TPWTM 26

Karon Chevinelle stood in the prisoner’s dock with his hands in iron shackles. His face was gaunt from his time in prison, and he was disheveled, wearing only a white shirt and trousers without his cloak and uniform, but the spirit befitting a knight was still there.

To think he could maintain such a composed expression when this could be the place of his death, and even his own father had fled. He should have just thrown everything away and run away himself. Jonathan hid his troubled feelings and raised the gavel.

Bang! Bang!

“The trial will now begin!”

As soon as Jonathan spoke, another judge rose and raised his voice.

“The charges against Karon Chevinelle will now be announced to everyone in this court. Answer whether you admit to the charges!”

Karon Chevinelle closed his eyes. The judge held up a document and shouted.

“Is it true that you participated in the raid on Enenberg in the east, supported the rioters, and procured and delivered slush funds?”

Karon did not answer. At that moment, one of the council nobles raised his hand and shot to his feet.

“There is evidence.”

The court officials who were on standby delivered the documents to the judges. Jonathan, having already read it, received it and skimmed through it again. The noble said.

“A part of the secret ledger that recorded the slush fund deliveries has been discovered. It was at the eastern riot forces’ base, indicating that they were sent on multiple occasions in relation to this……”

The enumeration of charges and the corresponding evidence continued. The more they dug, the more charges and crimes emerged, followed by the submission of evidence from the nobles claiming to prove them. It was as if the nobles were trying to pin all the corruption they had committed onto the Chevinelle family on this occasion. The trial went on for a long time.

“……In accordance with this, Karon Chevinelle is sentenced to the highest penalty of the law for the assassination of a royal family member, illegal acquisition of profits, murder of a noble, participation in a riot, insurrection, and treason.”

After speaking, Jonathan glanced once at the empress. She was fanning herself nonchalantly. Jonathan noticed that the slight upward curl of her lips signified her satisfaction.

The courtroom, filled to the brim with people, fell silent at the final sentencing. Jonathan swallowed dryly and scanned his surroundings with his eyes before raising the gavel. If he were to strike it now, the crimes would be confirmed as Karon Chevinelle’s, and he would be sentenced to the highest penalty of the law. Death.

Not only Karon Chevinelle, but also Kanes Chevinelle and his wife, Munez Chevinelle, would have charges attached to them, becoming a karmic debt that would follow them for the rest of their lives no matter how they fled. They would live their entire lives as criminals in this empire.

Karon Chevinelle remained silent with his eyes closed, offering no words or objections. Ahem, clearing his throat, Jonathan raised the gavel high, about to strike it down.

At that moment, a low voice echoed through the silent courtroom.

“I object.”

The gavel stopped in mid-air. Everyone’s gaze turned to one place.

Platinum blonde hair, a pale-looking white face. The man who had raised his hand was someone no one could say they did not know. Yurik Windsor. The one with the deepest relationship with Karon Chevinelle.

A murmur began to spread through the people. Yurik slowly rose from his seat, pushed through the seated people, and came to the front of the prisoner’s dock. The Blue Barrier knights who were on guard blocked his way, but a knight from the Vast Glory Order who was with them subtly cleared a path for Yurik. Yurik gave a slight nod to express his thanks and walked towards Karon with resolute steps.

Step, step.

Amidst the murmuring crowd, only the sound of his footsteps echoed with unusual clarity. Stopping in front of Karon, Yurik quietly gazed at him. Karon, who had his eyes closed, slowly lifted his eyelids.

Bright blue eyes and golden eyes met. Karon broke into a smirk.

“It’s been a while, husband.”

Yurik’s brow furrowed at the smooth greeting. Yurik rebuked him in a low voice.

“Are you happy running away?”

“I didn’t run away.”

“You did run away, didn’t you. Abandoning someone. If you just leave like that, who’s going to say they like it and that it’s over?”

At Yurik’s quiet anger, Karon smirked once more.

“It was a contract marriage anyway, Yuri.”

“……Ha, so, you don’t care if it ends like this?”

“It’s dangerous, Yuri. Stop it.”

“Is that what you thought?”

“It is, Yuri.”

Yurik pressed his lips firmly together. Karon took a step closer to Yurik. The iron chains on his shackles moved, making a clanking sound.

“Do you love me?”

Karon tried to take another step toward Yurik, but the chains did not permit it. Halted with a clank, Karon, still bound, asked again.

“Do you love me?”

Yurik blinked. Karon smiled with a sorrowful face. Yurik bit his lip hard, stared at Karon, then turned his head to look at the judges and the council president. In the seat of honor above them, the empress was glaring at Yurik. Yurik looked straight at the empress and opened his mouth.

