Of course, she expected him to scold her with something like ‘Stop that, what are you doing?’ But Helix hesitated for a moment as he looked down at her.

That awkward and shy silence suddenly made her heart flutter. Leah carefully asked while watching his reaction.

“…Can I recharge now?”

“…Aren’t you too good at seizing opportunities.”

Though his tone sounded gruff, it clearly granted permission. She grinned broadly and spread her arms.

“Then I should quick-charge at times like this.”

Leah burrowed into Helix’s chest and hugged him tightly.

Thump thump thump, she could hear his heartbeat. She felt her mind, which had tangled with all sorts of worries and sympathy for Helix, starting to settle. She thought as she nuzzled her cheek against his warm embrace.

She thought she’d stay up all night, unable to sleep.

Instead, she never expected it to become a night where she grew closer to Helix and comforted him. The scent of Helix, reminiscent of the northern forests, tickled her nose.

‘I guess this is a blessing in disguise.’

Leah, lost in thought, blinked rapidly.

‘Wait… a blessing in disguise?’

***

A blessing in disguise.

When misfortune turns into fortune.

‘That’s it!’

Leah finally felt she had found a clue. As soon as breakfast finished, she gathered Helix and her family.

Leah solemnly declared.

“Mom, Dad, brothers. This is an opportunity. We should turn this trial into an opportunity for our side.”

“Opportunity? What kind of opportunity?”

“An opportunity to turn public opinion around!”

She explained.

“In the end, the essence of this trial is a power struggle.”

“Not the disappearance of Baron Durford and Lady Seigan?”

“If finding their son and daughter were their only goal, they would conduct a more thorough investigation rather than holding a trial.”

Leah cut in coldly and explained.

“The reason they’re going as far as holding a trial is this. Because our Piert Ducal Family thrives while remaining neutral, neither aligned with the royal faction nor the noble faction, they want to bring us down.”

Even if the siblings’ innocence gets proven in this trial, the Piert Ducal Family won’t continue to thrive as they have until now.

Because through this trial, the people of Peiren will clearly know.

That no matter how successful the Piert Ducal Family appears, there exist limits. That Grand Duke Calosi and the noble forces following him can threaten and break them whenever they want.

“Everyone will think we can’t win against the Oken Empire forces behind Grand Duke Calosi.”

It was a reasonable opinion. Leah spoke to her silent family.

“That’s why we need to make this trial a decisive battle.”

Her family expressed puzzlement at her words.

“A decisive battle?”

“Are you saying we should prepare well for the trial?”

“No. Instead of focusing on the trial itself, we need to put on a show during the trial.”

A show?

Her family’s expressions grew even more confused. Leah said.

“Even if we win by proving our siblings’ innocence, that’s just an empty victory. The real battle that will determine this power struggle involves public opinion.”

“Public opinion?”

“Yes.”

She nodded and explained.

“Why is this trial happening in the first place? Because we siblings became the subjects of malicious rumors.”

“That’s right.”

“Why did those malicious rumors arise?”

“Count Trow must have definitely planned this.”

“No, little brother.”

Leah looked at Ruyan and said.

“Count Trow probably did create the malicious rumors. But the social circles believed and spread them. Even if we win at the trial, nothing will change if the social circles don’t believe us.”

With memories of her previous life and having suffered as Peirlily, Leah knew well. This wasn’t something that pleading innocence alone could resolve.

“We need to change the flow of public opinion. Not just that we’re innocent, but we need to clearly show that ‘Piert is innocent and strong, and always ready to knock down anyone who challenges us.'”

They needed to handle this in a much more complex, meticulous, and bold way. Like a celebrity, entertainment agency, and law firm dealing with unfair rumors!

“We need to move in at least three teams.”

Team 1. The falsely accused pleads their innocence.

Simultaneously, Team 2 handles public opinion manipulation by bringing out more interesting cards to flip the situation.

Finally, Team 3, holding the sword handle, will show off their information and power while thoroughly shaking down the opposition!

‘Taste the public opinion battle of capitalism, you bastards!’

Grinding her teeth inwardly, Leah said to Ruyan.

“So Team 1, little brother, first quickly get rid of that sleep magic, and practice looking wronged.”

“Looking wronged?”

Ruyan’s face showed he had no idea how to do that. Having never experienced being wronged in his life, he’d never had occasion to look wronged.

Leah shook her head and said.

“Do it with the determination to let the world know of your injustice.”

“Do we really need to use such methods? A knight should speak with his sword, there’s no need for acting…”

“This brother still has no sense of crisis.”

Her voice turned sharp.

“Brother. The honor of our Piert family and the next fifty years ride on this trial. Do you want to go around hearing people say ‘What’s there to see in the Piert Ducal Family besides their money and the siblings’ pretty faces? They can’t even move when Grand Duke Calosi clears his throat’?”

