Clang, clang.
The heavy armor of the Moonlight Palace knights clashed loudly, echoing down the corridor.
Leading the charge, of course, was none other than Acella, the master of the Moonlight Palace.
The knights, unusually clad in full plate armor and waving their banners, looked as though they were setting out to battle a dragon.
Boom!
As the attendants forcefully opened the door at the end of the corridor, Acella stepped into the courtroom.
I stealthily positioned myself beside her.
The courtroom had a symmetrical structure.
On the right side, the spectators sat in a neat row, and among them were a few members of the imperial family.
Across from us, a door opened, and a group of knights marched powerfully toward us.
At the forefront, a man with flowing blonde hair was unmistakably Prince George von Württemberg.
In an instant, Acella and George were face to face.
A tense atmosphere filled the space.
“Acella, how dare you make me waste precious time by calling for a trial? Isn’t there a decorum to maintain with a brother as grand as the sky?”
Acella crossed her arms and glared fiercely at George.
“Spare me the useless chatter. Draw your sword.”
“You clearly don’t know your place. Are you accusing me of attempting to assassinate the Western Duke without any reason or evidence? Absurd.”
George chuckled mockingly, shaking his head.
“Well, I have evidence.”
“What did you say?”
At my statement, George frowned.
“The assassins who attacked the ballroom were two in number. The thieves were killed on the spot by the knights; the black magician was captured and detained by the Moonlight Palace. But this one had quite the loose lips.”
George glared at me with his lips pursed tightly.
In truth, the captured assassin was sealed with a golden word by black magic. Haeju had failed. They were only alive.
But George couldn’t know that, so he had to bury this trial in a panic that the truth might leak.
Acella raised her arm and pointed a finger at George.
“You threaten my safety, and by extension, that of the imperial family and many nobles.”
Acella declared clearly.
“Pay for it in blood, George.”
“Ugh.”
George twitched his eyebrows for a moment but then counterattacked with great vigor.
“Don’t be ridiculous. It is you who must repay the debt for trapping me in your absurd words!”
“Let’s just proceed with the trial, Your Highness. This way, the truth can never be revealed.”
I pointed to the left.
Acella and George faced off in the center, halving the courtroom.
Following that central line, there was the judge’s seat where the presiding judge sat.
“Prince George von Württemberg, do you agree to determine the truth through trial by combat against Acella von Württemberg?”
“Of course.”
“That is what I wished for.”
Both declared immediately to the judge.
“Participants, step forward!”
“Yay! I’ve been wanting to do this!”
Lau hopped forward excitedly.
As he had no alliance with either party and was a contender for the succession, he was a fitting participant.
“Let’s see, we need a pious assistant. Attending Physician Boish should step forward!”
“At your command, Your Highness.”
Boish, Lau’s attending physician, stepped forward. I had seen him a few times in the inner palace.
He’s a short, youthful man. Just by appearances, one might call him a boy. Standing next to Lau somehow makes him look younger.
Lau would oversee the duel’s process and result, while Boish would justify it with faith.
Boish explained in a calm voice.
“In a trial by combat, the winner’s claim is the truth. It is only natural that the goddess grants victory to those who speak the truth.”
This is the reason why a trial by combat can be conducted in an empire where the worship of the goddess is widespread.
Well, it makes no sense according to my logic.
But it has to be utilized when it’s needed, like now.
I can shift military confrontation into a one-on-one duel between Acella and George, taking the advantage.
“Well then, please declare, what is the truth you claim, Your Highness?”
“Acella has falsely accused me without evidence, and I deserve punishment. I will claim restitution from the Moonlight Palace.”
“And what is the truth you, Princess Acella, claim?”
I stepped in here.
“The truth is that Prince George knows the true culprit behind the assassination of both Princess Acella and the Duke of Schwarzwald.”
“Is there a true culprit behind the assassination incident?”
“Well, that’s the issue claimed by the Moonlight Palace.”
The spectators began to murmur.
“Restitution, then? It would suffice for Prince George to reveal the true culprit and spend three years away from the imperial palace.”
“What did you just say? Are you suggesting I should be exiled from the imperial court?”
George looked flustered by the unexpected condition.
The reason for changing the phrasing not to admission of guilt but to reveal the true culprit has several implications.
In a trial by combat, the words of the victor become truth.
If George is not the executor who hired the assassin, the existence of the true culprit will forever remain buried.
Furthermore, it would officially announce that the assassination was an internal conflict within the imperial family, which the emperor would certainly disapprove of.
The emperor’s word is absolute. If he nullifies the trial, everything will be in vain.
Well, the true culprit is highly likely to be Camilla.
“The Togin Palace sees more than just you; many nobles come and go. If the true culprit was among them and you tried to hide your management responsibility, wouldn’t three years of exile be a fitting punishment?”
“Ha, how dare you punish me? You mere attending physician!”
“The punishment isn’t coming from me. It’s the trial.”
George’s face flushed as he clenched his fists.