“I object. All the charges brought against the Chevinelle family are not true.”

“What is the meaning of this in a sacred courtroom!”

“This is a matter that has been formally referred with evidence! This is no place for someone like you to interfere!”

“Can you take responsibility for your words!”

The judges rose in outrage and yelled. Thanks to them pointing fingers and shouting, the onlookers also began to chime in one by one.

Even for Yurik Windsor, this was too much. What is this spectacle in the middle of a trial? As the chattering voices grew louder, Jonathan wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and raised his hand. After silencing the excited judges and spectators, he opened his mouth.

“Sir Yurik Windsor. Your intention to consider the honor of your family is highly commendable, but this is not an act for honor. The charges are certain, and the evidence is certain. Its vile truth has already been revealed to all.”

“Is it enough as long as the evidence is certain?”

“What did you say?”

“I am asking, is it enough as long as the evidence is certain.”

“What evidence are you talking about?”

“I will make an accusation in this very court.”

Yurik took a scroll from his breast pocket and handed it to the court official in front of him. The court official took it with a reluctant expression and, as he unrolled and read it, his face gradually turned to one of shock. He glanced at Yurik with a very flustered look, then hurriedly ran up to the council president’s seat. Jonathan scowled and looked at the court official.

“What is it?”

“Th-that is.”

The court official hesitated, then whispered in Jonathan’s ear.

“It is an accusation of… Her Majesty the Empress’s… t-treason.”

Jonathan’s eyes widened as he snatched the paper the court official was holding and read it. As he read the paper Yurik had submitted with a flustered expression from the council president’s seat, the people began to grow restless, wondering what was going on. One of the judges, eyeing the situation, cautiously prodded Jonathan.

“Mr. Council President, what is it about? Do not waste time on such nonsense. Please deliver the verdict quickly.”

Jonathan kept his lips firmly shut and remained silent for a moment. From a distance, the empress’s gaze was piercing his back. With it, the nape of his neck felt cold. He could not ignore this as it was. It was because the names of the First Prince Lazhwell and Prime Minister Evan were included on the accuser’s statement!

Jonathan broke out in a cold sweat and swallowed dryly.

“Th-this is……”

“Mr. Council President!”

The other judges, not knowing the gravity of the situation, urged Jonathan on. Jonathan raised his head and looked at Yurik.

“Is this real?”

“Would I make a false accusation?”

“If you don’t have certain evidence, you will die today.”

“That will not happen.”

Yurik looked at the empress. From behind her fan, the empress gritted her teeth with a crunch. Yurik smiled faintly.

“As you said, there is plenty of evidence.”

As soon as Yurik’s words ended, with a loud bang!, the tightly shut doors of the courtroom burst open. Knights of the Vast Glory Order in uniform stormed in in an instant, surrounding the courtroom.

Screams erupted from here and there as people wondered what was happening. A standoff formed between the Blue Barrier Knight Order, who were already guarding the courtroom, and the Vast Glory Knight Order. At that moment, when a tension flowed as if they would draw their swords and fight at any second,

The First Prince Lazhwell walked in behind them into the courtroom.

Empress Vistete, watching the scene, stood up abruptly with a hollow laugh, as if she had finally understood the situation.

“Right, it couldn’t have been that easy! What is all this commotion, First Prince!”

“I have come to accuse the empress of her crimes.”

“Th… this is outrageous! What kind of nonsense are you pulling! First Prince, you have crossed the line, far beyond it. Get a hold of yourself! Aren’t you ashamed in front of everyone?!”

“Is that not the same for you, Empress?”

Lazhwell gestured behind him. At that, Lawson Tanner entered through the open doors with other officials from the Ministry of Justice, carrying thick documents, and dropped them with a thud in front of the court.

“You’ve helped yourself to quite a lot all this time. Not just the grain prices in the east, but the mines in the north as well…… Did you enjoy exploiting the people of the empire that much.”

“First Prince!”

Yurik stepped forward and explained to the judges.

“This is the ledger of the slush funds that Empress Vistete has embezzled for over ten years. She personally led the gathering of eastern lords to collude on grain prices. The illegal bidding for the purchase of the northern diamond mines was also investigated.”

“What kind of slander is this! This is a trial to reveal the crimes of Karon Chevinelle! If you want to spout nonsense, go do it outside!”

“To dismiss it as nonsense, the matter is too grave, and it is also intertwined with the Chevinelle family. All the charges the Chevinelle family has received…… were they not all things done by the Empress?”

Yurik retorted with an expressionless face. At the mention that it was intertwined with the Chevinelle family, Karon flinched and looked back at Yurik.

“Yuri……!”

Karon called out to Yurik, but Yurik did not even look at Karon.

