Chapter 89

89. Well-Coordinated Testimony

Cardinal Orland was led by the inquisitorial priests to the confessional. They seated him in a chair and locked the door from outside.

‘Are they expecting me to confess?’

The fact that they had brought him here instead of to the inquisitor’s office suggested they had no plans for torture. Cardinal Orland relaxed slightly and looked around.

“This was clearly a premeditated murder.”

A clear voice echoed nearby. The sound came from the adjoining chapel, connected to the confessional. Cardinal Orland pressed his ear to the wall.

“Do you believe Cardinal Orland intentionally assassinated His Holiness?”

“Yes. That evening, I saw him lurking near His Holiness’s teapot in the kitchen.”

“Couldn’t he have just been there for some other reason?”

“He said he was thirsty and came to get water, but the kitchen priest said water was already brought with dinner.”

“Did you speak to him?”

“Yes. He watched me refill the pot and even mentioned that His Holiness liked his tea cooled.”

Cardinal Orland clenched his bound hands as he vividly recalled that evening.

“What did you do then?”

“I felt uneasy and gave the water to the dog, which collapsed immediately.”

“Did the dog die?”

“No, it survived.”

The person testifying was a young priest who served His Holiness. Cardinal Orland now understood why the Pope hadn’t fallen asleep that night.

A familiar voice resumed questioning.

“Why didn’t you report this incident?”

“I told His Holiness, but he instructed me to keep silent until the Cardinal’s meeting was over due to the sensitive timing…”

“That was negligent.”

“It’s all my fault. Because of me, His Holiness…”

The priest’s voice trembled, as if he were about to cry.

“You claim you saw Cardinal Orland stab His Holiness with your own eyes.”

“Yes, I saw him stab His Holiness clearly.”

“Why were you in His Holiness’s room at that hour?”

“His Holiness usually called for me once or twice in the early morning, but there was no message that night, so I went to check on him.”

The priest continued his explanation in a steady voice, and the questioning persisted.

“Why do you think he committed such a crime?”

“I don’t know, but His Holiness was always wary of Cardinal Orland.”

“His Holiness was wary of Cardinal Orland?”

“Yes. He always said to stay away from him because he was dangerous and that he was intentionally isolating His Holiness and leading the church to corruption.”

“I see.”

With a single word, the questioning ended, and murmurs filled the room. Although the conversation had been between two people, it seemed there were many more present.

As Cardinal Orland anxiously awaited what would follow, the door connecting the confessional to the chapel opened. All eyes turned to him.

Bound and gagged, Cardinal Orland avoided the piercing gaze of the young priest, who stared at him with murderous intent.

“Bring him forward.”

Following Cardinal Dorfman’s command, the inquisitorial priests dragged Cardinal Orland to the center of the chapel.

“Remove his gag.”

Once the gag was removed, Cardinal Orland took a deep breath.

“You’ve heard the testimony. Do you have anything to say in your defense?”

“I did not kill His Holiness!”

Cardinal Orland shouted. Cardinal Dorfman, unsurprised, continued.

“Then why were you at His Holiness’s room at that hour?”

“I had urgent matters to discuss with him.”

“Do you expect us to believe you sought an audience in the middle of the night?”

“His Holiness refused to meet until after the election, so I had no choice.”

Cardinal Obland, who had been listening, sneered and picked up a sword that was laid aside.

“If you didn’t intend to harm His Holiness, why did you carry this sword?”

“That sword has nothing to do with me…”

“For a priest, you’re a good liar. Bring the blacksmith.”

The inquisitorial priests brought in a blacksmith who looked worn from harsh questioning. Cardinal Obland held the sword up to his face.

“Do you recognize this sword?”

“Yes, I made it.”

“Who ordered it?”

“Cardinal Orland did.”

“What was it supposed to be used for?”

“I wasn’t told that, but he emphasized several times that it had to be identical to the regalia.”

“Identical to the Regalia?”

“Yes, he insisted on it.”

The blacksmith nodded as Samuel Dorfman turned his gaze to Cardinal Orland.

“What did you intend to do with the fake Regalia?”

