted no more than five servants. After a fine of 50,000 ducats, the family property shall be inherited by her daughter.”
It was true that while Domenico had desperately wanted Lady Ball dead, the Governor had been firmly opposed.
On this matter, there was no room for negotiation.
The Governor knew that if he allowed Domenico to abuse the power of the Council of Ten to kill Lady Ball, he would never have peace after his retirement.
The Governor refused to allow that red line to be crossed.
Ultimately, under the persuasion of Liv and Julia, Domenico relented.
He accepted that Lady Ball would live, but demanded she be exiled as far as possible, away from the political center of Landingset.
If possible, sending her to the most remote island in the colonies would be most appropriate.
Lady Ball accepted the verdict in public and chose a remote island in the Southern Archipelago as her place of exile.
And so, the trial came to an end.
Except for a few core members of the Northern Faction who were taken away overnight, everyone else survived.
They felt fortunate that the sinking of the great ship had not dragged them down with it.
When Liv and Tess finally walked out of the High Court, they saw Julia, who was exhausted from staying up all night, already asleep in her carriage.
She was truly tired.
Liv did not have the heart to disturb her and hoped she would sleep a little longer, so she instructed Julia’s driver to drive steadily.
She watched the carriage depart.
At that moment, a shout came from behind.
“Miss Liv! Did you attend the trial?”
Turning around, she saw Elena, who was on duty outside.