Chapter 107
Trial of The Hero Killer
On the night before the trial, King Gerard stayed awake until very late in his office. On his desk, illuminated by three candles were the documents that he had obtained from his many agents regarding Cornelia and her latest endeavor.
After reading it, he rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed.
The King considered himself as an uncle of hers, and upon the death of Geno Steelheart, he wished to protect her, thus her engagement. Sadly, that was not to be.
But now he was torn between his position as both a good friend of her father and the King of Calendia. As the former, he wanted her to live. But as the latter, he could not let her off easily.
While he was considering the options, he heard a knock.
“Your Majesty, it’s me.”
“You may enter,” he answered the voice behind the door.
Alrond came in and reported the night’s happenings. After hearing this, Gerard slammed his fist on his desk. His might caused a dent on its pristine surface.
“Someone sent Assassins on Cornelia’s life?!” the man shouted in anger at the news. “Is she alive?!”
“Yes,” the Advisor said. “But the same could not be said about two of the Assassins.”
Gerard pushed his chair away with haste and was about to stand when Alrond stopped him.
“I am handling it,” the old man said with finality. “They’re from the Assassin’s Guild.”
“So, it’s one of theirs, is it? What are the Knights we assigned to guard them were doing?”
“They are dead, Gerard. All of them.”
“Are our Knights so helpless that they cannot fight against mere Assassins?!” the King harrumphed.
“It isn’t fair to judge the power of those that lived in the shadows against the ones living in the light,” Alrond said. “And these Assassins are good at their job.”
“Hmph,” Gerard rubbed his temples. “Who sent them? Is it Vorzenny? Or one of our own?”
“I am still working on it.”
“Find it out by tomorrow. Do whatever it is that you need to do.”
“I intend to. You too should get some rest.”
“No. I don’t think I’ll get any rest even if I laid my head upon a pillow.”
“It is the duty of a King to be ready whenever the situation calls upon it. And in this most sensitive of time, it would not do to have a King that is sleep deprived.”
“…” Gerard looked upon Alrond with a frown. “Does this situation not rouse anything from you? Nothing at all? She is her daughter.”
“She is his daughter!!” Alrond said with a speed and force that surprised even the King. “She is arrogant! Selfish! And vain! Just like him!!”
The Advisor realized what he had just done; his expression grew morose. “That is why I will do what I must, and nothing more…” the old, decrepit man said slowly. “I will represent them tomorrow. That is all I can do.”
King Gerard nodded solemnly, knowing of the complicated feeling his Advisor had towards Cornelia’s family. “You do that.”
After excusing himself, Alrond left, his back looking more fragile than usual.
Once outside, the old man walked through the cold hallway with his personal maid who had been waiting outside.
As he passed the massive row of windows of the hallway, he caught a glance of his wretched reflection. And he saw in that reflection, memories that he would much rather forget.
“After all…I am just a half-man.”
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On the morning of the Trial, Connie and her party had a simple meal of bread and soup. And a bit of ale to wash it down.
“It’s time…” Nick said as they were led out of the mansion and to the place where the trial was to be had.
“Are you afraid?”
“Of course! Who’s not afraid of death?” The scruffy middle-aged man growled.
“It’s often said that Hunters live side-by-side with death. Why is this any different?” Akula said as she proudly walked out of the mansion.
“It doesn’t mean I have to like it! What, do you always have to like your neighbor? Even if he’s a piece of shit?”
“In my tribe, we can always ask for a duel if a piece of shit neighbor makes a problem.”
“But not this time, though.”
“No. Not this time,” Akula replied.
Outside, Klein was waiting with a large carriage. His handsome face was marred by two eyebags.
“You are here to escort us?”
“This might be…the last time we can meet. So, I asked for it. And I thought with what you’re going to face, a familiar face would be a better fit to calm your nerves.”
To Connie, Klein being here or not made no difference as she was an entirely different person with Cornelia. She had not the intimacy or closeness they once might have shared. But she at least appreciated the sentiment. “Thank you. And did you find out about the Assassin?”
He shook his head. “No. We are still trying to make her talk.”
“I see,” Connie let out a sigh of disappointment. But Illumca, who was by her side noticed the slight curve on her lips.
“Sorry, before we go we need to something first,” Klein said awkwardly. Three of his Knights came forward with chains and cuffs.
Connie nodded understandingly. “As you can see, my hands are not going to move anyway. You can put them on my legs.”
