Chapter 3: The Most Beautiful Villain
1295 Words
"Isn't that Chief Admiral Troy Silverwind? I heard he’s never shown any interest in women. He's cool and abstinent. And yet, he’s one of Jenny Clara’s suitors?!"
"And there's the top interstellar physician, Dalton Everhart?!"
"Even the distinguished Sixth Prince of the Empire, Louis Ravencrest, is among them..."
No wonder the Clara family is furious. Jenny Clara’s suitors gathered military, medical, and royal forces. These three men aren't just highly capable; each possesses unique and perfect looks and temperaments.
These are just the well-known suitors. If Jenny Clara hadn't died, who knows what other exceptional men she would have been matched with...
For a moment, the entire livestream and even the courtroom itself erupted into a frenzy.
At this moment, Flora Vitalia, the accused criminal, was escorted to the center of the courtroom by soldiers. She was so weak that she couldn’t stand on her own, collapsing onto the cold floor when the soldiers let go. One soldier instinctively tried to help Flora, but a warning glance from his officer made him retract his hand awkwardly.
"Order!" The crisp sound of the gavel instantly silenced the noisy courtroom. The white-haired old judge began to read out the verdict for Flora.
"Criminal Flora Vitalia, on the night of May 18th, Year 1024 of the Interstellar Calendar, you murdered Mr. Huggins, a B-class male beast-man, and Miss Jenny Clara, an S-class spiritual force female, in the attic of Duke Libert’s manor!"
"Evidence found at the crime scene, including genetic information, blood, and fingerprints, matches yours completely!"
"Due to the heinous nature of your crime, after deliberation, the Interstellar Court has unanimously decided to sentence you to death!"
"Flora Vitalia, do you plead guilty?"
The gavel fell again, and the judge’s solemn voice echoed through the interstellar courtroom. All eyes were on Flora. Only now did people realize that she did not fit their imagined image of a brutal and imposing murderer...
This criminal, a genderless individual, had bones more delicate and slender than most women. She wore a faded knee-length old dress, and her pale, slender legs bore various bruises. Her bare feet were delicate and snow-white, with thin ankles weighed down by heavy silver shackles. Her thin wrists were also encumbered with heavy cuffs. Her skin was as pale as fresh snow in winter, making her injuries even more conspicuous. Her head was lowered, and her obedient golden hair, shining like gold, covered her face and draped over her thin shoulders.
In the current interstellar world, golden hair is extremely rare, especially such pure, unblemished gold. Before the complete loss of ancient civilization, golden hair and blue eyes were symbols of the highest nobility.
So, when Flora slowly sat up, supported by her hands, the live stream’s comments and the people in the courtroom gradually quieted down from their anger.
The only sound in the courtroom was the crisp clinking of chains.
When Flora raised her head, her stunningly beautiful face was fully revealed. Her eyes were red and misty, like a starry river fallen into the night sky.
She looked directly at everyone with a firm gaze, her red lips parting to speak in a delicate but unyielding voice: "I do not plead guilty!"
At this moment, the entire interstellar world fell into a deathly silence upon seeing her face.
In this world, women were rare. Women, who were carefully protected from a young age, not only possessed spiritual powers that made men submit but also used their good looks and soft bodies to drive countless men crazy.
Yet, in this vast empire, no woman’s appearance could compare to this genderless person in front of them...
Even without any jewelry to adorn her, even in her pale and wretched state, her exquisite features still carried an entrancing beauty.
She had a pair of deep blue eyes like sapphires. Mysterious and noble, yet reflecting sadness and brokenness.
When these eyes, moist with vulnerability, looked at someone, even the coldest gods might be bewitched.
After a moment of silence, the interstellar courtroom erupted in an uproar!
Even the paused livestream comments started scrolling furiously.
"Is she really genderless? Why is she more beautiful than any woman I’ve ever seen?"
"Didn’t they say she was ugly? Who was lying through their teeth?"
"She looks so sad she’s about to cry. Could there be more to this story...?"
The once solemn interstellar courtroom became chaotic.
However, the members of the Huggins and Clara families were also shocked by Flora’s appearance.
But more than being amazed, they were angry at her denial of the crime.
"You murderer! You killed the only female in our family! I will tear you apart!"
The man who spoke transformed into a gigantic beast, roaring, with sharp fangs and claws exuding a bloody aura.
Facing a beast form for the first time, Flora was so frightened by the massive size and overwhelming killing intent that she turned pale.
Fortunately, the soldiers nearby promptly restrained the enraged man.
The scene was so intense that even the smart system almost malfunctioned.
The data flickered, and the system’s voice trembled: "Host, are you okay...?"
Flora, still shaken, had a layer of cold sweat on her smooth forehead.
Her voice trembled: "I’m fine, but if you don’t help me soon, I will be in trouble..."
Before the system could respond, the old judge frowned and knocked the gavel again.
"Order!"
"Flora Vitalia, why do you refuse to plead guilty?"
"I did not commit murder, so I will not plead guilty."
The initially one-sided situation began to turn controversial after Flora revealed her face.
Although Flora skipped over the part about her identity being discovered, she detailed the events of that night.
But the story was too bizarre for the judge to believe.
"Flora Vitalia, do you know that the description of the murderer you provided matches that of a Zerg?"
"Are you saying that Zergs are on the Fifth Star of our Empire’s capital?"
"That’s absurd!"
After checking the background, the system quickly realized the severity of the situation.
"Host, the front line of the war with the Zergs is on the Eighth Star, and the Fifth Star is the Empire’s capital, heavily guarded.
It’s unlikely that a Zerg would appear there..."
But those red eyes from last night, she couldn’t have been mistaken.
Seeing Flora’s silence, the old judge’s expression grew stern: "According to the investigation, you were not on Duke Libert’s invitation list last night. If not to commit a crime, why were you at the banquet?"
Her long eyelashes, wet with tears, trembled as Flora raised her eyes, looking straight at Libert on the high seat, and said word by word: "For... Duke Libert."
This statement caused another uproar.
Due to Duke Libert’s outstanding qualities, countless people sought to curry favor with him, including genderless individuals.
It was even rumored that a woman had once sent a matching invitation to Duke Libert, only to be rejected.
So, hearing that Flora, a genderless individual, dared to openly covet Duke Libert, many of Libert’s admirers were enraged.
"Look at yourself, do you think you deserve it...?"
Before the sentence was finished, the one curse was rendered speechless by Flora’s face.
In terms of appearance, she did indeed deserve it...
At this moment, the protagonist of the discussion, with a cold and handsome face, remained expressionless.
Duke Libert’s slender fingers slowly rubbed the ruby ring on his right hand, his eyes darkening as he looked at Flora.
"Order!"
"Flora Vitalia, your words are just your side of the story. Without evidence, the court maintains the original verdict!"
"There’s evidence, Host! I just secretly placed a Zerg fragment in the attic. Aren’t I resourceful?"
"Your Honor, wait! I request a re-search of the attic!"
Unfortunately, the judge denied Flora’s request.
- Writer
