Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 256

‘It’s Duke Haiman.’

‘Oh, dear…’

The nobles, looking down from the upper floor, whispered, hiding their faces behind fans. Haiman’s eyes and bearing were as sharp as ever, but his attire was shabby, making him look every bit the criminal. It was said that half the gold coins circulating in Bariel had passed through the Duke’s hands, and he had always presented a noble image.

The nobles inwardly groaned and frowned. Even if their downfall brought them some benefit, they were still bound by the identity of being nobles.

‘Duke Haiman has fallen so low.’

‘The end of the once-majestic Haiman is so…’

‘We must keep a low profile for now.’

The same thought spread through dozens of heads. Haiman had fallen so low. That meant they could easily end up the same way, couldn’t they?

Who were they to stand against the power of Jin and Ian? The pathetic sight of the seven families showed that the era of the nobles was clearly coming to an end.

‘My, are those all the lawyers?’

There were twenty-one people bound, yet only two lawyers stood beside them. The children of the indicted Avalia and Chen families. The two stood at either end, lightly grasping their parents’ hands.

‘Both of them are direct descendants of their families. The heir is from the Avalia family, and the heiress is from the Chen family. I heard they were very helpful in the beginning.’

‘They have some sense. What madman would argue for their family’s innocence there? The family’s verdict is their own verdict, so no one but the direct descendants would defend them.’

When the central nobles were first arrested, there were many who tried to help them. After all, they were seven families. They had funded dozens of schools, hospitals, and religious facilities, and countless talents had passed through them.

However, when the Seroh family united the opposition and applied pressure with signatures, they read the flow of the situation and cleanly broke away.

The nobles glanced at the Seroh side and whispered.

‘Did you see earlier? He just greeted Sir Ian and left. It seems there’s still some misunderstanding about the Chetur district.’

‘Isn’t it more about the broken engagement?’

‘He applied to Sir Ian, but it turned out he was involved with the second son of the Haiman family?’

‘Shhh. Be careful. You must have only heard one side of the story. I heard that Lady Alenara tore the second son’s hair out.’

‘Goodness, how violent.’

‘Those who spread the rumors are being hunted down with a vengeance, so everyone is keeping quiet about it.’

‘By the way, who is that gray-haired person next to His Highness Jin?’

‘I heard he’s a bodyguard Sir Ian assigned.’

‘Sir Ian assigned him directly to His Highness? Indeed…’

‘Instead of that, let’s ask Sir Ian directly after it’s over…’

The strange silence of the nobles that Acorella had felt before the trial was no illusion. They were divided and engaged in a subtle power struggle.

Jin, who was watching the trial from the front row, glanced back. He looked visibly uncomfortable. Siao Shi also followed Jin’s gaze.

‘What’s wrong, Your Highness?’

‘…It’s nothing.’

It was truly pathetic. Of course, changing one’s stance was important for survival, but they were going too far.

In the flow of the situation, how foolish did those who prioritized survival over principles and beliefs look? Even the remaining dignity had fallen to the ground. The essence of a human being, which could not be adorned with fine fabrics and dazzling jewels, was fully revealed.

‘Siao, it would be better if you were sitting in that seat.’

Siao Shi was unusually flustered and silent. He was about to be freed from his status as a slave, but he was still a slave. How could he sit in a noble’s seat?

Fortunately, Jin didn’t seem to expect an answer, as he immediately turned his attention forward.

‘What is the defendant’s name?’

‘Gaudino Haiman. The Duke.’

‘The charges against Duke Haiman are as follows: conspiracy in Prince Gail’s rebellion and the attempted assassination of His Majesty the Emperor, assault on the Imperial Family, property damage, violation of the Dragon Sacred Pact…’

*Swish.*

The Chief Judge turned the page, and rustling sounds were heard from all over. It was a thick indictment that Romandro could not hold with one hand. It took a long time just to read the charges, and the crowd outside began to murmur.

‘What are there so many? Are those all real charges?’

‘If it’s the seven families, did they do that seven times over? It’ll be sunset by the time they finish reading.’

‘Those damned things! Does that mean those nobles were the reason the Imperial Palace was closed?’

‘Hey, there, be quiet! Do you want to be kicked out?’

‘Oh, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.’

There were ten major charges, but if you included the details, it was a very long list. Moreover, there were seven families. The Chief Judge had to take a breath a couple of times before he could strike the gavel.

*Bang! Bang!*

‘The matter related to Arsen has been tied up in the rebellion charge and disappeared.’

Jin, who had been listening quietly, stroked the scar on his chin and nodded. The Arsen incident was top secret. It was natural that it could not be revealed in front of so many imperial citizens.

As the child naturally turned his head towards the window, he made eye contact with the imperial citizens who were close by.

‘Gasp.’

They were both surprised. The prince was seeing the imperial citizens for the first time, and the imperial citizens were seeing the prince for the first time.

Jin quickly averted his eyes, his face flushed, and the imperial citizens whispered to each other, sharing their excitement. It was like watching teenage boys and girls.

Jin bit the inside of his cheek and barely regained his composure, and the Chief Judge’s voice was heard clearly again.

‘…Do you admit to all of the above charges?’

‘I do not admit them.’

Duke Haiman immediately denied the charges, pushing his innocence. His attitude was so unwavering that an outsider might mistake it for the truth.

