The day of reckoning had arrived.
Raymond’s trial was held as a public hearing, right in the middle of the city square.
The intention was clear: to make sure every citizen witnessed his sentencing.
Yuri and her group arrived early and took their seats.
“There are a lot of people here,” Yuri remarked.
“Yeah. I wonder if Genard will show up,” Jared said.
“Somehow, I feel like he will.”
Raymond was well-liked, it seemed, as more people had gathered than expected.
Soon, workers swarmed in to set up the courtroom. Behind the judge’s bench, a guillotine was even erected.
Jared clicked his tongue.
“Why on earth did they bring that?”
“To intimidate him, probably.”
Since no immediate execution was expected, the guillotine was just a psychological weapon meant to break his spirit.
Yuri’s group settled at the very back of the audience.
Jousting knights from Ujes surrounded the courtroom, standing guard.
“Today’s presiding judge from Ujes, the First Magistrate Diker, will now begin. Out of respect for the judiciary, please rise.”
The event Jared had feared didn’t happen. Instead, the opposite occurred.
Yuri suddenly stood and applauded the judge.
Caught up in the moment, the rest of the crowd followed suit, clapping along.
Diker raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by the unexpected welcome.
He struck his gavel to restore order.
“Everyone, quiet down…”
It was as if they were greeting a revered judge.
Yuri muttered under her breath, “There was a famous judge in the East called Po Cheong-cheong. Today reminds me of him.”
“You know some strange things,” Jared said.
“You’d be the same if you lived as long as I have.”
“Ha…”
Of course, Diker was far from the fair and just judge Yuri referenced. He was, in fact, Genard’s loyal puppet, more obedient to power than anyone else.
The citizens seemed aware of this, grumbling among themselves.
“That bastard’s in charge? This trial’s a joke.”
“What can we do…”
“Let’s just hope Lord Raymond comes out unscathed.”
Soon, Raymond was dragged in, bound with ropes. Though no verdict had been reached, he was already dressed in prison garb.
Yuri’s eyes flashed with anger at the sight, but her voice betrayed no emotion.
“Alright, let’s stay calm and watch closely. Let’s see if the rule of law still lives in Briol.”
“Yes…”
The prosecutor and defense attorney entered.
The trial proceeded swiftly, as if following a rehearsed script.
Raymond faced charges of tax evasion, bribery, obstruction of official duties, embezzlement of illicit gains, and financial fraud—new accusations kept piling up.
Raymond remained expressionless.
“Jared, look at that calm face. If it were you, you’d be crying out in protest by now.”
“What are you talking about? No, I wouldn’t.”
“You need that kind of composure to lead a group.”
“What are you planning with Lord Raymond?”
“You don’t know yet? You’re clueless.”
At that, Laurent gave a subtle hint.
“The Federation Veterans’ Association…”
“Oh, really?”
Though the murmurs from the back rows might have seemed unnoticed, those at the front caught every word.
Diker struck his gavel.
“Silence!”
The three of them straightened up like scolded students.
“Now, defense counsel, step forward and present your case.”
Raymond’s lawyer rose, scratching the back of his head as he shuffled through papers, then simply shrugged.
“I’m sorry. I cannot defend him.”
The courtroom erupted. Not only the audience but even the citizens crowded around the square voiced their outrage.
But when Ujes knights glared fiercely, everyone fell silent.
“The evidence is so overwhelming that even I, his defense, cannot plead his case. Who would have thought that Raymond, once a knight famed for his integrity, would fall so far? I ask the court to deliver a strict sentence to ensure this never happens again. That is my wish, both as Raymond’s lawyer and a citizen of Ujes.”
The tension rose again.
Though no one dared openly express anger under the knights’ watchful eyes, the crowd’s hearts filled with fury.
“Oh dear…”
Someone clutched their chest.
Yuri looked up, recognizing the voice—it was the fruit vendor she’d chatted with yesterday. She kept shaking her head.
The defense attorney continued.
“I know the people of Ujes gathered here share my feelings. United, we hope justice will prevail.”
With every word, the atmosphere grew heavier.
Yuri noticed Diker’s eyes narrow in displeasure.
It seemed the lawyer was overplaying his role, trying too hard to curry favor with Genard.
“Now, citizens of Ujes…”
Diker struck his gavel again, cutting him off.
“That’s enough.”
The lawyer immediately fell silent and bowed.
“Yes, Your Honor.”
Diker straightened, surveying the audience with a haughty gaze.
“I see no need to continue. Before I deliver the verdict…”
He gestured toward someone.
“Let us hear from the rightful lord of Ujes, the paragon of fairness, Lord Genard Jattery.”
Genard had been watching the trial all along.
But that wasn’t what shocked Yuri.
“Paragon of fairness? Who came up with that title?”
“I don’t know…”
“I’ve never heard that before.”
Someone in the front row quietly turned to explain.
“He gave it to himself. Just recently.”
“What a lunatic.”
“Exactly. Shh, be careful.”
So he had the audacity to dub himself ‘the paragon of fairness.’
Yuri already knew Genard was shameless, but to lack even a shred of humility? What on earth was going on inside that oversized head of his?
As Yuri’s questions multiplied, Genard stepped forward, his corpulent figure well-fed and bloated.
He stroked his double chin with a satisfied smile.
“I’m delighted to see so many citizens interested in this trial. It means everyone thirsts for justice.”
Yuri crossed her arms, watching to see how far this would go.
If they had just quietly locked Raymond away, she might understand. But to treat the spectators like fools was infuriating enough to make her question whether Raymond was truly guilty.
