CH 111

“This is the first I’ve heard of them being suspected of being unbelievers.”

He seemed to be trying to deflect.

It was a lighthearted comment, but one that would have been uncomfortable for our aristocratic audience to hear.

“That’s a bit odd. It can’t be true, can it……?”

“Could it be that His Majesty hasn’t received a report on the demonic group? Surely the first thing that would have been mentioned would have been about the unbelievers, or else…….”

“So, isn’t the transformation of a human into a demon something that would be done by unbelievers?”

As if on cue, the nobles reacted faster than light.

“Does this mean that His Majesty hasn’t been briefed on yesterday’s events?”

“That’s even more shocking because it means that the knights doesn’t report to him about what’s going on in the palace.”

“That would be a real problem, then, because it would put the quality of the Emperor’s leadership on the chopping block.”

The words of the noble audience were sour today, perhaps because of the Emperor’s actions related to Viscount Latrope earlier.

They were professionals, keeping the decibels at a level that would be loud enough for the Emperor, but not so loud that it was possible to tell who was speaking.

As expected, the emperor’s eyes flashed with anger as he heard every word of the nobles’ chatter.

‘But he can’t be angry.’

Unless he’s going to punish every single noble here.

“There’s been so much going on …… that I must have gotten confused for a moment, but on second thought, I recall receiving a report that Count Molzigat’s men are presumed unbelievers.”

Eventually, the Emperor stammered out an excuse.

“As far as I’m concerned, they are unbelievers, and I will give them the punishment they deserve. In this case, of course, the death penalty…….”

“Your Majesty, please listen to me!”

Where are you going with this?

I interjected sharply.

“The Duchess of Palesdon, what else do you want?”

“There are still many suspicions shrouding this case. If we put Count Molzigat and his men to death right now, the truth will be buried.”

“The Duchess of Palesdon’s demeanor from earlier is strange. Aren’t you saying these things in defense of Count Molzigat’s men?”

“No, Your Majesty, I believe that if they are unbelievers, they should be punished, but the more I think about it, the more I find it odd.”

I shook my head firmly at the Emperor who was trying to sidetrack the discussion.

Then I pointed to the chained imperial knights.

“Look at them, please. According to Count Molzigat’s men, they were attacked by imperial knights, which is why they brought them here.”

“You don’t …… that nonsense—”

“Yes. It can’t be true, the imperial knights were ordered to transport the criminals to Aphoris, and if they dared to disobey His Majesty’s orders on their own terms, then it would be safe to say that the imperial knights were guilty of treason.”

“Duchess of Palesdon. What are you trying to say, that my knights have committed treason?”

The Emperor’s face twisted into a grim line.

‘Of course they have.’

Having said that they would transport the guilty to Aphoris, it was imperative that things go smoothly.

Therefore, only the most skilled, trusted, and loyal knights would be mobilized for this task.

“Knights of the imperial court are treated as traitors if they disobey the Emperor’s orders, so it’s unlikely they would have gone against his word.”

“It’s obvious that Count Molzigat’s men are lying, so what does the Duchess of Palesdon want to say?”

The nobles’ reactions were similar.

I waited until they had said enough before I spoke again.

“No, Your Majesty, I believe in the knights of the Imperial Court, who are working for the good of the Empire.”

“Then?”

“I’m telling you that Count Molzigat and his cronies set this up to slander the Imperial Knights!”

“What, me?”

Count Molzigat’s eyes widened at the sudden accusation.

【Skill 〈Communicate with a Tamed Pet〉 will be activated!”】

I quickly activated the skill.

Count Molzigat, who replied with a booming voice, made an unhappy face.

“So, Your Majesty, please, reveal the sins of Count Molzigat’s men and punish them for daring to involve the palace knights in a conspiracy on a sinful subject.”

The atmosphere was exactly as I wished it to be, so I spoke up.

“I am the daughter of Brighton and the Duchess of Palesdon, and I demand a summary trial of Count Molzigat!”

