The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 187

146. The Trial (3)

“It’s a frame-up!! This is a frame-up!! Open this door right now!! You bastards!! Open the door!!”

The prison echoed with his screams.

However, no one responded to his cries. The soldiers guarding the door lowered their heads and avoided eye contact.

To think that the mighty First Prince of the Empire, who once held such sway, was now in prison….

It was truly unbelievable.

“Luon!!”

It was then.

A voice came from outside the prison.

The area outside the door was bustling.

“I am sorry, Your Majesty. These are the Emperor’s orders… He has commanded that no one be allowed inside.”

“Move aside, or I’ll cut your head off right now.”

“…….”

With the head guard’s anxious reply, the prison door reluctantly opened.

A woman in a flamboyant dress, unsuited for a prison, hurriedly descended the stairs.

In this situation, there was only one person who would defy the Emperor’s orders to see Luon.

It was the Empress.

“It’s Oliver! It must be Oliver! This is all that bastard’s scheme. Me, plotting against Kroman? Absolutely not!”

Luon shouted, clutching the bars.

Normally, the bars of the imperial prison would be charged with magical electricity, making them impossible to touch, but he didn’t know it was thanks to the head guard’s consideration.

“I know. Of course, I don’t believe you would do such a thing.”

The Empress said, looking at Luon.

“That bastard is different from us. How dare he… That damn bastard must be behind this. That half-blooded bastard, with no mother’s blood in him, framed me.”

“It’s obvious to anyone. Wasn’t he Kwell’s adopted son? An adopted son and a bastard… They must have conspired together, those rootless wretches.”

She gnashed her teeth, looking at Luon’s face, which had quickly become haggard.

“What on earth is His Majesty thinking…”

Clearly, the two princes were vying for the throne. But even so, they wouldn’t revolt while the Emperor was still alive.

It was a situation that could have been seen as just a fight between high-spirited brothers, but suddenly the Emperor intervened, and the balance was completely shattered.

‘To push aside Luon, the rightful heir, in favor of the bastard Oliver… It’s impossible.’

The Empress shook her head in disbelief.

Of course,

She couldn’t know that the Emperor himself had been poisoned, which was why she had these doubts.

“Don’t worry. This mother will get you out of here, no matter what.”

“But…”

“Two imperial dukes are supporting you. No matter how powerful the Emperor is, he can’t do anything to you. No, I will stop him from doing anything.”

“Mother…”

Luon lowered his head, seemingly disheartened by his sudden change in circumstances.

“Luon, lift your head.”

The Empress said in a firm voice.

“I have no intention of simply handing over what I have built to a child born to some nameless woman.”

The Second Prince, Oliver Shutean.

Outwardly, he was also known as the Emperor’s son, but everyone knew that only the First and Third Princes had the Empress’s blood.

His mother was shrouded in rumors, but no one knew who she was.

Some said she was a palace maid, while others said she was a member of a northern tribe, and the Emperor issued an edict to exterminate heretics to hide his transgression.

The truth is unknown.

But what mattered was that someone else’s blood, not the child she had carried for ten months, was trying to take what was hers.

“No matter what it takes… I will put you back in your place.”

She said, her eyes gleaming coldly.

* * *

“I will now deliver the verdict.”

The faces of the ministers gathered in the Sun Palace showed clear signs of fatigue, but at the Emperor’s words, they all looked at him with trembling expressions.

During the few hours of respite, the nobles of the Luon and Oliver factions would have tried to uncover the truth and figure out how to steer the trial in a direction more favorable to themselves.

‘All in vain, though they don’t know it.’

Karyl stood confidently among them.

Because this trial was never meant to create a situation favorable to either of the two princes in the first place.

“Your Majesty, I would like to say a word before the verdict.”

Chief Minister Brin Inique stepped forward to the platform and bowed.

“Speak.”

“He is of the imperial bloodline. Moreover, Prince Luon has worked for the peace of the empire, earning the trust of many nobles.”

Brin took a breath and said.

