"Young Miss, magisimula na po ang proceedings. Nandoon na ang lahat. Even the constable that badmouthed you three days ago is already there..."
This is it. The long wait is over. Tumayo ako at inayos ang suot na damit. This is our fourth day of staying here in Paleo Kingdom. Dalawang araw ng delayed ang kaso dahil na rin naging okupado ang Hari sa ibang bagay.
Hindi naman pwedeng iasa sa Reyna nito ang mga importanteng bagay katulad na lang ng pagresolba ng kaso dahil na hindi iyon sakop sa trabaho ng Reyna.
At isa pa, may nagaganap rin na gender inequality sa kaharian na ito. Even if she is the queen, she is not authorized to take an action. She can't freely voice out her thoughts. She always abide to his King. How folish right? And I wanna change that rule, too.
I'll gonna show to everyone of them that women can act, think, and feel emotions, too. Hindi robot ang mga babae para hindi makaramdam ng emosyon at baliwalain na lang. Women emotions are valid, too!
"And young miss, what are you wearing po? Iyan na po ba yung mga telang binili ko? Tinahi mo pong ganiyan? Panlalaki po 'yan!"
Tinawanan ko siya agad. Nasasabi niya iyan dahil hindi naman talaga nagsusuot ng slacks ang mga babae rito. It's for men to wear. But of course I am Jelliane Grace Andromeda and I can wear anything I want to wear even though it's inimical from their usual outfit. I don't care.
And what man is she talking about? It's unisex! I am wearing a black slacks right now to be partnered with my white sleeves and gray corporate attire jacket.
Alangan namang mag gown ako roon? I am going to be the defender! The witness! Tapos mag lo-long dress ako? No dear. I would not definitely do that.
Mabuti na lang talaga at nautusan ko si Jenna na bumili ng tela sa pamilihan para sa slacks at long sleeve ko. Minadali ko lang din na gawin ang sariling corporate attire jacket.
My straight long hair is been tucked in. Pinusod ko iyon para hindi sagabal sa mukha ko mamaya. I put light make up in my face too.
"It is a fashion Jenna and I'm more confident wearing these." I smiled at her. "And whose all are you talking about that already there inside the court room?"
"Duke Lynille your father is already there po. As usual po hinanap ka nito kaagad. Daanan mo raw po siya bago ka pumunta sa harapan..."
Tumango ako. "Alright."
"Archduke Heindrich Sebastian is also there po. I saw him. Tabi po sila ni Duke Lynille." I immediately stopped from walking. He's also there? Anong ginagawa ng tukmol iyon roon? Hindi naman siya invited! Tatawanan ako nito kapag nagkamali ako? Ts!
"Are you okay, Young Miss?" Tanong agad ni Jenna nang makita nitong huminto ako sa paglalakad.
Umiling ako rito. "Yes, Jenna. I'm okay. Continue talking."
Tumango naman ito. "Uh... Prince Johary, Prince Ejay, Prince George, Prince Diego... King Kyle Larson and his wife Queen Lira... the people that you want to protect po and lastly po the constable that you want to be punish, Young Miss."
Ngumisi ako. Present pala halos ang mga royalty. Hindi ko alam kung anong nakain nila at pumunta sa kasong ito. Gusto ba nilang makita kung paano ko nilalampaso ang mga masasamang tao kapag nasa harap ako ng batas? That is wish granted then.
Pumasok ako sa malaking court room ng palasyo. Maraming upuan sa loob. Five constable of Paleo Kingdom assist us there. Napunta sa akin ang atensyon ng lahat. Their jaw dropped looking at my outfit and they head to foot me like they know all of my sins.
"Look at her outfit. She's really an attention seeker woman."
"Sa birthday party ng prince natin nagsuot siya ng maiyag na damit. Ngayon naman ay panlalaki. Sira na ba ang ulo niya? Nilalabag niya ang nakasanayan nating mga kababaihan!"
"Nagising lang ito sa nangyaring aksidente at pakiramdam naman nito ay hawak na nito ang buong mundo. Nakakatawa."
