NOVEL NEXT Chapter 266: The Judge, Louis Carvin
The horse-drawn carriages came to a slow stop. The soldiers on guard immediately stepped forward to open the doors.
Soon, three figures emerged from each carriage. At the center stood a tall, well-built man dressed in a black robe, the symbol of the balance of justice pinned to his left breast.
A black scarf hung around his neck, and in his left hand he held a long black staff. He was Louis Carvin—the fifth judge, sent by the palace to preside over the court.
To his right stood a stocky man with a stern face, wearing an exquisite, gleaming red robe. This was Rick, the representative of the Red Obsidian Trading House.
Beside Rick was a man of average height, neither tall nor short. He had a somewhat handsome face framed by dark red hair, with a thin mustache resting on his upper lip.
He was Erland Tovtar, the head of Count Tovtar's family.
The moment Aston and Alvaron saw him, a flicker of surprise crossed their eyes.
Erland Tovtar? How did that man end up here? Aston muttered in disbelief.
A realization struck him, and his expression stiffened.
So that's how it is… His eyes narrowed. This trial is going to be far more difficult than expected…
The Tovtar family was one of the noble houses in the eastern region. But they weren't just any count family—their influence and wealth nearly rivaled that of the Marquis families.
The arrival of their leader, Erland Tovtar, could only mean one thing—to seize the Castellan family's position as a Marquis house.
That wasn't mere speculation. Rick's presence from the Red Obsidian Trading House confirmed it.
"Welcome, Judge Louis," Alvaron greeted politely.
His status was normally higher than Louis's. But inside the court, things were different—the judge was supreme, and he had to show at least a little respect.
Louis gave a small nod, his expression unchanged.
"Thank you for the welcome, Duke Austin," he replied in a nonchalant tone.
Alvaron frowned but held his tongue.
"Marquis Valmire, we meet again," Louis said with a faint smile.
The corners of Aston's lips twitched as anger surged within him. This damned man was the reason he had lost the land dispute trial against the Red Obsidian Trading House.
If not for that, he would have gained another factory and become even richer.
Still, Aston kept his composure and offered a small nod. "Yes, we meet again, Judge Louis. It's good to see you healthy and well."
He put special emphasis on "healthy" and "well," his mocking tone clear.
Louis froze briefly, then regained his composure as if the sarcasm had gone unnoticed. Without another word, he strode up the courthouse steps.
Rick and Erland followed close behind, briefly exchanging glances with Aston and Alvaron as if to imply something unspoken.
Once they passed, Frederin turned to the two and said his farewell. "Then, I'll take my leave here, Duke Austin, Marquis Valmire."
"Very well," Alvaron replied, patting his shoulder lightly. "Once again, thank you for welcoming us and preparing the courthouse."
"You're welcome, Duke." Frederin smiled, gave a small nod, and turned to leave.
"Duke, it seems this court will be difficult for us," Aston said bluntly.
Louis, Rick, and Erland—whether or not there was proof—were clearly aligned as one. Anyone sharp enough would have seen it at a glance.
"I know," Alvaron said with a quiet sigh. "But we have no other choice. What matters now is to do what we can and entrust the rest to Prince Nolan."
Aston gave a small nod. "You're right."
After a few more words, the two quickly climbed the stairs and entered the courthouse.
***
The courtroom was vast, with rows of seats on both the right and left sides. Yet most of them sat empty—only about half were occupied by witnesses from the various parties involved.
Alvaron and Aston stood on the right, while Rick and Erland stood on the left.
At the judge's table sat Louis, radiating firmness and authority.
"Is everyone present?" he asked in an indifferent tone.
No one answered. Instead, people glanced at one another, checking if anyone was missing.
Suddenly, Rick raised his right hand and declared, "Your Honor, the Castellan family has not arrived yet."
Everyone immediately turned to Louis, curious to see how he would respond.
"Alright, no problem. I'll give them fifteen minutes. If they don't show up, this hearing will be considered over," he said firmly.
Alvaron and Aston's faces grew grim. If the trial ended here, it was clear the Castellan family's status as a Marquis house would be stripped away.
Reluctant as they were, the laws of the Great Velmora Empire were absolute.
Rick and Erland couldn't hide their satisfied smiles. They hadn't expected fortune to favor them this much.
Silence fell over the courtroom in an instant. No one dared to speak, and the air grew heavier with tension.
"Duke, what should we do? Where is Prince Nolan?" Aston asked anxiously.
Nolan had promised earlier that he had prepared everything for the Castellan family in this trial. Yet until now, he had not appeared.
To make matters worse, the Castellan family's representatives were absent. At this rate, they would lose completely, and the Marquis title would slip from their hands.
Alvaron was just as troubled as Aston. Then, suddenly, he recalled Nolan's earlier words—find Masha.
Don't tell me he's handling that problem?
It was the only guess that made sense. Gratitude washed over him, but it was laced with guilt. If that was true, then he was the cause of their carefully laid plan falling apart.
Five, ten, then twelve minutes slipped by, and the courtroom grew restless.
"It seems victory will be ours," Rick remarked with a wide smile.
The Castellan family, the defendants, had not appeared—meaning they had given up. Their loss of Marquis status was inevitable.
"Well, fifteen minutes have passed," Louis said flatly, casting a glance at Alvaron. "Therefore, Duke Alvaron, I declare this trial over. The Castellans will be stripped of their status, and within three days the vacant Marquis position must be filled. Do you agree?"
Alvaron remained silent. He wanted to refuse, but he knew it was impossible. Louis represented the palace, and his judgment was in full accordance with the law.
Just as he was about to speak, the courtroom doors swung open, and a playful young voice echoed inside.
"Why so impatient? Would waiting a few more minutes really kill you?"