My Bratty Wife

{ ELIAS BACKSTORY ll }

The "hearing" was a farce. Lord Collin seated like a king, while Elias and Michael stood before the stern-faced parliament. No real investigation was conducted. Lord Collin presented the ring, repeating his accusations of deliberate fraud. He spoke of the insult to his noble house, the attempt to stain their honor.

Elias tried to speak, to explain. "Please, honored Parliament," he begged, his voice thick with desperation. "My father has worked his entire life to build his reputation. Our shop... it’s all we have. My mother is gone, this shop is how we survive. We would never risk it all by selling a fake. There has to be a mistake. The supplier..."

"Silence, boy!" one of the men snapped, his jowls quivering. "You speak of suppliers? Do you take us for fools? Lord Collin, a man of impeccable taste and knowledge, has identified this as a forgery. His word is enough."

"But it’s not true!" Elias pleaded, tears welling in his eyes. "We are innocent!"

Lord Collin watched, a cruel smile hidden behind a feigned expression of sorrow. He had them exactly where he wanted them.

Michael, a man broken by the swift and unfair judgment, stood silently, his shoulders slumped. The fight seemed to have drained out of him. He had always believed in honesty, in the fairness of men. To see it all crumble before his eyes, to be branded a cheat and a liar, was more than he could bear.

The judgment was swift and brutal. "The Parliament finds Michael and Elias guilty of attempting to defraud a noble house and selling falsified goods," the head Parliamentarian declared, his voice cold. "As recompense for this grave offense and to rid our city of such harmful business, their shop and all its contents are to be confiscated and destroyed. Let this serve as an example."

Elias felt his world collapse. "No! Please! It’s our home! Our livelihood! Everything we have!"