Alex had to breathe and calm down his mind forcefully.
With so many powerhouses focusing on him, he couldn't lash out.
When Vanessa felt Alex's killing intent vanish, she sighed in relief.
"That's why, even though my mistake could be considered several, I think it's in the best interest of the whole kingdom that I'm not punished with the death penalty, but given a lighter punishment and a second chance at redeeming myself," Roderick stated.
His plea was directed at the nobles, who, like him, didn't like that a special group now had the right to invade their privacy.
After his last sentence, Roderick took his seat.
"Now that both sides have stated their arguments, it's time for the jury to voice their opinions," the guard said.
The first juror from the public stood and addressed the queen.
"Your majesty, I agree that this newly formed operations group is of doubtful origin and likely against citizen rights. Still, looking at the evidence alone, I agree with the defendant: his worth to the kingdom outweighs his crime. Yet I would recommend life imprisonment inside his house, never to leave it again. Thank you." Then he sat down.
Alex found himself dumbfounded that lives could cost so little.
The next juror stood and spoke.
"Your majesty, I think this man deserves the death sentence. While the Special Operations group may seem slightly shady, I believe it can be improved and turned into a force for good, since thanks to it, we discovered a noble who had broken the vows he made the day he received his title. Thank you."
This one seemed more righteous.
One after another, the jurors gave their opinions: some favored the death sentence, others a lighter punishment with lifelong confinement.
Alex was completely disappointed. He hadn't expected much, but instead of worrying about the crime, the nobles were worrying about the new group.
'I shouldn't even have given them the chance for this,' he thought. His fists were white from how tightly he clenched them—right now, the situation was fifty-fifty.
Vanessa was equally disappointed. She looked at him from the corner of her eye. 'Everything is going to shit,' she thought.
She had hoped to show Alex that the justice system could work—that he could trust it. Yet now it was showing him the exact opposite.
When all jurors finished, the votes stood at fifty-three for life imprisonment and forty-eight for death.
'Fucking disappointing,' Alex thought. Anger, frustration, sadness—too many emotions mixed together. 'I shouldn't have trusted in this shit.'
"As the jurors have spoken, as Queen, I sentence Roderick Halvern to life imprisonment inside his house. You may never leave it again. But as I find this sentence too shallow, your assets will be confiscated, leaving only the minimum required for survival. Any complaints, voice them now," Alicia declared.
Nobody reacted. They weren't foolish enough to oppose the queen.
"If there is nothing more to add, then the court is adjourned." The queen stood.
Alex immediately rose and walked away. He wanted to leave—fast.
"Alex," Vanessa called, looking at him, but he kept walking.
She stood and hurried after him, wanting to talk, but before she could reach him, he teleported away.
'How did this happen? Why was everyone so focused on the new group?' she wondered.
It seemed most nobles preferred their privacy intact over justice served.
"You'll need to keep a closer eye on him. This surely wasn't what he expected," Alicia said suddenly, appearing beside her.
"How could this have gone so horribly wrong?" Vanessa asked her mother.
"Sometimes justice doesn't win. The method used to obtain the evidence was too invasive, and all nobles have something to hide. Not everyone is as pristine as you or I," Alicia replied.
"Haah… it took me so long to convince him to trust the formal procedure, only for this trial to reset everything back to step one," Vanessa said, frustrated.
"I suggest that you two change your approach to a more investigative one—subtle, instead of barging in and turning everything upside down," Alicia suggested.
"Yeah… but for that I'll need to find him again, and make him trust me again. That won't be easy," Vanessa said.
"Well, finding him is easy—you know where he lives. And talk to Sylvana; she may have ideas." Alicia began walking away.
Vanessa also walked off, heading straight to the alchemy shop. The trial had lasted nearly four hours, so it was open again.
Inside, Susan was behind the counter as usual.
"Welcome, princess. What may I do for you?" Susan asked.
"Hello, Susan. Do you know where Alex is?" Vanessa asked.
"Yes, I do," Susan replied.
"May I know where? I need to talk to him," Vanessa said hopefully.
"You may not. He asked me specifically not to tell you," Susan answered.
"I see…" Vanessa murmured. 'Even Susan is distant now,' she thought.
"Look, princess, I don't know what happened between you two, but I can guess you broke his trust or expectations. Those are hard to win back when it comes to Alex," Susan said.
She personally wanted Alex to keep a good relationship with the royalty, but she wouldn't betray him. Vanessa would have to earn it back.
Vanessa left the shop, where Marina approached her.
"It seems Susan is alone—Alex's sister is also gone," Marina said; she had scanned the area earlier.
That sparked something in Vanessa's memory.
"Say… do you know any scenic views in the capital?"
"I know plenty—from my dating years. Why?" Marina asked.
"I think he's doing what he did the first time we met. Remember?" Vanessa said.
"Ah! Painting," Marina recalled.
"Let's go check."
They spent hours searching, moving from one scenic spot to another; there were many.
Eventually, they reached a hill with a lone tree and a spectacular view of the mountainside, illuminated by the setting sun.
Two figures stood there: a young man still in his formal clothes, and a little girl with purple hair in a neat dress. They were painting peacefully.
Vanessa approached. Marina stayed back so as not to frighten the teen again.
"Hello, Alex," Vanessa called. "May we speak?"
Alex had noticed them long ago, but he didn't care—he didn't want to see them.
"There's nothing to talk about. Go away," he replied.
"I'll talk regardless. Are you sure you want your sister to hear this?" Vanessa asked with a different tone.
He clearly didn't like that approach, but it still made him put down his brush and walk to a more private area.
Once far enough, Alex said:
"Speak. What's so important that you'd go as far as blackmailing me? It better be good, or this will be the last time we ever talk."
Vanessa felt sweat slide down her neck. The future of their partnership rested on her next words.