"Pero aminin natin bagay sa kaniya ang suot niya. Kaaya-ayang tingnan at magaan sa mata."
I didn't mind their trashy comments. Bagkos ay pumunta ako sa kinaroroonan ng duke at marahan itong niyakap. Just like Jenna told me earlier, daanan ko raw ito.
Nagulat ang lahat sa ginawa ko but they cannot comment about it. I immediately smirked because of that. Takot lang nilang lahat sa duke.
"Good morning, Father. I'm pleased you are here." Payak akong ngumiti rito.
The Duke stood up and hugged me back. "Even if you don't asked my presence here. I still be here supporting your case, Rafaela."
"This will gonna be your first fight. Show them what you got. I'll be there at your back." Bulong niya sa tainga ko. Even Archduke Heindrich heard that that's why I caught him raising his eyebrows and glaring at me. What the fuck is wrong with him? First kiss niya lang ang kinuha hindi buong emperyo niya. Maka react akala mo diamond. Character lang naman sa loob ng libro!
"Thank you, Father." Payak akong ngumiti bago umayos ng tayo at binati ang archduke. "Greetings, Archduke Heindrich. Good morning..."
I heard Duke Lynille hissed because of my greetings but I didn't mind him. Parehas sila ng archduke may sakit sa ulo!
The Archduke pursed his lips. "Good morning, Lady Rafaela."
Nakasunod sa akin ang atensyon ng lahat. I even saw the four prince smiled at me and waved their hands a bit. Pumwesto agad ako salungat sa area ng mga kawal na kalaban ko sa kasong ito.
Yumukod ako sa Hari nang marating ang gitna ng court room. "Greetings, King Kyle Larson Bradenton. May you have wise and brilliant decision today. May truth rise and innocent people win."
Duke Lynille could only hide his laughed. Her daughter Rafaela is unpredictable and also cunning.
"G-Greetings, Lady Rafaela. You may rise." Sagot nito.
"Thank you, Your Highness..." Ngumiti ako rito bago umupo sa upuan na nakahanda sa akin sa harapan.
Bago sinimulan ang proceedings ay isa isa kaming nangako sa harapan ng lahat na ang sasabihin at lalabas lang sa bibig namin ay pawang katotohanan at katotohanan lamang.
"I am Seliesty Rafaela Francis, coming from the Kingdom of Grimaldi's will pledged that all I am going to say here in this court, in front of everyone is only a pure truth. I am not going to lie and will not be lying. For lying is a sin and harmful."
Pagharap ko sa lahat ay nakita ko agad ang mga kawawang mukha ng mga taong inakasuhan ng mga kawal ng Paleo Kingdom. I didn't even know if they already ate this morning. After this, I'll surely visit their town and their houses. I want to make sure that they will be going to live okay.
Bibigyan ko rin sila ng lupa para sakahan nila. Kung ayaw sila bigyan ng trabaho ng kaharian, then, I'll be providing them a stable job where they can earned and made profit.
"Alright. Now that everyone is here and both sides already said their pledged. We can now officially start the proceedings..." Tiningnan ng Hari ang Judge. "Your Magistrate Vile, let's start..."
Tumango ang hukom at naglakad papuntang gitna. May hawak itong papel. Nakasulat soon lahat ng mga ebidensya at pahayag ng mga witness kuno sa pangyayaring iyon. How bullshit. That's one sided. They never asked mine. Balak talaga nilang laruin ang kasong ito ha. As if I will let them win.
"According to this papers... Vice Captain Evansville and his team were busy practicing that time when two constable coming from the constable of Lady Seliesty Rafaela Francis who is the daughter of Duke Lynille Zyrex Francis approached them with panicked..."
"Is that right, Constable Debris?" Tanong ng hukom sa kasamahan ni Vice Captain Evansville.
"That's right, Your Magistrate Vile..."
"And then all of you followed the two constable of Lady Seliesty Rafaela throughout the way because you know that the Lady will be needing help. Am I right, Constable Debris?"
"T-That's also right, Your Magistrate Vile..."
Tumango ang hukom. "What happened after you came to the scene? What did you saw? Did the outlaw you are talking about hurt Lady Rafaela?"
