I Favor the Villainess

"Everyone be quiet. We'll start the trial with this."

The elderly judge strictly declared the hearing open.

This is a court in the corner of the imperial room.

This is where the trial of Joel begins.

Lady Claire and I are present at this trial as witnesses on the defendant's side.

Even when it comes to trials, it is of course not like what is happening in Japan in the twenty-first century.

It is barely the same thing to be done according to the law, but that judgment says something with a greater testimony to the presiding judge than objectivity.

In addition, as a general rule, the defendant side is unfavourable and the accusation side is often advantageous.

I thought this neighborhood was weirdly prehistoric.

By the way, Your Honor is a clergyman seconded by the Spirit Church.

The Spirit Church also plays a role in justice in this world.

There's also an audience around, watching where the trial goes.

There are no hearing seats, everyone stands by.

"Then speak from the plaintiff's side"

"Yes."

A man sitting opposite us replied and stood up.

I guess he's a lawyer.

Middle-meat middle back with no features in the outfit, but its sharp eye gives the impression of a doer.

The attorney on the other side was the woman next door - speaking to Berta about something before letting her stand on the stand.

"Berta-Barquet, who is there, was assaulted by defendant Joel Santana. The incident occurred in the history of the Empire."

Lawyers spoke well from their point of view of the revelations about the case from the plaintiff's seat.

Cross voices and gestures to appeal to the presiding judge about how unwavering their claims are.

Boulders should be called experts.

I'm used to it.

The meeting also seemed perfect, and when the statement of the case became a rambling part, Berta on the stand showed in tears.

"With the above facts, I assure you that the accused's guilt in this case is unshakeable."

"Hmm..."

The judge nodded with a thoughtful face.

I have trouble even if I am convinced of this.

"Then I will allow the defendant to speak"

"Yes."

A lawyer on this side replied, and Joel stood on the stand.

"There is only circumstantial evidence on the part of the accuser. In the first place, this case is baseless of anything but plaintiff's testimony"

"Objection"

The attorney on the accusation side has blocked it.

"There are numerous traumas to the accuser's body. The wounds are deep and some of them are very disgraceful to women. No reason to lie."

"I acknowledge the objection. I believe there is a certain amount of persuasion in the charges."

The judge has admitted what the accuser said.

This is a bad flow.

"But, Your Honor! The place where the case was supposedly held is indoors, no witnesses, and it is all too abusive to determine the accused guilty solely of testimony on the part of the accusation!

Lawyers on this side are close to national lawyers in twenty-first century terms.

If you can't find the lawyer you're looking for, you'll be seconded by the state.

I don't think he's incompetent, but he would naturally be incompetent with a lawyer who pays a lot of money to be hired.

"Then it is fine if the defendant rebuts. Where and what was the defendant doing at the time of the case?

"Refuse to testify"

Yoel on the stand says short.

An attorney on the plaintiff's side chuckled at the answer.

"Defendant, do you waive the opportunity to rebut? Then I'll have to find you guilty."

"I am not guilty. But I can't answer that question."

"... you're in trouble"

Even now, Joel cannot be held guilty because the judge is tolerant.

I wish it was because I happened to be this guy, but if this is the short-minded guy, it's not weird that Joel's guilt has been established.

"Your Honor, allow the witness to speak."

I raised my hand myself and asked permission to speak.

"What about you?

"It's Yoel and his hometown, and it's what he teaches"

"Hmmm......, fine. Allow me to speak."

"Thank you"

I stood up and looked at Yoel.

He is pointing his gaze at us with no temperature.

"Yoel, I found out where and what you were doing at the time of the incident. You were at her home testifying that Mr. Berta was raped at the time of the incident. Isn't that right?

The audience bothered with my remarks.

"Wait. You're a witness to Yoel-Santana's defense, aren't you?

Your Honor asks me to be sure.

"Yes, definitely"

"... I won't be a little inconsiderate, but fine. Keep going."

"Yes."

I continued by shifting my gaze from Yoel to Berta.

"Mr. Berta worked in a liquor store, while he did another job. I didn't seem to make it public..."

"Objection. It's unfounded."

"I have a basis. Dear Claire."

Master Claire stood up to my words and showed me some paperwork.

"These are a compilation of the testimonies of the people who received the (...) things (...) from Berta. I submit these as evidence."

Lady Claire gave the papers to the presiding judge.

"They all belong to stage actors and stage actresses. What's the request... makeup?

"Yes, Mr. Berta has a side as a makeup artist."

Berta's face was distorted by what I said.

I touched on it a little before when I mentioned the culinary situation of the Empire, but there is a trend in the Empire to make beauty and luxury bad.

Therefore, even if makeup is a woman's preference, it tends to be long overdue to publicly declare that it will be made into a professional business.

No wonder Berta wants to hide it.

"Mr. Berta is famous for his muscles as a well-armed makeup artist, he said. And Joel went to see that famous makeup artist without knowing it was her. Isn't it?

……

Joel remains silent.

"I'm not sure. How does that relate to the next case? After all, did Joel go to see Berta? Then there is nothing more and more suspicious. What do you want to say?

Your Honor is confused.

It won't even be possible.

Because what we might talk about from now on will not be understood by the general public very well.

"Yoel, can I talk to you from here? I want to respect your dignity. If you're guilty of this dishonorable case and you want to keep it all a secret, I won't say anything more."

……

"If you continue to testify like this, I'm sure you won't be able to be in the Empire either way. So I can't say I can't. Just..."

I said, staring firmly at Yoel.

"I just want you to let me just say this. I don't want you to suffer this sin of wet clothes, and I'm prepared to take what you're trying to hide. I wanna be bothered with you."

……

Joel's face was distorted in sorrow.

I guess he had a grid, too.

Naturally, given the circumstances he has.

I was patient and waited for his statement.

"... go on"

"... ok"

Joel made up his mind.

Only after that will I do everything in my power to clear Yoel's suspicions.

"Yoel went to Mr. Berta's house to see her as a makeup artist, as I said earlier"

"So why not? I guess he's not a stage actor, is he?

"Yeah, no. She just wanted her makeup on normally."

I said as everyone gave a look of incomprehension.

"Yoel is a woman."