TL/ED – Miso
The trial proceeded quickly.
There was no one to defend , and I had no intention of mounting a proper defense either.
“Is there no argunt to be made?”
“…”
“In that case, I will finalize the verdict.”
Thud. I steeled my resolve as I watched the judge bring down the wooden gavel once.
Still, I needed to show a bit of resistance.
Crimson Circle would be observing the movents of the nobles one way or another. If I accepted the situation too easily, they might grow suspicious.
That was the most crucial part of the entire plan. To keep them from doubting.
To make them truly believe I had been abandoned, and that I was desperate enough to reach out to them.
I had to make them think that way.
“I have sothing to say.”
As I opened my mouth, the judge, who had just been about to bring down the gavel for the second ti, frowned.
“Sothing to say? Are you presenting a defense?”
“It’s not a defense. Whatever I say, the outco of this trial has already been decided, hasn’t it?”
I quietly looked behind . Sharmia wasn’t there, but a Heaven’s Judgent Knight in full armor stood at the back door.
It was Karos. In the small eyes visible beyond the helt, there was an emotion that was hard to describe.
If I had to put it into words, it was sothing like, ‘You’re not seriously going to do it, are you?’
For the record, I am going to do it.
“Because the proud Princess is the one behind all this.”
“…If the remark has nothing to do with the trial, refrain from speaking.”
As I spoke, those familiar with showed various reactions.
Dersia lowered her head and held her forehead.
Ciel looked at with a slight smile, then sighed.
Alletus, closed his eyes, as if he couldn’t bear to watch.
It was all agreed upon in advance. But witnessing it actually happen must have felt different.
“It is related. The only reason I’m standing here is because of her.”
“That’s enough. This trial is-”
“Truly remarkable. Is this the Empire she wishes to create, where a child like is dragged into court? Has the Empire’s law always existed solely for one person?”
Before the judge could bring the gavel down and close the court, I hastily continued.
“At this rate, I can’t even tell who the real ruler is anymore.”
The mont I uttered those sarcasm-laced words,
The noisy courtroom fell completely silent, as if a mouse had died.
“…”
“…Hic.”
Even the judge froze with the gavel still in his hand.
In a room where even the sound of breathing had beco noise, a voice rang clearly inside my head.
[…Jern. Wouldn’t it have been better to tone it down a bit?]
I was about to write my response on Dersia’s back using currents, but upon reconsideration, touching my master’s back freely felt inappropriate, so I replied on the back of her hand instead.
[Why? Look how quiet it got. It’s effective, isn’t it?]
[Even the Princess asked you to dilute that sentence or just hint at the nuance. Including it raw like this is too much of a shock for these nobles.]
[Is it really that harsh?]
If anything, I was worried it might co off like a staged performance of Go-Stop because the insult was too soft.
I didn’t have ti to hear the full aning behind such a minor detail. Dersia let out a sigh, as if she had expected this, and answered.
[Princess Sharmia is currently in a very unusual situation. She is freely wielding powers that rightfully belong to the Emperor, and while that would normally constitute treason, the Emperor has granted her permission… so the situation has beco quite complicated.]
[I don’t really see the problem. Isn’t she just using power under the Emperor’s permission? It’s not like she’s so random low-tier noble. She’s a Princess, what’s there to nitpick about?]
[If we dig deep into it, it gets complicated, so I’ll keep it simple. The Emperor’s permission is essentially the complete transfer of authority, aning the Princess can now do the sa thing.]
[…What?]
[As of now, the Princess has the authority to transfer the Imperial power to soone else, not her child, not even soone of her own blood.]
[But can’t the Emperor do that too?]
[No. The Emperor can only pass on power to mbers of his bloodline. But since Sharmia has inherited the Emperor’s authority, and she is not the Emperor herself, she is not bound by that restriction. In other words, she can pass her power on to soone unrelated by blood.]
[Hmm… sounds complicated. I still don’t see why that’s a problem.]
[Let make it simpler. If Sharmia were to marry now and pass that authority to her partner, for the first ti in the Empire’s history, soone not of the royal bloodline would stand above all.]
Soone who is not the Emperor’s child… becoming Emperor of the Empire.
That idea carried such imnse weight that even Dersia hesitated to say it out loud.
[…Would she really do such a thing?]
[Absolutely not. She would never do such a thing, even if she died. But the fact that it’s possible is the problem. The re fact that she can wield such absurd authority is why the nobles are quietly avoiding the topic at all costs. And now, you’ve ripped apart that taboo and laid it bare for everyone to see.]
[Hmm…]
I thought for a mont, then shrugged.
[Even better, actually.]
[What?]
