Chapter 257

“It’s Duke Haiman.”

“Oh no…”

The nobles watching from the upper floor whispered behind their fans, hiding their faces.

Though Haiman’s gaze remained sharp and his bearing undiminished, his tattered clothes made him look every bit the condemned man. It was said that half the gold coins circulating in Bariel passed through the duke’s hands—he was always seen as a figure of nobility and grace.

The nobles furrowed their brows, stifling groans in their hearts. Even if they stood to gain from his downfall, they were still bound by the identity of nobility.

“Haiman Duke has fallen so low.”

“To think the proud Haiman would meet such an end…”

“For now, it’s best to keep your head down.”

A dozen minds echoed the same thought. If Haiman could fall like this, then any of them could be next.

Who did they think they were? Could they really stand against the power of Jin and Ian? The shabby retreat of the seven great houses was proof enough that the era of the nobility was fading.

“My, is that all the defense you have?”

There were twenty-one prisoners in total, yet only two lawyers stood beside them—children of the accused Avalia and Chen families. They stood at either end, lightly holding their parents’ hands.

“They’re direct heirs, right? The young master from Avalia and the young lady from Chen. I heard they were quite helpful in the beginning.”

“Of course. Who in their right mind would claim the family’s innocence? The verdict against the family is the verdict against them. No one but direct heirs can defend them.”

When the central nobles were first arrested, many had tried to help. After all, these were the seven great houses. They had founded dozens of schools, hospitals, and religious institutions, nurturing countless talents.

But when the Sero family’s opposition faction united to pressure them with signatures, those who read the political winds quietly withdrew.

The nobles glanced at the Sero faction and whispered.

“Did you see? Lord Ian just greeted him briefly. Seems there’s still some misunderstanding about the Chetur district.”

“Isn’t it more about a broken marriage proposal?”

“I heard Lord Ian was approached, only to find out the Haiman family’s second son was involved in some scandal.”

“Shh, be careful. You only heard half the story. Lady Alenara reportedly tore into the second son’s head over the rumors.”

“Goodness, how extreme.”

“Even those spreading the rumors are said to be chasing after them with fiery eyes, so everyone’s keeping quiet about it.”

“By the way, who’s the gray-haired one beside His Highness Jin?”

“That’s the bodyguard assigned by Lord Ian.”

“Lord Ian personally assigned a guard to His Highness? Impressive…”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. After this is over, we should speak to Lord Ian directly…”

Before the trial, Akorella had sensed the nobles’ strange silence wasn’t just her imagination. They were divided, engaged in a subtle power struggle.

Jin, watching the trial from the front row, glanced back with a clear look of discomfort. Xiaosi followed his gaze.

“Is something wrong, Your Highness?”

“…No.”

How pathetic. Of course, changing sides was necessary to survive, but they had no sense of honor. Those who prioritized survival without conviction looked utterly foolish. The last remnants of dignity had fallen to the ground. No fine fabric or dazzling jewels could mask the true nature of these people.

“Xia, it’d be better if you sat in their place.”

Xiaosi was stunned into silence. Though soon to be freed from slavery, she was still a slave. How could she possibly sit among nobles?

Fortunately, Jin wasn’t expecting an answer and turned his attention back to the front.

“What is the defendant’s name?”

“Gaudino Haiman, Duke of Haiman.”

“The charges against Duke Haiman are as follows: conspiracy in Prince Gale’s rebellion and the assassination of His Majesty the Emperor, assault on the royal family, special property damage, violation of the Dragon’s sacred non-aggression pact…”

The chief judge flipped through the thick indictment, the rustling sound filling the courtroom. The document was so voluminous even Romandro couldn’t hold it with one hand. It took a long time just to read the charges, causing the crowd outside to murmur.

“Are there really that many charges? All of those?”

“Seven great houses means seven times the crimes? We’ll be here till sunset.”

“Those nobles are the reason the palace was sealed off!”

“Quiet! Do you want to be kicked out?”

“Sorry, sorry.”

There were about ten major charges, but with all the details, the list was extensive. And with seven families involved, the judge had to pause twice before banging his gavel.

Bang! Thud!

‘Anything related to Arsen has been bundled under the rebellion charge,’ Jin muttered, touching the scar on his chin. The Arsen incident was top secret. It was only natural they wouldn’t reveal it in front of so many imperial citizens.

As the boy instinctively turned toward the window, his eyes met those of the nearby citizens.

Gasp.

Both were startled. It was the first time the prince had seen the common people, and vice versa.

Jin’s face flushed as he quickly looked away. The citizens whispered excitedly among themselves, like teenagers caught in a crush.

Biting the inside of his cheek to regain composure, Jin heard the judge’s clear voice.

“…Do you admit to all the charges?”

“I do not.”

Duke Haiman immediately denied everything, pushing his innocence with unwavering confidence. To an outsider, it might even seem truthful.

