Chapter Six: The Trial and the Betrayal

The grand courtroom buzzed with murmurs as the Chief Judge surveyed the chamber. His sharp gaze settled on Evelyn Cross. "Did you see the man’s face?" he asked.

Evelyn shook her head. "No. I didn’t see his face."We were able to take some of the rescued children home.

In the mountain, in a dimly lit area, two powerful men, the minister of human resources and minister of tourism whispered in hushed, angry voices.

“How dare he set a trap for us?” the Minister of Tourism hissed, his fists clenched. “Half of them are gone! What if he had caught us?” His glare bore into the Minister of Human Resources.

The other man remained eerily calm. “I’ll bring more if these aren’t enough,” he said dismissively. “Do not worry.”

The Minister of Tourism scoffed. “I will not let the Chief Judge get away with this.”

Back at the Chief Judge’s residence, Evelyn stood in his study, arms crossed. “The children don’t know where they were being taken,” she said.

The Chief Judge exhaled. “The merchant group ran away, and we lost a few children. This is quite troublesome. If it weren’t for the man who helped us, we would have been in greater danger. Who on earth could he be? He seems to be the same man who sent me the warning letter.”

Something clicked in Evelyn’s mind. A memory. Paul.

She excused herself abruptly, ignoring the questioning stares, and left the house. Her feet carried her straight to the School of Heart. The moment she stepped inside, she saw children—young, eager minds—learning survival skills, reading, and crafting. It was a hidden sanctuary.

A voice interrupted her thoughts. “Why were you in such a dangerous place?”

Evelyn turned sharply, her breath catching. Paul.

“You—” she faltered. “This is what I should be asking you! Why were you there? How did you—”

Paul cut her off. “Are you hurt?”

Evelyn straightened. “What on earth are you doing here? You bring children to this secret place for military training? What is the mark on your shoulder? Are you… committing treason?”

Paul met her gaze without hesitation. “I am the head of the School of Heart. The mark means I am part of them. I save and protect children like myself.” He stepped closer. “Are you saying these children are being used by the government?”

Evelyn’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Yes.”

Paul nodded. “That’s why I sent the warning letter to my father.” His expression was firm. “And that’s why I saved you.”

Evelyn hesitated. “I understand what you’re doing, but this is too dangerous. Why go this far?”

Paul’s voice turned cold. “Weren’t you the one who once said that everyone is equal in this world?”

A tear slipped down Evelyn’s cheek.

Just then, a commotion erupted outside. Nathan—Paul’s trusted friend—had been arrested. Paul clenched his fists in fury.

“I’m going to get him back,” he growled.

Evelyn blocked his path. “What will you do? Storm the government offices?”

“That is exactly what I must do.”

Tears streamed down Paul’s face, his shoulders trembling as he looked at Evelyn. His voice was raw, filled with desperation.

“If you can help me… please do.”

Evelyn stood frozen for a moment, the weight of his words sinking in. The pain in his eyes was undeniable, a silent plea she couldn’t ignore.

Paul grabbed his wrist. “If you are a legal advocate, you should help me find a way to save him.

Paul exhaled sharply. “ Or are slaves the only ones deemed weak? He glared at her. “Is it because you were one?”

Evelyn’s heart twisted. “How dare you say that?”

Paul’s expression softened. “I apologize. I was desperate… Nathan was the first person I ever saved.”

The courtroom was packed. A high-ranking official sneered at the Chief Judge. “How is it that you allowed such filth to exist in our city, a man beating a government official? Were you too busy to get rid of this man?”

The Chief Judge’s advisors murmured in agreement. “Banish him,” they chanted.

Paul clenched his jaw as the mob’s cries grew louder.

Then, the doors swung open.

Evelyn walked in, her posture unyielding.

Gasps filled the room.

"Legal Advocate Evelyn Cross will defend him," she declared.

A high-ranking official scoffed. “Are you out of your mind? How dare you oppose your father-in-law’s ruling?”

“You do not need to defend this man,” the Chief Judge said. “You may leave.”

Evelyn’s gaze didn’t waver. “Do you want me to choose who deserves justice?”

The Chief Judge’s silence was enough.

“He was assaulted and imprisoned without cause,” Evelyn continued. “As a human being, anyone must be ruled fairly by law, regardless of status. Yet you bend to the people’s wishes. Tell me, what law justifies this?”

The Chief Judge’s voice was cold. “No law exists to protect people like him.”

Evelyn smiled grimly. “Then no law exists to banish him either.”

Silence.

An elderly official snapped, “How dare a woman challenge our customs?”

Evelyn’s voice rang out, clear and unwavering. “We must stop this reckless murder, banishment, and suffering.”

She turned to the Chief Judge. “Will you let this monstrosity continue?”

The room was tense. Then Evelyn placed a book before them.

“August 12th, Year of the Moon,” she read aloud. “The king decreed that anyone who strikes a high official shall not be killed or banished, but imprisoned for six months.”

Silence fell over the room.

The Chief Judge stood slowly. “I will postpone the ruling. I will send a report to the royal court. Once I receive an answer, I will pass judgment.”

Evelyn glanced at Paul. He met her gaze, his expression unreadable.

Paul’s voice was heavy as he faced Evelyn in the dimly lit room. “Nathan had returned to the School of Heart. Instead of prison, he can hide there until we get word from the royal court.”

He exhaled slowly, his gaze flickering toward the door as if expecting an unseen threat to emerge. The weight of the situation pressed down on him, tightening his jaw.