“The illegal trade of Piasta [a potent poison] is certainly punishable, but there is no evidence that Prince Luon used the pseudonym. Rather… even the nobles of the empire did not know of the existence of this potent poison.”

He turned his head.

“I myself only recently learned of this poison. Would the prince, who supports His Majesty’s extermination of heretics more than anyone else, know of Myeong [another name for the poison Piasta]?”

Then, he pointed his finger at Karyl.

“If anything, that man is even more suspicious!”

Buzz- Buzz-

The hall echoed with the loudest uproar yet.

“That’s right!!”

“How can we trust the schemers from the lawless city!”

“Your Majesty, reconsider this trial…!!”

Karyl shrugged and smiled at the sight of the ministers causing a ruckus.

And Liliana and Hashir, standing on either side of him, merely watched him silently.

“I know.”

It was then.

The Emperor’s reply was surprisingly calm.

“I also agree with the ministers’ opinions.”

He picked at his ear with his finger, as if the loud shouts were hurting his ears.

“Without perfect evidence, how can I blame the First Prince? However, the list written in this ledger contains those who have disobeyed my orders and committed serious crimes, regardless of Kroman’s death.”

He lightly shook the old book.

“I don’t know what Myeong is, but it is a fact that they disobeyed the imperial decree. Whether it was incense, jewels, ornaments… or useless monster taxidermy. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s…”

“I intend to punish them.”

Charrrr—!!!

The Emperor seemed to have been waiting for the Chief Minister to say these words.

“Baron Adrion, Chance, Mevlin.”

The ministers whose names were called turned their heads, their faces pale.

“Viscount Seldon, Zekram.”

“Yo… Your Majesty!!”

The two men stumbled onto the carpet and knelt, shouting.

“And Count Baldoin.”

But the Emperor did not even look at them as he called out the last name.

Thud-

The Emperor threw the ledger he was holding onto the floor.

“I would like to punish everyone in this room, but I cannot mercilessly draw my sword against the empire’s subjects. I have shown leniency and only singled out those who traded with the barbarians after the edict to exterminate heretics was issued.”

He asked Brin, who was unable to speak, in a cold voice.

“Chief Minister, what punishment should be given to those who have disobeyed the imperial decree?”

Brin Inique’s lips trembled.

It was as if the Emperor had deliberately called out the names of six nobles who were all members of the Luon faction.

‘If the prince is in the capital, there is still a chance.’

If there was any consolation, it was that they would pay the price for their crimes instead of Luon.

“…The imperial decree is sacrosanct. Regardless of rank, their territories must be confiscated, and they must be exiled or executed depending on the severity of their crimes.”

“Yo, Your Majesty!!”

“Please reconsider!!”

The ministers who had been named shouted in trembling voices at the Chief Minister’s words.

“Confiscate the territories of all the criminals, including Baron Rage in prison, and exile them to Drangul [a notorious exile destination] for ten years.”

But the Emperor waved his hand without a trace of mercy.

“…!!!”

Everyone was shocked by those words.

Drangul, known as the worst exile destination, was a place from which no one was known to return alive.

“Father.”

Luon gnashed his teeth.

Like the Chief Minister, he knew that the men who had just been named were his people.

If this verdict stood, one-third of his forces would inevitably be hit hard.

Now that Tairan Shutean was on the throne, the difference was not visible, but in the upcoming battle with Oliver, this blow might make a decisive difference.

‘It’s a foolish thing to do.’

Karyl smiled as he looked at him.

‘You won’t be fighting Oliver anyway.’

He could only feel pity for him, still glaring at the Emperor with burning eyes.

‘He’s digging his own grave to avoid being killed by me.’

If he were in the same position, he would no longer do anything to offend the Emperor.

At least he would consolidate his power to prepare for the future.

‘There’s a time to be proud and a time not to be. He’s still young. That’s why he lost to Oliver.’

Karyl thought.

The empire’s rightful heir.

That label that Luon wore was certainly a great help in gaining the support of the nobles.

But it was just that, an heir.

It meant the one who would inherit the Emperor’s throne.

But what good was it if he was out of favor with the Emperor?

