As Jaren's interrogation report stated, when Jaren married Alice, his abuse had turned to her- beginning when she had difficulties conceiving a child. She endured constant physical and emotional abuse from her husband, even sexual abuse each time that Jaren forced himself on her, but Jaren seemed to back off when she was finally able to conceive and during the pregnancy itself, turning his abuse back onto the staff. However, when Alice gave birth to a girl- to Talia- Jaren was furious and she continued to suffer abuse at the hands of her husband, refused to feed Talia herself and hired a wet nurse to do so instead, then hired a nanny to take care of her day to day needs. But then the day came that Talia had come home from the Vermillion estate with a gash on her forehead and a torn and dirty dress. She stood by and did nothing, out of fear of her husband, while Jaren beat the maid Marissa to death. She couldn't speak out against him, but she couldn't bring herself to protect her daughter for fear that she would suffer the same fate as Marissa.

After that, Alice slowly became more and more numb to the abuse; whether it was against her or against someone else, it didn't matter. She ignored her daughter's pleas and cries for her help and in the beginning, it broke her heart not to do or say anything, but as the years went by she grew to resent her daughter. If she had only had a son, she would be safe from the abuse. Talia had become an image of everything that Alice hated about herself, about her marriage, and about her life in general. She had thought so many times about ending her own life but was too cowardly to take any action.

As Talia listened to the report of her mother's interrogation, she couldn't stop the tears from slipping free. She had always wondered if her mother was once a kind and caring person, or if she had always been that cold of a person, but now she understood.

Fuegoleon was appalled at what Alice's interrogation had revealed, nearly as much as he was by Jaren's, and when he saw Talia crying, he wrapped an arm around her. He held her close and rubbed her back as she cried into his chest.

When asked if she would like to speak, Alice looked from Damnatio to her daughter then back and shook her head, saying only, "There's nothing more to say. My lack of action speaks more than enough than I ever could."

Alice was returned to her seat and Damnatio asked for the staff of the House of Chalcedony estate to step forward and provide their testimonies. Each of them was questioned about the charges and each of them seemed both fearful, yet relieved to speak out about what they had seen or experienced.

Those present for the trial sat with so many swirling emotions, from anger to hatred to pity to shock to disgust. They would glance at Talia where she sat with Fuegoleon, watching how she reacted to everything finally brought to light.

After the staff had had their say, Damnatio looked to the court and asked them to consider the punishment befitting Jaren and Alice Chalcedony, asking the same of the king, Augustus Kira Clover XIII.

Talia wiped away her tears, pushing back from Fuegoleon and turning her attention towards Damnatio as he summoned his scales. Fuegoleon kept an arm around her shoulders and held her hand as Damnatio announced the verdict.

"Jaren of House Chalcedony, in regards to the charges of the abuse and attempted murder of Lady Talia Chalcedony, the attempted murder of Crimson Lions Magik Knight Karrick Granden, the murder of Marissa Cathion, Jonathan Marco, Helen Martin, Cammila Toth, and Tristan Young, the abuse of the entire staff employed at the estate of House Chalcedony, and the illegal use of funds to spy on not only Lady Talia but also the entirety of the royal capital- jeopardizing the security of the Clover Kingdom, you are to be stripped of all titles and your claim on your land is forfeit." Damnatio looked at him as he struggled against his restraints and screamed silently at him. "At dawn tomorrow, you are to be executed."

Fuegoleon looked at Talia, seeing her face fall. He couldn't imagine what she felt, but this was still her father.

Damnatio looked to Alice next. "Alice of House Chalcedony, in regards to the charge of being an accomplice to your husband's crimes, you also will be stripped of all titles and your claim on your land is forfeit. You will not be executed, but you will serve a life sentence in prison."

Talia felt some sense of relief, but it was minimal. Her parents would pay the price for their actions and crimes, the people they harmed would get the justice owed to them, and Talia could finally have some sense of peace.

Damnatio raised a hand to silence those gathered and continued. "Lady Talia, would you like to say anything before the sentences are carried out?"

Talia could feel every eye on her and she shook her head. "No, my lord. All I had asked was that my father pay the price for his actions and crimes and that the people he harmed would get the justice owed to them. You have done that and more. Please, let their sentences be carried out so that we may be done with this trial and what remains of House Chalcedony can be at peace."

"Very well." Damnatio gave her a small bow of the head, then looked to the guards. "Take them away."

With that, the trial came to an end and Talia watched as her father struggled continuously as he was dragged away. She looked to her mother, seeing little to no expression upon her face as she turned away and followed the guards. People began filing out of the courtroom one by one, those near where Talia had been sitting offering their condolences.

After a while, only remained Talia and Fuegoleon in the courtroom. Fuegoleon sat with her silently, until there was no one else left, then he looked down at her.

"Talia?"

Talia looked up at Fuegoleon, trying to offer him a smile. "I'm alright, Leon."

"Do you need a moment?"

Talia nodded. "It would seem that my legs don't want to move."

Fuegoleon squeezed her a hand a moment. "Take as long as you need."

They sat there a few more moments, then Talia leaned into Fuegoleon and thanked him for being there for her.

"Of course, Talia. Anything for you."