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“You stand on trial for the accusation of attempt of robbery and assault charges. How do you plead?”
Neuvillette’s voice echoed through the courtroom, and I stood there speechless for the moment as this development happened in a span of 2 days. I squared my shoulders and cleared my throat, and with a loud voice, I said my piece, as it was taking all of my will to not just hide right now.
“Not guilty!” my squeaky voice echoed through the courtroom.
Murmurs and hushed whispers filled the room, as the plaintiff huffed in her corner, glaring at me.
“Lies! I saw you try to mug me and my friend!” she yelled, which made the crowd even more excited.
I gripped the railing, my eyes glanced over to the chief justice. Look at him, he was pretty to look at. How I got into this, I wasn’t sure how it even happened; but it had been going on for months now, without a hitch, until now. As I looked around, everyone was looking between me and this random girl accusing me. I’ve seen her around, but nothing really stuck to who she actually was.
“Will the plaintiff provide the evidence of their supposed crime?” Neuvillette’s voice said as he turned to her. I noticed he had one of his hands behind his back, fiddling with the ribbon that tied his hair.
“Neuvillette is nervous. Oh no…” I thought to myself, as his back was turned to me.
“This photo that was taken with a kamera of the crime!” she shouted while holding up a small photo.
I looked confused, as everyone was now talking amongst themselves about the evidence. It wasn’t going to stick, but they didn’t know that. But it will come to light soon enough, as it’s going to be a major plot twist. The officers got the photo and gave it to Neuvillette.
“When was this photo taken?” he asked and she grinned while looking at me.
“Two days ago!” she said in full confidence.
“Impossible. This photo wouldn’t be substantial evidence,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone.
I looked down just as he turned to me, as I didn’t want to meet his gaze right now. It was going to come out today, as much as I don’t want it to. The crowd was then at the edge of their seats, as the chief justice wasn’t one to just say that out of the blue. I looked at Miss Furina, and she was looking over the balcony with a grin as she looked at me with a glint in her eyes.
“She either is excited at what’s going to happen or she has a theory,” I thought to myself as I looked down at the crowd, while they chatted amongst themselves while looking between me and the accuser.
“Chief justice! What exactly is your reasoning for such a statement?” Furina said as she stared at him from her seat.
When he looked back at me, I shook my head violently, which then caused much louder chatter.
“The defendant couldn’t have done such a crime…for they were with me all day and all night two days ago,” he said in his usual authoritative tone, while a trial was going on.
The silence was loud in the courtroom; there wasn’t a sound to be made, no whisper, nothing. It was as if time had stopped. I wish time had stopped, so I could have enough time to run away and hide. I was hoping with everything I had, but luck was not on my side. The courtroom was suddenly filled with people yelling and trying to ask me questions. I ended up sinking behind the railing and sitting there.
“IS IT TRUE YOU’RE DATING CHIEF JUSTICE?! HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN GOING ON?! SHE’S THE ONE HE DANCED WITH AT THE FESTIVAL A WHILE BACK! ARE YOU GOING TO BE MAKING AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT?!” were the few things I heard.
“I want to go home!” I said as I covered my face with my hands.
“Order in the courtroom!” Neuvillette's voice echoed as he struck the ground with his cane.
“Back to your seats everyone!” the officers’ voices said, to which I then peeked over, and saw everyone being escorted to their seats once more.
“Personal questions will not be answered while a trial is being held.” Neuvillettes voice said, but I could tell, the tips of his ears were turning pink.
I looked across to the other balcony, and the girl who was accusing me had a dumbfounded expression. The excited chatter of the audience was hushed as he continued.
“With the defendant having a secure alibi, this trial has no further need to continue,” he said, but Furina wasn’t having it.
“Chief Justice! The good people of Fontaine deserve to know how it all happened!” she said as she looked between me and him with a cat-like grin.
“Kill me now,” I whined as I sunk back to my knees.
“My private life will remain as such. Private,” he said while turning away. When I looked over the railing once again, before he disappeared, I could see the tip of his ears were a bright pink.
Suddenly a hand was on my shoulder and I squeaked. when I looked an officer was there.
“Chief Justice Neuvillette has an escort for you miss. Please follow me,” they said quietly and I nodded while standing up and following them. I made it out just in time as everyone was clamoring around the door.
“This way miss, Chief Justice Neuvillette has ordered us to take you straight to his office before letting out the audience,” they said and I nodded while holding my small purse to me.
The news didn’t get out yet; which was a good thing, as I was taken to his office. I did get some looks, but they were ignored until I was in the safety of the chief justice's office. After a while, I heard frantic talking, along with the officers telling people to go home. I sighed while sitting in the chair closest to his desk, and looked out the window. It was a sunny day, not the usual rain that happened during a trial, as mine was out of the ordinary.
The sound of the door opening and frantic questions filled the room until it was shut once more and the voices were muffled. I turned to see Neuvillette stride in, his expression an unreadable one, but his eyes held a different tone.
“Furina held you there until you told her something?” I asked and he nodded while standing next to me.
“I did not disclose anything, as this is between us. If you choose to leave, I will not blame you,” he said softly and my eyes widened while shaking my head.
“No! Of course not! It’s just not how I wanted it to happen, you know?” I said while looking up at him.
“I just wanted to spend our time together in peace like we have been…” my voice trailed off as I looked at my lap.
Neuvillette's hand came into my vision, and I looked up to him. I put my hand in his, as he pulled me up gently. The atmosphere between us was calm, as neither of us wanted to ruin it. I hesitantly reached my hand up, and placed it on his cheek, which he leaned into, kissing my palm. I felt my heart beat faster from the small gesture, as he looked back at me.
“I apologize for the trouble I have caused you. I also wanted our time together to be just between us until we had decided to make it known,” he says softly and I shake my head.
“Don’t apologize, please, it was bound to happen eventually,” I said quietly with a soft smile.
I watched his eyes flicker as I knew he was debating on saying something. Both my hands were holding his face gently, and he put his hands over mine.
“I will protect you, that is my promise to you,” he said to me and I nodded.
“I know you will. For now, can we just forget about it?” I asked and he nodded in response.
Neuvillette let go and walked to the gramophone that was recently put in his office, and I knew exactly what he was going to do; I smiled widely at him, as the soft music filled the office. Soon he came back over to me, and offered his hand,
“Will you honor me with a dance, miss?” he asked softly and I nodded with a quiet laugh.
“You don’t have to ask me twice,” I responded while putting my hand in his.
So for a short while, in the best way he knew how to distract me, Neuvillette held me close to him. The noise of the crowd outside was drowned out by the music; for now we’ll be in our own little world, just us two…