Lin Yide lay sprawled listlessly on a rusty bed.
His thoughts, however, drifted back to the previous night – Furina's face, flushed with a delicate blush, her eyes filled with nervousness and shyness.
In that instant, his heartstrings were gently plucked, and he almost lost control, leaning in to kiss her.
Thankfully, that silly girl had taken a slight step back.
Otherwise, he really wouldn't have known how to end things.
However, the throbbing from that moment still lingered in his heart, making his mood even more complicated.
Just then, the door opened, and Old Dirk, along with the siblings Lynette and Lyney, entered with faces full of concern.
"Young Master, there's a lot of talk outside, saying that you murdered Miss Elina. Is… is this true?" Old Dirk's voice trembled slightly as he looked at Lin Yide with a complex expression.
Lin Yide took a deep breath, his gaze meeting Old Dirk's with determination. "I didn't do it. This is a carefully designed frame-up."
Hearing Lin Yide's answer, Old Dirk and the Lynette siblings' brows relaxed slightly, and the worry on their faces lessened a bit.
They knew Lin Yide's character well, knowing he wasn't the kind of person who would do such a thing.
Old Dirk paused, then asked, "Young Master, the trial is only a few days away. Is there anything you need us to do?"
Lin Yide pondered for a moment, then replied, "Bring me some books. It's so boring here."
Old Dirk couldn't help but say, "Young Master, aren't you worried about the case at all? The Steambird reports are so assertive, saying the evidence is irrefutable."
"Irrefutable?" Lin Yide chuckled upon hearing this. "They're a little too confident. Don't worry, I will win this trial."
His laughter revealed composure and confidence, as if he already had a plan in mind.
Old Dirk and the Lynette siblings looked at him, and the worry in their hearts dissipated a lot.
"Young Master, we always believe in you," Old Dirk said, a relieved smile on his face. "I'll go back and get you some books right away. I hope you can be a little more comfortable here."
With that, he turned and left the room with the Lynette siblings.
Not long after the three of them left, Ophelia and Ebel arrived in a hurry to visit Lin Yide.
Ophelia's expression was grave as soon as she met him. "Director Yide, your situation is extremely unfavorable. This incident was clearly carefully planned, and the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale is likely to make a very unfavorable ruling against you."
As an experienced ace detective, Ophelia keenly sensed that this was a frame-up case targeting Lin Yide.
However, she had not yet found conclusive evidence to defend Lin Yide.
Lin Yide waved his hand gently and said, "You don't need to worry too much about this case. I believe I will turn danger into safety. By the way, how is the investigation you were tasked with going?"
Ophelia replied, "It's basically clear. It was Baron Colton, the Dean of the Fontaine Research Institute, who incited those students."
Hearing this name, a hint of disgust flashed in Lin Yide's eyes. As expected, it was that disgusting noble.
"Ophelia, Ebel, I now ask you to investigate the nobles who fueled the flames in my case."
Ophelia and Ebel exchanged a glance and nodded firmly, indicating that they would definitely handle this matter well.
…
Time flew by, and after several days of waiting, the day of the trial for Lin Yide's murder of his former fiancée, the pregnant Elina, finally arrived.
On this day, the Opera Epiclese was packed, and the audience had gathered early, waiting for the start of this highly anticipated trial.
The atmosphere inside the opera house was unusually tense. The audience was buzzing with discussion, and most people firmly believed that Lin Yide was a cold-blooded killer. They hoped that Fontaine's laws would severely punish this criminal and seek justice for the deceased Elina.
But there were also a very few people who supported him because he had sought justice for them and found their poor daughters.
In a box on the second floor, Furina sat elegantly in a luxurious chair.
She wore an exquisite dress, her face adorned with light makeup, making her look both elegant and noble.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement and anticipation because she knew that this seemingly ironclad case was about to undergo a huge reversal. And the key figure in this reversal was herself!
Thinking of this, her joy bloomed like the bright spring sunshine, and her bright eyes curved like a crescent moon as she smiled.
Lin Yide walked steadily and calmly towards the defendant's seat, his steps firm, his demeanor composed, not at all like a criminal about to face trial, but like a VIP coming to a banquet.
The audience had originally prepared to accuse him fiercely, but when faced with his calm and composed demeanor, the words of blame stuck in their throats, difficult to utter.
Then, the plaintiff's representative, Darwin, entered the opera house with his team of lawyers in a grand manner.
Darwin glanced at Lin Yide contemptuously, his heart filled with pleasure and triumph.
He remembered the humiliation and frustration Lin Yide had inflicted on him during the last trial. That anger and humiliation had been building up in his heart, making him restless.
This time, he finally had a chance to take revenge.
He vowed to use this trial to completely crush Lin Yide and return all the insults and frustrations he had suffered last time!
As the solemn declaration of Judge Neuvillette on the high platform echoed in the opera house, the trial of this highly anticipated case finally began.