Today's the trial.

Due to Zachary's fame in Avebury, almost everyone, especially the elites attended the trial, all flaunting their own extravaganza.

Zachary sat on the front row together with his appointed lawyer and Seraphina.

All throughout the trial, all while Zachary was questioned in front, Seraphina's heartbeat so fast, her palms sweaty, beads of sweat rolling down on her temple.

Seraphina looked behind her, there she saw Aunt Veronica, dressed in a cream gown, giving her and her godson an encouraging smile but Seraphina knew her aunt was nervous.

Who wouldn't be? Almost everyone here knows Zachary is guilty. With all the malicious deaths near his manor and now this? No doubt he is guilty.

In fact, they're only here to simply witness the so-called-golden-boy's downfall. Not that they loathe the poor man, they are merely curious and excited for some drama or two.

However, of course, they pity the painter. First, he lost his father in a tragic accident on the ship. Next, his mother and his brother died of the same illness.

Despite her plan, Seraphina is still nervous. At the back of her mind, she repeatedly recited her prayer, begging God that everything will go well according to her plan.

Seraphina's fingers are intertwined with Zachary's fingers, their hands both cold. When the judge, a man in his seventies, ordered Zachary to stand up and take a seat in the front, Seraphina's heart began to race, never letting his hand go.

It got to the point where all the people inside the court including the judge judgingly stared at her.

With that, she forced herself to let his hand go, all before Zachary squeezed her hand, mouthing the words, "Everything will be okay,"

All Seraphina could ever do is nod as she watched him go to the front, as the authorities questioned him.

Throughout the questioning, Zachary dared not to say a word. Not even a single syllable. He simply sat there, staring back at those who questioned him.

There were endless murmurs around the crowd. Everyone began to worry, including her. What is he doing?

When she looked back at her aunt, Aunt Veronica was already sobbing, a yellow handkerchief in her hand. The rest of the crowd were shaking their heads.

After a few more unanswered questions, they gave up and ordered Zachary to go back to his seat beside her and his frustrated lawyer.

As soon as he sat down beside her, Seraphina badly wanted to shake his shoulders, scream at him, and ask him why'd he do that. Why can't he simply tell the truth? That he is innocent. Sure, he beat the crap out of the guy but he didn't kill him.

Seraphina was on the verge of expressing her anger towards Zachary when the questioning began once again.

When her emerald eyes went in front of her, that's when she realized she needed to pay attention to one of the witnesses, the one in the pub, the one whom she paid.

The owner of the pub, now dressed in a suit, compared to a tattered shirt the other night, began narrating what happened that night.

Her heart beating faster, her hand squeezing Zachary's hand, she listened to every word the man uttered, "Tell you the truth, it was all a mistake. Flemming, the one who died, is one hell of a loyal customer of mine, that fella never missed a day, tell you, and so, when I ascertained he died, and the authorities questioned us, I decided to pinpoint Mr. Canning here,"

Seraphina sensed Zachary was stunned at what the pub owner was saying, still, he remained quiet.

He stopped momentarily. Gulped down before continuing, "Why? Well, let's just say I hold grudges for Mr. Canning here. You see, he visited the pub right before the accident and I tried persuading him to take a woman or two upstairs, if you, fellas know what I mean, but man, Mr. Canning here is one hell of a hard guy to pursue, refusing my offer,"

The lawyer, walking back and forth, hands behind his back, asked, "And why'd you think of that?"

"'Course I was damn annoyed, and an excuse for my word, ladies. I knew the instant Mr. Canning came into my pub, the fella was loaded, meaning, if he happened to play around my girls for an hour or so, we'd surely earn a fortune but no," he answered, shrugging.

"After that, I told the guys to beat Mr. Canning here, explaining the presence of those wounds of his,"

" Thank you, Mr. Sanderson, that would be enough," the lawyer stated, eyeing as Sanderson rose from his seat.

Seraphina knew the pub owner was staring down at her, perhaps checking if she's satisfied with him but she avoided her gapes. Pretending to be pretty busy with her uncolored nails.

The next one is the prostitute, the one who told her about bugging Zachary and all.

Unlike before, she is no longer wearing a fitted gown, in fact, this one she's wearing looks marvelous, it pretty suits her. She must've used the money to purchase a fine gown like this. Her once dirty blond hair is now neatly tied up.

"Good day, Ms. Asher," greeted the lawyer, nodding. Ms. Asher merely nods back.

"Could you please tell us what happened the night Mr. Flemming was found dead?"

"Mr. Flemming is a loyal customer of mine. Every now and then, he and I would go play," she stated, chuckling.

"While waiting for Mr. Flemming to arrive, Mr. Canning here went to the pub for the first time, and with that, I instantly knew he had a big pocket, bigger than Mr. Flemming, God rest his poor soul," she added.

"I've tried forcing Mr. Canning here but he remained persistent to the point he got annoyed and simply walked away, just minutes before Mr. Flemming came barging into the pub," she concluded.

"Are you implying that Mr. Canning and Mr. Flemming had never met?" The lawyer asked, his brow raising.

"Yes, that's what I am saying," answered Ms. Asher.

"and that Mr. Zachary Canning is innocent?"

"As much as I want to say otherwise, yes, that poor bloke is innocent. Hell, he was not in the pub when Mr. Flemming died," she answered.

After that, the rest of the witnesses, the ones she paid at the pub, were each questioned. The lies were perfectly weaved together.

