The Empress Strikes Back
The entire hall fell silent in an instant.
The nobles who had been denouncing Cassil clamped their mouths shut. He grinned as if savoring their silence.
“That day marked the end of my exile. I had dismissed my knights to wander the village alone and enjoy the sights. The woman must have mistaken me for a commoner, because she beat me without restraint.”
It was the truth. Cassil declared it boldly.
“She struck me so violently that I lost consciousness on the spot. I only came to my senses hours later. So I searched for her. I intended to punish her.”
“……”
“As you all said, I had no idea the thug who assaulted me was a noblewoman. I simply wanted revenge. It was to uphold the dignity of the imperial family.”
Everyone went quiet.
Assaulting a member of the imperial family? That was a capital offense worthy of execution!
The nobles who had been defending Sylvien fell as silent as if they had swallowed honey. They had no words to refute him. And then—
“I did speak.”
Canna spoke up quietly.
“After I was kidnapped, right before the hunt began, I clearly stated who I was and revealed my exact status. However, His Highness the Prince refused to believe me.”
“No, I didn’t hear anything. You never said such a thing.”
Cassil feigned innocence with brazen confidence.
“Even if you had said it, you still assaulted me. That is an insult to the imperial family. Do you not know that insulting the imperial family is punishable by death? I could have your head severed this very instant and it still wouldn’t be enough!”
“Control yourself, Your Highness.”
This was going too far. The Emperor thought so.
But Cassil seemed to believe he could ride this momentum. He cried out as if deeply wronged.
“Am I wrong?! What exactly have I done wrong?! She is a woman who should have been executed in the first place! What crime is there in trying to hunt such a woman?!”
That bastard!
The Emperor clenched his fist tightly. The fool was losing his mind and ruining everything!
“How can you say such things, Your Majesty?! The Duchess of Valentino is a noble! She has the right to a proper trial!”
“Summary execution by death for a noble? I have never heard of such a law!”
“His Highness the Prince is destroying the legal order of the empire by invoking imperial authority!”
Just as expected!
The Emperor ground his teeth. If only the boy had known when to stop, but he had said what should never have been spoken! What an imbecile!
“Shut your mouths! The empire stands above the law, and the imperial family stands above the empire! I merely dealt with a woman who insulted the imperial family. I have committed no crime!”
Cassil was sincere. These were words he could only speak because he truly believed them.
His father had said it would end with exile.
No. I’m sick of that life!
It was unbearable!
Being watched by knights every moment! Being stuck in some backwater village!
Bang! Bang! Bang! The Grand Magistrate struck his gavel, silencing the shouting nobles.
“You stand before His Majesty. All of you, restrain yourselves.”
“Indeed, everyone is far too agitated. Calm your hearts.”
At that moment, the Empress—who had remained silent until now—stepped forward.
The Emperor grew uneasy at her intervention. What fault was that venomous spider going to find this time?
“Prince, you require proper education. It would do you good to read the legal code thoroughly at least once.”
The Empress paused briefly before continuing.
“The imperial family exists to rule the empire. However, true rule is not domination enforced by authority alone.”
Cassil bared his teeth and glared at the Empress. To her, it was nothing more than the gaze of an insignificant pup.
“The Prince has violated countless noblewomen up until now. This stems from never having received proper punishment. That is why he dared to hunt the mistress of House Valentino—the guardian of this continent—and the eldest daughter of House Addis as if she were nothing more than a beast.”
“I…”
When Cassil tried to protest, the Empress’s eyes widened fiercely.
“You dare interrupt the Empress, Prince!”
Even Cassil shrank back at her intensity.
“The Prince’s sins are disturbing the very foundation of the empire. He has tarnished the honor of the imperial house that has ruled with fair and just laws for seventeen hundred years, and he has insulted the loyal subjects who have protected this empire.”
The Empress looked around at the nobles and declared in a voice full of dignity.
“Therefore, lifelong confinement within the Northern Tower would be the most fitting punishment.”
“Well said!”
“What keen insight, Your Majesty!”
Marquis Merci shot to his feet and shouted. The nobles who followed him burst into applause.
