I Reincarnated as the Villainess’ Daughter – Chapter 78
“However, I find myself questioning your level of knowledge, given that you cannot even properly grasp the cause and effect of such a basic phenomenon. Do you truly have the qualities required of a court mage?”
“Th-That…!”
“Indeed. After all, you could not even correctly identify the nature of the mana overflow phenomenon, something that any mage would encounter at least once.”
“Th-That is….”
“Surely you do not intend to claim that you have never once failed in magic?”
“….”
The court mage could not respond. And for good reason—if he admitted to lying to prove his competence, he would have confessed a weakness; if he denied it, he would have confirmed his lack of skill.
“There will be other opportunities to debate whether you have the qualities of a court mage. But I think a preposterous mage like yourself is far from qualified to speak of ‘permanent expulsion from the magical community.'”
“….”
Prince Alteo’s side fell silent.
Thea, however, continued speaking without pause.
“Honorable Judge, I also object to the defendant’s claim regarding the ‘revocation of the Duke of Roshahil’s title.'”
“I am listening.”
“This matter is a personal incident between the daughter of Duke Roshahil and First Prince Alteo. No one else was involved, and no one was harmed. To apply a form of collective punishment that is normally reserved for cases of treason in order to strip Roshahil of her title is an excessively harsh measure, disproportionate to the incident.”
At her words, the steward stood.
The judge cast him a glance and asked, “Does the defendant wish to respond?”
“Y-Yes, honorable judge.”
He stammered but continued.
“Prince Tearoha, you claim that applying collective punishment would be excessive. However, please consider the gravity of this matter. Prince Alteo, the First Prince of this empire, was injured! A member of the royal family shed noble blood. The defendant believes that the application of collective punishment is fully justified.”
Thea looked at the steward.
“Are you saying you believe this incident should be treated as treason?”
“Ah, no. I would never go so far as to call it treason… That would be disrespectful. If it were treason, the punishment would extend to three generations. But….”
“You do not consider it treason, yet you intend to enforce collective punishment as if it were?”
“Th-That is….”
The steward hesitated, unable to answer.
“An individual cannot arbitrarily determine the scope of the law, honorable judge,” Thea said, surveying the room slowly.
“Steward Pete described this as ‘a direct challenge to the royal family and a severe insult to Prince Alteo’s authority.’ But the plaintiff’s position is different. On the day of the incident, Prince Alteo personally invited the daughter of Duke Roshahil to his palace. Why would he ever invite someone intending to insult the royal family? She merely accepted the invitation. She had no intention of challenging or insulting the royal family. If she had, the person who invited her—Prince Alteo himself—would have known first.”
The judge appeared deep in thought. Thea pulled a letter from her sleeve.
“Before the trial, the plaintiff submitted Prince Alteo’s invitation as evidence. What I have here is a copy. As you can see, he invited the plaintiff to discuss magical potions.”
Thea read the letter aloud, slowly:
“…Therefore, I would like to invite Lady Roshahil to my palace at 3 PM on the xx day. I wish to observe your skills as a court mage and discuss magical potions, believing this will bring great glory and advancement to the Ulysses Empire.”
Having finished reading, Thea looked triumphantly at the steward. This evidence could not be denied. Moreover, the handwriting had already been authenticated prior to the trial.
“You were present that day as well, steward. You know that the two only met to discuss magical potions. Prince Alteo’s injury was a tragic accident. In fact, Prince Alteo himself insisted on trying the potion first. Lady Roshahil did not deliberately give a failed potion to harm him.”
The steward bit his lip in frustration.
“If there is any fault on the part of Lady Roshahil, it is that the potion failed—and that the failed magic affected Prince Alteo.”
“…Hmm….”
“But should an individual be legally punished for a magical mistake? The potion’s failure could be considered Lady Roshahil’s negligence. However, to impose expulsion from the empire—or punishments akin to treason—simply because Prince Alteo drank it would be unjust.”
“….”
Thea continued, declaratively:
“Therefore, I, Tearoha Ulysses, as her advocate, oppose applying charges of ‘permanent expulsion from the empire, permanent expulsion from the magical community, and revocation of the Duke of Roshahil’s title’ to the plaintiff.”
The courtroom fell silent. No one dared speak; all eyes were on each other.
At that moment, someone raised her hand with authority.
