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The courtroom’s heavy doors swung open. Soon, Leonard found himself pushed into a world far removed from the dank confines of his prison cell.
The chamber was vast, its high ceilings adorned with rich, intricate tapestries that depicted scenes of justice and valor from the kingdom's storied past. King Vasily’s father, Yon, holding back an army of nomads at Death’s Door in Garva; The First King, Vladimir, expelling the last of Eturia’s forces back over the northern border.
Space had been made for another large banner, and Leonard realized with bitter humor that it would likely depict a scene from the campaign against the Void, which he had led.
The air was filled with the scent of polished wood and wax emanating from the rows of benches that filled the space, leading up to the imposing judge's dais at the far end. Sunlight streamed through the tall, arched windows, casting a solemn light across the room and illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. It was almost impossible to believe that it could coexist with the destitution of the slums. And yet it did.
Dominating the courtroom were the three paladins sent from the capital Amelia had warned him of. Their presence was an unmistakable sign of the entire system’s complicity with the ongoing farce.
Clad in their gleaming armor, they stood like sentinels, their faces obscured behind helmets that bore the kingdom's emblem: a griffin in mid-flight. Even in the hushed atmosphere of the courtroom, the power and authority they exuded were palpable. Their intimidating presence would have been enough to send any guilty man into despair.
It’s a good thing I’m not just any man, then. I didn’t face the Avatar of the Void just for three spoiled nobles with some talent for the sword to make me bend.
Despite the storm brewing within him, Leonard allowed the prison guard and his lawyer to lead him to the accused’s bench.
His lawyer was a man who seemed to embody the antithesis of confidence. Wishy-washy and slimy, he fidgeted with his papers, his suit ill-fitting and his hair slicked back in an attempt at respectability. His eyes darted around the room, avoiding Leonard's gaze as if the situation was too much for him to bear.
The man had arrived only five minutes before and insisted they needed to hurry and that there was no time to discuss things, even though the law clearly stated that any man was entitled to freely speak with their lawyer without unreasonable time constraints.
So hurried he was, Leonard hadn’t been allowed to wash nor change the clothes he had been wearing since the funeral four days before. It was just another insult that he bore with stoicism, not allowing anything of his feelings to show.
If Leonard hadn’t already known the whole thing to be rigged, that would have been enough to clue him in. It took little imagination to realize that the man had been bought off long ago. His anxiety likely stemmed from the fact that, despite the enchanted handcuffs currently holding him, Leonard was still a good seven inches taller, and his reputation as a Hero indicated he’d be able to strangle him long before the guards could intervene.
Few others were present. Only Eichelbaum’s court of sycophants and a few of Alpar’s minor nobility - people barely above peasants in the eyes of the great powers but who still took pains to distinguish themselves from the masses - had decided to show up. Only one friendly face was present, and Leonard took heart in the fact that people like Vicar Damien still existed.
The fall of a Hero was a fascinating sight, but the protests that could faintly be heard from the outside likely had stymied any enthusiasm. Technically, they were in no danger with the Paladins there. But everyone knew better than to underestimate the man known for charging headfirst into teeming masses of voidlings without hesitation.
The murmurs and whispers that had filled the room as Leonard was led in fell silent as Judge Ronald Eichelbaum made his entrance. The short man was a pernicious figure, his demeanor exuding an air of arrogant entitlement. Mousy in appearance, with gold-rimmed glasses perched precariously on the bridge of his big nose, Judge Eichelbaum moved with an assuredness that spoke of his unchallenged authority in this domain. His robes, though immaculate and no doubt expensive enough to feed a family for a year, seemed to swallow his slight frame, adding an air of comical grandeur to his presence.
Flanking him were Sir Gerard and two other members of the local 105th Corp, their uniforms crisp and their expressions stern. They seemed to be doing their best to appear as neutral enforcers of the law, but Leonard knew the captain well enough to sense his disdain for the proceedings. As they took their positions, the air in the courtroom grew heavier, the anticipation of the trial's commencement palpable.
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With a grandiose gesture, Judge Eichelbaum called the court into session. The sound of his gavel striking the wooden block resonated through the chamber. "We are gathered here today," he began, his voice carrying a tone of self-importance, "to address the grave allegations against Leonard Weiss, former Commander of the Royal Heroic Party, accused of the heinous murder of Belinda Tholum.”
A murmur of orchestrated shock rippled through Eichelbaum's court despite the well-known nature of the allegations prior to the trial. "The accused," Eichelbaum continued, adjusting his glasses with a flourish, "was found at the scene of the crime and admitted to his presence at the time of Miss Tholum's unfortunate demise.”
Leonard clenched his jaw, maintaining his stoic facade as the judge painted him in the darkest light possible. "Given the impossibility of tampering with the royal mail, due to our kingdom's magical safeguards, it leaves us with no alternative but to conclude that Mr. Weiss alone could have administered the poison found in Miss Tholum's tea.”
The judge then turned his gaze towards Leonard's lawyer, a simpering excuse for a defender who seemed already resigned to his client's fate. "Does the defense have anything to say in light of these allegations?”