And that concluded the questioning.

The jury at the back of the court began discussing loudly. Seraphina got all paranoid. Perhaps, her plan didn't go well. She cannot afford Zachary spending the rest of his days in the gallows.

She looked at Zachary whose eyes alternated between the jury and her. She knew Zachary knew something amiss. Why would they even lie about everything?

Why would they not mention Zachary beating Mr. Flemming to the point the guy swam in his own pool of blood. Not to mention how he's present in the pub during that time.

Looking at Seraphina, he knew she had something to do with this. He was about to open his mouth, question her when suddenly, she rose from her seat, saying, "Your honor, I request permission to add more information regarding Mr. Canning's whereabouts during that night,"

The judge simply looked at her for a second before nodding, "request granted,"

This time, it's Zachary's turn to grip her hand but she swiftly shook his handoff.

Legs turning into jelly, she went straight in the chair in front, feeling all intimidated by the stares of the crowd.

The judging stares of the elites, the nervous and confused look of her aunt and lastly, the unreadable expression of her Zach.

Coughing, she began to narrate what happened, well, at least in her mind.

"Mr. Canning is no doubt innocent regarding Mr. Flemming's death since no way would be able to kill Mr. Flemming with him being at my side that night, us all alone together," she shakingly stated, her lips trembling, her palms sweaty.

She dared not to look at the faces of the crowd, for sure, they're all in total shock.

Still, she could perfectly hear the gasps of the crowd. Indeed, it is scandalous. Her being with Zachary unchaperoned in the night.

Seraphina did not even bother sparing a glance at her aunt since for certain, she is angry.

Regarding Zachary, she's afraid of his reaction so it's best not to look at him.

"Care to elaborate more, Ms. Hearts?"

"Mr. Canning and I have a romantic relationship. That's that. I spend the night in his room and vice versa,"

Even the jury, the lawyer, and the judge were all in deep shock.

"You, Ms. Hearts, an unmarried young woman, fresh out of the schoolroom spending her nights with Mr. Canning here, a bachelor?" the lawyer clarified, her voice filled with utmost surprise.

She knew she needed to say something much more scandalous. A statement that no doubt tells she is no way telling a lie since it'll be an embarrassment to even utter it. Let alone confess it to the whole time.

"He and I broke God's commandments. We had engaged in premarital sex," hollered Seraphina, louder than intended.

This is what desperation does to her.

If the crowd was holding a stone, they would've surely thrown it to her judging from their horrid stares.

One even had the nerve to have done the sign of a cross. Seraphina was torn between laughing and getting annoyed.

Seraphina simply bit her lips when her emerald eyes met the blazing blue eyes of Zachary, she knew she's in deep trouble.

She could tell he isn't liking anything she's saying.

Why? Can't he see? She's doing all this just to save his ass.

She doesn't care if her reputation is all in ruins. What's important for her is him not rotting away in some stinky prison.

"So it's entirely impossible for Mr. Canning to have met the man, even worse, kill him since Zachary and I are doing you know," she added. She's desperate. All she wants is for the jury to believe her and get on with it.

"Thank you, Ms. Hearts, that would be enough," uttered the lawyer. With that, Seraphina quickly rose from her seat and went back beside Zachary.

She could tell dozens and dozens of pairs of eyes are staring at her, judging her. Well, whatever.

So what if they thought an innocent young woman whose life revolves around academics isn't entirely true?

As soon as she sat down, Zachary wrapped his arms around her hard, all while the crowd was cooking.

Seraphina found herself returning the embrace, "Hope you're okay with it,"

Zachary broke the embrace, held both her cheeks and frustratingly exclaimed, "I am so pissed at you, Sep, look what you've done. Your reputation is completely ruined,"

Shrugging, she responded, "Nah, good reputations are to the the mainstream,", earning her a chuckle from him.

" You are so, so, so stupid, my beautiful dear Sep," Zachary firmly said, still holding her cheeks, his eyes filled with passion and love.

"I could kiss you right now, Sep, if only there are no eyes boring right into us, downright judging us," Zachary jokingly said, his thumb rubbing across her cheek.

"Then do it, we'll be a perfect scene of a Shakespeare'sss work," suggested Seraphina, laughing.

Zachary doesn't need to be told twice, and so, his chapped lips came crashing down her lips.

And they're right. Dozens of gasps in different pitches can be heard.

And so, considering the impossibility that a wealthy beautiful woman like her endanger her reputation for the mere sake of a man, the jury verdict Zachary as not guilty.

After the trial, Aunt Veronica kept on rambling about how this is a scandal, but still grateful for her niece for rescuing Zachary.

Aunt Veronica, as soon as she saw her favorite godson is not surrounded with armed fellas anymore, she went straight to him and embraced him, causing all to glance at them and shake their heads.

Who would not be? She just went straight to a man who seriously ruined a young woman's reputation.

"Care to explain all that happened back there?" " Whispered Zach in Seraphina's ears as they headed straight to the carriage, his arms around her shoulders, the elites shaking their heads, whispering to one another.

She only smiled at him as a reply and pecked his cheek.

Never would she tell him about what she did. Paying the witness a large sum of money to control the truth.

Especially when he ascertained that she spent all her down at that. Leaving her completely penniless.

"Now, let's make this whole premarital sex come true," whispered Zachary in her ears, mildly biting her earlobe along the way, causing her to redden.