The King's Mistress

Chapter 143: Turning Point

A quick overview of everyone gathered in the hall gave Sierra all the answers she needed. Her strategy was working. The guidance Vy had given her put her in the right direction.

She was going to win this case.

As the conversation and chatter amongst the spectator grew louder and louder, the judge hit the gavel on the sound block once more. Everyone simmered down soon after.

Sierra continued to defend herself. She asked that the assassin’s last words were not be used as evidence as there was no way of proving that it was the truth. After making her closing statements, Sierra finished what she had to say and took a seat.

By this time, the session had been going on for a while and everyone was getting restless. As such, Lord Wimbly, the judge, called for a break. As soon as it was called, Sierra watched as he got out of his seat and was immediately pulled into a conversation with King Alistair and a few others she did not recognize.

Sierra glanced over to her friends amongst the spectators. The smiles on their faces brought her some comfort. She craned her neck to look for Ida, finally spotting her at the back of the hall. She owed Ida her life.

"I need to thank her properly," she whispered to herself.

Sierra turned her attention back to the front of the throne room. The conversation between King Alistair, the judge, and the others was beginning to worry her. She had a bad feeling about it, especially after seeing the look on Alistair’s face.

She did not know if her eyes were playing tricks on her, but it seemed as if he was avoiding her since his expression grew darker. Sierra looked over to where Queen Roxine was. The look on her face was darkened too. She was not part of the conversation, but she too was nervously looking over at the group of men having the discussion.

’What could it be...’ she wondered to herself as she looked on.

It did not take long for her to shift her focus onto Princess Agnes. The princess was incapable of managing her emotions most of the time and Sierra had a hunch that the discussion might have something to do with her.

Sure enough, there was a wide menacing grin on Agnes’ face as she looked back at Sierra.

The sound of the gavel against the sound block brought Sierra out of her thoughts. Lord Wimbly was seated again and so was King Alistair. He leaned over to whisper something to Queen Roxine, and both of them looked at each other for a moment in what could only be described as despair. ƒгeewebnovёl.com

"Order, order!" Lord Wimbly got everyone’s attention.

"The effects of the Book of Truth have been debated by the Royal Court. As it is not a recognized and studied artifact from Drakin, it will now be considered ineffective in today’s trial. As such, the statements provided under its influence are considered void."

The throne room erupted into conversation. Sierra was devastated. She slumped in her seat and looked down at the ground. Despite how bad it looked for her, she knew she could not give up hope just yet. If all else failed, Sierra was going to do things her way.

"Order! Order!" Lord Wimbly yelled as he hit the gavel against the sound block once more to get the spectators to settle down.

"Due to this development, Princess Sierra will be given more time to bring witnesses to the stand. But for now, the prosecutor can take the floor."

The prosecutor immediately got up to his feet and asked to call for another witness. As soon as the name was mentioned, Sierra was caught off guard. He had called for Victor, the archery instructor.

Sierra watched as the archery instructor took to the stand. She could not understand why he would be called to the witness stand, but it all soon became clear.

"Victor, do you know Princess Sierra?"

Victor glanced over to Sierra and nodded, "Yes, yes I do." ƒгeewebnovёl.com

The instructor looked calm and collected, but he also seemed to be avoiding her gaze. As it turned out, the prosecutor called forth the instructor to establish the prowess of her fighting skills.

Unbeknownst to Sierra, Victor, had observed her on multiple occasions while she trained. From his professional standpoint, she was highly skilled.

"Would you perhaps say, she’s skilled like an assassin?"

Sierra slammed her hands down on the table as she got up from her seat, "Objection! That’s insinuating an opinionated response!"

"Sustained, please rephrase your question, prosecutor."

The prosecutor nodded as he asked again, "Victor, is she skilled in combat?"

"Yes, she is. She’s better than the average soldier, unlike any princess I’ve ever heard or seen."

Sierra got the angle now. They were attempting to paint her as the prime suspect, the perfect person who could have pulled off the assassination attempt. They were pushing her into a corner and she did not like it one bit.

If the opinion of the judge is swayed, she would be doomed. She contemplated her options, what could she do now? Sierra closed her eyes. She drowned out all of the noise and chatter in the throne room in an attempt to clear her mind.

She recalled the three pieces of advice Vyrena had given to her.

One, always keep your calm, never let your opponent get the best of you.

Two, turn the situation to your advantage, get your opponent to spill the beans on their own. Especially if you don’t have enough supporting evidence.

Three, call the people you trust as your witnesses.

"You’ve blessed me with some wise words, Vyrena Blackfire," Sierra chuckled to herself.

Sierra had been hesitant to call her friends to the stand as her witnesses. She did not want to drag them down with her. But remembering what all of them had done for her, she knew this was the best chance she got.

When the prosecutor finished his segment, it was quickly handed off to Sierra. She got up to her feet with a new plan and a new strategy in mind. She called for her first witness.

She called for Myra.