SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 15 out, this is Chapter 16 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Pairings: Albedo/Sucrose, Zhongli/Amity, One-sided Diluc/Amity, One-sided Diluc/Jean

Disclaimers: Genshin Impact and Sailor Moon belong to miHoYo and Takeuchi Naoko-sensei respectively. Me, on the other hand, own absolutely nothing, except the plot, I hope.

Chapter 16: Just Desserts

In the Repentance Hall in Daithí Hall...

Aurnia was unceremoniously dragged before the ancestry memorial tablets of her late family.

"Kneel!" Catheld barked, forcing Aurnia on her knees before her ancestors.

"Lord Catheld, what did I do wrong?" Aurnia whimpered.

"Pól revealed your intentions to King Hermes." Catheld started firmly.

"Whatever he said is false!" Aurnia shouted. "The King is lying! The Crown Princess is lying! They're all lying to frame me!"

"Everyone tells a different story, Army General." a stern voice interjected, entering the Repentance Hall. "This matter concerns the dignity of the Mercury Crown Princess. Lady Aurnia is someone from your household. You shouldn't get involved in it. Otherwise, the reputation of the Daithí Hall will be sullied. Everyone in the Solar System knows that I am Lady of Equality of the Celestial Balance. I'm not related to any of the planets nor moons. It's best to leave this hearing to me, just as the case against young Pól was."

"You're..." Catheld breathed in revere at the appearance of the Senshi of Judicial Equality, Sailor Libra. "Sailor Libra. If it is the lady's wish, I'll hand the hearing over to you."

"Well then," Sailor Libra started. "Take your time, Lady Aurnia. You may speak now. Just start from the incident with the Pól boy."

"Yes." Aurnia sniffled.

Outside the Daithí Hall...

"Young Master, you'll finally returned." Conallan greeted Finnbar. "Great trouble is brewing in the Repentance Hall. Master Catheld had been informed about Young Master Pól's incident and King Hermes has demanded reparations about the humiliation Princess Sive suffered. Sailor Libra insists only you can resolve this."

"I understand." Finnbar nodded. "I need you to bring Second Cousin Pól and his family here."

"I'll go right away." Conallan responded.

In the Repentance Hall...

"King Hermes ordered me to seek punishment from you, Lord Catheld..." Aurnia whimpered.

"To guard Metallia's Seal in the Sun and never to return to Daithí Hall, yes?" Sailor Libra finished.

"Grandfather, I have returned." Finnbar greeted his grandfather.

"Don't stand on ceremony." Catheld relieved his grandson.

"This is a surprise." Sailor Libra remarked. "You've returned, young Second Colonel. You should be present. After all, you are the central role in this and I ended up having to handle it."

"Finnbar..." Aurnia turned to the younger man. "You must uphold justice for me." she wept, tugging his loose trousers.

"Do not worry, I'm here to uphold justice." Finnbar assured.

"Young Pól, repeat what you said to King Hermes and Queen Mercurine before." Sailor Libra instructed.

"Pól greets Grand Uncle Catheld." Pól knelt before Catheld. "I never molested Princess Sive. That day on Queen Mercurine's birthday, I arrived to the Mariner Castle for the birthday celebration with Father. Father went to meet Grand Uncle so he had me wait in the corridors. Lady Aurnia then approached me and said that Grand Uncle is actually with Cousin Finnbar. She even smiled and told me she'll take me there. Then Lady Aurnia knocked me out with her magic, fed me drugged wine and tore open my clothes. When I woke up, I found myself in Princess Sive's bed and Princess Sive was... half-naked." he whispered. "It was a great mess then, so I just sat there, dazed, until Princess Sive's attendants entered the bedchambers."

"Very good." Sailor Libra nodded. "It's very clear. Aurnia, what do you have to say to that?"

"He's lying!" Aurnia declared. "He got drunk and barged into the Crown Princess' bedchambers to lay his hands on her. He lied."

"Pól, how many times have you been to the Mariner Castle?" Sailor Libra questioned.

"That was my first visit." Pól reported.

"Aurnia, you think someone who came to the Mariner Castle for the first time would be able to locate Princess Sive's bedchambers to molest her?"

"I..." Aurnia sobbed. "He..."

"If you can't think up of any reason, don't speak." Sailor Libra cut her off. "Army General, how should she be punished for framing a decorated soldier of the Jovian Army?"

"She is to be stripped of familial relations to Daithí Hall and banished from Mercury." Catheld knew of the inter-planetary laws.

"No!" Aurnia wailed. "You've wronged me, Sailor Libra! You've conspired with the royal family to frame me. You set me up."

"Atrocious." Catheld snapped.

"Lord Catheld, you have to uphold justice for me." Aurnia pleaded. "They are all villains. You mustn't believe them. They conspired to frame me."

"Do you mean to say that I'm also a villain who plays up to those in power?" Finnbar inquired. "As someone I've always considered an elder sister, what is your crime for slandering your younger brother?"

"That's even a more severe crime." Sailor Libra tsked. "Even more severe than the previous crime. Aurnia, you'd better think this through."

"No, I..." Aurnia retracted. "Finnbar, you can't be so cruel to me. Have you forgotten? I grew up with you. I was... just too flustered I panicked. Finnbar, you can't slander me like they did."

"I'm the next Prince Consort of Mercury." Finnbar reminded. "I'd never side with anyone. Even if I were to side with anyone, shouldn't it be my own family?"

"No." Aurnia wailed. "You never take my side. Not once. You've always pushed me away, no matter how well I treat you... it doesn't matter how well I treat you."

"Do we still need to go on with this?" Sailor Libra turned to Catheld. "Judging by Crown Princess Sive's character and this woman's tainted criminal record, if we were to go on with the hearing, I'm afraid of the repercussions the royal family will have against the Daithí Hall for believing in such a woman and accusing the future Mercury Queen."

"Indeed, this hearing need not continue." Catheld admitted. "Aurnia, you've disappointed me. I am utterly disappointed."

"Lord Catheld, you can't do this to me." Aurnia wailed. "You can't treat me so. Have you forgotten about my parents? They sacrificed themselves to save you. Have you forgotten about that?"

"Aurnia, considering that you're an offspring of a faithful family, I won't penalize you for slandering Finnbar. But for the crimes concerning Pól and Crown Princess Sive, you have to be punished. Today, you should volunteer to guard Metallia's Seal. Take her away."

SailorStar9: Any OOC-ness is regretted. *Grins* Don't you just love plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.