Britannia District Court

The man sighed. "Do you wanna go to prison?"

Zared swallowed and laughed. "I planned to be dead, sir. A couple years of imprisonment is nothing compared to that."

All the man could do was facepalm.

Zared finished his sandwich. "Whether I live or die, I don't care. I'm telling them what happened."

Zane shrugged. "Perhaps. That's up to him. Sorry, Anisette, but how he testify isn't helping his case."

He patted her shoulder. "It seems like he's going in for the kill. I can't do a thing to remedy that. Besides, Britannia is observing our movement, our actions; we have to push through with this."

Anisette nodded silently. "I understand. We can't do a thing to help him if he won't help himself," she said. "You're absolutely right. Britannia first... above all else."

Zared got up and wiped his mouth with a tissue.

"Don't try to make what I say sweeter then it is. I will still need your help though"

Zared looked to a clock on the wall. "Our recess is almost over"

[sorry, i forgot...]

"Yes," he said after a while, looking at her. He didn't want to make it sound so insensitive but there were no other way. "That's right; duty above all else. This is... the deal between us two, after all."

She was a noble - she had to bar the standards high. And as her butler, he had to ensure this, even if he comes out seemingly uncaring.

A bell sounded.

"Time to go back in"

Zared got up and stretched. He forgot he even had a right hand, and felt as if it was natural.

But he always did remember when he looked back on memories.

He went back in.

At that reminder, what else could she do? She had straighten out her priorities.

Anisette smiled. "Yes, I understand. And that is my priority." But the answer was immediate. Her loyalty lies in Britannia, in the nobility of the House Michaels.

A bell sounded. "I will testify as you would," she nodded. "Under Britannia's scrutiny, I'll still do what I can to help him. I'm going to clean this mess up."

Zane nodded. "You're free to do that, lady Anisette," he smirked. "I don't care about him, and if that's what it takes to maintain the stability of your priorities, then do as you wish."

He bowed a bit, and gestured for her to walk first, towards the court room. "But don't go out of your way. Don't you dare put yourself in trouble on his account."

Zared went and took his seat again, waiting for the trial to continue. As he looked at his stump of a arm, he chuckled a little before looking back up, serious.

"Giving up on life. Psssssh. How silly of me" He muttered under his breath.

Don't you dare? He was serious, and he was saying this not as the butler Zane but as the real head of the House. It was an order, if anything and she nodded.

"Yes, I shan't."

After that was silent. They walked back in the courtroom and waited for the judge to arrive.

He was glad the point seemed to have crossed her and that she mulled on it seriously.

Zane was silent and kept quiet. If he was to talk, it was to be when he's testifying. Till then, he had no want to utter anything.

As he saw Anisette and Zane take their seats again, Zared watched the judge sit back in his spot, giving everyone a chance to settle down.

(Sorry, I would have no idea what to say for the Judge XD ^^

The judge slammed his gavel and announced the break was over.

It was then when the prosecution and the defense discussed to their client and witnesses respectively. And the judge asked for the next witness.

The prosecutor nodded. "The next person to testify would be the head butler of Lady Anisette," he said. "He was the last person to talk to the accused."

Zane stood up almost instantaneously. He walked towards the witness' stand and awaited further questioning.

"Witness, please state your name and profession."

"Zane," he said. "I'm the head butler of the House Michaels and bodyguard of the Lady Anisette."

Zared smiled just a little, which was hardly noticeable.

If he knew anything about Zane, it was that mercy was the last thing he would give. Zared awaited to hear how Zane answered the questions

Anisette stole a glance over the defendant's table and saw Zared... smiling? It was slight and hard to notice but she could've sworn she saw a smile.

Then the judge's voice woke her from her thoughts.

"Zane? Just Zane?" the judge asked. "What about your surname?"

Zane closed his eyes.

"Yes, your honor," he replied after a while. "Just Zane."

He was thinking on how he was going to shape this testimony to the best and efficient way for everyone. There was Anisette's request, his duty for Britannia and his personal preference.

"Is there any problem with just being Zane, your honor?"

Zared looked towards Zane. No sur name? That was.... strange. Or different. Maybe both.

Zared was curious, but didn't question it, and waited

Anisette worried. If the judge pressed on, it wouldn't be good. So she nudged the prosecutor beside her. "He's just Zane," she murmured. "Stop the issue now, please.."

The prosecutor looked at her. "But my lady, the court needs his full identification..."

The judge shook his head. "It is impossible to not have a surname, Zane. We are in court and it is in the law to state your full name."

Anisette clasped her hands.

Zane sighed inwardly. How irritating.

"I do not have a surname because I am unaware of who my parents are," he said. "So I wouldn't know what could possibly it. Hence, I've been just Zane my whole life." It was a lie but he could care less at this point.

"Does that explanation suffice?" he crossed his arms. "I cannot give you something I do not have."

"That makes sense" Zared thought to himself, easily fooled. Zared didn't even think of all the reasons it could be a lie.

He was still confused as to how Zane had no surname. He shrugged it off

Anisette breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Good work, Zane!" she murmured.

The judge nodded, fooled as well.

"All right. Please testify."

"Hm," he thought for a while.

"The morning of that incident, the young lady was still in bed and I was tending to my duties. Zared was there, and as a new servant, he was unaware of how things went so I went to see him in his quarters and told him to get ready for the Duke's ball. He was the footman so he had to come.

A few moments later, a messenger came and both Zared and I went to attend to it. The messenger then bolted into the villa, saying that the Duke's ball was a fluke.

Zared took off and went to his knightmare. I went to fetch the ojou-sama and we escaped."

So far Zane was laying it on light. He was just stating the known facts.

Zared spaced out a little, thinking back on things. He quickly snapped back to reality and waited.

Anisette felt a bit relieved. He hadn't said anything that could press Zared.

She watched as the judge and the prosecutor waited for Zared's defense lawyer to start on his cross-examination.