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Courandhel’s Hall of Mercy. Located direct opposite of the Cathedral was the place where the trial was to be held. Built during the rule of the Third Generation King of Calendia, Herman the Merciful. The building - made out of marble stone during his reign and the reign of 2 monarchs after him - was a silent witness to the history of Calendia.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Before its magnificent pillars was the statue of Licai - one of the Saints who lost his life in service of Junnaveil - with his notable curly hair and webbed fingers. He was depicted to wear a simple cloth while stepping on the head of a horned Demon. In his right hand was a staff with a scale at the end, raised above his head. His face was sculpted to face the direction of the sea, a symbol that all the judgment decided within the Court Hall would be done in the name of Junnaveil.
On the way there, Connie and the others did not have a conversation. They were all in their own heads. Until the carriage made an abrupt stop.
“Ow!” Martell squeaked as he hit his head on the wooden door.
“Why have we stopped?” Illumca asked the coachman.
“There are people in front of the carriage, the Knights are pushing them to make way.”
After a while, the carriage moved again. Slower this time, as it seemed that people had gathered by the thousands.
The carriage stopped in front of the Hall, where Connie walked out with both hands supported by Martell and Illumca. She then proceeded to seat herself on the wheelchair that Klein brought down.
As they were about to head in, a rotten tomato hit Connie on the side of the head.
The Knights came forward and stood to protect her, whose hair was wet from the rank juice of the tomato.
“Hero-Killer!!”
“May Junnaveil punish you for your crime against the Gods!!”
The throng of Citizens gathered in front of the Hall threw insults and cursed her name and reviled the Dark Elves and the Beastfolk. This elicited anger in Akula, who took pride in her blood.
“How dare you throw tomatoes at Connie!!”
“Calm down, Tonsulde! Miss Illumca!” Klein said quickly. “You’ll just make things worse. My men will cover you. Get inside quickly!”
Under the hostile eyes of the citizen of Courandhel, Klein led Connie and the others into the Hall of Mercy, where they were greeted by the officials who had been waiting for their arrival. These were thin, scraggly men with officious aura around them. They smelled faintly of book and late nights.
Beside them were five Blue Lions Knights, guarding the former private guard of the Red Prince.
“Hello, Kasheem. You look well,” Klein said upon seeing the bronze-skinned friend of his.
“I’ve been better,” the man answered, then he looked down at Connie who was lounging on her wheelchair. “How are you holding up? It must not be easy having your fellow countrymen see you with such hostility.”
“They don’t know what’s good for them,” Illumca complained as she attempted to wipe the unpleasant-smelling fruit juices from Connie’s hair to no avail.
“Hah! Let them throw their tomatoes and their insults at me. It is nothing but the bleats of ignorant sheep,” the young girl smiled. "Hero Killer, though. that does sound fancy."
“Ahem, Commander,” one of them bookish men coughed. “If you are finished, you’d best hand them over to use and be off. We will handle them.”
“Ah, right,” Klein groaned. He never did like these men. These suspicious men with crow-like eyes and general unpleasantness. He stepped smartly forward and saluted. “I will hand them over to you then.”
“We have received the criminals,” the man answered. He then turned around and said, “Follow me.”
The Knights accompanying them quickly stepped into formation, encaging Connie and her companions between them.
As they walked through the hall, the official spoke. “The Trial today will be held in the Chamber of Licai. Only those who have betrayed the Kingdom or done a great crime that involved the Kingdom had been judged there. And each of those crimes has been written into the history books of Calendia.”
“Has anyone ever been judged not guilty before?” Martell asked.
The man seemed to be annoyed by the question coming from a lowly slave. Nevertheless, he answered. “For as long as the Kingdom has existed…”
The man paused as they reached a massive door made of blackened wood. Its size easily twice that of Akula. On the left door was a faded picture of Junnaveil reaching out to Licai, whose finger tried to reach for his Goddess, only to be separated by a small gap.
When he pushed the door, it opened with a loud creak. He then looked at Martell and continued.
“…No.”
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The Chamber of Licai - named after its Patron Saint – was a large chamber that could easily accommodate hundreds of people. Inside, rows of Nobles and Knights in their best clothes sat facing the middle of the room on ancient chairs that dated back hundreds of years ago.
To the left were the Nobles and to the right were the Knights. They were not specifically arranged so. It naturally happened. Proof of how bad the relationship between the two Factions was. As for Neutrals and those who belonged to the Hero’s Faction? They mingled between the two. Not quite belonging, but also not committing.
The Wizards could not be seen anywhere in that chamber as they loathe the very idea of politics and chose to stay out of it.
As they waited for the trial to start, murmurs and whispers of speculations abound.
About how the trial would go. About how they should have done his or that. Whether the Royal Family would lend a helping hand or not.
Most of them prefer the loss of the Steelheart girl, as it would provide a quick solution to the current predicament and preserve the status quo of the Alliance. Others had a different idea, preferring for the exact opposite, which would show other countries the might of Calendia. After all, despite the sinful deed, killing a Hero who was blessed by a deity was a notable feat. This was not exclusive to the Nobles, as many Knights also shared the sentiment.