The lawyer gave Leonard one last look, his hands visibly trembling, and rose to his feet. Instead of denying the accusations or presenting any substantial defense, he meekly pleaded for leniency. "Your Honor, my client has served the country with distinction. Given his previous good behavior and the service rendered to our kingdom, I humbly request that the court consider a reduced sentence."
He’s not even trying to defend me? I should have expected as much. The depths these people are willing to go to never fail to surprise me.
From the spectator's rafters, Vicar Damien stood abruptly. "This is injustice!" he protested, his voice echoing in the otherwise silent courtroom. "Leonard loved Belinda too much to-”
"Silence!" Judge Eichelbaum cut him off, slamming his gavel down with force. "Any further interruptions will be met with imprisonment. This court will not tolerate such outbursts.”
It seems that even the Edicts of Justice are nothing to these people. The kingdom has truly lost its way. I always considered it a somewhat backward place, but ever since I started studying its history, I realized it wasn’t always like this. People of all social strata used to be able to trust the institutions. This is a macabre parody of what it used to be.
The tension in the courtroom was palpable as Eichelbaum’s threat hung in the air. The small man wielded his power with glee and seemed more than ready to use it on anyone who gave him an excuse.
In an attempt to regain control and steer the proceedings back to his orchestrated narrative, the judge called Gerard to the stand. "Captain Gerard Dortmund, you have served alongside the accused for years. Based on your extensive experience and knowledge of his character, do you believe Leonard Weiss could commit such a vile act against his fiancée?" The question, loaded and leading, hung heavy in the air, a palpable expectation for an affirmative answer to seal Leonard's fate.
Unfortunately for him, not everyone could be brought as low as the filth he rolled in. Gerard Dortmund was a man of honor whose integrity was a fundamental part of his being. And so he did the unthinkable. He stood firm. "No, your honor, I do not," he answered, his voice resonating with conviction. "I've known Sir Leonard to be a man of outstanding character, courage, and dedication. Not only to his duty but to those he holds dear. The man I know could not, and would not, commit such an act.”
This unexpected defiance seemed to catch Judge Eichelbaum off guard, his face contorting with anger. "Captain, I advise you to consider your position and the implications of your testimony! Sticking your neck out for a man who is, for all intents and purposes, already condemned might not be in your best interest.”
Leonard barely contained a startled laugh. It seemed Eichelbaum was so sure of his grip over the court - and likely already anticipating the power he’d wield over Alpar with his greatest opponent gone - that he didn’t see any issue being so open with his threats.
Still, he caught Gerard's eyes, offering a reassuring smile. It was a small gesture but one loaded with gratitude and solidarity. For a reason Leonard couldn't fathom, this seemed to worry Gerard even more, a flicker of deeper concern passing through his gaze.
Gathering himself after the outburst, the judge turned to the paladins. "Bring forth the surprise," he commanded, his voice regaining its earlier smugness. With a dramatic flair, the closest one walked to the back of the room, gathering an ornate box in his hands before returning to stand before the judge. He then presented the “surprise” to the perusal of all: it was unmistakably a high-level slavery collar.
The courtroom erupted in murmurs of scandal and disbelief as the monstrous object was placed for all to see. The collar was no ordinary restraint; it was a dark, ominous band, its surface pulsing with malevolent energy. Leonard knew it was designed to strip a person of their Light, rendering anyone powerless.
The first time he had seen such an object after arriving in the new world, he had immediately destroyed it in a fit of disgust, and even the Royal Family knew better than to test him with their presence, always being careful to only use servants and not slaves when he was around.
Leonard saw Damien whiten at the sight. It was well known that the Temple didn’t like the devices, seeing them as a blasphemous creation meant to spread suffering and the Void’s influence. Unfortunately, the slave trade was too powerful in Haylich to get rid of them. It was an open secret that some of the more corrupt priests made use of them away from public sight.
For someone of Leonard's stature, a hero who had faced down the armies of the Void and emerged victorious, nothing less than a collar of the highest potency would suffice. The fact that it had likely been crafted using the remains of a voidling Leonard had personally slain added a grotesque irony to the situation.
And there it is. I have to admit that for a moment when Amelia told me of their plans, I didn’t believe her. Even for someone as low as Eichelbaum, this seems too much. But filth will do as filth is. Not that that thing would work for me, but there is no chance in hell that I will allow it to touch me.
With an air of anticipation, Eichelbaum explained, “In light of the grave threat posed by the accused, His Majesty’s Keeper of the Seals has authorized the use of this collar to ensure the safety of the realm. It is a measure reserved for those whose abilities could undermine the very fabric of our society, and no one can deny the harm this man could do if left unchecked.”
The Keeper of the Seals, huh? That worm would never act without Prime Minister Nevielle’s approval. It seems a bit too amateurish for him, but I suppose the paladins are here to make sure nothing goes wrong. Well, whatever their plans might be, they went too far. I admit my mistake in allowing this farce to continue this long. I should have killed them all the moment I crossed into Champion tier. But I still have a chance to make them pay. And this time, I won’t let anyone stop me.