182 – [Side Story] Student from the Eastern Continent – 41
Yoshua Rada, Prince of Ardia.
A man who will soon be deprived of his position as crown prince and destined to rot as a baron in a fiefdom in a corner of the empire upon graduating from the academy.
But he could not return to the academy yet, and was in a small villa in one of the imperial palaces.
“……”
Well, even though it is a separate palace, it is a time spent under the gaze of numerous surveillance.
It was no different from a luxurious prison.
‘How on earth did this happen…’
Just my beloved Alyssa Leifert.
She thought that she could do anything for her…
For Joshua, she was special.
He knew that he was not suitable for the position of crown prince.
Nevertheless, Joshua was not going to neglect his studies and training.
Of course, there were complaints, but he never expressed them properly.
‘Your Highness the Crown Prince, I believe you know…’
Martina Wiltard, who had been engaged to her since her childhood and was her closest friend after her family.
Even she could not alleviate the crown prince’s dissatisfaction.
She was one year older and was always loud.
If she makes even the slightest mistake, she says this and that…
Then I met Alyssa Leifert.
A girl with a beautiful appearance, charm, and quite extraordinary abilities.
She saw through Joshua’s dissatisfaction and suffering at a glance, and approached his heart.
In an instant, Joshua became her prisoner.
When she was captured and it was decided to strip her of her royal title, the last time she saw her was with Martina Wilthard.
At that time, she told Martina everything about what she thought and what comfort she received from Alyssa.
She can do anything for her.
Why did you have to be my fiancé?
This and that, now that I think about it, I did everything without having to say anything.
But Martina said with a sneer on her face.
‘Then didn’t she just have to abandon her royal title from the beginning and run away with her at night?’
‘Why are you acting like a victim when you don’t even have the guts to do that and cause trouble to those around you?’
At the time and now, I couldn’t say anything.
How on earth did this happen?
When I was lost in such sentiments, I heard the voice of an attendant in the villa.
“…Your Highness Joshua, a messenger has arrived from the imperial palace.”
“…Has the day come for me to be punished?”
In response to Joshua’s question, the attendant could not say anything.
Struggling to swallow her dark future, Joshua walked out of her room.
She went out of the villa, following the attendant who guided her, and rode in a carriage following the imperial messenger who was waiting outside.
How long did it run?
The place we arrived by horse-drawn carriage was the huge stone gate located in the innermost part of the imperial palace.
When Joshua realized where that place was, his body trembled slightly.
‘Is it a crime of that magnitude?’
Secret court.
Among the Ardia Empire Courts, which conduct trials and judgments and hand out disciplinary action, this is a place to try violent criminals who must be dealt with in secret.
No matter what, I had no idea that such a terrifying trial would take place.
In the meantime, other carriages arrived.
Seeing those who got off there, Joshua slightly opened his mouth.
“Nord, Fortis…Even Chris…?”
“Your Highness…”
I was able to understand up to Nord.
He was arrested for the same crime as Joshua.
But Portis is the prince of the Kingdom of Rudman.
After being expelled, he is scheduled to be disposed of in the Kingdom of Ludman.
And above all, Chris.
He would have already been tried and punished, stripped of all his status, and sent to a monastery.
In fact, he was wearing the clothes of a novice at a monastery.
It felt unnatural to come that far.
Someone stood in front of them.
It was Count Uboris.
When his own father appeared, Nord looked at the floor with a pale face.
However, Count Uboris opened his mouth as if he did not care about him at all.
“The trial of a criminal will take place here.”
“…It wasn’t a trial against us?”
“Yes, you have been called to attend the trial…Before that, please sign this.”
With that said, Count Uboris held out four documents.
In the document, when Prince Portis, who noticed a sense of magical power, frowned, Count Uboris explained.
“…This is an oath made in the magic tower of the East Continent, and it takes the life of anyone who breaks the oath…It is an item that is rarely used, but as the matter is a matter of fact, it is borrowed.
It was.”
“So…What oath do you mean I have to swear?”
In response to Joshua’s words, Count Uboris spoke.
“… I am prohibited from revealing anything I saw during this trial to anyone other than the trial observers. That’s all.”
“Is…That’s all?”
“Yes, that’s all.”
All four of them sighed.
I don’t know whose trial it was, but it didn’t matter as long as disclosure was prohibited.
It’s a matter of just erasing the trial from your mind.
After confirming that all four people had signed, Count Uboris retrieved the oath.
Handing it over to his secretary next to him, Count Boris Boris said:
“Then, everyone, please follow me… I will guide you to the court.”
After saying that, the four people walked out, following the count who took the lead.
The lighting inside the courthouse was limited, so it was dark and gloomy.
The faces they see as they pass by are faces that can truly be said to be the leading figures of the empire.
Who is the defendant in a trial attended only by such important figures?
As I was walking along the road with that thought in mind, I saw a familiar face in their eyes.
Sir Wentoth.
At this gathering of the leading figures of her empire, does her presence mean she is also involved?
With that in mind, they followed the Count into the courtroom.
“Ah…”
At the head of the court, the emperor, Prince Joshua’s father, was seated.
Sitting next to him were his wife, his mother, and her younger sister, Runiel, who would later be crowned princess in place of Joshua.
The Empress must have seen Joshua come in and looked at her son with sad eyes.
…The emperor didn’t even try to pay attention.
“…I would like to tell you in advance that the reason you are observing this trial is to prevent unnecessary noise from being made in the future.”
“What is that…?”
The moment Prince Joshua was about to say something to the count’s meaningful words, a loud voice echoed throughout the courtroom.