“……”

“You entered His Holiness’s chambers to steal the Regalia, didn’t you?”

With no answer forthcoming, Samuel Dorfman drew his own conclusion.

“You went in to swap the fake Regalia with the real one, and when His Holiness caught you, you killed him.”

“I did not kill His Holiness!”

“Then you admit you intended to swap the Regalia?”

Cardinal Orland bit his lip under the sharp questioning. The interrogation continued relentlessly.

“What did you plan to do with the Regalia?”

“……”

“Answer me.”

If he mentioned Elkius, both he and the Emperor would be doomed. The Emperor could not intervene in the trial, but he could contest its outcome, so dragging him into this was not an option.

“I swear I did nothing shameful in the eyes of God.”

“Nothing shameful? How brazen.”

Samuel Dorfman threw a thick ledger at his feet. It was the financial records of the church since Cardinal Orland took over.

“When comparing the allocations to each church with what they actually received, 200,000 cels were missing. Where did that money go?”

Caught. Cardinal Orland swallowed dryly.

If he told the truth, the Emperor’s bribery of the Temple would be known, and if he didn’t, he would be accused of embezzling 200,000 cels himself.

He wondered what difference embezzlement would make to the murder charge. He decided it was better to cover for the Emperor and wait for his life to be saved.

“Why are you silent?”

“Cardinal Dorfman, stop wasting time and send him to the inquisition.”

Cardinal Obland’s voice rose harshly. Cardinal Orland instinctively recoiled, knowing how brutal the inquisition could be. Fortunately, Cardinal Dorfman refused.

“There will be a public trial in a week. We can’t have the defendant appear beaten. The source of the money will be uncovered in due time, so there’s no need to rush.”

He gently rebuked Cardinal Obland before turning back to Cardinal Orland.

“Cardinal Orland, everything you say will be recorded and sent to His Majesty and the jurors. If you have anything more to add, speak now.”

“I did not kill His Holiness.”

Samuel Dorfman replied with a bland expression.

“Take him back to the confessional.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“A public trial for Cardinal Orland next weekend?”

Elkius Isulandt stared at the man in priestly robes. The rough-looking man spoke with a thick southern accent, more suited for killing than healing.

“Yes. The trial will take place at noon in the central square. If His Majesty wishes to attend, arrangements will be made.”

‘They scheduled the date and location without consulting me?’

Elkius’s displeasure was clear as he asked,

“Is the jury list finalized?”

“The details are appended to the investigation report.”

Cardinal Obland responded insolently. Elkius opened the report to the last page.

Familiar names stood out, but the first he noticed was Callion Tiflis. Elkius smirked.

“They said the church would handle it internally, yet I see unexpected names.”

“The jury was chosen from those with no personal ties to His Holiness or Cardinal Orland, ensuring an impartial verdict.”

A plausible explanation.

Elkius closed the book and spoke.

“Before the trial, I want to hear from the person in charge of this case.”

“You will have to ask me.”

“You’re not in charge, are you?”

“This case is the responsibility of the entire temple, so yes, I am in charge.”

Cardinal Obland subtly refused. Insolent southern bumpkin. Elkius glared at him and then spoke in a biting tone.

“Understood. You may go. I’ll inform you later if I plan to attend.”

“Very well.”

Cardinal Obland nodded and left the audience chamber. Elkius suppressed his simmering anger and skimmed the report.

The actions on the day of the crime, eyewitness accounts, the fake Regalia used as the murder weapon, and the blacksmith’s testimony. The evidence was airtight.

‘Useless fool. I asked you to steal the Regalia, not to kill the Pope.’

Elkius clicked his tongue as he turned the pages. The mention of the Regalia troubled him, but it seemed no one had implicated him.

‘What shall I do with him?’

He knew too much to be left alone, yet the church’s security made assassination impossible, and without family, there was no one to coerce into suicide like the Marquis of Flanders.

Elkius quietly recited the name of the priest presiding over the trial.

‘Samuel Dorfman.’

It’s easy to find a weakness in a man when it’s obvious which dirt pit he’s been rolling around in.

Elkius called his attendant.

“Fetch the ledger from the Owens estate.”