Chapter 70: Trial for 8 People

Chapter 70: Trial for 8 People

The capital, Cardinal, was stable; it was hard to believe that aristocrats had just been purged.

There were several reasons for this. I had spent a week interrogating the aristocrats. If I had only wanted to punish the aristocrats for convenience then I would have conducted a formal interrogation and held a trial immediately, but because I had interrogated them privately and didnt hold the trial the barons and knights who couldnt attend my coronation ceremony has decided to sit back and watch.

The merchants were doing the same. I should call them former Chancellor and Chief of the Ministry of Ceremonies now since theyve been stripped of their title. The merchants who were influenced by them are potential enemies. They are still not cooperating with the emperor, but I havent taken any action against them since they have value.

And the citizens. They are very cooperative with the emperor because of my speech, but I was also most careful with them since one mistake can turn them against me.

Only the Western Church was hectic, but interfering with them now would be like putting myself in harms way for someone else. Ill just leave them alone for a while.

The Western Church would need to be completely reformed To cure the corruption within it. They would have to fight it out until they acknowledge that they need the intervention of the emperor.

Two major pieces of news arrived almost at the same time in the otherwise peaceful capital.

The first son of the former Duke Raul, Sigmund du van Raul, the Cavalry Chief, declared his succession.

The second piece of news was that Augusto de Aquicurl, the second son of the former Duke Aquicurl and the current Marquis Aquicurl Diederich, has declared his succession.

Both of these men have raised their armies to go against the emperor.

This was the beginning of a civil war.

Inheriting the Duke Raul and Duke Aquicurl titles and raising armies. I summoned Lord Warung and Count Chamneaux, who had returned to the capital, and Count Newnbal, who had remained in the capital, Count Palatine Vedett, and Fabio, who had become Marquis LMitedeau.

I didnt summon them to talk about how to deal with the rebels I had summoned them to open the trial against the aristocrats who were being locked up.

I declared the start of the trial when I saw that they were seated in the chairs provided.

I exercise the jurisdiction held by the Emperor to declare that this trial will now begin.

You may wonder if its alright for me to do things like this at this time, but Ive already begun to stall Lord Rauls army and I have a plan to stall Lord Aquicurls army as well. Its fine.

The Ceremonial Great Leader and the Records Great Leader were also here along with the five aristocrats. They started to give their declarations as witnesses.

They ranked under Daniel in the Western Church and were the two who were fighting for the position of Great Leader. They were trying to make this trial go the way the emperor wants to improve their reputation as much as possible.

Daniel wanted to stay out of their fight. He probably wont show up at the palace for a while to avoid having them put up their guard against him. Other clergy who foresaw that this conflict would be messy all seem to be distancing themselves from it. One of them, Count Palatine Vedetts son, Defrott le Moissan, who had led Georg Vs purge, apparently returned his priest robes because everything had proceeded too hastily.

He came to serve me a short while after he stopped being a clergy. He said, My status as a clergy has been useful for the Empire, but itll just get in the way from now on. A clergy shouldnt be able to quit so easily, but he was allowed to do so this time because they were making him take responsibility for his actions.

Of course, my impression of them was the worst Dont think Ill let you die peacefully.

The rest of the aristocrats were mostly acquitted. To name a few: Count Silvestre Kushad, Count Valaire Meyomlal, Marquis Theodore Arndal, Count Theophane Vadpo, Count Gautier Voddi, and Count Boris Odameyom. They will be released soon but I have to time their release carefully.

There are other aristocrats whose sentences are still pending. One of them, Count Hubert Bunra, the Chief Imperial Guard, was under investigation for using the Imperial Guards for his own personal gain. Though, all of them used the Imperial Guards for their own personal gain But this was just to buy time.

There was a difference between the verdict I want to give vs the verdict I can give even at this trial. For example, Count Bunra would be acquitted and released at a normal trial, but his fief was located to the north of Lord Warungs fief and to the south of Marquis LMitedeaus fief. If he were to be released and joined up with Lord Rauls army Then in the worst scenario, I would be cut off from Lord Warungs fief. Strategically speaking, we cannot give up this important position that could potentially become a counteroffensive stronghold to the Raul army.

We are currently conducting various operations within Count Bunras fief, so we have no intention to proceed with his trial until those operations are complete. I will not waver in my decision even if people believe that I am detaining him unjustly.

And finally Regent Alexias sentence.

Her crimes include helping others use the young Emperor for tyranny, unjustly imprisoning the former Crown Princes concubines, and directing the assassination of the servant who had fathered Jeans child and the child. She may have also turned a blind eye to the assassination of the previous Emperor. She deserved to die for those crimes.

I find no objection to the charges and find the Regent Alexia guilty. All her property and titles should be confiscated, and she will face the death penalty. Anyone who objects may speak up.

I object.

Fabio raised his hand and said.

I will allow it. Speak.

Your Majesty, no monarch throughout history has ever killed their own mother regardless of how tyrannical they may have been.

Really? I think there was a Roman tyrant who killed his mother But well, I guess it is unheard of in this world.

And the citizens believe that parents must be respected. Public opinion is a fickle thing. If you were to impose the death penalty on Regent Alexia, then the resulting backlash might worsen the publics opinion of you.

Would sentencing her to death have that much of an impact?

Yes, without a doubt. It would go against the reign you desire.

I see. Well, she doesnt have to die. Besides, I have other means if she becomes troublesome like assassination. Theres no need to make the citizens distrust me.

I understand your opinion. I will revise her sentence. All her property and titles shall be confiscated, and she shall be imprisoned for life. Anyone who objects may speak up now.

Her sentence was decided since no one objected.

The court will now adjourn.

I let out a small sigh as I listened to the two clergys declarations.