CHAPTER 185…………………………………………
You must be bewildered since Grace, the decisive witness, suddenly acted out, right?
“Good. Be bewildered.”
I lowered my voice and whispered to Luelian while staring at Theseud.
“This next part is very important.”
“Indeed.”
Luelian also spoke without taking his eyes off Theseud.
“If I heard correctly, you said earlier that you obtained decisive evidence that could implicate the culprit, right?”
“Yes.”
I nodded slightly.
“But who knows if anyone will listen to what we say? If we’re dragged away now, it could all end here. We have to find a way to present that evidence in front of everyone.”
“There is one way, but it comes with the risk of putting our lives on the line.”
“Well, our lives are already hanging by a thread. If we just stay still here, we’ll really die, won’t we?”
“Of course. I expected you to say that, Aristina.”
Luelian smirked even in this tense moment and asked,
“What is this evidence?”
“You remember Theseud tried to kill me once…”
I quickly recounted the incident from when I was confined in the annex, sticking only to the main points.
Luelian’s expression shifted several times as he listened. He seemed to have much to say, but we didn’t have time to share impressions.
“At that time, I resolved that I could never die alone, so I left a dying message on Theseud’s body. I trust myself. With that grudge and that obsession, I’m sure I accomplished something. The problem is how to reveal the subtle traces of it in front of everyone…”
“We can use a witch hunt.”
Luelian said immediately.
“If we act as if we’re secretly manipulating something under the unique blessing of the Rosen Duke family, they’ll rush to verify it by any means. During past witch hunts, they used mirrors to examine and seize special matrilineal powers. Even the Imperial Knights frequently used this method.”
I remembered how Theseud tried to uncover my identity using a headpiece when we went to receive the engagement gifts.
Now we would turn that method against him.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. I liked it.
“Good! First, we’ll expose that and deal him a blow.”
“In that case, I’ll set the stage.”
Just as Luelian said that, the scene, already chaotic, grew even noisier.
“Aristina!”
It seemed the news had reached them—my father and the duke’s family were rushing over. Serene and Shion followed closely.
As more people gathered, Theseud, who had stepped back to assess the situation because of Grace, immediately regained his composure.
“The fugitives have taken a palace maid hostage. Rescue the maid immediately and protect her.”
“Yes!”
The Imperial Knights stepped forward at once.
“Wait.”
Luelian blocked the way in front of Grace.
“No one may take this maid.”
“Luelian.”
Theseud spoke to his former pupil.
“If you’ve committed a crime, you should pay for it.”
“I have committed no crime.”
Luelian looked Theseud squarely in the eyes as he replied.
He appeared as confident and composed as always, but I, standing right beside him, could see. His eyes were bloodshot, and his fists trembled.
A natural reaction.
Considering what Theseud had done to his parents, it was remarkable that he didn’t rush at him immediately.
He was likely restraining himself desperately to keep his plans hidden until he could clear his name.
Luelian gritted his teeth and spoke again.
“No one may take this maid. She is a key witness.”
“Witness?”
Theseud asked, incredulous.
“Do you think this will be a trial? It would be an immediate execution.”
“No.”
Luelian addressed the crowd gathered around.
“If a day comes when I must explain my actions, I have prepared something to reveal the truth. The ‘Soul Trial.’ A higher form of the Sacred Trial, it has already been reviewed and formally registered long ago. I simply have not announced it.”
I see.
After capturing the real murderer of his parents, Luelian apparently intended to reveal that he had acted as a phantom thief. He had prepared this system in advance but ended up using it for a different purpose first.
Amidst the noisy crowd, he declared:
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stand trial before divine authority, risking one’s soul. If a single word of falsehood is spoken, divine wrath will descend, and you will die on the spot. Aristina and I now request a Soul Trial to prove our innocence.”
He then looked around at everyone.
“What say you, everyone?”
“Agreed!”
“Let’s do it!”
Voices of agreement erupted. Luelian’s words had sparked their interest.
As the unanimous voices echoed, a strange phenomenon occurred.
Aurora-like lights descended from the sky, circling the ruined garden where we stood.
A miracle bestowed by the gods.
Any Imperial citizen would immediately recognize it.
