Chapter 233: Perhaps Through The Dark Mirror

[FROLO]

Everyone struggled to stay calm, with friends checking on each other, everyone hoping that things were alright. And still Katya Romanov had remained numb, his eyes following Milan every second she was moved across the courtroom.

It was like his mind had refused to register what he had seen and heard.

At the high bench, the Chief Justice breathed hard as he looked across his courtroom that had been turned into a butcher’s shop for a second time. This was not the kind of shit he had expected, but then what had anyone really expected at this point?

They were all just throwing dice and praying that things worked out in the favor of justice, no?

"This court was moments away from becoming a murder scene," Chief Justice Orlov said, as he looked at Milan, the disappointment written on his face still as clear as it was in his voice.

"You have just committed further offences in open court," he said to Milan as the court officers dragged the woman upright.

She didn’t even struggle.

Just stared at the witness stand like she was thinking of a better way to make sure the next time she didn’t miss.

Then she looked at Yaroslav, who was staring at her, seething.

She then settled her eyes on Katya, who was staring at her blankly, and she smiled knowingly at the omega, like she had won either way.

She was about to say something when the heavy courtroom doors opened.

The judge had ordered them closed, so it made no sense.

"Who auth—" Chief Justice Orlov began, but the words died in his throat at the sight of who had come through. Instinctively, all eyes turned to the front door of the court.

Sergei Moskowsky.

The Devil of Frolo walked through the heavy doors of a courtroom that had nearly been turned into a slaughterhouse. He wore a dark green suit with a white handkerchief in his pocket.

Everyone froze, including Yaroslav, who had been staring at his father in relief.

But Sergei...

He didn’t look at anyone.

Not the court officials, not the Romanov camp, not Milan, not his son... hell, not even Katya Romanov.

He simply walked in and took a seat on the last bench in the first row, like a man who had just come to witness the courtroom session. The door stayed half open, as everyone held their breath for what he was going to do.

The alpha crossed one leg over the other, folded his hands on his lap, and waited quietly. His face was still as blank, and his emotions or even his pheromones were unreadable.

If he was affected by the faint citrus in the room, he didn’t show it. Not once.

And the courtroom grew even quieter as everyone took their seats and positions in silence.

The judges sat upright at the high bench, and the court marshals stayed alert. Even Milan stopped kicking and fighting the officers who were holding her.

At the witness stand, the witnesses paled.

Everyone noticed his presence.

Even Katya, who was still looking at Milan.

No one could breathe right, but everything was painfully obvious with Sergei’s appearance.

The trial had to reach its conclusion, come hell or high water.

And quiet, calm, composed Sergei would be that hell... or high water.

"This court has been attacked, but it will not be intimidated. The trial will proceed," Chief Justice Orlov said, his voice shaky for a man who had never been terrified of anyone or anything in his entire law career. But some demons were worth conceding to.

So, he struck the gavel, and the prosecutor stepped forward again.

"Your Honors, the evidence before this Court no longer conflicts. It agrees that three medical professionals, over five years, were paid a total amount of over eight hundred million."

The courtroom didn’t breathe.

Hell, even the court marshal, who had been expecting noise, just stared in surprise. But deep down, they knew that this was not the time to give reactions.

"You sacrificed an entire family for eight hundred million?" Prosecutor Rostova continued as she looked at the medics.

The witnesses lowered their heads in shame, with the therapist crying like she had finally discovered her newest talent today. Doctor Hamid didn’t run his mouth anymore, and the professor...

He just stared in defeat.

"I have no further questions," Rostova said before returning to her desk.

"The defense," Justice Reginia said.

"Your Honors, my clients have cooperated fully. They confessed and assisted this court. I ask the court to consider that cooperation during sentencing," Advocate Smirnov said, his voice lower than it had been before.

"Prosecution," Justice Orlov looked toward the prosecutor.

"The city opposes. They did not confess because they found their conscience, but out of fear of death. They robbed Chairman Romanov and Mr. Gamov of five years. If this Court is to preserve public confidence, then mercy cannot outweigh justice," Rostova said.

The three judges leaned towards each other, speaking quietly in a final discussion. And everyone waited, because this would be the fate of the city. Several minutes later, they sat upright, each back to their position.

Then Chief Justice Orlov spoke.

"Before this Court concludes today’s proceedings, we must address the events that occurred during today’s proceedings," he said, looking at Milan.

"The Registrar shall forward certified copies of these proceedings to the Director of Public Prosecutions for the immediate institution of criminal proceedings against Milan Popova and any additional persons identified during these proceedings," he added.

Then he looked at the file in front of him, sighing like a man who just wanted to go home after fifteen long hours inside a courtroom.

"Having considered the testimony and evidence, this Court finds all three defendants guilty on every count. Each defendant is sentenced to life imprisonment without eligibility for parole," Justice Orlov said, before he raised his gavel and struck it.

"This Court stands adjourned," the Chief Justice said.

"All rise," a court official said, before the judges walked through the door behind their bench.

Then the courtroom lit up like someone had fired up a lot of fuses. The court officials rushed to the witness stand to secure the witnesses, handcuffs going back on their trembling wrists.

Ahead of them, court officials read Milan her rights as they arrested her, rushing to take her away from the courts before shit went to hell.

There wasn’t even time for closure because the moment the judges left, the court officials knew what was bound to happen. So, they hurried out with Milan and the witnesses, leaving Yaroslav seated in his seat.

Katya and the Romanov camp still sat while the journalists and everyone who had attended court still tried to understand it all.

Strangely enough, Sergei walked out quietly. Not waiting for his son or the man he loved.

"He didn’t even stay," Andre said as he looked toward the courtroom door.

"He wasn’t here for them," Svet said quietly.

"He came to make sure the Court finished," Mr. Romanov added.

"And now that it has, he has no business being here anymore," Volkov added excitedly like he had just realized he would be having a lot more fun in the coming days.

Katya turned for the first time toward the doors, his expression unchanging.

Maybe because he knew.

Sergei had trusted the judiciary.

He had allowed the law to speak first, to give Katya his closure.

Everything after this...

...would no longer belong to the courtroom.

*****

[A/N]

* Writing these court scenes yesterday and today was tough eek... now all I can hear in my head is prosecutor, high bench, witness, and yada yada q_q

* Turns out writing murder is easier than writing court scenes sighh

* Author objects to writing more courts (goes to throw away prosecution notes)

* If these characters make me write a court scene again, I’mma riot frl