“Your Majesty.”

It was then.

Everyone turned their heads at the sharp voice echoing in the hall.

“The crime of disobeying the imperial decree is great, but the ministers, including Count Baldoin, have all contributed to the empire. It is not reasonable to send them all to exile.”

Karyl knew who it was as soon as he heard the voice.

It was the Empress.

Unlike the commotion in the hall at her appearance, the Emperor leaned forward and said, as if annoyed.

“What brings you here, Empress? It seems to be the first time you have shown interest in politics…”

“Wrongdoings must be corrected.”

“Are you saying that my judgment is wrong, Empress?”

“No. But I think giving them a chance to make up for their mistakes would be a way to show the dignity of the Emperor of the Empire.”

The Emperor smiled faintly at the Empress’s words.

“A chance to make up for their mistakes… What do you think would be a good way, Empress?”

“Those that deceive people’s eyes and mislead their hearts are evil things that have strayed from Yula’s grace [likely a deity or religious concept]. Shouldn’t you rather punish the barbarians who nurture such corrupt things!”

It was a ridiculous thing to say.

“Order them to conquer the North.”

Karyl looked at the Empress with eyes that seemed to say, ‘Is this the best you could come up with?’

She was saying the same thing as the Emperor.

Just a moment ago, the Emperor had said that he could start a war with the North, even during Kroman’s mourning period.

But the purpose was completely opposite.

Karyl could already tell the answer from the Emperor’s expression as he listened to the Empress’s words.

“…What? Corruption? You crazy bi–”

Karyl gagged Liliana, who was about to say something to the shouting Empress.

“Ugh… Ugh…!!”

Liliana struggled and shouted something, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t escape from Karyl.

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

It was then.

Karyl walked past Luon and stepped forward.

“You…”

Luon glared at Karyl as if he would devour him right away.

‘It’s almost time to leave.’

Karyl scanned the Sun Palace as if saying goodbye, as if he had no interest in Luon.

He felt that the political mind games were a tedious and frustrating act, just like in Heim [likely a previous location or situation].

‘But is it because I’ve been through so many things so far? Or am I surprisingly talented in this kind of thing?’

Karyl chuckled in the midst of the chaos, as if he were not interested.

Even though he was the one who created this chaos.

Kwaaaang—!!

At that moment,

The door of the main palace was violently opened.

“Yo… Your Majesty!!!!”

The Emperor looked ahead with a very displeased face at the sudden commotion.

It was a knight of the Black Knights, who were in charge of defending the capital.

“What is the meaning of this commotion!”

Chief Minister Brin Inique hurriedly shouted, sensing the Emperor’s displeasure.

“No, now at the entrance of the capital…!!!”

But for some reason, despite committing disrespect in front of the Emperor, the knight looked at Karyl with fearful eyes, not the Emperor.

Waaaaaaa—!!

At that moment,

A shout came from far away.

Karyl laughed softly at the huge cry that made the ground tremble.

“Hashir.”

“Yes, Master.”

“When we return, order everyone to call me Lord from now on.”

The people in the hall were bewildered, unable to understand whose cry it was or why they could hear it.

“Yes, Lord.”

But Hashir knelt before Karyl as if he had been waiting for the cry.

“You…”

Tairan Shutean frowned at the sight of Hashir kneeling before someone else in front of himself, the Emperor of the Empire.

“Your Majesty.”

He had been waiting for this moment.

Thud- Thud- Thud-

“Do you hear the shouting?”

Karyl stood before the Emperor, crossing the Absolute Gap [likely a metaphorical or literal boundary] as if it were natural. Then, for the first time since entering the Sun Palace, he straightened his back and looked straight at the Emperor.

From an equal position.

“Conquer the North?”

He said, raising the corner of his mouth.

“There’s no need to.”

The Emperor’s face hardened.

Like a king betrayed by a trusted subject.

Karyl smiled faintly, watching his face crumple. It was the most enjoyable thing since his regression.

“Because it’s already over.”

Karyl McGovern.

It was his first declaration of sovereignty.