"Yes, Magistrate Vile-"
Peke akong umubo at nagtaas ng kamay. "I'm asking for disapprobation, Your Magistrate." Because they are clearly lying!
Nalipat sa akin ang mukha ng hukom nila bago umiling. "Later, Lady Rafaela. Let me end this inquisition with the other team first."
What the heck? That's not fair! I saw Vice Captain Evansville laughed at me. Sige lang ngumisi ka lang ngayon. Dahil mamaya hindi mo na iyan magagawa pa.
"I saw the remaining eight constable of Lady Seliesty Rafaela fighting with those outlaw..." Sagot ni Constable Debris.
Tama naman siya roon... ang mali niya lang ay noong dumating sila ay pinapakain ko na ang kawawang taong inaakusahan nilang mga bandido ngayon. I don't know why they can still spout lies even though they already pledged earlier in front of everyone.
"I see." Tumango ang hukom bago nilipat ang tingin sa akin. "Now let us listen to the side of Lady Rafaela..."
"Did constable Debris under the command of Vice Captain Evansville was saying the truth and only the truth, Lady Rafaela?"
Mariin akong umiling bago tiningnan ang kinaroroonan ng kawal ngayon. He is now bowing his head like he is sorry and guilty.
"No your magistrate... Constable Debris is lying..." May diin sa bawat salitang pinapakawalan ko.
"N-No! You are the one who lied, Lady Rafaela. We clearly saw what happened on that day! They hurt you!" Malakas na sabi ni Vice Captain Evansville. Pati ang mga taong nanonood sa proceedings ay nagulat sa reaction nito. Matagal na nilang kilala ang Vice Captain at hindi ito sumisigaw dahil palagi itong kalmado kapag humaharap sa kanila.
Tumaas ang kilay ko. "Did the magistrate let you speak? See? That's how stupid you are. You don't even know and follow the rules!"
"Hah! That's my daughter Rafaela!" Saad ng duke sa isip nito. He's smirking right now watching his daughter in front fighting for the said case.
Natigilan ang Vice Captain at natahimik.
"Let me finish talking, Vice Captain Evansville. How about that? Hmm?" Ngisi ko.
"Go on, Lady Rafaela..." Sabi ng hukom.
"As I said earlier, Constable Debris is lying. As a matter of fact they didn't laid any single hit on me. You can see I don't have bruises in my body. Because that's the truth, Your Magistrate. They didn't hurt me. Not even touching the last tip of my hair."
Tumango ang hukom. "You have a point since you are in the scene that time and your carriage is the one they are after..."
"But Lady Rafaela, according to our witness, Constable Debris, Vice Captain Evansville and his team, they highlighted that the people blocked your carriage that day really assailed you..."
"Now the real question is, do you have evidences that shows that those people blocked your carriage on your way to Paleo Kingdom didn't harmed or sorbed you, Lady Rafaela?"
Kumunot ang noo ko. "Well my personal maid Jenna is also there when that thing happened, Your Magistrate. She can be my witness." Mahinahon kong sagot.
"Aside from your personal maid, Lady Rafaela. Do you have certain person that can testify you being unharmed that day?"
Kumuyom ang kamao ko. Bawal si Jenna maging witness ko pero yung kawal na under ni Vice Captain Evansville ay pwedeng magsalita laban sa akin? That's interesting then.
Natigilan ako nang sabay na nagtaas ng kamay ang apat na prinsipe. Lumiit ang tingin ng Hari nang makita ang anak niyang nagtataas rin ng kamay.
"We can testify, Your Magistrate..." Sabay na sabi nilang apat.
"If you let me, Your Magistrate. I can be their spokesperson." Sabay turo ni Prince Johary sa tatlo pang prinsipe.
Matagal bago nakasagot ang hukom. "Alright, Prince Johary. But before that, let me ask you few questions first."
Tumango naman ang prinsipe.
"Where are you during the scene? Nandoon ka rin ba sa pangyayaring iyon? That is why you are willing to be the witness of Lady Rafaela's side?"