‘You do not admit them…’

The Chief Judge pressed his temple and repeated his words. There was already irrefutable testimony and evidence. Denying it only meant a waste of time.

‘Very well. Let’s review them one by one.’

Sighs erupted from here and there. Still, there was a procedure for everything. If Haiman acted like that, the judiciary had no other choice. They had to go through it one by one, step by step.

*Bang! Bang!*

Ian sat back in his chair with a straight posture, looking at Haiman. Under the table, he could see the Duke and Duchess holding hands. They were, after all, a married couple.

‘First, I will refute the charge of conspiracy in Prince Gail’s rebellion and the attempted assassination of His Majesty the Emperor. As previously investigated and testified, the black armor used by Haiman Bank has excellent magical armor capabilities, capable of withstanding a force of a hundred men. At the time, Prince Gail requested that some of the armor be dedicated to strengthening the empire’s defense, and Haiman responded with a heart for the empire.’

Haiman’s eyes did not waver. And his voice was even more solid. It was as if he was reading a rebuttal from his head, the flow and response of the sentences were as natural as flowing water. He was worthy of being the one who held the economic flow of Bariel.

‘But I swear, I had no idea that Prince Gail would use it for rebellion. As proof, I realized that things were going wrong in the middle and did not give him the remaining half of the armor.’

How many people in a court of law, especially in a fight where the end was already determined, could defend themselves in front of so many people? Even the direct descendants of the families who had volunteered as lawyers had lost their enthusiasm and stood still.

‘The Duke has testified as such. Yes, it has been confirmed. However, according to the letter, contract, and testimony later submitted by Prince Gail… it is determined that the Duke was already aware of Prince Gail’s intentions.’

*Rustle.*

The Chief Judge turned the page and pointed to one thing. The fact that Gail had promised Lady Melania the position of ‘Empress’ was particularly significant.

‘Also, you said that you did not give half of the magical armor, but the rebellion preparations were completed the night before. There is evidence that Prince Gail asked in a letter why you only gave half. It contradicts the claim that you realized the intention in the middle and did not give it. Duke Haiman’s claim is rejected.’

*Bang! Bang!*

Gail was dead, but his traces still remained in the Imperial Palace. In the hands of Ian, who had mediated between Marib and Gail at the time.

Did they think it would be a little more advantageous in the trial if Gail died? That was a situation assuming that Arsen was a mage, not a monster. Haiman’s rebuttal was immediately denied.

‘Next is the charge of assault on the Imperial Family.’

Assault on the Imperial Family. The Arsen incident was secretly included here. Whether he was deceived by a monster or not was not a very important point. He supported the monster, and as a result, Dilaina and Gail died. No excuse would work for this.

‘Your Highness. Did Duke Haiman also receive the Geas magic?’

‘Yes. It was sealed together during the investigation.’

Siao Shi asked quietly with concern. He was worried that he might mention Arsen to break the situation while everyone was paying attention.

‘…Therefore, my will was not involved in the deaths of Lady Dilaina and Prince Gail.’

As Jin said, Haiman, perhaps because of the Geas magic, could not speak fluently and barely finished his defense.

‘I reject it.’

*Bang!*

It was instantaneous, despite the effort.

The Chief Judge struck the gavel short and sharply, meaning to hurry.

‘Rejected.’

Property damage.

*Bang!*

‘Rejected.’

Violation of the Dragon Sacred Pact.

*Bang!*

It must have felt like his heart was being torn apart with each sound of the gavel. The Duchess Haiman finally burst into tears. Her son, the heir, hugged his mother, and the nobles waiting for their turn also covered their faces with a deathly look.

The Chief Judge paused for a moment as he turned the pages of the documents.

‘Here, there is a request for testimony from His Highness Jin.’

Ian raised an eyebrow as if surprised. The Chief Judge, who didn’t seem like it, had a talent for acting. This was prepared by Ian so that Jin could give his first speech in front of the imperial citizens.

The Chief Judge lowered his glasses and called Jin.

‘Your Highness. What will you do? Will you proceed?’

‘Of course.’

Jin stood up from his seat as if he had been waiting for it. Then Ian also stood up and reached out his hand to the child.

Jin, escorted down the stairs, nervously held Ian’s hand tightly until he reached the witness stand. Ian also squeezed back slightly in response.

‘Your Highness. This way.’

‘…Thank you.’

Ian, having confirmed that the prince had properly reached the witness stand, stepped back and gestured to the mages. It was a look that said he would punish them if there was a problem with the magical device that amplified the prince’s voice. The mages hurriedly focused and raised their magic even more magnificently.

*Buzz. Buzz.*

‘Witness, please state your identity.’

At the Chief Judge’s gentle request, Jin turned his head towards the window.

An endless crowd. The crowd recognized the young prince, the future of Bariel, the little emperor, and their eyes were filled with excitement. The energy was palpable to the child.

Jin, as if mesmerized by the sparkle, stared blankly outside before stating his name.

‘…I am the fifth prince of Bariel, Jin Verosian.’

*Clap clap clap!*

Ian raised his hand high and applauded as if to show off. Then the imperial officials followed, then the nobles, and then the people cheered.

It was the moment when Jin first witnessed his Bariel.