“Your blasphemy has surpassed limits and is reaching for the sky. I shall never be defeated. Do you think I am as weak as you?”
Swish!
George drew his sword from his waist.
It was a resplendent longsword, glimmering with all kinds of jewels.
“I am a body trained under the swordmaster of the imperial knights. It is clear who will win this duel: Acella or me!”
George certainly has reason to be confident.
After all, he is a sword user who has learned swordsmanship. His skill would be on par with a squad leader of the knights.
Even though Acella is a skilled magician, in one-on-one duels, a close-range knight has a significant advantage over a long-range one.
Once the distance is closed, any means of defense will disappear entirely.
“Why are you all looking so serious? You’re not really planning to fight for your lives, are you?”
Lau asked with some concern. Both George and Acella frowned.
“I’m serious! I wouldn’t let myself be insulted and remain silent!”
“The one who was insulted first was the Moonlight Palace. I’ll uproot the Togin Palace.”
Lau shrugged, accurately grasping the atmosphere.
“I see. So this is a serious duel between Acella and George.”
“Lau, please confirm Rule 6 of the trial by combat as a participant.”
“Rule?”
I requested. Lau’s attending physician, Boish, opened a book.
“Rule 6. In a serious duel between a man and a woman, a handicap is given to the male side.”
“What do you mean by that?!”
George exclaimed angrily, but the chief justice nodded solemnly in agreement.
“Yes, that is correct. This rule arose because the female side is disadvantaged in strength.”
“That’s an outdated rule from a time when magic wasn’t popular!”
“Tradition is tradition. There were precedents where the males’ lower halves were buried while proceeding with the duel; what will you do?”
Acella tilted her chin in response.
“There’s only my weapon and armor to carry into the duel. I’ll add an additional item.”
“An additional weapon to carry… that has precedent. I think it can be acknowledged, but what do you think, Your Highness?”
Lau nodded.
“It’s not something that never happened before, and as a participant, I will acknowledge it!”
“Already pulling tricks….”
George looked shocked.
The duel has already started, George.
You should have read at least some related literature beforehand.
“What weapon will you choose to carry?”
Acella responded nonchalantly.
“A servant is an extension of their master. They should be both shield and weapon. I will carry one of my servants into the duel.”
“Th-that’s nonsense! I can’t accept that!”
George fumed. It was clear he had caught on to our intentions.
Of course, we intended to send Tanya out. As an expert, she could quickly subdue George.
“The handicap shall be removed. This is an honorable duel. It will proceed one-on-one without any outsiders.”
“Is it honorable for Your Highness to truly duel with a girl eight years younger than you?”
“That punk…!”
George ground his teeth at me.
“We merely presented the rules of the trial by combat. If you don’t like it, your only options are to admit guilt and flee.”
“Attending Physician, you plotted this!”
Pointing, George indicated me with his finger.
“Indeed. If the additional item is you as the attending physician, I’ll accept it. The previous blasphemies you’ve inflicted upon me are countless. If I can take your head, then I would gladly accept!”
The courtroom buzzed with tension.
It is legal to kill the opponent in a duel. If I am killed by George, I won’t be able to complain.
He probably thought someone like me, a non-combatant, wouldn’t change the odds in this duel.
If George doesn’t accept the trial, he can’t be expelled from the imperial palace.
I glanced back at Acella.
She too seemed hesitant, caught off guard by this development.
[No. 012: The Fall of the Empire 30% → 38%]
Acella’s hatred towards the imperial family is gradually increasing. It’s no surprise, considering the treachery.
It’s an opportunity to rid us of George. Having brought things this far, the duel must be established.
“Alright. I will participate.”
At my response, George smiled confidently, assured of victory.
“The conditions are agreed upon. The goddess’s blessing will be with those who speak the truth.”
Boish unleashed his divine power, having completed his role.
Clap! Lau clapped his hands.
“I declare that the trial by combat between George and Acella has been established! The date is two weeks from now!”
Acella raised her chin haughtily, looking down at George.
“Tsk! What an unpleasant woman.”
George spat curses and turned to leave the courtroom.
We too headed down the corridor we came through.
“Prince, what on earth are you thinking?”
As expected, Acella immediately scolded me.
“The scenario was that George would back down or establish a duel under favorable conditions. What do you plan to do by joining me?”
She’s quite angry.
“Don’t worry. I will definitely win the duel.”
“George isn’t someone to be underestimated. He’s a competent knight. You could… actually die.”
“Even if he says that, George can’t openly target the princess’s life. This situation has escalated, and I’m sure the emperor will be watching. There’s no way he’d look kindly upon a successor who’s igniting a flame in the imperial family, is there?”
“That’s not what I mean… Forget it.”
Acella crossed her arms, sulking.
“Since this has happened, I’ll ensure a decisive victory. Prince, will you practice with a sword?”
“I’ll do as much as I can. Please focus on your magic training, Princess.”
“Do you have a plan?”
I shrugged and requested Acella.
“Please lend me the knights. I need manpower to gather materials.”
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