Maren placed the thick file on Austin's desk. Inside were the records of everything Audrey had done against Alina throughout the months with every detail and every evidence they could find.
Austin read the pages slowly while Alina sat beside him, her hand resting gently on his arm.
"It's strong," Austin said after reading it.
"But it's not strong enough," Maren replied. "The file relies on witness statements and pattern analysis. It is convincing but it's not definitive proof."
Austin frowned.
"Audrey will tell a different story with the same facts. Every witness can be challenged. Servants are unreliable, and patterns alone are just interpretation," Maren stepped forward and tapped the edge of the file.
"And I'm sure she must have been preparing her own defense. She knows we've been investigating. By the time this reaches the king, Audrey will have counter-witnesses and alternative explanations."
