TVMS 187

Chapter 187

Through Tessed’s gaze, a feeling more profound than mere anger was conveyed.

Perhaps it was a more fundamental intent to kill.

Yet I, too, could not back down even a little.

Fortunately, Ruelian was standing firmly in front of me, and Benjamin and Editor Gremory had come to testify the truth, risking their lives.

My father and the rest of our ducal family were also watching my back, their eyes blazing with determination.

So I, unafraid, boldly surveyed the garden that had now become a courtroom.

“Is there anyone else who wishes to speak?”

It was then.

“Dean!”

From the back of the crowd, a scholar shouted and ran forward.

The only person who called me “Dean.”

He was the director of our Rare Plant Academy.

“I couldn’t find Mr. Benjamin in the guild office, so I came asking around! And now I see the Dean is here too? That’s a relief!”

Your “Dean” had fled just before the engagement, is now wanted, and is standing in a courtroom—but the director seemed oblivious.

He glanced toward the judge after speaking.

“Moreover, it’s even more fortunate that Lord Tessed is here. He is the only one who can give important testimony about the Amaranthia flower and black magic. I was disappointed thinking he couldn’t be reached during his seclusion.”

And then he exclaimed brightly:

“Lord Tessed, you know about the black magic called ‘Serpentas,’ right? According to testimonies from various underground traders, many artifacts related to that magic were discovered in the Riohas region, where you disappeared while hunting monsters. The timing also matches the period when you visited that place.”

The crowd murmured again.

“Serpentas? Isn’t that a guild name?”

“It’s the name of a master guild…”

The dark guild members who had brought Count Leno here whispered among themselves.

According to the count, “Serpentas” refers to the evil language left behind by a dragon that had gone mad and fallen into corruption, before its tongue was cut off.

When Ruelian’s parents were killed, that name was also written on a piece of paper that had fallen from his father’s arms.

“And…”

I turned to Sion, standing next to my father, and asked:

“You also heard the hallucination of ‘Serpentas’ from the black rose you gave.”

“Yes, sister. At that time, I foolishly tried to harm you with an item imbued with a curse. I found that black rose in the cave of monsters, and now I think artifacts from the Riohas region could have traveled far through those beasts—they always raid each other during wars.”

Though he spoke this way, Sion stared straight at Tessed.

He couldn’t openly speak if it weren’t true, for his life would be at risk, but he seemed to hint that the object was linked to the monster who had taught him black magic.

As more people showed interest, chiming in about academic matters, the director grew excited.

“You don’t know how much trouble it took me to uncover all this. I was researching the Amaranthia flower and suddenly became an expert in black magic.”

Ruelian turned his gaze toward him. The director flinched.

“Oh! I misspoke! I only meant I’m an expert in theory. I cannot use black magic at all. It’s not something anyone can just use…”

But Ruelian wasn’t looking at him for that reason.

He hardened his expression and asked:

“One thing I’m curious about—then what does ‘Two-Faced Serpentas’ mean? I thought it was a provocation hinting at its identity…”

“Well…”

The director stroked his chin.

“That could be true, but ‘Two-Faced Serpentas’ is itself a magic. In my interpretation, the two faces signify life and death. Like a two-headed serpent, life and death may seem opposite, but are ultimately one. This is a powerful spell capable of killing a living person instantly. But there’s a precaution…”

His eyes sparkled as he explained.

“Serpentas, as black magic, is a type of language, isn’t it? The moment you speak it, you also hear it yourself. The caster is affected too.”

“What if it’s written on paper?”

“In urgent situations, that works too. You can write with your eyes closed. But if done incorrectly, you could waste the powerful magic before using it.”

I asked:

“Is it one-time use?”

“Yes, Dean,” the director said, explaining as if to a child.

“For someone who isn’t a mage, high-level magic requires injection via a magic scroll. Serpentas is a language of another species, not human. Once used, it’s finished. Until you get another scroll and inject it…”

All of his cheerfully delivered knowledge was critical testimony.

Tessed had acquired little-known black magic artifacts during the expedition before marrying Empress Imelda.

Yet after learning his lover had married the emperor, he somehow did not report those artifacts to the emperor.

