Chapter 48

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: The Return of the Duke
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...No.

This isn't the time to get emotional. I need to focus.

Reminding herself inwardly, she turned to the witness stand on her right and asked.

"What a remarkable coincidence. Is the Grand General's testimony true, Count Bubehol?"

Seated in the witness stand, Count Bubehol wet his lips, his eyes searching for a place to rest. After meeting Witten's crazed glare, the count squeezed his eyes shut and answered.

"It is. It is all true."

With a single word from the eldest among them, a statement that had seemed like a tasteless joke gained credibility, transforming into an undeniable truth.

Even the hushed murmurs vanished, and a frigid chill settled over the silence that enveloped the courtroom.

"That is the full account of the incident."

Lucy looked at the lords with a regretful expression.

"As you all must have realized upon hearing the story, there are more than a few suspicious points—the fact that he deliberately used a disguised ship to venture beyond Parnas's territorial waters, that the Empire's ship also bore no markings, and that of all people, the one he was meeting in these trying times was the Crown Prince. Therefore, I have given this deep consideration and wish to ask you all if the situation is plausible."

*He looks like a spy to me, what do you all think?*

Understanding the essence of her words, the nobles finally realized why this gathering was being held in a courtroom and not the royal palace. They were to be the jury, to determine whether Witten was guilty or not.

Lucy gave a subtle nod to Rutherford, who was seated in the very front row.

It was time for the instigator to play her part, just as planned.

"I was wondering why Your Majesty arranged this gathering, but now I understand. Duke Witten was truly acting as a spy."

Rutherford let out a scoff as if dumbfounded, breaking the silence.

"I had a bad feeling when he stormed out of the last council meeting in such a rage. Was he truly planning to commit treason by joining hands with the Empire?"

The sharp question instantly swayed the wavering atmosphere to one side. As if on cue, the lords began to hurl accusations like a round.

"I never would have imagined... How could the head of a ducal house do such a thing!"

"After serving as a loyal subject for so long, you're turning your back on the kingdom now?"

"How could you even think of joining hands with the Empire when you know they are the core of the war between our nations? How utterly shameless..."

Traitor, vulgar, rebel.

Insults Witten had thought he would never hear in his lifetime rained down on him all at once.

His teeth chattering, Witten lifted his head, his face contorted with rage.

"Silence! What makes you all so high and mighty to condemn me! Do you think anything will change if you just squawk along after Rutherford?"

"W-what did you just... Are you speaking to me?"

"I'm glad you're at least perceptive enough to realize that, Vanessa Rutherford."

Witten's twisted expression relaxed, and a laugh like a sigh escaped him.

Seeing him laugh like a man who had lost his mind, the lords fell silent one by one. Witten laughed heartily, as if he found it genuinely amusing, then suddenly stopped.

"This is ridiculous. Coincidentally? The Grand General coincidentally arrived to sink my ship and coincidentally witnessed my meeting with the Crown Prince? Do you really think all of this can be dismissed as coincidence?"

"What are you trying to say, Bon Witten?"

"This was a trap to frame me from the very beginning! A coincidence? By that logic, is there any proof I was going to meet the Crown Prince? According to this so-called coincidence of yours, the Crown Prince must have just been coincidentally passing through those waters! If you're going to brand me a spy, then present some real evidence!"

His desperate shouts were devoid of any logic.

Even though Count Bubehol, who always advocated for neutrality in the Council, had appeared as a witness—a testimony that was evidence in itself—Witten continued to scream, trying to win over the lords.

"You're all completely misreading the current situation! You have no idea what schemes that woman is plotting behind the scenes...! Who's to say Count Bubehol wasn't in on it from the start? Rutherford, you're in league with her too, aren't you!"

"Duke Witten! Watch your tongue!"

"Yes, I should have known when you toyed with me over Duke Kill's domain. Arsinoe! Aren't you just trying to purge everyone except the lords who fawn over you? After cornering an innocent man like this, who do you plan to cast out next!"

After roaring with all his might, veins bulging on his neck, Witten fell silent, panting heavily.

Lucy simply watched him, saying nothing.

"Well... he's not entirely wrong. Realistically, the circumstances..."

"I don't mean to malign Your Majesty, but thinking about it objectively..."

"It is true that Count Bubehol has always been close with the Hyverge family. It's possible he wasn't entirely neutral..."

A stir went through the lords. Indeed, Witten's words struck them as having some merit.