“Everyone be quiet!! The trial will begin now!”
In the center seat of the court, a man sat down and shouted.
The Supreme Court Justice, who is the most authoritative among the judges and is famous for making strict and ruthless decisions, was present.
While I was swallowing my saliva at the intimidating feeling he gave off, he spoke in a loud voice.
“Then, bring defendant Sherry Hayworth here!”
Defendant, Sherry Hayworth.
It was an unknown name.
What kind of relationship does that person have with them, to the point where they wonder if they should be able to observe the trial?
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But later, when he saw the woman being dragged in by the military officers working at the court, Crown Prince Joshua gaped at her.
Because she was a face I knew very, very well.
“Ah…Alyssa?”
“Why…”
She said the defendant’s name was Sherry Hayworth, but it was Alessa Leifert who was brought in.
When they were confused about what happened, the Supreme Court Justice took out a document.
“Then, since the defendant’s crimes are recorded here, I will read them out here.”
The Supreme Court Justice began to read the charges.
When the story of the embezzlement of national assets using the crown prince came up, the crown prince’s face.
When a story came out about instigating an assault on a classmate he didn’t like, Nord’s face appeared.
When the story about the assault and intimidation of citizens using magic came out, Portis’ face appeared.
And finally, when the story of instigating the murder of Sir Wenthos, a special international student, came out, Chris’ face turned pale.
However, the last crime, more than any other crime, made the blood drain from their faces.
“… Finally using her sobriety to deprive her Viscountess Alyssa Leifert of her body, inflicting upon her her injuries and trafficking her.”
As soon as these words were finished, those who were observing the trial began to murmur in unison.
No drinking, forbidden curse.
Of course, almost all countries, including the World Tree Church, strictly prohibit and control abstinence from alcohol.
To that extent, abstaining from alcohol is a terrible crime that can be punished by death, or even life imprisonment, just for using it.
To put it a little strongly, it is enough to make all the previous sins at the level of ‘something like that’.
Although the direction was different from the other observers, the Crown Prince and his party were also shocked and could not keep their mouths shut.
“Quiet! Be quiet!!”
But the reactions of such observers do not affect the trial.
The Supreme Court Justice, who silenced the observers, looked down while holding the document.
There was a middle-aged man standing there.
“Executor Wesley, the last crime seems incredible. Is this true?”
“That’s right, respected Supreme Court Justice. After personally witnessing this incident and interrogating the people around me, I was convinced that the bodies of the two people were swapped.”
Bailiff Wesley.
He couldn’t believe it when he heard about this incident, so he jumped on his feet and visited not only Viscount Ray Furt’s servants, but also the rural village where Alyssa Ray Furt lived as a child.
Investigation of the Book of Songs begins.
We were able to be certain after conducting a non-face-to-face cross-examination with the girl who claimed to be the ‘real Alyssa Leipert’.
This girl is the real Alyssa Leifert.
From old stories that only you know to small habits, you can’t help but think they’re real.
“Here, I submit the transcript of my cross-examination with Alyssa Leifert’s officials.”
“I will repair it.”
The Supreme Court Justice, who was reading the record with frowning eyes, nodded.
And he opened his mouth and spoke.
“…Abstinence that changes your body is truly terrifying.”
“Actually, I found several similar records among past records. I presume they are probably from the same prohibition week.”
“I see, I understand.”
The Supreme Court Justice nods his head in understanding.
The Supreme Court justices also seemed confident that ‘prohibition from drinking’ had been implemented.
The Supreme Court Justice turned his eyes to the woman standing in the defendant’s box, Sherry Hayworth, who had the body of Alyssa Leifert.
“Defendant, is there anything else to say?”
“……”
“If not, are you saying we will continue with the hearing like this?”
Sherry Hayworth closed her mouth, lowered her head, and said nothing.
Of course.
This position was prepared from the beginning to judge oneself.
No matter what she says, there is no way it will work.
So, she was looking for an opportunity now.
Somehow, she got a chance to poke through the cracks.
The four members of the Crown Prince’s party were shouting something in the audience, but the Supreme Court Justice said, “Be quiet!!” It’s enough to make me quiet with just one word.
I didn’t even expect any help from them.
Just in the middle of the courtroom, she was just seeing an opportunity while enduring the harsh gaze directed at her.
The Supreme Court Justice opened her mouth with a pondering expression.
“…Is it possible to lift this ban on drinking?”
“It is said that it is possible. After the ruling is made, the ban on drinking will be lifted and the altered body will be returned to its original state.”
“I see, I hope it doesn’t cause too much harm to the victim…”
For a Supreme Court justice who always has a strict and stern expression, he was showing genuine concern, which was rare.
Of course. Abstinence from alcohol is such a dangerous and scary thing.
“…I pass judgment on the defendant, Sherry Hayworth. Although she is still young, her crimes are all serious…”
Supreme Court judge ruling on her crime.
“…Using prohibition to throw the country into chaos…”
When abstinence from alcohol was mentioned, the expressions of the observers turned cold.
“…Therefore, defendant Sherry Hayworth is sentenced to magical power sealing and life imprisonment.”
In the end, one of the heaviest punishments in the empire was handed down.
The reason she wasn’t put to death was probably because she was still a child.
Everyone accepted it as a natural result.
“To transfer the defendant so that the prohibition can be lifted.”
“Yes!”
The military officers who were waiting for her dragged her out again after her sentencing.
As she was being dragged out, she raised her head and looked around her surroundings.
Then, looking at a certain part, she lowered her head and smiled slightly.