Evelyn studied him. “You once said I only help slaves because I was one… so how could I stand by?”

Paul exhaled. “I don’t expect you to be someone who holds grudges.”

She left without another word.

The next day, Evelyn walked through the bustling market, the scent of spices and freshly baked bread mixing with the chatter of merchants and buyers. As she moved past a narrow alley, her gaze fell on a young man, his thin hands trembling as he pleaded with a drug seller.

"Please," he begged, his voice raw with desperation. "Just this once, let me take it on credit."

Evelyn’s chest tightened at the sight. Pity swelled in her as she stepped forward, her presence drawing the attention of both the dealer and the boy. Without a word, she reached into her pouch and bought the entire supply of drugs, ignoring the dealer’s smirk as he handed them over. Then, turning to the boy, she said, “Come with me.”

She led him to a small restaurant nearby, where the aroma of hot soup and roasted meat filled the air. He ate in hurried bites, his hollow eyes darting between his plate and the table. Midway through his meal, he paused, his brows knitting together in thought.

“I suddenly remember my friend,” he murmured. “He was with me at the merchant group. He’s always hungry… I hope he’s not starving somewhere.”

Evelyn set down her cup. “I know who you mean. He’s one of those the Chief Judge is still looking for. The Chief Judge has even asked for help from people in Meran Province.”

The boy’s head snapped up. “Meran Province? I don’t think it’s there.”

Evelyn narrowed her eyes. “Do you know something?”

He hesitated as if piecing together a distant memory. “We never knew where we were going, but I overheard something the day we left.” His voice lowered. “They said we were going to go and turn back around.”

Evelyn frowned. “Turn back around? To where?”

The boy swallowed. “To a mountain that is very close.”

A chill ran down Evelyn’s spine. They both lifted their eyes at the same time and whispered in unison.

“The mountains… back to the mountains.”

Meanwhile, inside a dimly lit mountain, the Minister of Tourism and the Minister of Human Resources sat in deep discussion, their faces carefully concealed beneath their hoods. Their conversation was cut short when a spy guard rushed in, his breath uneven.

“The Chief Judge has ordered a search of the mountain,” he announced.

The Minister of Human Resources stiffened. “Stop all operations immediately. Evacuate the mountains.”

His voice dropped as he leaned forward. “There is also a group teaching young people. They call it the School of Heart… and the government knows nothing about it.”

The two ministers exchanged a glance before rising from their seats. Moments later, they arrived at the governor’s office.

“The Chief Judge is failing in his duties,” one of them declared. “There is a hidden school training traitors in military combat. It’s called the School of Heart.”

Without hesitation, the governor ordered an immediate raid.

The School of Heart erupted into chaos as Paul and Nathan scrambled to destroy any evidence that could implicate them. Papers burned in the fire, the scent of charred parchment filling the air.

Then, footsteps.

Nathan’s eyes widened in alarm. “They’re here,” he whispered.

Paul clenched his jaw. “We don’t have much time.”

Nathan grabbed his wrist. “Paul, you must escape!”

“No!” Paul’s voice was raw, defiant. But as the footsteps grew closer, urgency tightened his features. At the last moment, he turned and disappeared into the shadows.

The door burst open. The Minister of Human Resources stepped inside, his eyes cold. Nathan barely had time to react before they seized him.

He was executed on the spot.

The Minister of Human Resources wasted no time. He headed straight to the Chief Judge’s residence, where several ministers sat in quiet conversation.

“You and your daughter-in-law,” he sneered. “Why would you allow a traitor to live? We saw him at the School of Heart—dead. But there are others. Find the remnants of the traitors at once! If the governor finds out about this, you will be held responsible.”

The Chief Judge’s face darkened. He turned to his guard.

“Stop the search at the mountain,” he ordered. Then his voice hardened. “But block all doors to the city. No one goes in or out.”

He rose from his seat, his next command ringing through the hall.

“Check for a heart tattoo on everyone’s back. If they resist… They are traitors. Execute them.”

Paul’s world burned around him.

At Evelyn’s house, she grabbed his arm. “Go. The children are in a safe house. You must go now.”

Paul hesitated. “I cannot stand these false charges—”

The door burst open.

The Chief Judge stood before them. “I’m glad I found both of you.” His voice was deceptively calm. “Show me your shoulder, Paul.”

Paul hesitated.

Evelyn sneered. “He already has the free identification tag?

Paul lifted his chin. “Nathan wasn’t a traitor.”

Paul said. “He gathered people to train them in military skills. What would you have called that?”

The Chief Judge’s eyes darkened. Paul opened his mouth to continue, but before he could finish, the Judge suddenly ripped off his cloak, revealing the heart tattoo on his back.

“Why are you so stupid?” the Judge spat, his fury boiling over.

Then came the slap—sharp, merciless, and final.

The Chief Judge’s patience snapped. He struck Paul across the face. “From now on, you are not my son. If I find you again, I will kill you myself.” leave my house and leave this city.

Soldiers stormed the streets.

Paul and Evelyn ran. The city walls loomed ahead.

“Go inside,” Evelyn begged, pushing Paul toward a small house. “I’ll distract them.”

He hesitated.

“Please.”

Paul slipped inside as the guards approached.

The lead soldier glared at Evelyn. “Why were you running?”

She stood her ground.

“Search the house,” the soldier ordered.

A moment later, they dragged a figure out, searched his back, and found nothing.

Evelyn’s heart stopped.

Wait… did they pull out Paul? Or was it Logan?