"Truce, that's a bad idea," Phoenix said, shaking his head sympathetically. "We could get stalking charges. And I don't think we need to resort to that."

Apollo sighed, clearly trying to act like he wasn't a little bit intrested. "Why do you all care about Prosuctuer Edgeworth's life so much?" He huffed, looking around expectantly. Athena looked a little guilty and she smiled.

"Uh, well, Hey! Don't tell me you're not intrested.." She protrested vaugly. Phoenix found it amusing and he chuckled a bit.

"It's okay. Apollo's right." He gave a small smile, then turned to Trucy, speaking a bit firmly, "We shouldn't mess with Edgeworth's life. There's rumours, and those things can get outta hand. We don't want to make them worse."

For once, Athena and Trucy nodded. Athena looked sheepish. "Sorry boss." Trucy nodded cocomitallcally, looking guilty too. "Okay Daddy. It's just, even at my shows people are talking about it. They-"

"Truce." Phoenix groaned knowing she forgot every word she said, kids sadly had a habit of doing that. and Trucy on cue suddenly blinked. "Oh, I mean they said.. Nothing!"

"We can prove there was a shot that happened that night," Phoenix said that day in court, "But there is still no descivie evidence on who shot the victum."

"I propose the victum, Erma Way, shot themselves." Miles suddenly interjected, as he regained his usual court vainglory, smirking, "Infact it makes perfect sense actually. Your Honor, I doubt you thought I would waste time? I have exactly the evidence for my claim. The Prosecution will prove, here and now, desciively, that the victum engaged in a suciide!"

That was alot of words for Phoenix, however he had became accuostmed to the way Miles would bark yet no bite. "The Defense would like to see the said evidence," Phoenix gave a short go ahead, and the Judge stiffly nodded too.

"Present your evidence, Proscuter Edgeworth."

"Very well then," Miles started, slamming his hands on the bench, garnering everyone's attneetion as they whispered in suprise. This case rested on Miles next speech. Phoenix even found himself leaning closer.

"-The Prosecution woulld like to call a witness." He gestured confidently as the wittness took the stand. "Now, this witness is very close to said victum, being the mother. She can tesitfy that the victum was in a poor mental state when he'd arrived there."

"Yes. Me and Erma, my boy, were very close.. And... I knew.." Her voice was shaky, as she sniffled, "I knew my son was dealing with mental problems but this.. This was a shock. I can remmeber all the signs.."

Phoenix listened to her words, feeling empathy, but also searching for the holes. Yet it seemed to really allign perfectly. Fae Kurfand didn't seem like the type to murder the victum. Phoenix had firsthandedly observed how scared her dispositon was. She even had that wary look about her, as if she was feeling the sting of pressure, the sting of being accused of something she didn't do.

But also, that same wary look was a good indicator for if she was guilty or not. Why was she wary if she had nothhing to hide? It was all coindicendal, yet there was no proof.

"Your Honor, if I could request a recess? The Defense would like to investigate Mrs Kurfand."

Miles shook his head. "Your Honor! This is a foolish request. We have concrete evidence that this was a self-inflicted murder. There is no direct proof that Mrs Fae shot him, therefore, she is innocent."

Why was Miles doing this? He stood to gain, nothing to gain, by proving Fae was guilty, he was a prosecuter after all. He could've reaccused Mr Cent, but instead he just made a closing statement. Either way, Phoenix had long appreaicaited the change in MIles, the desire to seek the truth oveerriding somehting as mininiute as his undefeated record.

"If that is alll.. I would like to declare the defendant, Idyno Cent..-"

"Objection!" Phoenix yelled. "Hold on a minute. The Defense would like to propose we hold a seperate trial to determine Mrs Kurfand's innocence!"

"Your Honor! That is not needed. We have established it was clearly a sucuide!" Miles said urgently.

"In that case, I accept the Defense's stance. We'll hold a seperate trial for Mrs Kurfand. Now, if I may end this trial, if they're are no objections?"

"The Defense has no Objections," Phoenix said.

"As does the Prosuction," Miles admitted with weary resignation.

'Miles, why are you so keen on defending her?' Phoenix wanted to ask, but one glance at the proscuter told him Miles was iron-clad in his descion. Trying to get an awnser would be like trying to question a ininamtie object. For now thought, he wanted to invistgate this Mrs Fae. Why was only her fingerprints on the gun? Why was she carrying a gun in the first place?

"Boss, you okay?" Athena questioned as she idled near him. Phoenix shook out of his thoughts, looking at her with a small smile. "Yeah. Just wondering about Edgeworth's new girlfriend."

"Love triumphs all," Athena put a hand on her hip. "Maybe he's just protective about her because they're in love."

"Yeah.. but I don't think that's the case. Edgeworth's not the type to just quickly get into a realtionship that fast. I'm going to go visit Mrs Kurfand and see what I can find."

"Good luck!" Athena had sad and waved him off.

What he wanted to say was that he knew Miles, he was sure of it. And Miles couldn't simply do that, no, it was all to suspicious.

His trip had been.. strange. He was greeted by Fae's mother and father, who both seemed to be eyeing him like they sized him up. When he arrived, he had seen Fae Kurfand herself nowhere in sight. He had questioned them about a multiple of things, for example,

'Where was Mrs Fae, What's your relation to the case, Do you carry licensed firearms regularly, excerta, exceatra.'

Unfortunately they hadn't provided him with concrete evidence. And all the while, he noticed they where very culrtural people who were also unreasonbly excited at his arrival. But one question lingered selfishly in the back of his mind. The most glaringly question of them all.

"So.. how was your daughter and Prosecuter Edgeworth.." Phoenix did a gesture, trying to explain. He had to admit, despite his own words previously, he was curious. Okay, really curious.

"It's simply amazing!" The mother gushed. "Too think a man of such prestige wants to marry our daughter!"

Marry?! Phoenix thought, his heart inexpbliby feeling like it was sinking. "

"We've never been more proud of her." The father argreed. "She's going to finally fufuil her duty."

"Duty?" Phoenix questioned, and the mother spoke up.

"Yes indeed! You see in our culture, it is customary to be married. One must get married before the age of 25, or they are a disgrace to everything we ever stood for!" She said cheerfully, clapping her hands as if that sentence was the most normal thing in the world.

"Seems a bit harsh, don't you think?" Phoenix intoned, and they both went silent, and Phoenix backtracked. "I see, then." He continued. "Well.. Is there anyway I could talk to Mrs Fae?"

"Ah yes. She is coming back in a few minutes..."

When Fae had arrived, Phoenix had tried his best to question her. But she'd been closed off, so much so that it was difficult to extract any information. She wouldn't speak much, and she looked as if she was afriad. Phoenix had given up, not wanting to probe her to much.

Until Phoenix had no choice. It seems Miles had to involved, too.