NOVEL NEXT Chapter 270: Rebuttal and Evidence (2)
"So, how about it, Your Honor? The evidence is clear, and in my view, the Red Obsidian Trading House's claims are completely unreasonable," Nolan said firmly.
All eyes turned to Louis, waiting for his response.
After a brief silence, Louis drew a deep breath and replied coldly, "Your evidence is indeed strong, but that doesn't mean the Red Obsidian Trading House's demands are entirely wrong. The Castellan family is on the brink of collapse, and they may no longer be able to hold their power."
"As far as I recall, there is a regional law that governs this matter. It states that if a noble family has no heir or direct descendant of its head, their status will be stripped. Isn't that right, Duke Austin?"
His gaze remained calm, though a playful glint flickered in his eyes.
Alvaron frowned. The law did exist—it had been established long ago by his grandfather.
It required every noble family to have an heir from the direct bloodline of the current head.
This was meant to preserve the purity of the family line and prevent disputes over succession, which often led to major conflicts.
The consequences were serious—ranging from economic turmoil in the family's territory to other significant problems.
Unexpectedly, Louis was using this very law to force the Castellan family to relinquish their status as a Marquis family.
It seems the Red Obsidian Trading House is truly afraid of being removed from the eastern region, he whispered softly.
He was certain they had sensed the threat from the Blue Moon Trading House and feared losing their dominance in the eastern region.
Snapping out of his reverie, he nodded slightly and said, "You are right, Your Honor. However, the law allows a concession. If the head of a family dies without leaving descendants, an heir must be sought throughout the Empire. The time limit is two full years."
As everyone knew, many heads of families and young nobles often left "seeds" outside.
Usually, this resulted in children born out of wedlock—illegitimate children.
Regardless of the label, they were still considered direct descendants of noble families. This served as a loophole for families left without a legitimate heir.
Of course, such cases were rare, but not unheard of. In the northern region, for example, the head of the Count Roundar family died without leaving a legitimate heir.
However, it was later discovered that he had an illegitimate child, who was eventually recognized and now serves as the head of the Roundar family in the north.
"I know that rule, but..." Louis smiled faintly. "Do you think Rovert Castellan has children out there? Considering his nature and what he has done so far, is that even possible?"
Those two questions silenced Alvaron immediately.
Was it possible for Rovert to have children? Of course not. Let alone a child, he had never even been rumored to have a woman, much less a wife.
On the contrary, he was nothing more than a vile pervert.
Watching him fall silent, Louis knew he had won. His gaze shifted back to Nolan as he said, "Well, attorney for the Castellan family, do you still have a defense?"
In truth, he hadn't wanted to use this method. But since the young man had successfully presented evidence and cited laws in his defense, Louis had no choice but to take this route to strip the Castellan family of their status.
"Pfft!" Rick couldn't help but grin. Crossing his arms, he whispered with pride, "This trial will soon be over. We are the winners."
Erland, standing beside him, nodded in agreement. "You're right, Rick. We've finally gotten what we've wanted for so long."
The Red Obsidian Trading House aimed to gain full control of the eastern region by making Zarak the prince most favored by the noble families there.
Naturally, the absence of the Austin family was an obstacle. Still, as long as the Castellan family's marquis title was revoked, it wouldn't be a problem.
After all, with two marquises and ninety percent of the noble families in the east behind him, Zarak's position would be unshakable.
His chances of ascending the throne would only grow stronger and more certain.
Meanwhile, Nolan, under the weight of countless stares, remained calm. A smile spread beneath the mask covering his face as he replied in an even tone, "Who said Rovert Castellan didn't have a child?"
His words stunned everyone present. Eyes widened in shock, as though they had just heard the impossible.
"Attorney Arthur, please don't speak carelessly," Louis said firmly. "If you're proven to be lying, the punishment will be very severe—and I'm sure you don't want that to happen, right?"
For the first time, Louis announced Nolan's name in front of everyone. They finally knew the young man's name—but that wasn't what mattered most.
What truly unsettled them was the question of whether this man named Arthur was spouting nonsense or speaking the truth.
"Duke, is he joking? How could Rovert have a child?" Aston asked in confusion.
Even he could barely believe it. Everyone knew well that Rovert was gay. For him to have a child with a woman was simply impossible.
Alvaron fell silent for a moment before replying, "Don't jump to conclusions. We need to see how he proves it. If he's right, it could be very beneficial for us."
Aston nodded in agreement and decided to wait.
"Don't worry, Your Honor. I won't say anything foolish," Nolan replied lightly.
With that, he turned toward the doors and commanded, "Open the entrance."
The guards hesitated, but the overwhelming aura he exuded pressed down on them so strongly that they instinctively pushed both doors wide open.
Suddenly, a woman stepped inside. She was breathtaking in a dark blue dress, her brown hair tied into a simple bun—yet her beauty was undeniable.
Her appearance left them all stunned.
"Who is this woman?" one of the witnesses asked with curiosity. "Her appearance is extraordinary. If someone claimed she was from a noble family, I would believe it."
"Yes, you're right. She's very beautiful," another replied. "But what's with her belly? Why is it bulging forward? Don't tell me… She's pregnant."
The witnesses whispered in low voices, but Rick and Erland still caught every word.
Their gazes stayed fixed on the woman's belly, hearts thundering in their chests.
At that moment, the same thought struck them: "Don't tell me… she's carrying Rovert's child?"