“Are you crazy? I’ll kill them!”

“That’s why do as I say. Practice looking wronged.”

For the first time in his life, Ruyan felt intimidated by his younger sister.

“…F-fine, I’ll do it.”

While he staggered in shock and mulled over her words, she turned to Rikeil and the Duke and Duchess.

“Please take charge of Team 3 and gather whatever weaknesses you can find on Count Trow’s family. I’ll prepare Team 2’s public opinion operation. We can discuss with Helix’s contact from the dark guild.”

“…Alright.”

Though initially shocked by their daughter’s unfamiliar side, the Duke and Duchess soon recalled Leah’s childhood.

‘Mom, Dad. I simply cannot die like this.’

‘With money and effort! Even if we can’t buy health, we can buy life, right?’

The couple’s eyes grew distant.

‘Come to think of it… we forgot because she always appeared bright and cheerful despite being sick. Our daughter was special even as a child.’

Having adjusted to reality, the Duke and Duchess nodded enthusiastically.

“We already have quite a collection of material on Count Trow’s weaknesses.”

“That’s perfect. We need to use everything. If necessary, I could even announce that I’m a mage…”

“That’s not possible.”

Helix, who had been listening quietly, cut in.

“Leah, you’re still not free from the Dragon’s mana master. If you announce that you’re a mage and Prince Archaik tries to control you, it could lead to even bigger misunderstandings.”

“…That’s certainly true.”

Leah deflated slightly in fear. Helix looked at her and said bluntly.

“If you need something to use, how about seeking cooperation from Prince Patrick?”

The ducal family members looked at him.

“From the Prince?”

Helix nodded.

“For some reason, Prince Patrick seemed weak to Ruyan.”

“That’s because I’m the kingdom’s greatest swordsman and the second son of the Piert family.”

Though Ruyan spoke with apparent obviousness, Helix shook his head.

“No. It differed from that. He behaved like someone with a debt of conscience…”

A debt of conscience.

That phrase rang a bell. Leah turned to Ruyan.

“Little brother, was the Prince there during the tournament?”

“Huh? Oh… yes, he was!”

Her face brightened. Leah put her hand on Ruyan’s shoulder.

“Little brother, I may not be able to help as a mage, but…”

Her blue eyes flashed brightly. Ruyan somehow felt a bit scared of his sister.

“…this time I’ll support you properly! Just trust me!”

***

A few days later. A special trial took place at the royal Fenella Hall.

“So you’re saying Peirlily instigated Lord Ruyan Piert to kill Peirose and Baron Durford?”

“Listen, they’re not dead, they’re missing.”

“Come on, they’re holding a trial and everything, doesn’t that mean they’re dead?”

A missing royal figure and a noble from a prestigious family rumored to be the culprit.

Moreover, the alleged motive stemmed from the War of Roses and Lilies – it truly created a fascinating scandal. People flocked like clouds to watch the trial.

“It’s obvious. Everyone and their cat knows that Ruyan Piert devotes himself to Peirlily. He must not have been able to stand seeing Peirlily losing to Peirose.”

“But to do that to a royal figure! He really fears nothing.”

It seemed all eyes and ears in the capital focused here.

The situation inside Fenella Hall mirrored this interest. The nobles who had been lucky enough to get viewing permits whispered behind their fans and beards with flushed faces.

“Has Ruyan Piert still not arrived?”

“The ducal family’s carriage arrived earlier, but only Peirlily got out.”

“My goodness. Not even the young duke came, just Peirlily?”

The nobles exchanged glances.

“They must be taking this matter lightly.”

“How arrogant indeed.”

They watched Leah walk to the defendant’s seat.

Sitting on the defendant’s side under the shower of gazes, she maintained a calm demeanor. Next to her sat the cold-looking silver-haired beauty.

“Oh my, isn’t that the handsome man who was rumored before?”

“To bring her lover to this sacred trial that will determine her guilt… Even if she’s young, isn’t she completely lacking in discretion?”

The nobles’ gazes moved back and forth between the two sides comparatively.

In contrast, Grand Duke Calosi himself appeared on Baron Durford’s side.

Grand Duke Calosi sat in the plaintiff’s seat wearing dark gray clothes with a grief-stricken expression. His face showed both the dignity befitting the leader of the noble faction and the heartbreaking feelings of a father who had lost his son.

People unconsciously looked at the Grand Duke with sympathetic eyes.

‘They say you can’t control how your children turn out.’

‘What trouble this person who lacks nothing has to go through because of his worthless child.’

‘Even if Baron Durford was somewhat worthless, he didn’t deserve to die.’

Amid the murmuring, someone asked.

“By the way, where is Duke Seigan?”