[At this level, the nobles will definitely start talking. Probably before the day’s even over, Crimson Circle will conclude that I’ve crossed an irreversible line with the Princess.]
[You, too, have crossed a point of no return. If you ever want to return to the Empire, you’ll not only need an Imperial edict, but also a proper noble title and a public reconciliation with the Princess over a certain period. Are you prepared for that?]
[I was already prepared. But… Alletus-nim won’t face any consequences because of this, right?]
[…We’ve made it seem like Alletus was the one who reported you, so it should be fine.]
In that case, there’s nothing to worry about.
Even after my long conversation with Dersia, the judge, who had been frozen stiff for quite so ti, finally ca to his senses and frantically slamd the gavel.
“L-life imprisonnt! The sentence is life imprisonnt, and the court is adjourned! Arrest that traitor imdiately!”
It was a rushed and clumsy move, but no one objected.
The soldiers, seeming eager to get out of there as quickly as possible, hurriedly escorted out, and I was taken away again without even getting the chance to say goodbye to the others.
As she watched the back of my head disappear, Dersia spoke one last sentence.
[Jern, I know you’re already aware, but no matter the situation, rember this, there’s nothing more important than your life.]
I didn’t reply.
Because I fully agreed with that.
*
The day the verdict was delivered. At dawn, when the moon was highest in the sky.
I looked around the much grimr prison cell.
It was a tiny solitary cell, so small that even a child of eleven would bump into the wall after two steps.
A narrow, barred window high above let in a faint torchlight, and the cell was so deep underground that not even the sound of footsteps could be heard.
If I had to compare it, it felt like I’d been locked in a roadside sewer.
They must’ve decided I wasn’t even worth any decent treatnt anymore. Even the workshop key had been taken, and now I had nothing left but my robe. I looked up at the ceiling, the only entrance, and pulled a red necklace from my robe.
No one else could see it. Dersia had said it was enchanted with top-tier perception-interference magic.
Perception-interference magic by a 9-Star wizard.
“Hmm.”
But… how do I even use this thing?
Dersia, after examining it, remarked that it seed more like a biological tissue than any kind of magic tool, and concluded that it was beyond her jurisdiction.
Since it was a necklace, I tried wearing it. I figured maybe it would work if I spoke while wearing it.
And then.
-Ssshh…
“…?”
The necklace turned to ash and disappeared.
Stunned for a mont, I wondered if this was Crimson Circle’s way of mocking , but then the ashes rose into the air as if they were alive.
Maybe this was how it worked. A signal to inform them, and then they’d co to rescue .
In that case, all that was left was to wait.
Leaning against the wall of the nearby prison cell, I recalled the question I had been most curious about since this plan was first ford.
‘How will they co?’
One thing was certain, Decay wouldn’t miss this opportunity. That much I was sure of.
If he went so far as to seek out and give a necklace to try and recruit , then with this rift forming between and the Princess, he would absolutely seize the chance.
The question was just that.
How?
This was the middle of the Capital, specifically, the most heavily guarded prison.
A frontal assault was unthinkable as long as Dersia was here. They would have to contact by so other thod, and I was deeply curious to see how.
Judging by how Decay ca to the library before, he certainly wasn’t lacking in thods.
As I leaned against the wall and let my imagination run wild, I suddenly heard the clacking sound of footsteps.
“…That was fast.”
The necklace had just turned to ash, and not even three minutes had passed before footsteps echoed through the space. It wasn’t even ti for the guards’ patrol.
Truly terrifying people. Shocked by Crimson Circle’s speed and precision, I looked up.
And saw sothing I never expected.
Red hair.
“Ho, so you’re actually locked up.”
“…Princess Lumia?”
The face crouching down was soone I knew.
Princess Lumia was Crimson Circle?
No, that couldn’t be right. Dumbfounded, I asked Lumia, who was peering down at with curiosity.
“What brings you here?”
“I heard you were imprisoned, so I ca to see your face.”
“…Huh?”
She ca to see ?
I tilted my head in confusion, since I didn’t have much of a connection with Princess Lumia. She quickly added in a sowhat defensive tone,
“I need to see how the end turned out for soone who didn’t heed my warning.”
“A warning?”
“I told you, didn’t I… that you’d pay dearly if you got involved with my sister.”
“Ah.”
She hadn’t exactly said that, but she did clearly show that she didn’t like Sharmia. Though, strangely, Sharmia seed fond of Lumia.
Back then I brushed it off, but now that I think about it, maybe it wasn’t just about ambition. Perhaps she felt so of that unique, mysterious aura that Prophets have while living together as sisters.
Lumia crossed her arms triumphantly and continued speaking.