A sacred space formed around us. It was proof that the gods were with us.
“Aristina!”
My father, Shion, Serene, and the duke’s family quickly approached. Though worried, their faces showed trust in me.
Luelian called over an Imperial Knight among the spectators and gave a command.
“Hayden, go to the mansion at this address and deliver my message to the steward.”
It was finally time for Count Reno, protected by the Dark Guild, to do his part.
“This is pointless.”
Theseud frowned.
“If necessary, the Imperial Knights serving His Majesty the Emperor will preside over the trial and deliver judgment to the two offenders. No matter what trick they play, they won’t deceive me.”
He intends to act as the judge?
Interesting. If he’s the judge, can we not accuse him?
The truth will soon be revealed.
‘Honorable Judge, you are the culprit.’
I sent that thought silently and looked around.
Seeing the miraculous courtroom formed by the godly light reminded me of the Sacred Trial I had undergone before—it was a strange feeling.
So it starts with a trial and ends with a trial, huh?
As I pondered that, something suddenly slipped out of my body—a small, transparent orb of light. The same happened with Luelian.
The two orbs transformed into semi-transparent cards, floating in the center of the courtroom. Flames immediately erupted around them. At the same time, I felt a burning heat surging through my body.
“What…? It’s hot.”
“This is the rule of the Soul Trial.”
Luelian said. He seemed calm while looking at his card, but tense when glancing at mine.
“If a single false statement is made, divine wrath will ignite your entire body. You will be engulfed in flames that cannot be extinguished by any means and face a very painful death.”
“…….”
My jaw dropped.
I had heard that lying would kill, but this is the kind of death?
No wonder Luelian was nervous looking at his card.
One wrong word and instant immolation, painfully.
The thought was terrifying.
But if you’re going to gamble your life against the final boss, it makes sense.
I took a deep breath to calm myself.
“Alright. Understood.”
Theseud glared at us coldly. As judge, he must be planning to corner us and force a lie to incinerate us.
Not a bad idea.
But that’s only if we weren’t prepared.
“Then the Soul Trial begins. Any questions?”
Theseud added out of custom, and I quickly spoke up.
“Yes, Your Honor, I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“Where were you and what were you doing around 7 p.m. on July 13?”
“……?”
Theseud’s face stiffened slightly at the unexpected question.
Why did it feel less like a question and more like an interrogation?
The crowd stared, bewildered.
“Oh, I ask everyone this. It’s very important to me.”
I said boldly.
“You’re all curious, aren’t you? Why the notorious Aristina Bianca Rosen, who finally realized her dream of becoming the Crown Princess, suddenly attacked the Crown Prince and Second Prince and fled? We’re about to find out.”
The courtroom, previously filled with noise, fell silent.
Under the gazes from all sides, I looked directly at Theseud.
“Honorable Judge, you’ve secluded yourself in the palace, so you may not know. Last summer, I was falsely accused—of attempting to poison Princess Serene Hiperion, who has now become a cherished friend. I was immediately confined to the annex that day.”
The very same annex you know all too well.
I added that in my mind and continued.
“But one night, the murderer came to visit me. I resisted, but he mercilessly stabbed my chest. Then he left without leaving any evidence—or so I thought.”
I calmly lifted my gaze and stared at Theseud.
“But that was a mistake. In fact, there was one piece of evidence that could identify the killer.”
“…….”
Theseud stared back at me.
Only the two of us knew the truth of that night.
He moved like a ghost. Not a trace of evidence was left, not even a breath.
Because he knew this fact better than anyone, he didn’t believe me.
“Is that true? Then can you present the evidence?”
“Of course. I can present it to everyone here immediately.”
I answered confidently.
Theseud briefly glanced at the soul cards that had emerged from my body. Seeing that nothing happened despite my “lie,” he seemed puzzled.
‘Now.’
I prayed earnestly.
‘Ancestors, please help! Send your power to save this descendant!’
At that moment, a red energy flashed from my body.
“The blessing of the Rosen Duke family!”
The Imperial Knights watching me reacted immediately.
“No doubt! The villainess is using that to pull some trick!”
Exactly.
I grinned to myself.
Gotcha!
