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Chapter 187: Trial (3)

“Luon!” a voice called out from outside the prison.

There was commotion.

“I’m sorry, but this is an imperial decree... No one is allowed to enter.”

“Step aside, or I’ll cut your head off first.”

“...”

Intimidated, the captain of the guards reluctantly opened the prison gate. The woman descended the stairs hurriedly, wearing a dress far too ornate for a place like this.

In this situation, only one person would dare defy the emperor’s orders to come and see Luon—the empress herself.

“This is Olivurn’s doing. It must be Olivurn! This is all his plot! Me, poison Kromen?! That’s utterly absurd!” Luon shouted while gripping the bars.

Normally, the bars of the cell would have been infused with mana, preventing the detainee from touching them. Luon wasn’t aware that the warden had done him a small act of mercy.

“I know. I never even thought you would do such a thing,” the empress comforted him.

“He’s different from us, Mother. That wretch... It’s definitely him. That bastard, an illegitimate child with no royal blood, has framed me.”

“It’s obvious to anyone. You said that boy was Kuwell\'s adopted son, didn’t you? An adopted son and an illegitimate child... The rootless are colluding.”

The empress ground her teeth as she looked at Luon’s haggard face.

“What is His Majesty thinking...?”

It was true that the two princes were contending for the throne. However, it was unlikely that they would stage a rebellion while the emperor was still alive. What could have been seen as nothing more than a heated clash between brothers suddenly escalated when the emperor intervened, throwing the balance into disarray.

To think the emperor would side against Luon, the legitimate heir, in favor of Olivurn, a bastard... I can’t believe it.

The empress shook her head in disbelief. Of course, she was unaware that the emperor himself had been poisoned, which explained his drastic actions.

“Luon, don’t worry. I’ll find a way to get you out of here.”

“But...”

“Two of the empire’s dukes support you. Not even the emperor can do as he pleases with you. I’ll make sure nothing happens to you.”

“Mother...”

Luon’s head sagged forward as despair over his predicament washed over him.

“Raise your head,” the empress said firmly. “I will not allow a child born from some nameless woman to take what I have worked for.”

Publicly, Olivurn Shutean was known as the emperor’s son, but it wasn’t much of a secret that only the First and Third Princes carried the empress’ blood.

No one knew who Olivurn’s mother was, despite numerous rumors. Some said she was a maid at the imperial palace, while others claimed she was from a northern tribe, leading the emperor to issue the Extermination Decree of Heresy to cover up his misdeeds.

The truth remained unknown, not that it mattered to the empress. What mattered was that a child not born of her womb was trying to take away what belonged to her real child.

“No matter what it takes, I will restore you to your rightful place,” she declared with a cold, determined gaze.

***

“Let us hear the verdict.”

The nobles gathered in the Sun Hall were clearly exhausted, but at the emperor’s command, they all turned their weary eyes to him.

During the hours of respite, the nobles aligned with Luon and Olivurn had to have been racking their brains on how to steer the trial to their advantage.

This is all for nothing

, Karyl thought as he stood confidently among them. This trial was never meant to favor either of the two princes.

“Your Majesty, may I speak before the verdict?” Chancellor Bryn Ennik stepped forward and bowed.

“Speak.”

“Your Majesty, it concerns the royal bloodline. Prince Luon has garnered the trust of many nobles and has worked tirelessly to ensure the empire’s well-being.”

Brin took a deep breath before continuing, “Illegal dealings in Piasta should indeed be punished, but there is no evidence that Prince Luon used the Twilight poison. Even the empire’s nobles were unaware of its existence.”

He then turned and pointed at Karyl.

“If anyone is to be suspected, it should be him!”

“...!”

At his assertion, murmurs filled the hall, louder than ever before.

“That’s right!”

“How can we trust some rogues from a lawless city!”

“Your Majesty, please reconsider this trial!”

Karyl merely shrugged and laughed at the commotion caused by the vassals. Meanwhile, Lilliana and Hashir stood silently beside him, simply observing.

“I understand.”

The emperor was surprisingly calm.

“I agree with the vassals’ opinions.”

He rubbed his ear as if the clamor was bothering him.

“How can I hold the First Prince accountable without conclusive evidence? However, the names listed in this ledger are guilty of serious crimes, irrespective of Kromen’s death. After all, they disobeyed my orders.”

With that, the emperor lightly shook the worn-out book.

“Whether Twilight or not, disobeying my commands is a crime, whether it’s for perfumes, jewels, ornaments, or just monster taxidermy. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s...”

“I intend to punish them.”

It seemed the emperor had been anticipating the chancellor’s words all along.

“Baron Adrion, Chance, Mevrin...”

At the mention of their names, the pale-faced vassals looked up.

“Viscount Seldon, Zekram...”

“Y-Your Majesty!!”

Two of them stumbled forward onto the carpet, kneeling as they cried out.

“And Count Valdobin,” the emperor called the last name without even glancing at them.

Thud!

He then dropped the ledger onto the floor.

“Personally, I would’ve punished everyone listed here. However, I cannot mercilessly wield the sword against the empire’s vassals. I have shown leniency and only targeted those who traded with the immigrants after the Extermination Decree of Heresy was issued.”

The emperor turned to Bryn Ennik, who seemed unable to speak, piercing him with his icy gaze.