"No. Wala ako sa pangyayaring iyon, Your Magistrate..." Sagot ng prinsipe dahilan para umingay ang loob ng court room at nagbigay ng kaniya-kaniyang opinyon ang mga tao.
"Then you are not qualified to testify, Prince Johary. If you will only spout lies-"
"That night... I danced Lady Rafaela that night... at the birthday party of my brother Prince Jacob and I see no bruises in her..." Natigilan naman roon ang hukom.
"Proceed in front, Son. Let us hear your side." Utos ng Hari sa kaniyang anak.
Tumayo si Prince Johary at naglakad papunta sa direksyon ko. He's smiling gently at me but the moment he was about to face everyone, his expression changed. From being gentle to serious.
"Every noble that attend to the birthday celebration of my brother Jacob can say that Lady Rafaela enter the palace untouched. As a matter of fact, she's very beautiful that night. Since she is wearing sexy dress..." Paunang salita ng prinsipe.
"Everyone can also testify that we danced Lady Rafaela that night. Even my father, the king, can testify that. My friend Prince Diego of Grimaldi's Kingdom, Prince George of Mallace Kingdom, and Prince Ejay of Machuca Kingdom danced also Lady Rafaela that night and we didn't see any scratches or bruises in her body."
"Even Archduke Heindrich can also testify the innocence of those people..." Natahimik ang lahat sa huling sinabi ni Prince Johary.
Pekeng umubo ang hukom. "Thank you for that, Prince Johary. You can now get back to sit."
"Of course I will." Tumango ang prinsipe at bumalik sa upuan nito. He's now smirking like he know I'm winning the case.
"Now that it's settled Your Magistrate, can we proceed now to what really happened that day? I'll be giving my point of view."
Tumango ang Hari. "Go on, Lady Rafaela. You have my permission."
"First thing first, before things happen, I was sleeping inside our carriage when Jenna my personal maid... wake me up. She said that there are outlaws blocking our way and our constable were fighting them..."
"Of course as the owner of the carriage, I immediately looked at the situation outside, and there I saw the people who blocked our way were almost bones, King Kyle..." I smiled bitterly. "And you know what they did the very first time they saw me?"
Kumunot ang noo ng Hari at hindi alam ang sasabihin. Nakatitig ako ngayon sa mga mata nito. "They begged in front of me like I'm an angel that will save them from everything that is hunting them, King Kyle." His jaw clenched after I said that.
"That people they are pointing are not even an outlaw. Not even a rebel. Those are poor people who comes from your kingdom. I don't care if you owned the people inside your kingdom. I also don't care how you run the kingdom and your people as long as it is abiding with respect and courtesy. What I care all about is that you should take care of them. Each of them."
"From the vendors in the market that worked very hard everyday just to have money to buy food and bring to their every family that is waiting for them hungrily! All the businesses man, the maids, and all the civilian people out there who don't even worked in the palace and don't have benefits to get at all but they paid taxes and put efforts. They don't even have pride. They are not boastful. Because if they are, then I'll tell you, they will start questioning your strength, your capability in handling this kingdom."
"I know as the King that rules everyone... you have a very tiring job, King Kyle. I understand your efforts. I understand your pain and hardwork. What I don't understand is that you are very slow to take action... I'm not sorry for what I said."
"And I hope you understand it... Loud and clear. Don't belittle me because I am a woman. Without us, this world can't be beautiful and colorful as it is." Nanatili pa rin akong nakatitig sa mga mata nito.
"How can she talked to the King like that?"
"She's very vulgar and berimed! Saying the name of the king like nothing!"
"Her appearance changed but her attitude became more severe."
Hindi ako nakinig sa mga komento nila. They can comment everything they want to comment and I can also say what I want to say. If I am in the right way, why would I back out right? Hindi ako pwedeng maging abogado kapag ginawa ko iyon. I am not a coward for damn sake.
"Do you have any evidences that says they are not an outlaw, Lady Rafaela?" Asked by Vice Captain Evansville. Buhay pa pala ito? "Wala hindi ba? You didn't even survey their past. Hindi mo alam sa past life nila ay mga rebelde ito."
