Circumstances of the Crimes
The royal treasury is administered by the kingdom, with its management entrusted to the Marquise Candice Laure Weiman.
During a surprise audit, discrepancies were discovered in the accounts, prompting Queen Patricia to initiate a formal inquiry.
Four ladies of the realm, representing various social classes, were appointed to form a commission presided over by the Countess of Artois.
After being questioned on numerous occasions, the Marquise Weiman—following a final, hours-long interrogation—admitted to having embezzled a portion of the royal treasury for her own personal gain.
The funds were used for real estate acquisitions and speculative investments, as well as for the Marquise’s own wardrobe.
Upon presenting its findings to the Queen, the commission recommended that the case be referred to the royal court for the indictment of the Marquise Weiman.
Arrested by order of the Queen, the treasurer—in light of her rank—was placed under house arrest and charged with breach of trust, as well as the misappropriation and embezzlement of royal assets.
trial and Condemnation
The trial of the Marquise Weiman took place over two days, held behind closed doors at the courthouse.
The rapporteur for the commission of inquiry provided testimony, and the Marquise—who appeared while not in custody—reiterated under oath before the judges the confessions she had previously made to the commission.
At the conclusion of the trial, the tribunal ordered the accused to be held in the courthouse dungeons and submitted its verdict to the Queen.
We, the royal tribunal, having sat for two days
To adjudicate the crimes of the Marquise Candice Helena Weiman,
Find the accused guilty of:
Breach of trust against the Queen,
And the misappropriation of royal assets.
We therefore recommend her provisional incarceration
Within the dungeons of the courthouse,
And, as restitution,
That she be taken to the Royal Square
To be beheaded.
Furthermore, we request that the condemned be stripped of her titles
And confined within the fortress
Pending the day of her execution.
Two days later, Queen Patricia—exercising her royal prerogative after convening her council—confirmed the tribunal’s judgment and authorized the stripping of the Marquise’s noble titles. However, she spared the Marquise the ignominy of a public spectacle by directing the tribunal to carry out the execution in private, within the fortress.
That very day, the sentence was pronounced, and Candice Helena Weiman was taken to the fortress.