“You do not admit them…”

The judge pressed his temple lightly, repeating the words. The evidence and testimonies were airtight. Denying them was only a waste of time.

“Very well. Let us examine each charge.”

Sighs echoed around. Still, there was a process to follow. If Haiman denied everything, the judiciary had no choice but to proceed methodically.

Bang! Bang!

Ian sat upright, leaning back as he watched Haiman. Under the desk, the duke and duchess held hands. After all, they were still husband and wife.

“First, the charge of conspiracy in Prince Gale’s rebellion and the assassination of His Majesty the Emperor. As previously investigated and testified, the black armor used by Haiman Bank is a magical armor with exceptional power, capable of holding off a hundred soldiers. At the time, Prince Gale requested some of the armor to strengthen the empire’s defenses, and Haiman willingly complied out of loyalty.”

Haiman’s eyes never wavered. His voice was steady, as if reading from a prepared statement. The flow and tone were natural, befitting a man who controlled Bariel’s economy.

“But I swear, I had no idea Prince Gale would use it for rebellion. As proof, when things started going wrong, I refused to provide the remaining half of the armor.”

In a courtroom, watched by many, how many could defend themselves so resolutely? Even the family heirs acting as lawyers had lost enthusiasm and stood silently.

“The duke testified as such. Yes, it’s confirmed. However, according to the letters, contracts, and testimonies submitted later by Prince Gale, it appears the duke was already aware of Prince Gale’s intentions.”

Rustle.

The judge flipped through documents, highlighting the letter where Gale promised the ‘empress’ title to Lady Melania—a key piece of evidence.

“Also, although the duke claims he withheld half the armor, preparations for the rebellion were completed the night before. There is evidence in the letters questioning why only half was given. This contradicts the claim that the duke realized the intent midway and withheld the armor. The court rejects Duke Haiman’s argument.”

Bang! Bang!

Though Gale was dead, his influence lingered in the palace, firmly in Ian’s grasp.

Did Haiman think Gale’s death would help his case? That was assuming Arsen was a monster, not a mage. Haiman’s rebuttal was swiftly dismissed.

“Next, the charge of assault on the royal family.”

The royal assault charge secretly included the Arsen incident. Whether Arsen was deceived by monsters or not was irrelevant. He had supported monsters, leading to the deaths of Delaina and Gale. No excuse would stand.

“Your Highness, did Duke Haiman also receive the silence spell?”

“Yes. It was sealed during the investigation.”

Xiaosi asked quietly, worried. With everyone watching, she feared mentioning Arsen might complicate things.

“…Therefore, I bear no responsibility for the deaths of Lady Delaina and Prince Gale.”

As promised, Haiman struggled to speak, likely due to the silence spell, but managed to finish his defense.

“Dismissed.”

Bang!

Despite the effort, the denial was over in an instant.

The presiding judge struck the gavel sharply and briefly, signaling to hurry things along.

“Dismissed.”

Charge: Special property damage.

Bang!

“Dismissed.”

Charge: Violation of the Dragon’s Sacred Non-Aggression Pact.

Bang!

With each strike of the gavel, it felt as if their hearts were being stabbed. Finally, the Duchess of Haiman broke down in tears. Her heir, her son, embraced her tightly, while the nobles waiting their turn covered their faces, pale as death.

The judge shuffled through the documents, then paused.

“Here, the testimony of His Highness Jin has been requested.”

Ian raised an eyebrow in surprise. The judge had more flair for drama than he’d expected. This was exactly what Ian had prepared—to have Jin deliver his first public speech before the empire’s citizens.

The judge lowered his glasses and called out to Jin.

“Your Highness, how do you wish to proceed? Will you testify?”

“Of course.”

Jin stood up boldly, as if he’d been waiting for this moment. Ian rose as well, reaching out his hand to the boy.

Escorted down the steps, Jin gripped Ian’s hand tightly, nerves evident as he climbed into the witness stand. Ian squeezed back reassuringly.

“Your Highness, this way.”

“…Thank you.”

Once he confirmed the prince was properly seated, Ian stepped back, signaling to the mages. His sharp glance warned them that if there was any problem with the magical device amplifying Jin’s voice, they’d be in trouble. The mages quickly focused, pouring more power into the device until it resonated grandly.

Ziiing. Ziiing.

“Witness, please state your identity.”

The judge’s gentle request was met with Jin turning his gaze out the window.

An endless sea of faces stretched beyond. The crowd recognized the young prince—the future Bariel, the little emperor—and their eyes shone with excitement. The energy was so palpable, it seemed to envelop the boy.

Spellbound by the sparkle in their eyes, Jin stared blankly outside before finally speaking his name.

“…I am Jin Verosion, the Fifth Prince of Bariel.”

Applause!

Ian raised his hand high, clapping proudly. The palace officials followed suit, then the nobles, and finally the people erupted in cheers.

This was the moment Jin truly witnessed his Bariel for the very first time.