There was nothing theatrical about Percy Network.
No sweeping gestures.
No raised voice.
Just quiet confidence.
He inclined his head respectfully toward the Council.
"Your Excellencies."
High Chancellor Magnus Blackwood nodded.
"You may respond."
Percy walked slowly into the centre of the chamber.
"I should begin," he said calmly, "by congratulating Counsel Velos."
Seraphine looked at him without expression.
"She has presented an argument so elegant that, were I less acquainted with the facts, I might almost believe it myself."
A ripple of laughter travelled through the gallery.
Even Seraphine's lips twitched.
"Unfortunately," Percy continued, "beautiful arguments are not always truthful ones."
His gaze shifted toward the Council.
"The learned Counsel has suggested that Miss Night Carter bewitched Mr. Jordan Files."
He paused.
"I should very much like to know when."
Silence.
Percy turned towards Jordan.
"Mr. Files."
Jordan met his eyes.
"Yes?"
"When did you first become acquainted with Miss Carter?"
"The very first day I met her in class ."
"And when did your... affections begin?"
Jordan smiled faintly.
"The same day."
Another murmur.
Percy nodded thoughtfully.
"So."
He turned back to the Council.
"We are expected to believe that within mere hours of arriving in a foreign country, my client..."
He stopped himself and smiled. "I beg your pardon, my learned friend's client."
A few chuckles escaped around the hall.
"...was already under the influence of a sophisticated magical seduction."
He spread his hands.
"Efficient magic."
More laughter.
Magnus Blackwood struck the table once.
The room quieted.
Percy continued.
"Now then."
He looked directly at Seraphine.
"You are familiar with Dark Magian influence?"
"I am." She answered.
"Excellent. Can it compel genuine love?"
Seraphine answered without hesitation.
"No."
"It cannot?"
"It can manipulate attraction. Infatuation. Obsession"
Percy smiled.
"I thank Counsel for her honesty."
He turned slowly.
"The defendants have not confessed to lust. They have confessed to love."
His words echoed across the chamber.
"Those are not identical things."
The spectators shifted uneasily.
Percy continued.
"If Miss Carter merely wished to enchant Mr. Files..."
He looked at me.
"...why spend months hiding the relationship?"
No answer.
"They met in secret.They concealed their meetings.They repeatedly attempted to end the relationship."
His eyes settled on Jordan.
"Mr. Files."
"Yes?"
"Did Miss Carter ever encourage you to reveal your relationship publicly?"
Jordan answered immediately.
"No."
"Did she ever ask you to abandon your career?"
"No."
"Did she ask you for money?"
"No."
"Power?"
"No."
"Status?"
"No."
"What did she ask of you?"
Jordan's expression softened.
"To stay away from her."
The gallery fell silent.
Percy nodded.
"Repeatedly?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Jordan met my eyes.
"Because she believed loving me would kill us."
Percy turned back to the Council.
"If this is seduction..."
He paused.
"...it is unlike any seduction history has ever recorded."
Even several councillors exchanged glances.
Percy was only beginning.
He folded his hands behind his back.
"The prosecution asks this Council to believe that a nineteen-year-old international celebrity..."
He gestured toward Jordan.
"...whose admirers fill stadiums..."
Another gesture.
"...was helpless before one frightened scholarship student who spent most of her time trying to avoid him."
Someone laughed aloud.
Magnus did not silence it this time.
Percy let the amusement settle before speaking again.
"No witness has testified that Miss Carter ever cast a spell."
"No witness has observed magical coercion.No expert has examined Mr. Files. No evidence has been produced beyond fear."
He looked directly at the seven councillors.
"And fear..."
His voice became almost gentle.
"...has never been evidence."
The sentence hung in the air.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Across the chamber, Seraphine Velos watched him with narrowed eyes.
Not angry.
Interested.
She had expected competence.
She had not expected this.
Percy inclined his head respectfully.
"I have no further questions..."
He paused.
"...for now."
As he returned to my side, he caught my eye and offered the smallest reassuring smile.
His fingers brushed the folded bundle of papers Professor Tom had thrust into his hands barely an hour earlier.
He paused.
Just for a heartbeat.
His thumb lingered against the folded pages before he withdrew his hand again.
I frowned.
Whatever Professor Tom had written... Percy still hadn't looked at it.
I wondered whether those forgotten pages would change nothing...
Or everything.