What the fuck he is saying? Sira na nga yata ang ulo niya. Bakit niya ba pinagdidiinan na masama ang mga taong iyon? Kung ipagpapatuloy niya pa ito ay talagang hindi na ako maaawa sa kaniya at ipapakulong ko na siya.
Tumawa ako. "As I said yesterday Vice Captain Evansville, innocent until proven guilty. Why? Do you have evidences about your claims?"
I smirked when he cannot even open his mouth because clearly he is just judging those people by their looks. But who are him to judged right? He is not a barrister! And even if he is a barrister, he cannot still judge right away for they follow judicial process and reviewing of evidences in court.
"You know what? You are really funny. I know you don't understand the situation well because you are not in their shoes, Vice Captain Evansville. I hate how your mind works... Mayroon ka nga noon pero hindi naman ginagamit ng tama. I don't usually judge because that's bad but right now, I will judge you as an idiot person, Vice Captain Evansville."
Umawang ang bibig nito sa sinabi ko. I don't know why but I heard the laughed of the archduke. His cold laughed... I know it's him.
"Buto at balat na nga ang mga taong iyon dahil walang makain, gagawan mo pa ng kwento. If those people are really rebels and really an outlaw then they must not be walking like a dead people right now!" Stupido! "Look at their faces!" Turo ko sa mukha ng mga kawawang taong pinagbibintangan niyang bandido. "You don't know what happened and how life so hard to them. Yet you are accusing them without any inquisition? Because of what? Because of your pride. You want to follow your instinct. See? How bad and lame person you are, Vice Captain Evansville." I'm so done with his stupidness!
Bumalik ang tingin ko sa Hari. "I hope you'll be hearing also the side of those poor people, Your Highness. I trust your leadership." Don't fail your people.
Tumayo ang Hari at hinarap ako. "Since you are the daughter of Duke Lynille Zyrex Francis, the top 1 barrister of the empire, I will give those poor people a chance to explain their selves in front of me... in front of the people of Paleo Kingdom..."
I bowed my head to him slightly. "Thank you, Your Highness."
"As per to the group of Vice Captain Evansville, Lady Rafaela will be the one to decide what will happen to all of you. I cannot do anything about it. I trusted you, Vice Captain. You became one of my trusted companion... but this case is too much to cope up for you. Imputation is bad and I don't tolerate it. Dinamay mo pa ang mga kasamahan mo sa pagiging makasarili mo."
"I-I am sorry... Your Highness, Lady Rafaela. Please forgive me... Forgive us..." Paghingi ng paumanhin ni Vice Captain Evansville.
Lumuhod ito habang nagmamakaawa. Ang ganda sanang tingnan. Gusto ko sana siyang tawanan pero alam kong mali iyon. Marahan akong naglakad patungo sa direksyon niya at hinawakan ang balikat niya para hilahin siya patayo. Nagulat naman ito sa ginawa ko pati na rin ang mga taong nanonood.
"Lady Rafaela, what are you doing? He deserved that!" Narinig kong sinabi iyon ni Prince Johary pero hindi ko ito pinansin.
"I'm not going to put you on jail and don't apologize to me. Remember our deal? You'll going to respect everyone now. Even the commoner, Vice Captain Evansville..."
"Since Lady Rafaela made her decision, Vice Captain Evansville and his team will be free from getting life imprisonment..." Saad ng Hari.
Bumuhos ang luha ni Vice Captain Evansville. "I-I promised, Lady Rafaela." Tugon nito. "I promised!"
"A promise is a promise, Vice Captain Evansville. Because the next time this will happen again, I gonna stop myself from forgiving..."
Tipid akong ngumiti rito. "You know what to do. Say sorry to everyone you bother, Vice Captain Evansville. I'll go ahead. This case is done."
Hindi pa ako tuluyang nakalapit sa pwesto ng mga kawawang tao ay dinumog na nila ako. Their happy tears and sweet laughed made my heart overwhelmed.
"L-Lady Rafaela... Niligtas mo ang buhay namin... Maraming Salamat!"
I smiled at the old man. "I just did the right thing, Sir. Above all that, you are welcome."
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