The Emperor’s face turned grim as he realized what I meant.

In cases of urgency, high-ranking nobles could request a summary trial from the Emperor.

However, there were a few conditions.

A majority of the nobles must be present and two-thirds of them must be in favor of a summary trial.

“Is there anyone who opposes a summary trial for those who tried to frame the imperial knights?”

I asked, looking around the room.

Unsurprisingly, no one spoke up.

I turned back to the Emperor.

“……A moment ago, you asked me to clear the name of Count Molzigat’s men, and now you ask me to hold a summary trial?”

“Yes. Your Majesty, because I knew I had been deceived by them as well. I gave Count Molzigat an item that was only good for the journey to Aphoris, and if they were attacked, I would pay them back twice that amount and capture their attackers.”

I began to act nonchalant.

“I knew they’d be here because I saw a sign earlier that the item had been used, but I didn’t expect them to bring imperial knights.”

“…….”

“But the more I thought about it, the stranger it was, because imperial knights wouldn’t go against the Emperor’s wishes, so it occurred to me that I might have been tricked by Count Molzigat.”

“Isn’t that what the Duchess of Palesdon is saying to hide the fact that she’s in cahoots with them?”

The Emperor protested childishly.

Unlike the mouthy Emperor, I walked over to the palace knights and untied the ropes binding them.

“T, thank you.”

The palace knights awkwardly thanked me.

“I trust the knights of the Imperial Palace, as well as Your Majesty, and that is why I would like to hold a summary trial for Count Molzigat to punish him more severely for trying to deceive me and everyone else in this room.”

The Emperor was silent for a long moment.

‘You’ve dodged a bullet so far, but how are you going to get out of this one?’

I grabbed every excuse I could find.

“From what the Duchess of Palesdon said, it sounds plausible.”

“I know, I was shaken for a moment there, too. I sympathize with the Duchess of Palesdon.”

“Yes. It would be neat to have a trial, as the Duchess of Palesdon says, to expose all the guilt, and then punish them.”

The noble audience chimed in, echoing my words.

‘If he tries to avoid a summary trial here, it will only get weirder.’

Finally, a gleam flashed across the Emperor’s eyes.

“Very well, then I will hold a summary trial at the request of the Duchess of Palesdon.”

The imperial knights and Count Molzigat’s men might not be to blame, but it seemed to me that the culpability lay with Count Molzigat.

‘I’m sure he’s trying to pin all the blame on Count Molzhigak first, and then silence the Imperial Knights.’

The Emperor waved his hand, and the imperial knights hesitated, then finally spoke up.

“What Count Molzigat says is a lie. We never attacked them.”

“That is correct. On the contrary, Count Molzigat’s men attacked us first.”

The imperial knights spoke up, and the emperor stiffened.

“If that’s so, then we need to imprison them…… right away!”

“Please wait a moment. Your Majesty.”

But that wouldn’t work.

I stood in front of the people the Emperor had been trying so hard to imprison.

“The thing is, I have invited some guests, but I have not introduced them to you yet.”

“The Duchess of Palesdon, you ask for a summary trial and then offer to introduce your guests. Don’t you think you’re making light of summary trials?”

The Emperor interrupted me before I could finish my sentence.

He looked very sensitive.

‘Of course not. If I mess up, everything will be ruined.’

Knowing how the emperor felt, I smiled even more brightly.

“Yes. All the more reason why I shouldn’t delay in introducing them.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Because these are guards specially sent from Aphoris!”

“What?”

As the Emperor stared in disbelief, the guards from Aphoris took a step forward.

Standing in a line and moving at the exact same stride and angle, they gave off a strange aura.

“They are said to have been assigned to watch over the prisoners being transported to Aphoris to prevent them from escaping on the way.”

In other words, the guards saw everything that actually happened.

‘It doesn’t matter if the emperor had his palace knights testify falsely.’

In other words, this scenario was all painted by me!

The Emperor’s face began to turn yellow as he realized what had happened.