Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 19

019

After the Second Prince and the unconscious Second Queen left the courtroom, the king restored order as the chaotic atmosphere subsided.

“Bring Count Clian to the witness stand.”

A man with perfectly combed blond hair and a spotless suit stood at the witness stand.

Count Clian, a rising star who had become the chief secretary of the Royal Treasury at the young age of late twenties.

He glanced at Evan before reciting the oath in a clear voice.

“In this sacred royal trial, I solemnly swear before His Majesty the King and the noble bloodline to speak the truth without concealment or addition, and if there is any falsehood, I will receive the ‘penalty of perjury’.”

Count Clian’s emphasis on certain words in his oath caused Baron Gabis’s face to turn ashen.

The crime of perjury is severe.

If caught, it means utter ruin. Expulsion from politics is the baseline, along with monetary compensation to the victim who was almost harmed by the perjury. The territory would be shaken to its core.

Such is the case even in noble trials, so how much more in royal trials? Demotion of title, or even confiscation, could occur.

Baron Gabis tried to send a look of appeal to the Second Queen, but upon finding the seat empty, he remembered that she had collapsed and been carried out, and his mind went blank.

“Let the witness testify.”

“Around 11:30 AM on December 1st, year 497 of the kingdom’s calendar, the time of the incident. As the chief secretary of the Royal Treasury, I was in a meeting regarding the budget for the New Year’s banquet. I cannot understand how Baron Gabis, who was late to the meeting and scolded by me, could have witnessed the two princes’ dispute.”

The king turned his gaze to Baron Gabis.

“Is Count Clian’s statement true?”

“W-Well, that is, um…”

As Baron Gabis stammered and sweated, Count Clian delivered the final blow.

“Here is the attendance log for that day. Baron Gabis arrived at 11:03 AM, more than two hours late from the start of regular work. Among those who witnessed me reprimanding him, Baron Charos, Baron Willon, and Baron Waynes are qualified to testify in the royal trial.”

Silence briefly filled the courtroom.

Prince Arkad, the Fourth Prince, who had been out of it for a while, finally realized that the atmosphere was turning strange.

Bang!

Arkad slammed the platform with both hands and began to babble.

“I mistook the time! Yes! Lunchtime! I had a prior appointment with him for lunch. That’s when that bastard ambushed me!”

“Your Highness, the Fourth Prince, the distance from the Royal Treasury meeting room to the Third Knight Order’s training ground, where the incident occurred, is over an hour’s walk.”

“I-It’s possible if you run!”

“Running in the palace is against court etiquette.”

“Damn it! He should have come running when I called! Isn’t that right, Baron Gabis?”

Baron Gabis, receiving Arkad’s gaze, lowered his head. Count Clian answered in his stead.

“Lunch was taken in the meeting room by everyone that day.”

“Slander! It’s slander! You bastard!!”

Thump!

Arkad tried to rush out, pushing over the plaintiff’s platform. The Royal Guard quickly subdued him.

“Let go! Let go of me, you bastards! Clian!! Why are you suddenly doing this? Tell me! Tell me!”

To Count Clian, Arkad’s screaming sounded like a beautiful harmony.

‘You good-for-nothing, now I can finally get rid of you.’

He had long argued that the Fourth Prince must be disposed of for the Second Prince to inherit the throne. Therefore, when the Second Prince subtly hinted at his intentions, he readily agreed to cooperate.

‘And get rid of a useless freeloader as a bonus.’

It was killing two birds with one stone, as he could also eliminate the culprit who had been causing him indigestion. Count Clian glanced at Baron Gabis before shifting his gaze to Evan.

“Let go! You bastards!”

Unlike the agitated Fourth Prince, he was calmly observing the situation.

If Baron Gabis was a freeloader infesting the granary to Count Clian, Evan was a caterpillar crawling on the lawn in the garden. One he didn’t even know existed.

‘Looks like I have another thing to worry about.’

He realized this through this incident.

Still an unidentified caterpillar.

It was yet unknown whether it would go through pupation and become a butterfly or a moth.