Arsinoe, who had abruptly become queen, had brought down Duke Kill, the core of the Council, then funneled power to the sycophantic Rutherford while pushing Witten, a pillar of the opposition, to this precipice.

The lords who had quietly maintained neutrality and those who had aligned with Witten couldn't help but be wary, wondering if they too might fall out of Arsinoe's favor.

Witten had asked the very question the lords had wondered but dared not speak, the very question Lucy wanted brought to light.

Feeling the situation unfolding as she had anticipated, Lucy let out an inward sigh of relief.

*Think whatever you want.*

*I have no interest in your petty squabbles.*

She had no intention of ruling through fear. All Lucy wanted was to stabilize internal affairs and build up the nation's strength so she could, one day, wring that Crown Prince's neck.

She didn't want to waste time on pointless arguments with the lords.

But in this situation, simply saying that wasn't the case—that she would treat all the lords fairly—would be meaningless. Lucy's words lacked credibility.

In a situation like this, what could persuade the lords was not the eloquent speech of a capable new leader, but the single, heartfelt, unpolished word of an old village chief who had long looked after his people.

It was about time to borrow the old chief's power.

Lucy asked Witten in a gentle tone.

"Bon Witten. Are you saying that you are innocent, and that I am taking sides and framing you?"

"I am. Are you going to deny it?"

"No. Your point has some merit. In that case, to determine who is right in this situation, I will summon someone who is on neither my side nor yours to deliberate."

"......What?"

"Let him enter."

Gathering her sleeve with one hand, she gestured toward the inner door with the other.

The guards hurried to open the doors, and someone emerged, striding through the deep shadows.

His deep-set, worried eyes and bitter expression were unchanged from when she saw him at the temple, but dressed in his gray formal robes, he looked every bit the Chairman who once commanded the lords.

"It has been a while, everyone."

Goedel Kill.

His white hair flowing, he entered the courtroom with heavy steps.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Lucy had stormed the temple that very dawn, around the time Kill had finished his meditation and, after some hesitation, picked up his pen.

For a long while, Kill stared at the blank paper, wondering how to begin.

'How should I start this letter...'

It had been quite some time since he had decided to accept Lucy's offer, but he had been putting off contacting her, finding it awkward to be the one to ask for his reinstatement.

Well, first, he should ask how she was doing.

An apology could come after that.

Just as he made up his mind and touched the tip of his pen to the paper, it happened.

"It's been a while, Duke."

Lucy had burst through the door without warning and abducted Kill.

Thrown into a carriage without any explanation, Kill had furiously demanded to know what was happening, but Lucy simply sat next to the driver, humming a tune.

It was only three or four hours later that he learned the full story.

Upon arriving at the command headquarters, Kill was, much like when he was taken, washed, fed, and dressed, with no regard for his own will. Just as he was finally collecting his thoughts, Lucy appeared before him, elegantly dressed in a fine gown.

"I received a letter from Atlind. When I heard you'd settled your thoughts, I decided it was time to come get you. I'm sorry for dragging you here so suddenly."

"I'm glad you realize you should be sorry. I'm not some young widow to be spirited away like this... The shock almost made me collapse."

"I'll be more careful next time. Things were moving faster than I expected, so I had no choice but to bring you here in a hurry."

"What pressing matter?"

As if she had been waiting for the question, Lucy candidly explained Witten's situation and how she had orchestrated events because she wanted to bring about his downfall.

Kill offered a rather simple assessment of the matter.

"So you intend to deceive the lords."

Despite the somewhat harsh remark, Lucy didn't get angry. Instead, she laughed heartily, seeming to enjoy it.

"If one person tells a lie, it's a deception. But if many say the same thing, it becomes an opinion. And if the most credible person among them agrees, it becomes the truth."

"Why go through all this trouble?"

"Let's just say I don't want to become a fearsome queen."

Kill finally understood why she had so abruptly summoned him today. He scowled with instinctive reluctance, and Lucy added with a playful shrug.

"I won't force you to play along with this charade. Do as you see fit. Even if things go awry here, I can always find another way."

Her tone was light, as if she truly didn't care either way.

That had been her last word before the present moment. Kill inwardly reined in his bewilderment and glanced at Lucy.

*Do as I see fit, she says.*

How could she say she wouldn't force him after setting the stage like this?

Kill pouted subtly, then quickly composed his features into a dignified expression and stood beside Lucy.