"The trial will be presided over directly by the palace envoy…"
Upon hearing that, Nolan and Aston were taken aback.
"Duke Austin, are you serious about this? How can the palace interfere? Didn't you say earlier that they wouldn't?" Aston asked in surprise, his brows furrowed.
Their confidence in winning the trial rested on two things: the Austin family's support and the assurance that the Imperial Palace would not intervene.
Nolan had even guaranteed that the Emperor would stay out of it and leave everything to Alvaron, the head of the eastern region.
But now, with this sudden turn of events, their carefully prepared plan was on the verge of collapse.
Alvaron took a sip of his tea and smiled wryly. "I don't know either, Marquis Valmire. Earlier, I confirmed that the palace would not interfere. Yet somehow, a letter arrived stating that they would send an envoy to oversee the trial."
"If I refuse, His Majesty will surely suspect me of rebellion. I cannot take that risk."