If it becomes a butterfly, he would release it into the Second Prince’s garden and let it suck honey, but if it becomes a moth…

‘The moment it sheds its skin, I’ll have to crush it.’

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Plaintiff, if you cause any more disturbance, you will be forcibly removed, and it will be considered an admission that you falsely accused the defendant. Furthermore, the crime of insulting the sacred royal trial will be subject to additional punishment, so be aware.”

The king’s stern warning.

Arkad finally shut his mouth.

He knew that the crime of insulting the royal trial was far greater than falsely accusing Evan.

Arkad calmed down somewhat.

He admitted that a verdict would be handed down stating that he had falsely accused Evan.

‘You petty bastard…’

He understood that the Second Prince was warning him to refrain from causing trouble for the time being. What kind of punishment would be given?

Confinement?

Or, at worst, solitary confinement?

‘Damn it. I hate being cooped up. It’s all because of that bastard.’

Arkad glared at Evan as if he would devour him, and Evan scoffed at Arkad’s gaze.

Meanwhile.

There was one person who was watching the two princes’ staring contest with a complicated mind.

‘How much punishment should I give?’

It was the king, the judge.

– Your Majesty, this is tobacco sent by the Arya Kingdom this time. It is made by finely chopping the petals of vigor grass and dream flower, and it is said to help with sleep.

A few days ago, the Second Queen had visited him.

– Although the mother is different, he is a child who committed unspeakable violence against his own blood. I think a severe punishment should be given as an example. If he lives with the soldiers defending the kingdom from barbarians at Bellington Fortress, he will fully realize the importance of family.

The king, lighting the tobacco and taking a puff, nodded to the Second Queen in a distorted world.

Seeing how things were turning out now, it seemed there was friction between the Second Queen and the Second Prince…

It was impossible to blame Evan for now.

– He is a child who committed unspeakable violence against his own blood.

Suddenly, the Second Queen’s words came to mind, and the corners of the king’s mouth twisted. He looked at Arkad, who didn’t resemble him in the slightest, and then looked at Evan. Evan also had no resemblance to him.

When he was young, he didn’t recognize it, but his face, with its bolder features, bore a striking resemblance to the previous king, who had held powerful royal authority and reigned.

For some reason, he didn’t like the fact that Evan didn’t resemble him.

***

I scoffed at Arkad’s fiery gaze.

I could see what he was thinking.

‘Confinement, or at worst, solitary confinement, he probably thinks.’

Many will think that Count Clian’s involvement this time is the Second Prince warning the Fourth Prince to refrain from causing trouble.

They have no idea that the Second Prince has resolved to dispose of the Fourth Prince, a ticking time bomb.

I turned my head towards the king.

Our eyes met. The pupils, which had been hazy as if on drugs, seemed to be a little more focused.

Was it because he was worried about the verdict?

I’m going to relieve some of that worry now.

“Your Majesty, the esteemed King.”

This time, I turned my gaze to the audience.

“And the busy royal elders. I understand that if new offenses are discovered during a royal trial, they can be judged on the spot. Therefore! I would like to reveal the Fourth Prince’s offenses against me, who falsely accused me, right here and now!”

My voice, not loud but clear, echoed throughout the courtroom.

I held up a piece of paper.

“Everyone must be wondering what this is that I’m holding up. This is! The records of treatments and priests who have treated me for the past five years.”

Arkad, realizing that the situation was unusual, widened his eyes.

“November 10th, year 492 of the kingdom’s calendar. Rib fracture. Left shoulder dislocation. Cheekbone fracture.”

That was the first day I was beaten by Arkad.

“You bastard! What are you up to!”

Thump! The Royal Guards quickly stopped him as he kicked the platform and rushed towards me.

“Silence him.”

At the king’s command, they gagged Arkad.

“Ugh- Ugh-”

I recited Arkad’s assault records again.

“January 20th, year 493 of the kingdom’s calendar. Right shoulder ligament damage. Right wrist fracture.”

“March 2nd, year 493 of the kingdom’s calendar. Nasal bone fracture. Cheekbone fracture.”

“May 3rd, year 493 of the kingdom’s calendar…”

.

.

.