“My heart is merely grieved that the situation has come to this, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Lazhwell, with a completely unconcerned face, placed a hand on his chest and expressed his sorrow.

“How could you, having ascended to such a high position, covet only wealth, and become an incarnation of power, committing acts that a person should not? As of today, all that the Empress has done has come to the surface, so on this occasion, why don’t you also reveal your true colors without reservation.”

“First Prince, do you even know what you are saying right now?”

“Do you think I do not know the meaning of the words coming out of my own mouth?”

“Ha! How, how can you show such an indulgent attitude in such an important place! Now that His Majesty the Emperor has retired to his bed to preserve his health, it seems you truly have no one left to fear. How dare you try to frame me!”

The empress clutched her forehead as if she was dumbfounded and rebuked him strongly. Yurik put his hands behind his back with a reluctant face and let out a sigh. As expected, the empress denied it, and Yurik too had never thought she would admit it so easily.

“To insult me like this is the same as insulting His Majesty the Emperor. There is a limit even to stabbing a knife into the heart of the empire! Collusion with whom, now?! I was nearly killed by them! If you have eyes and ears, you would have seen and heard the situation!”

“Ah, ah……”

Lazhwell raised an eyebrow. The empress had indeed been present during the rain-making ritual incident. Lazhwell naturally gestured outside. Then, through the open doors, Marquis Getanil, with a haggard complexion, led other nobles of the empress’s faction inside.

Seeing him, a subtle smile formed on Empress Vistete’s face. Marquis Getanil was someone who was close to the empress. The empress’s lips twitched as she shouted.

“You’ve come at a good time, Marquis Getanil! Explain this situation properly! Who the First Prince is threatening right now, properly……”

“It is true that it was the Empress… who escalated the riot situation and created a path from Edinburgh to the capital.”

Marquis Getanil could not bring himself to look at Empress Vistete and reported with his head bowed. The empress’s smiling complexion twisted wretchedly. That is to say, right now, Marquis Getanil had not come to help the empress. He had already sided with the First Prince!

“You, you cunning little fox! Do you think you can just spout nonsense from that open mouth of yours and it will make sense!”

“The Empress gave the order! To support the rioters from behind so that they could swallow the east, and Uzhal……”

“Marquis Getanil!”

As the name Uzhal came out, the empress screamed Marquis Getanil’s name in a piercing voice. Intimidated by her fiery glare, Marquis Getanil pressed his lips firmly together and avoided the empress’s gaze.

Lazhwell stepped forward.

“It seems there is a great deal to hear, Your Majesty the Empress.”

When Lazhwell gestured outside once more, this time, attendants entered carrying a box containing an old crown on a red velvet cushion. The people sitting in the audience seats looked at it, murmuring with anxious faces. The empress shouted.

“What are you doing in the courtroom, First Prince! Do you think you can get what you want by doing this? It’s a huge mistake! If you come out like this, I will not stand by idly anymore either!”

At her words, Lazhwell smiled and placed it on the court official’s desk. The court official, flustered and not knowing what to do, tried to rise from his seat, but Lazhwell grabbed his shoulder and pushed him back down.

“Since the Empress refuses to answer, I persuaded my father and brought it, thinking I should hear it directly.”

“His Former Majesty the Emperor?”

Jonathan shot to his feet. The judges’ mouths fell open in astonishment. Lazhwell pointed to the sacred object and said.

“What is the meaning of this……!”

“It is the sacred object of the empire, the Crown of Helios.”

The empress gritted her teeth with a crunch and clutched her fan as if to break it. Lazhwell continued speaking.

“They say it distinguishes the bloodline of the imperial family, and if one who is not of that bloodline wears it, they are struck down by heavenly punishment on the spot. How about it, Your Majesty the Empress. I intend to try placing this crown on the Second Prince Raoben.”

“What are you talking about! Raoben is undeniably of the imperial family’s bloodline! Are you framing me right now!”

“It is not a frame-up. It is to confirm. I am trying to prove that the Empress joined hands with her maternal relatives and tried to swallow the empire by putting forward someone who is not of the imperial bloodline. If not, Your Majesty the Empress, please call Raoben and show everyone that he is the legitimate heir.”

At Lazhwell’s words, the nobles who had come to watch the trial began to stir and grow noisy. His words just now suggested the possibility that the empress’s legitimate son might not actually be of the emperor’s bloodline. At this suspicion, everyone watched the situation with eyes that said, “Could it be?” The empress’s eyes widened with trembling hands.

“Just how far, how far are you going to deceive me!”

“I will withdraw if you just confirm it.”

“First Prince! You…! Can you not remove that thing at once?!”

“What is the matter? Did you not try so hard to have your legitimacy recognized? Now is your chance.”