“Now, let us all, lord and subjects alike, fully experience the justice of Ujes. United, we will pronounce sentence on the criminal Raymond. When I count to three, everyone shout ‘guilty’ together. Isn’t that splendid?”
Raymond’s lawyer eagerly chimed in.
“Splendid!”
A man who had sold his soul for advancement.
Raymond kept his eyes closed.
“Before that, one last question.”
Genard, who loved self-aggrandizement enough to call himself ‘paragon of fairness,’ was putting on an over-the-top show.
“To the defense, and to everyone here…”
He spread open his fur coat, revealing his massive frame.
“If anyone believes Raymond is innocent, step forward and speak now. This is your last chance!”
With the lord himself and knights intimidating the crowd, who would dare?
Genard laughed confidently.
“This silence proves that justice lives in Ujes. Now, I will count to three. Together, we will declare him guilty.”
He signaled.
The knights around him began counting in booming voices.
“One!”
Genard’s shoulders bounced.
“Two!”
He pointed at Raymond.
“Thre—”
Just as the word ‘three’ was about to ring out—
“Damn you, you bastard!”
A thunderous roar accompanied a flying banana peel.
It slapped onto Genard’s perfectly combed hair like a hat.
“……”
A deathly silence fell.
The knights, holding their breath to suppress laughter, suddenly lost control at the absurd sight.
“Pfft…”
“Guh…”
“Choke…”
The knights fought desperately to stifle their laughter.
The citizens did the same.
Genard, stunned, touched his head. Seeing the thoroughly mashed banana peel, his face flushed red and purple.
“W-w-w-w-who the hell…”
He stammered in shock.
Yuri jumped to her feet.
“It was me, you rotten bastard.”
She stepped forward.
At first, Genard didn’t recognize her because of her hair color, but as she drew near, he took in her features.
“Uh…”
He recoiled in surprise, just as he had when hit with the banana peel.
The knights who had been backing him up moved to surround Yuri. Laurent and Jared stepped up beside her.
Genard stood dumbfounded, speechless.
“Well, they’re not telling them to back off?”
“How is this place…”
“They’re not telling them to back off?”
“B-b-back…”
Before Genard could finish, Yuri kicked two knights blocking her path.
Their bodies flew through the air and collapsed beside Genard.
The knights drew their swords in unison. Laurent and Jared met them blade to blade. The courtroom echoed with the sharp clash of steel.
The audience gasped and scattered in panic.
Yuri took a confident step forward and fixed her gaze on Genard.
“You even drew your sword. This is outright treason, isn’t it?”
Genard shouted urgently.
“Everyone, put your swords away!”
The knights looked around in confusion.
The leader of the knights, who had been glancing back and forth between Genard and Yuri’s group, spoke up.
“Your Grace, please step back. This is dangerous. We need to deal with this situation first…”
“This man is the prince!”
“Huh?”
Yuri deactivated the artifact hanging around his neck.
Instantly, his hair and eyes turned pitch black.
It was like magic.
His previously faint features sharpened with intensity.
The knight leader, locking eyes with Yuri’s jet-black gaze, finally grasped the situation and his strength drained from his hands, causing him to drop his sword.
The rest of the knights followed suit, dropping their weapons as well.
It was as if they had all surrendered.
Yuri smiled slightly and waved at Raymond.
“Sorry about this, Your Highness.”
“What do you have to apologize for? This bastard should be the one saying sorry.”
Yuri looked at Genard.
Genard seemed to be gathering his thoughts. After a brief silence, he spoke.
“Your Highness, even if you are the prince, this falls under my authority. The governance of Yuzes is a right and duty entrusted to me by His Majesty.”
“You should govern properly. Trying to imprison innocent knights on your own whim? Are you the king now, you bastard?”
“Please, Your Highness. You witnessed the trial yourself, so you understand.”
Genard put on his usual sly grin. He seemed to have calculated something.
He pointed one by one at the judge, the prosecutor, and the defense attorney.
“All the legal officials of Yuzes are convinced of Raymond’s guilt.”
“That’s only because they’re your subordinates, you bastard.”
“If you keep cursing like that…”
“Sorry, bastard.”
The citizens watching the scene felt a surge of satisfaction.
The man who had been oppressing them with his status was now being humiliated by someone of even higher rank.
“Do you have any evidence?”
“Do I look like someone who’d come here without it, you bastard?”
Yuri poked Genard’s cheek hard.
Genard trembled with anger.
“If, if, if you really have evidence…”
“Genard.”
Yuri stepped closer. Since Genard was taller, Yuri had to lean down to whisper in his ear.
“If you keep this up, you’ll really be charged with treason.”
Briol was unique compared to other countries.
The king was absurdly powerful, so the nobles dared not entertain rebellious thoughts.
But now, even the third prince was showing similar tendencies, which was driving the nobles crazy.
“Your Highness.”
But Genard struggled desperately.
“If you have evidence, present your objections properly! Otherwise, this is abuse of power!”
Yuri just smiled.
“Fine. I’ll show you the evidence.”
He gestured, and a man from among the onlookers at the trial stepped forward.
He wore an excessive amount of expensive jewelry, but somehow it suited him, making it hard to tell if he was nouveau riche or just had a flamboyant fashion sense.
He bowed politely.
“I am Guillermo, vice president of Elaine Trading Company. This is the official seal proving my position.”
Guillermo winked at Yuri and held up a document.
“The consolation money for the Allied Forces’ Veterans’ Association, which the duke seized, was from start to finish the personal asset of the prince. Therefore, the consolation money was a gift from the royal family.”
Genard was momentarily stunned, unable to grasp the meaning of those words.
Guillermo patiently explained again.
“In other words, Your Grace, you are currently using force to seize the private property of the Briol royal family.”