104. The Trial

On the day of the trial, Larael wore a black dress made by Genderi. In the Kazel Empire, it was customary to wear black dresses when attending unfortunate events. Genderi’s black dress wasn’t like the suffocating high-necked designs that nobles in the capital typically wore. Like other Genderi dresses, it had a square neckline that revealed her collarbone. Her glossy long hair was neatly braided into two parts and pinned up, revealing her beautiful neckline.

Having avoided heavy makeup, Larael’s face looked particularly pale today. Whether to comfort her as a witness at the trial or out of sincerity, her maid unanimously praised her, saying she looked even more elegant than usual.

Larael remained expressionless and deep in thought, unswayed by their compliments.

Sasha and Joanna had been chattering non-stop in the carriage to ease Larael’s tension, but from the moment they entered the courtroom, they too were overwhelmed by the atmosphere and became as silent as if they had swallowed honey. Larael’s guard knights couldn’t enter the courtroom and had to wait outside.

Larael arrived at the courtroom a bit early and entered the witness waiting room.

After some time, a servant came into the witness waiting room to announce that the trial was beginning.

“Your Highness, the witness will be called as soon as the trial begins, so please remain on standby.”

Larael nodded and took a deep breath. Her heart, which had been surprisingly calm all morning, began to beat fiercely as if it had never been calm before.

As the servant had said, shortly after the trial began, Larael was guided directly to the courtroom.

Upon entering the courtroom, the first person she saw was Edward. He was watching Larael enter with a worried expression. The judges sitting on either side of him were glancing at Edward. Baron Layton sat in the defendant’s seat with his head bowed low, in restraints. High-ranking nobles occupied the spectator seats. The Empress Dowager, who rarely made public appearances, was also seated in the spectator section today, looking at Larael entering the courtroom with an undisguised faint smile.

Larael sat in the witness stand and looked at Baron Layton with calm eyes. The red-haired man, who bore no resemblance to Kali, raised his head but quickly lowered it again when his eyes met Larael’s.

“We’ve summoned the Empress Consort as a witness as you requested, now speak.”

Edward spoke to Baron Layton in a low voice, suppressing his anger.

“……”

When he remained silent, one of the judges called his name, urging him to answer.

“Baron Layton!! Speak now.”

At those words, Baron Layton slowly raised his head. He opened his mouth, staring into space with unfocused eyes.

“…As I stated in the previous trial, it is true that I diverted relief food for profit. I will gladly accept punishment for that. The reason I requested the Empress Consort as a witness for this trial is…”

“The Empress Consort?”

Edward glared at Baron Layton with murderous eyes. Baron Layton lowered his head and trembled. He swallowed dryly and continued speaking with his head bowed. For him, he was dead either way. He had a grave mission to protect his family.

“I wish to report the wicked deed that Her Highness the Empress Consort is plotting.”

“I’ll hear it.”

“Your Majesty must have heard about the Krauf disease, which is a problem in the Kalia region.”

A faint smile of relief appeared at the corners of Larael’s lips. Edward also leaned back in his chair with a bitter laugh, his body relaxing from the tension.

“I received a request from Her Highness the Empress Consort to spread the Krauf disease throughout the Kazel Empire. Because our merchant guild’s distribution network extends throughout the Empire. The reward was to be exclusive contract rights for all transactions with the Imperial family. The plan was to raise Your Majesty’s support rating, which had fallen because of the Empress Consort. When the entire Kazel region was in despair due to the Krauf disease, they would distribute the prepared cure in Your Majesty’s name. Perhaps Your Majesty might even be behind the Empress’s…”

At the mention of the Emperor, the spectator section of the courtroom began to stir.

‘So he decided to go all out.’

Larael thought as she stared at Baron Layton, who was speaking recklessly as if nothing else mattered.

“Wait!!”

One of the judges hastily interrupted him. What he had said was a serious matter. It was as good as saying they would put the Emperor on trial.

“No, continue. What evidence do you have?”

Edward said with an interested look, resting his chin on the armrest.

“As evidence, I… I have Krauf disease patients in the basement of one of our merchant guild’s buildings. They were supposed to travel throughout the Empire spreading the disease. Contact with Her Highness the Empress Consort was made through my sister, Kali Layton. Since it was such a secretive matter, we trusted in blood ties and didn’t draw up a contract. But if you investigate Her Highness the Empress Consort, you’ll find she was secretly producing a cure for the Krauf disease. I’m saying this at the risk of my life.”

The murmuring among the nobles in the spectator section grew louder. The Empress Dowager looked surprised as she gazed at the Emperor. But strangely, the corners of her mouth seemed to be smiling. Realizing she hadn’t hidden her expression in time, the Empress Dowager quickly took out her fan to cover her mouth.

“It seems I should take the witness stand. Does the witness, the Empress Consort, have anything to say?”

Edward asked Larael in a gentle voice.

“Yes.”

Larael nodded.

“First, it is true that I produced a cure for the Krauf disease, as Baron Layton said.”

“Such a cunning woman.”

A harsh comment erupted from the spectator section. It wasn’t clear who had said it, but the courtroom fell silent for a moment. Larael glanced at the spectator section with an emotionless face before continuing.

“However, Baron Layton’s words are slander, and my aide Kali has nothing to do with this matter.”

“Jayden. Distribute those documents to the judges.”

As soon as Larael finished speaking, Edward gestured to Marquis Argen as if he had been waiting for this moment. Marquis Argen, who had been sitting in the spectator section, came out through a small sliding door and distributed the prepared documents to each judge.

“Now, I’ll take over from here.”

Edward stood up from his chair and walked to the center of the courtroom. Everyone in the courtroom looked at him with puzzled expressions. He appeared completely composed, as if he had already known about Baron Layton’s accusations, showing no signs of surprise.

“Those documents are confidential orders I issued through the Empress Consort to produce a cure for the Krauf disease. Larael discussed her interest in the Krauf disease with me, and upon my order to proceed, she protected Hobbs, who developed the cure, and produced it. The documents on the next page are contracts showing that the Empress Consort, acting as my representative, purchased all the produced cures and distributed them to hospitals in Kalia. Those hospitals have not disclosed this information due to confidentiality clauses. If you don’t believe the dates on the contracts, you can investigate the hospitals. The cures should be stocked there.”

Baron Layton trembled as he looked at Edward, then bowed his head with a face that had turned pale blue. He recalled Grand Duke Vellaus’s promise. If the truth was revealed to be false, he was to keep his mouth shut until the end, and if he kept that promise, Grand Duke Vellaus would protect and care for Baron Layton’s remaining family even at the cost of his own life. Baron Layton clenched his molars as he remembered that promise.

“If I had indeed instructed the Empress Consort to spread the Krauf disease, it wouldn’t make any sense at all.”

“I… I… spoke… the truth.”

Baron Layton said in a crawling voice, trembling.

“I will execute this man immediately today.”

As if he had been waiting, one of Edward’s guard knights in the courtroom handed him a sword. Edward glared at Baron Layton and walked toward him. When he got close to him, Edward whispered softly in his ear.

“I know who’s behind this.”

Edward’s sword gleamed as it caught the light and swung wide. Blood gushed like a fountain from the cleanly severed neck.