The empress glared at Lazhwell with wide eyes. As she stood her ground, gritting her teeth and saying nothing, the people’s murmuring grew louder. The empress looked around and shouted.

“Stop spouting such nonsense! How dare you discuss bloodlines with some old legend! Seize those who have deceived me and disturbed the courtroom at once!”

As the empress raised her hand high, the knights of the Blue Barrier Order who were surrounding the courtroom audience seats let out a yell and rushed into the courtroom. From outside as well, the sound of swords clashing to block the knights pushing their way in echoed menacingly, and as knights pushed through the audience seats, people screamed and rose to escape their seats. Jonathan, sweating, shouted.

“This is a courtroom! Everyone, be quiet……!”

But his shout echoed in vain. A judge who was close to him grabbed Jonathan and pulled him.

“Mr. Council President, please evacuate first! For now!”

“Good heavens, good heavens!”

“Seize them all! They are traitors!”

“They are the ones who are traitors! Seize them!”

A close-quarters battle erupted. The Vast Glory Knight Order that had entered with Lazhwell clashed with the Blue Barrier Knight Order. The surroundings became even more entangled in a mess as people fled in panic. Yurik took a step back from the knights who had instantly occupied the area and tried to retreat, but the path was already blocked.

Lawson, who was fleeing near the courtroom door, was startled and gestured to Yurik.

“Yurik!”

“Catch him!”

“Don’t let him get away!”

Clang!

The sharp noise of swords clashing struck the ears. Yurik tried to weave through the knights to get outside. But at that moment, a Blue Barrier knight who had pushed aside a Vast Glory knight and broken through in front of Yurik thrust his sword at him. Lawson screamed.

“Yurik, dodge!”

For a moment, there was no way to dodge. Yurik squeezed his eyes shut. His body was already injured, so he could not move it easily. At that moment, Karon, approaching Yurik like the wind, pulled Yurik into an embrace and pulled him back, then raised his arms entangled in the iron shackles and chains.

K-ka-kang!

The sword scraped down the iron chains and fell to the floor. Karon then kicked the knight who had lunged at him. Kuaaak! With a scream, the knight tumbled over, and another knight charged from behind him.

Karon once again raised his arms wrapped in chains to block. Ka-kang! Then, the knight stepped on the prisoner’s dock, leaped up, and brought his sword down on Karon. Karon turned his body, put strength into both arms, and met the knight’s descending sword head-on.

Ka-ga-gang!

The iron chain was snapped in half by the sword with a thud, and the iron shackle binding his wrist fell off. Karon was reflexively pushed back by the force, then lunged at the Blue Barrier knight and mounted him. Karon then threw a punch, knocking the knight unconscious. And in a single breath, he approached Yurik and supported the staggering man.

“Yuri, are you okay? That’s why you should have stayed put instead of stepping forward! With this body, why…!”

“If you were me, could you have stayed put?”

Yurik replied weakly to the touch that wrapped around his shoulder as he yelled in anger. Karon bit his lip, then swallowed a sigh. Karon wrapped an arm around Yurik and picked up the sword of the fallen Blue Barrier knight.

“As expected, you are brave beyond compare. To the point of being reckless.”

“Hardly as much as you.”

“Karon Chevinelle!”

Another Blue Barrier knight thrust his sword. Karon spun Yurik around and swung his sword horizontally in a quick motion. Schhwak! With the sound of blood splattering, the knight fell backward. Yurik flinched and tried to turn around, but Karon grabbed the nape of Yurik’s neck and made him look at him.

“Grisly sights are not helpful for recovery.”

At those words, Yurik let out a hollow laugh, dumbfounded.

“Then you wouldn’t be helpful either.”

“Why me? Where else would you find a man as handsome as me.”

There was no time to answer. There were too many knights attacking. Karon dealt with them one by one, felling them and moving forward, then looked back. Just in time, he saw Lazhwell, who had reached the council president’s seat under the protection of knights. He banged the gavel that Jonathan had left behind and shouted.

“Karon! All your charges have been cleared! Take Yurik and get out, with your head held high!”

Karon smirked. Karon wrapped an arm around Yurik’s shoulder and raised his sword. There were still many knights forming a line in front of them, but that was not a problem for him. Karon whispered to Yurik.

“Thanks to my lovely husband, I’ve been freed from the status of a prisoner. Times like this call for a celebratory kiss, at least.”

“……Let’s just get out of here first.”

“Won’t you give me one?”

Yurik, with a reluctant face, blocked Karon’s leisurely gaze with his hand and made him look forward.

“Again, again……. Just clear the path ahead.”

“You have to give me one later.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Karon smirked and charged forward.