“October 25th, year 497 of the kingdom’s calendar. Skull fracture and bruises all over the body.”

The courtroom fell silent.

The ‘elders’ of the royal family, who met my eyes, cleared their throats and avoided my gaze. I saw my sister dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. I told her not to come.

Looking back now, I paid respect to the ghost prince remaining inside me, thinking it was fortunate that I hadn’t taken my own life.

He had been waiting.

For a moment like this.

The guy who had desperately curled up, leaving behind the people around him who had been laughing and chatting, shouted at Arkad.

‘You are the beginning.’

The pain inflicted on the body was nothing.

Those who carved festering scars on my soul. I will surely lead them to ruin.

I soothed the ghost prince raging in my heart and stared directly at the king.

“You were hurt a lot. But, is there a way to prove that it was the Fourth Prince who did it?”

“It’s impossible to prove everything, but some of it can be proven. Among those who witnessed the scene at the time, there are those who are qualified to tell the truth in this sacred royal trial. They are all waiting outside, ready to take the witness stand at any time.”

The royal knights whom the Second Prince had assigned to him because he didn’t know what kind of crazy things he would do.

They all belonged to the Second Knight Order, and the members of the Second Knight Order were all composed of heirs of noble or knight families.

– ······.

– I’m sorry.

Most of them silently, sometimes leaving small words of apology, gave me first aid. Some of them inherited titles over time.

The fact that they were waiting to testify was the same as the Second Prince shouting to the king that he would abandon the Fourth Prince.

“I see. Let them all come in.”

Shortly after, the knights came in and testified that Arkad’s assault was true.

Arkad, who had been struggling against the Royal Guards at first, now stared blankly at their testimony with a dumbfounded expression.

“It’s taken longer than I thought. I will deliver the verdict.”

The king, with a tired face, looked at me, Arkad, and the audience in turn.

“The plaintiff Arkad Lionel’s accusation is dismissed. This is…”

Of course, I was cleared of the false charge.

“…This is an act of contempt for the royal trial… Therefore, Baron Gabis Rondowell is dismissed and demoted to a baron, and in addition, nearby…”

Baron Gabis, who had committed perjury, was expelled from the palace, demoted, and part of his territory was incorporated into the royal domain.

“…Furthermore, based on past precedents, it is possible to sufficiently punish offenses separate from this case…”

All that remained was the disposition of Arkad, who had falsely accused me and committed assault for five years. In my heart, I was shouting for the death penalty, but realistically, it was impossible.

Probably exile.

But to a place where the Second Queen could provide convenience.

“…Orders him to spend five years in self-reflection on Seokham Island.”

I breathed a great sigh of relief inside at the verdict that had been made as I had expected.

「Your relationship with Arkad Lionel has worsened dramatically.」

「Achievement, ‘Sworn Enemy’ has been achieved.」

「10,000 RP has been acquired.」

Wow, there was such an achievement.

I glanced at Arkad’s status window.

[Relationship: Hostile]

A very fiery-looking font.

I finally found out what the end of the red font, which signifies a negative relationship, was.

In the solemn atmosphere, I barely managed to hold back the corners of my mouth from rising.

***

The follow-up procedures proceeded quickly.

This morning, Arkad was sent to his place of exile before the unconscious Second Queen could even regain consciousness.

I was reading a magic book in my study with a peaceful mind.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

Alphonso, who had brought afternoon snacks, came in. The guy who put down the cookies and tea opened his mouth.

“Your Highness, the Second Queen has woken up.”

“I know.”

“Yes? Already? How on earth did you…”

How would I know? While I was reading, an alert suddenly popped up saying that my relationship with the Second Queen had worsened dramatically.

With this, there are two people who are hostile to me.

I glanced at the [List of People] and paused.

“Huh? Your Highness, why are you suddenly like that?”

Just now.

Arkad’s name disappeared.

“…Ah, it’s nothing.”

Feeling thirsty, I closed the magic book and brought the tea Alphonso had brought to my lips.

“It tastes terrible. Did you make this?”

“Oh! That’s too much!”

I just ruined my appetite.

But the thirst was slightly quenched.