“Chancellor, what punishment is fitting for those who have disobeyed my imperial command?”

Bryn Ennik’s lips were quivering. Those six nobles were all supporting Luon, making it feel like the emperor had deliberately chosen them.

As long as the prince remains in the capital, there is still a chance.

The only consolation was that those nobles were taking the fall instead of Luon.

“The imperial command is sacred. Regardless of rank, their lands should be confiscated, and depending on the severity of their crimes, they should be exiled or executed by beheading.”

“Y-Your Majesty!!”

“Have mercy!!”

The six vassals pleaded with shaky voices.

“Confiscate the lands of all the guilty, including Baron Reige, who’s in prison, and exile them to Drangul for ten years.”

The emperor dismissed them with a wave of his hand, showing no trace of mercy.

“...!!!”

Everyone was horrified by the verdict—Drangul was known as the worst place of exile, infamous for the fact that no one ever came back alive.

“Father.”

Luon ground his teeth. Like the chancellor, he knew that the named individuals were his people. If the emperor proceeded with this verdict, he would lose one-third of his power. It wouldn’t be evident now, with Titan Shutean still on the throne, but this blow could prove decisive in Luon’s future struggle with Olivurn.

What a foolish move. Karyl smirked at Luon. You won’t even get to go against Olivurn.

Karyl found Luon pitiful as he glared at the emperor with fiery eyes.

He’s digging his own grave to avoid dying by my hands.

If he were in Luon’s position, Karyl wouldn’t provoke the emperor any further. For the sake of future plans, conserving the power he had left would be the wise move.

There is a time for pride and a time to be humble. You’re still immature. That’s why you lost to Olivurn.

The status of being the legitimate heir to the throne played a crucial role in garnering support from the nobles. But of what use was that if Luon fell out of the emperor’s favor?

“Your Majesty.”

At that moment, a sharp voice echoed through the hall, prompting everyone to turn their heads.

“Although the sin of defying the imperial command is grave, the vassals, including Count Valdobin, have all contributed greatly to the empire. Sending them all in exile wouldn’t be a suitable decision.”

Karyl instantly recognized the voice of the empress.

Her sudden appearance caused a stir in the hall, but the emperor merely leaned back, looking rather annoyed.

“What brings you here? You’ve never shown interest in political matters before.”

“I must correct a wrong.”

“Are you saying my judgment is flawed?”

“No, Your Majesty. But as the ruler of the empire, I believe it is wise to give them a chance to rectify their mistakes.”

The emperor chuckled softly at her words.

“A chance to rectify their mistakes... How do you propose we do that?”

“Those who deceive the eyes and mislead the heart are wicked, straying from Yula’s grace. Shouldn’t we punish the corrupted immigrant tribes that foster such vices?”

An utterly absurd statement.

“I request that you command them to subdue the north.”

Karyl looked at the empress as if to ask if this was the best idea she had managed to come up with. How could she sound exactly like the emperor? Not long ago, the emperor had also mentioned waging war against the north, even during Kromen’s mourning period.

However, their intentions were entirely different.

Looking at the emperor’s expression as he listened to her, Karyl already knew the answer.

“...What? Corrupt? You crazy wo—!”

Karyl hurriedly covered Lilliana’s mouth.

“Mmph... Mmmpf...!”

Lilliana struggled, trying to shout out, but she couldn’t break free from Karyl’s grip.

“There’s no need for that, Your Majesty.”

Karyl walked forward, passing by Luon.

“You...”

Luon glared at Karyl as if he wanted to devour him.

It’s almost time to leave, Karyl thought as he looked around the Sun Hall, ready to say goodbye, completely uninterested in Luon. These political struggles, this battle of wits—it all started to feel tedious and frustrating to him.

Maybe it’s because I’ve been through so much, or perhaps I’m better at this than I thought, Karyl mused with a smirk, nonchalant at the chaos he had stirred.

Bam!!

At that moment, the doors of the main palace were flung open.

“Your Majesty!!”

A Black Knight, responsible for guarding the capital, burst in.

“What’s with the commotion?”

Sensing the emperor’s irritation, Chancellor Bryn Ennik quickly shouted, “At the entrance of the capital...!”

Despite his rudeness, the knight fearfully looked at Karyl, not the emperor.

Hoorah—!!

A loud cheer echoed from a distance, shaking the ground.

Karyl chuckled softly.

“Hashir.”

“Yes, Master.”

“When we return, instruct everyone that from now on, they are to address me with Lord.”

The people in the hall were confused, unable to tell who was shouting and why it was resonating like that.

“Yes, Lord.”

Hashir knelt before Karyl, as if he had been waiting for this moment.

“You...”

Emperor Shutean frowned at Hashir as he knelt before someone else in his presence.

“Your Majesty.”

This was the moment Karyl had been waiting for.

“Can you hear the cheers?”

Karyl confidently walked past the Absolute Gap to stand directly in front of the emperor. For the first time since entering the Sun Hall, he straightened his back and looked the emperor right in the eye, now on equal footing.

“The northern conquest?” Karyl smirked. “There’s no need.”

The emperor’s face hardened, as if betrayed by a trusted confidant.

Karyl couldn’t help smiling as he saw the emperor’s crumpled expression. It was the most satisfying moment since his return.

“It’s already over.”

It was Karyl MacGovern’s first declaration as a lord.