“Look at you now. Sentenced to life imprisonnt, your entire future snatched away. This is the fate of those associated with the First Princess, Sharmia. That’s simply how it ends.”
“Yes. As expected, it is you, Princess Lumia, who truly deserves the Emperor’s throne.”
“…! Do not speak such things so lightly!”
Thinking she wanted to be praised, I offered so flattery, but she panicked and looked around to see if anyone had overheard.
What the hell is she really here for? I was wondering that when Lumia let out a sigh and said sothing completely unexpected.
“Haa… Talking to you gives a headache. I’ll get to the point. If you wish, I can get you out.”
“…What?”
“I won’t say it twice. I an I’ll overturn the life imprisonnt. Even though compared to Sister, my authority is like a feather, I can at least manage to extract one prisoner.”
“Ah, I understand what you’re saying.”
And yet she said she wouldn’t repeat it, but ended up saying it twice.
“It would be great for , of course, but why the sudden generosity? I don’t understand Princess Lumia’s intentions in showing rcy.”
“Hmph, it’s simply to repay a favor.”
Lumia answered coldly, then conjured a fla in her hand.
-Whoosh! The intense fla lit up the dark prison cell as if it were midday.
“I heard you lent your master. I don’t know how you managed to borrow that Dersia, but thanks to that, I made a lot of progress.”
“Congratulations.”
“Helping ans you are entitled to receive sothing of equal value. And since I achieved even a slight improvent, it holds value equal to your life, so saving you is within reason.”
I scanned the rude-speaking Lumia with current sense.
Her slightly quickened heartbeat told she wasn’t lying.
She was also wearing the dagger I had given her- well, technically, the one Alletus gave , which I then passed on. Judging by how she wore no other accessories, she must’ve liked it quite a bit.
In other words, there was no other reason.
This rude Princess had truly co here to save .
Even as I felt a warm sensation in my heart, a jolt of lightning struck my head.
I realized, this could be useful.
“…Princess Lumia.”
“What is it? Ah, but I can’t get you out right now. Your earlier remarks were too extre, though personally, I enjoyed them. They were accurate, too. It just takes so ti to smooth things over. You’ll only need to stay here for about two weeks.”
“May I perhaps receive compensation for that teaching in another form?”
To prepare a hidden blade for whatever unexpected situation might co.
“…What?”
Lumia tilted her head, looking puzzled.
“Another form? If you don’t accept this offer now, you’ll be stuck here for the rest of your life. Even if you get sothing else out of it, what use could it possibly be?”
“I beg you. There is sothing I must receive from you, Princess Lumia.”
“What is it?”
“From now on, every ti you et , please ask one question. Just ask if things are better than before.”
“…??”
Lumia still didn’t understand.
I wasn’t much different. This was a safeguard, prepared against a truly absurd possibility.
Even I, who was setting it up, couldn’t help but wonder if it was really necessary.
“Why sothing like that?”
“Because I want to talk with you for a little longer, even if just a bit.”
Which was why the reason had to be this weak, this ridiculous.
“Wha…!”
Lumia’s face flushed red in apparent anger, and her body trembled, but then she slowly nodded.
“F-fine. On top of getting you out of there, I’ll grant you this special favor.”
“I am grateful for your vast rcy. Truly, you are a Princess of elegance.”
“Ugh… you-”
“Yes?”
“…Never mind. I’m leaving now.”
“Please go safely.”
As she stepped backward and left the cell, I was alone once again.
For about ten minutes, I sat with the silence.
Praying that what I had just done would end up being completely useless.
As I swallowed dryly and rubbed my neck,
-Squeak, squeeak.
From the floor, a cellmate even less welco than Lumia appeared.
A plump-looking sewer rat. I scowled and moved aside, but it wasn’t just one rat.
Then three. Then six.
It grew to ten in the blink of an eye.
“Ugh.”
The rats, now swarming so thickly there was no space to step, suddenly began biting each other.
-Screech!
-Squeak, skreee!
Blood splattered.
Now drenched in blood, the writhing rats crawled toward the wall of the cell, and carved letters into it.
It wasn’t long. Just one word.
[L i e d o w n.]
“…”
Even before the last character was finished, I lowered my body.
-Sq, squeak, squeeak…!
-BOOM!
The rats that carved the word exploded with a small bang.
-Ssssshh… Beyond the lted wall, I saw a small hole.
Slimy and disgusting, filled with rat blood, a cramped hole just big enough for an 11-year-old child to squeeze through.
Without a word, I grabbed the remains of the rats using a current and wrote other words on the adjacent wall.
[C a n ‘ t y o u w i d e n i t a b i t ?]
Unfortunately, no reply ca.
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