Novel Square
Chapter 195
Lucianne sat up and held her breath, as did everyone else. On the side, Greg seemed like he couldn't care less what happened to him but it did concern him that Lucianne looked worried. She shouldn't be under any stress given how hard the past few weeks had already been for her. He was only stealing momentary glances of her before but he was finding it difficult to look away now, until his cousin threw him a glare, 1
Greg rolled his eyes just to annoy his cousin one more time before reluctantly looking away. Lucianne felt Xandar's jealousy, so she pecked a quick kiss on his jawline to calm her beast. Xandar's face softened, and he closed his eyes to take a whiff of her hair, indulging in her scent. Judge Cook cleared his throat and continued reading the judgment, “By law, the Duke's act of poisoning the Duchess to render her infertile justifies invoking the punishment of death or etemal torture. And conspiring against the King, which enabled the perpetrators to establish the very corporation to siphon money from the government and for countless rogue attacks to be launched against our cousin species should subject him to, at the very least, solitary confinement, electrocution, whipping, a hefty fine, and even the stripping of his dukedom with the monarchy’s permission. However..."
His stem voice tumed a little gentle when he continued, “This court acknowledges that as much as the Duke is culpable for the crimes perpetrated against the government, monarchy and werewolves, this court must also acknowledge the fact that the said Duke had been instrumental in the successful prosecution of corrupt ministers, the founders and accomplices of Wu Bi Corporation, and also those who sought to harm and murder the Queen. As much as he is to be blamed for the lives that were lost, h e is also credited for the lives that were saved when he surrendered credible and reliable evidence and himself to the monarchy.”
Judge Cook was careful to not say that the evidence was surrendered to Lucianne in particular, being sensitive to the King’s temperament. Greg rolled his eyes again at the old man’s consideration for his cousin's feelings.
The judge continued, “The monarchy's recommendation for the said Duke is, in this court's very humble opinion, too punitive for an accused who has willingly offered more incriminating evidence than any accused person in history without asking for anything in return”
“The said Duke has also fully cooperated throughout the entire legal process, and had already returned the commissions received b y him from Wu Bi Corporation, which he kept in a separate bank account under an alias, as verified. He has also offered to pay the fine with revenue generated from his long-established stationery export business which has been verified to be legitimate, the fine of which is double of the stolen value. Taken together, this bench of judges has unanimously agreed to mitigate the sentencing imposed by the law.”
“Contrary to the monarchy’s recommendation of imposing two whips per week for a period of fifty years imprisonment, this bench finds that it is fair to impose only ten whips. Not ten whips per week but only ten whips in total. His imprisonment term shall be thirty years. The Duke may be released earlier, or placed under house arrest for good behaviour if and when such a time comes.”
Judge Cook placed the sheet of paper he held in his hand back on the bench table and said, “Crimes are taken seriously in the Court of Law. The violators shall be punished in order to protect the society at large. That being said, those who choose to come to the law by...admitting to their crimes shall be shown...an appropriate amount of mercy, depending on the severity of the crimes and the circumstances of each case. Our job as judges is to find the right balance, and after much deliberation, this is our decision.”
Judge Cook stood, and the other judges followed suit, leaving the courtroom through the side door which they entered from.
Lucianne was relieved that they went easy on Greg. Annie was satisfied, too. Their mates, on the other hand, were still in the midst of adjusting that this wasn't one of Greg's tricks, and that he helped them, really helped them, with no strings attached this time,
Xandar unceremoniously buried his face in Lucianne’s neck, greedily taking in her scent as Greg stole one more glance of Lucianne when he was being escorted out by a policeman.
Disregarding all the growls being thrown her way, Kelissa was screaming like a madwoman on her way out, shouting about how everyone would regret taking those pictures of her and reporting on the case, that she would “come back and make you all pay!". She also kept repeating that when she returned as their Queen one day, they would regret prosecuting her.
When she was finally out of sight, Christian muttered, “Psychotic, delusional b*tch.”
Xandar's lips trailed up Lucianne’s side profile, and stopped at the top of her head, where he pecked a kiss and said, “The...podcasts in her confinement cell ought to help with the craziness.”
Lucianne narrowed her eyes, and questioned, “That's your choice of word, Xandar? Podcasts? And what do you mean “help with the craziness'? She's going to be driven more insane than she already is, darling.”
Christian chuckled at her response to his cousin, and Xandar met his mate's annoyed gaze before he uttered, “Then the next step would be to transfer her to a mental asylum, sweetheart. I'd say we're right on track.”Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.
Lucianne shook her head and got up because it was time to leave the courtroom. She then muttered, “Indecent beast.” Her body was immediately spun around, and before Xandar’s lips crashed on hers, her fingers came between them and pressed on his lips as she whispered, “MY indecent beast.” Xandar kissed her fingers and declared, “Always.” A peck on her forehead, and he continued, “And forever.”