Perhaps he lost all motivation, or perhaps despair made him forget—but when the time came, he used them without hesitation.

The paper found in Ruelian’s father’s arms was, in retrospect, a murder weapon.

Tessed knew that the evil black magic would affect the caster, yet he did not tell Sion this.

“Anyway, I digressed…”

The director cleared his throat and continued:

“In conclusion, someone researched ways to meet the dead using the Amaranthia flower and black magic. Knowing this, it must be reported. All the books owned by the Ancient Text Research Foundation reference Serpentas black magic…”

He turned his gaze back to Tessed.

“To my knowledge, in this capital, the only person connected even slightly to Serpentas black magic is Lord Tessed, who went on the Riohas expedition. Did anyone try to extract information from you? If you can remember, it would greatly help my report.”

A tense silence followed.

Everyone stared at Tessed.

No one spoke, but it was clear everyone was thinking the same:

‘What if that “someone” is him?’

The director had intervened late and knew nothing, so he could not suspect the great knight Lord Tessed.

But would the others?

I had already raised all sorts of suspicions about Tessed, including that he might be behind the Ancient Text Research Foundation.

No fool could fail to notice that all evidence pointed to one truth.

“Wow! What is this?”

Benjamin and Editor Gremory stared at Tessed with that expression.

They had investigated the Ancient Text Research Foundation at my request, unaware of the truth, yet this investigation caused a butterfly effect.

The unsuspected Lord Tessed had committed all those corrupt acts and even meddled with black magic unknown to the Sacred Order. And listening to the story, even murder?

Murdering the guild master and newspaper president who hired them—me?

Shock and horror were written plainly on their faces.

Others were also shaken, though perhaps not as severely.

Seeing the crowd turn toward me, I finally stepped out from behind Ruelian.

“……”

Tessed stared silently at me.

Remaining silent is never a good choice, but at this moment, he probably had nothing to say even if he had ten mouths.

“Honorable Judge,” I addressed Tessed.

“All the witness testimonies I prepared are concluded. How do you respond to all these suspicions against you?”

“……”

He remained silent.

“Why no response? Will you deny all of it as nonsense?”

I challenged him and scanned the crowd.

“Unfortunately, Lord Tessed is the judge, so he is not subject to verification in this soul trial. Since he does not stake his soul, he can lie with impunity. If you want people to believe your words are true, stake your soul and speak!”

Amid continuing silence, the royal knights shouted:

“That’s enough! It’s disrespectful to the judge!”

I ignored them and shouted:

“How long will you remain silent? Let’s make it clear! You’re a knight, you like tournaments, right? Not the knight battle you recently interrupted, but this is a true knightly duel! A duel over the truth!”

“Enough. He will never respond.”

A cold voice came from behind.

It was Grace. She had remained silent, observing the situation, but finally stepped in.

Her eyes shone with a strange light as she looked at Tessed and slowly spoke:

“Look at all these deeds committed by the empire’s most praised knight. Sin piled upon sin, growing like a snowball, and eventually it is exposed. Isn’t that right, Lord Tessed? As that young lady told me, it is absurd for someone to die simply for witnessing a scene.”

Grace sighed.

“Even with everything so clear, he will never admit a word with his own mouth. It is like a spell binding the soul. It has become obsession beyond reason, even madness.”

Her voice began to tremble.

“This old man treasured Empress Imelda as family and served her loyally all his life, yet for a moment, he made a wrong choice. But even now, to atone for that sin, and for the wrongfully accused late Duke and Duchess of Lacroix, he seeks to reveal the truth: that night, the Empress cruelly killed maid Eloise…”

“Shut up!”

Tessed’s terrifying roar cut through the air.

At the same time, blood spurted from Grace’s mouth.

“Ah!”

The crowd screamed.

The elderly maid staggered as if she would collapse, but immediately steadied herself.

Somehow, Ruelian had firmly held Grace.

From the floor where they stood, a pillar of pure white light rose, spinning to form a protective barrier.

I was relieved.

‘They prepared.’

Tessed had promised the deceased Empress Imelda not to harm Grace, but as the situation grew urgent, he even broke that promise.

Ruelian had apparently anticipated Tessed’s move and prepared in advance.