Near the edge of each side of the chamber, two special seatings were prepared for the people of the Red Prince and those of the Calendian Royal Family. The occupants of which were keenly aware of the loud whisperings.
Akira and Hannah sat with the Nobles as the Hero of Calendia did not feel right sitting with the narcissistic Crown Prince. He had done some thinking for himself and had been distancing himself from him.
He heard one of the Nobles nearby saying. “Prince Elhart is here?”
“Yes, he is. Look,” The noble discreetly pointed at the Royal Family’s corner where a man of such girth that he had to sit on a lounge chair instead of a regular one sat. Beside him stood two people. One was the deaf and mute servant and the other an unremarkable maid with prim hair.
The Prince ignored the unsavory glances that were thrown at him - including that coming from his own nephew - as he drank salted wine served in a crystal goblet.
Then he heard the creak of the giant door.
“Ah, the play now begins.”
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The door was now open in its entirety and in walked the so-called criminals. The Hero Killer.
The people inside the Chamber of Licai saw the condition of the useless daughter of the Steelheart Family.
They saw her broken arms and her exhausted face. Then noted the stain of rotten tomato on her shirt. And they scoffed. They laughed and jeered. The members of the Nobles Faction murmured her names in ridicule and laughed at her. Some members of the Knights also laughed at this. However, some were warier of the calmness the youth showed even under this much pressure.
She was pushed towards the stand by her slave, a Beastfolk boy. Following behind him was the Dark Elf and the Centaur. Nick and Kasheem followed soon after.
“Look, I know that the other Races are bad people.”
“To think that Beastfolks could do such a thing. They might have manipulated the stupid little girl.”
Such were words were thrown around, evidence of how poorly the Nobles thought of the other Races.
Connie and the others were made to stand in the middle of the room, where twelve marble steps leading to three chairs were. Not long after, a judicious official bellowed. “Now enters the King of Calendia, King Gerard the Second and Lord Audrick Richter!!”
The bearded King entered and stood before His people as they rose in respect. Beside him was Lord Audrick Richter, the Head of the Justice Department. A lanky man with a sharp look and a slight hunch.
The King then raised his hand as a sign for them to take their seats and began to speak. “As this incident involved someone close to me, I shall recuse myself in order to hold true the principle of impartiality. Lord Audrick Richter has been appointed by the representatives of the three Kingdoms involved and will lead the proceeding.”
He then walked down the steps to his seat, accompanied by his private guards.
Lord Audrick stood where the King stood before and called upon the envoy, Gianni Verocco and the Red Prince to sit at either side of him to ensure impartiality no neither Kingdom.
“I am Lord Audrick Richter, Head of the Department of Justice. Here sit as Judge by the Mercy of Junnaveil and swore to uphold justice above all else,” he said to the room. His clear voice boomed across the chamber with ease.
“Lady Cornelia Asterium Steelheart, of the House Steelheart. Illumca Fir Liban of an unknown tribe. Akula Altanghazar of Clan Altankheer. Nick, B-Rank Hunter of the Hunter’s Guild. Kasheem, former Bodyguard to the Red Prince. And the slave of Lady Steelheart, Martell Lobelia. These five standing before you are accused of the crime of the murder of the Hero of Vorzenny by the envoy of the Kingdom of Vorzenny.”
“Vorzenny shall be represented by Tonio Benucci and the accused shall be represented by Duke Alrond Mueller. Please take your places on the podium.”
The two representatives stood from their seats among their peers and approach their places.
But then, a gentle voice spoke out.
“If I may. I wish to represent myself, Lord Audrick.”
The Advisor glared at the foolish girl and spoke. “…Lady Cornelia. This is not a game. You do realize that if you are deemed guilty, you and everyone who is involved with you will be implicated?”
“I understand. But I still wish for it the same.”
Fool. She might have the bravery, but she does not have the head for it.
“Lady Cornelia. Take this as my advice. You are very close to death. And your stubbornness will result in the death of you and your friends. Is this what you want?
Lord Audrick waited for a few moments before asking. “Let me ask you, Lady Cornelia. Who will you choose to represent your party?”
“I will, Lord Audrick,” she said resolutely.
Alrond gave aloud sigh and glanced at the King, who shook his head tiredly.
“Very well, if that is what you want,” Alrond said off-handedly as he returned to his seat.
With the preparation done, the lanky Judge began to speak.
“Now, the Trial for the murder of the Hero of Vorzenny, Kurosaki Yuuji will begin. Lady Steelheart, Did you, and your party kill Kurosaki Yuuji?”
To that question, Connie answered simply and proudly.
“No.”