The Emperor clenched his jaw. But he could say nothing. Even the nobles who supported him—and those who supported Argon—had fallen silent in agreement!
Yes… there is no helping it. I cannot protect Cassil this time.
It was then that a servant slipped in through a small side door. He approached silently and whispered into the Emperor’s ear.
“Your Majesty, Her Highness Consort Teresa has collapsed!”
“……!”
The Emperor’s eyes widened.
Teresa. His beloved. She had spent days and nights in tears worrying about Cassil—had she finally lost consciousness?
No. I must protect Cassil!
The Emperor tightened his fist.
If Cassil received a sentence of lifelong confinement, he would never leave that tower until the day he died. It would be a fate worse than death.
If Cassil is confined, Teresa’s mind will never recover.
“We hold a different opinion.”
The Emperor spoke.
“There is logic in Cassil’s words as well. The root of this incident lies with the Duchess of Valentino. Had the Duchess not insulted Cassil, this event would never have occurred.”
He had to protect them. No matter what.
His son. His Teresa.
“Both Prince Cassil and the Duchess of Valentino have committed clear crimes. It is difficult to determine whose offense is greater. Therefore, We believe a compromise is necessary.”
If Canna’s crime was a pebble, Cassil’s was an entire sandy beach. He knew it, yet he shamelessly acted as if their sins were equal.
“We shall impose only a fine on the Duchess of Valentino, and sentence Prince Cassil to approximately three years of exile in a foreign country.”
It was then that Sylvien, who had been watching the proceedings with amusement, spoke.
“Your Majesty.”
The Emperor’s jaw stiffened. Sylvien made him even more tense than the Empress did.
“Is the compromise between my wife’s revealed crimes and those of His Highness the Prince truly nothing more than a fine and exile?”
“It is.”
The Emperor forced his voice to sound as dignified as possible.
“The Duchess assaulted Cassil, and Cassil attempted to murder the Duchess.”
And then, with maximum shamelessness, he continued.
“Both offenses are serious enough to warrant severe punishment. However, since it was a tragic misunderstanding in which neither knew the other’s identity, We propose a compromise of a fine and exile respectively.”
“How wise.”
Sylvien smiled. Then he nodded.
“I shall abide by Your Majesty’s wise judgment.”
What…?
The Emperor was at a loss for words.
What did he just say? Did the Duke really just say he would follow my decision?
He wasn’t the only one shocked. The Empress and even the nobles wore expressions of disbelief.
If Sylvien pushed further—if he took a harder stance—he could easily pin even heavier crimes on Cassil.
Of course, there would be no compromise for Canna’s crimes.
A heavy punishment would fall on her as well.
Could this be a decision made to protect the Duchess?
No, that couldn’t be.
As these two conflicting thoughts clashed—
“What are you waiting for, Grand Magistrate? Deliver the verdict at once!”
“Ah, yes!”
At any rate, he could not miss this opportunity! At the Emperor’s urging, the Grand Magistrate raised his wooden gavel.
“We hereby sentence His Highness Prince Cassil to three years of exile in a foreign land, and the Duchess Canna Valentino to a fine of thirty thousand gold.”
Bang! Bang! Bang! The gavel struck down.
In that moment, the Emperor felt as if he had seen light. It was done! Thanks to that duke’s unexpected assistance, he had saved Cassil!
It’s done! Teresa, I saved our son!
His buttocks itched with impatience. He wanted to rush to Teresa’s side, wipe away her tears, and whisper that she no longer had anything to worry about!
On the other hand, the nobles looked utterly bewildered. The Empress appeared furious. Sylvien had acted in a way that was impossible to understand. And then—
“Your Imperial Majesty.”
Canna rose from her seat.
All eyes instantly turned to her. Cassil glared at her as if he wanted to lunge forward and kill her on the spot. He seemed extremely dissatisfied with the sentence of exile.
Foolish.
He had no idea an even greater punishment was coming.
She swallowed her laughter.
“I wish to accuse His Highness Prince Cassil of instigating the poisoning of the crew members aboard the Eastern Continent trade vessels.”