Her sleek scarlet hair seemed to blaze even in the grey courtroom. I let out a small gasp.
‘…Lupe.’
“Honorable judge,” she said.
When had she arrived? Lupe smiled innocently at the courtroom. She had not come alone; the Emperor of the Ulysses Empire stood beside her.
“…I greet the Sun of the Ulysses Empire.”
As the judge bowed first, everyone else immediately bowed to the Emperor.
“We greet the Sun,” they chorused.
The Emperor, worn and aged, merely nodded in return.
Lupe’s smooth voice continued:
“I have listened carefully to Prince Tearoha’s words. I am Lupe Tyra, attending as a witness for Prince Alteo. I apologize for arriving a little late, having tended to Prince Alteo’s illness.”
“Please, speak, Lady Tyra.”
“Prince Tearoha opposes all punishment of the defendant. However, even if it was a mistake, someone was clearly harmed. Responsibility must be taken.”
She was correct. The incident was too serious to go unpunished. Thea opened her mouth to defend me, but Lupe continued.
“Furthermore, Lady Laila was already appointed as a court mage this year. Moreover, Duke Roshahil is the Minister of Culture, and his son is the captain of the royal guard. The higher one’s position, the greater the consequences of mistakes. The defendant’s claim regarding the revocation of Roshahil’s title is less about collective punishment and more about holding the head of a family accountable for a family member’s actions. The plaintiff must bear responsibility and set an example.”
“What example do you consider proper, witness?”
“Well…”
Lupe smiled faintly.
“Even if it was a simple mistake, we must consider that the injured party was First Prince Alteo. Moreover, given the wartime situation, Lady Laila’s error prevented the Supreme Commander from leading troops. If the family is unwilling to bear this burden, Lady Laila herself must bear full responsibility.”
“So…”
“She failed to recognize the potion was faulty, causing injury to the First Prince and preventing the Supreme Commander from going to war. Should we not punish her with death for these two failures?”
The courtroom was so silent that one could hear a pin drop.
After an immeasurable silence, Lupe sat back down, her expression utterly impartial.
“This is unjust.”
Thea’s presence alone could kill with intensity.
“No one died. Even if it takes two months to recover, is it just to execute someone, a noblewoman, for this?”
“Prince Tearoha, but the injured party is Prince Alteo. Failing to punish would undermine the royal family’s authority.”
Lupe’s scarlet eyes bore down on Thea. Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Then someone raised their hand.
“May I speak?”
I raised my dazed eyes and recognized the figure.
“I wish to defend the plaintiff.”
Even from my blurred vision, the side profile was familiar.
‘Professor…?’
My supervising professor from Lebecam, whom I saw every day, stood calmly and rose.
“Honorable judge, I am Professor Midas, of the Royal Lebecam Academy of Magic.”
“Please speak.”
“Lady Tyra just stated that Lady Laila, being appointed a court mage, must be exemplary.”
“Yes.”
“But prior to that, Lady Laila is still a student of Lebecam, not yet graduated.”
The professor held a document and began reading the names listed within.
“…Professor of Magic Mashiram de Alpem. Harfin Gatius…”
“….”
One name after another. The courtroom seemed stunned by the sudden list, yet I struggled to hold back tears—these were all names I knew.
“…And I, Midas Klan.”
The judge, puzzled, asked Professor Midas:
“What do these names signify?”
“I have gathered signatures from twenty professors of Lebecam Academy.”
“….”
“Our Royal Lebecam Academy opposes the punishment of Lady Laila. If she has made mistakes before graduating, it reflects our teaching, not her. We professors bear responsibility. If you intend to punish her, the same must apply to us.”
‘…The professors.’
As soon as Professor Midas finished, another hand shot up.
This hand was equally familiar. Rising confidently, she adjusted her glasses and spoke clearly:
“I am Salty Kidson. I wish to speak as a witness on behalf of the plaintiff.”
“Please speak.”
“Before the trial, I submitted papers to the defendant and the judge on the ‘possibility of mana overflow.’ What lies before you is exactly that.”
Before Salty was a stack of papers that could almost be called an encyclopedia.
“The point is, it is nearly impossible for any mage to go through life without ever failing magic or triggering mana overflow. Even if noble blood was injured, permanent expulsion from the magical community for a single mistake is unjust.”
Her testimony continued in the same vein.
The courtroom had come alive in a strange new energy.
