Chapter 109
Enemy of the Kingdom
Upon this revelation, the face of the envoys from Vorzenny soured.
“Will you testify again then?”
“Yes.”
“And you, Lady Sooyoung?”
“…yes.”
They were then called to testify on the stand in turn. Akira told them about the event that transpired in the Hunter’s Guild, about how he was harassing her. He was then asked about his relationship with Kurosaki Yuuji.
“We have only exchanged pleasantries once during the Party. The other is when he tried to renege on his bet with Lady Cornelia. Like I said before.”
“But he came from your world, didn’t he? I assume you’d have a bit of curiosity about him?” Tonio asked. Wanting to find some sympathy from him.
“I have too many things in my mind at the time. And just because we came from the same world, doesn’t mean that we can be friends,” he said meaningfully. “Even people from the same country could become enemies.”
Connie smiled appreciatively. “Ooh, biting, didn’t think he had it in him.”
After that Kim told them about the assault during the night of the Ball.
“Is this true?”
“Yes, Sir. He tried to assault me and even used the Skill Charm Gaze on me. Thankfully, Kasheem was there. If not, I don’t know what to do.”
Tonio was about to interject when Gianni signaled for him to stop. It was not the time.
When they were finished, Lord Audrick asked. “Is there something you want to say, Lord Tonio?”
“Nothing, Lord Audrick,” he answered.
The tall Judge thanked Kim, who answered meekly and quickly withdrew behind the Red Prince’s wife, who stroked her head with a smile. Like a mother praising her daughter on a job well done.
Tonio gritted his teeth. Fine, if that’s how you want to play it. Then I have to turn it around. I will make it that it was a trap done by a jealous girl rather than self-defense. This will force Calendia to compensate us. Thankfully, we have more than one card to play.
When it came to his turn, Tonio called upon the next witness.
To everyone’s surprise, it was Connie’s stepmother.
The buxom Lady Carell stood on the podium with pride, not even looking at her stepdaughter. Her face looked radiant and she gave off an unmistakable sense of allure. Tonio had to calm himself down when he approached her.
“Lady Carell. It was said that you have cared for Lady Cornelia since she was bereft of her father. What is she like?”
“She is a rude little thing. Always playing with a sword. She squandered her days trying to play at being a Hunter and neglected to learn the skills needed for a proper lady. She even neglected to care for Prince Mikael! She is unworthy of the name Steelheart!”
“Oh, and your son is?” Illumca interjected.
“Order! You will speak when spoken to. This is your first warning,” Lord Audrick spoke.
“Continue, please,” Tonio said.
After that, it was a tirade of unpleasant and unsavory comments on Connie. Making her seem like an ungrateful and selfish little brat who cared not for the obligation of a Noble daughter.
“She even attacked me in my own home! Barged in like a robber and hurt me! I have witnesses!”
“Is this true, Lady Cornelia?”
“Very true. I slapped her like the whore that she was,” Connie answered rudely. “But one thing I need to clear, is your last name Steelheart? Because last I checked that mansion was owned by my father. Which means that it is mine by right.”
“You - !” the woman could not find a word to refute as it was the truth. “I cared for you and this is how you treat me?!”
Connie sighed. “Lady Carell. You are a pitiful woman. You seek solace at the arms of men so often that your life became filled with hate. What then differentiates you from an animal?”
“How dare you speak to me like that?!”
Connie ignored the rebuke and continued. “Then answer me this. When is the last time you played with your son?”
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At this word, she became so enraged that her eyes widened and her chest became tight from anger. Not a minute later, she fell backward and lost consciousness.
Lord Audrick without missing a beat or even an expression just ordered. “Bring the Lady to the Healers. I think this is the right time for us to adjourn. The Trial will continue in an hour.”
Tonio saw the sympathy the people had when Lady Carell fall. That arrogance will be your downfall, little girl. However, when she looked at the unconcerned expression on that girl, he felt that something was amiss, but he could not put his finger on it.
This feeling was not something unique to the opponent. The mischievous Martell too felt that this was unlike Connie.
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Though it was time to adjourn, many people did not take their lunch and continued discussing the Trial. In a certain room, apart from the others, Duke Gladstone and his daughter spoke as they drank wine to quench their thirst.
“We cannot afford to have Cornelia be declared not guilty,” Duke Gladstone said. “So, I want you to denigrate Cornelia during the Trial.”
It was not such a surprise to her as she saw her father meeting with someone a few days ago. She spotted the clothes under the cloak which he covered himself in and knew where he came from.
“I will do as you wish Father,” as the dutiful daughter, Serin inquired. “But may I ask why?”
“We need to keep the status quo going. If she is deemed guilty, then everything that happened to the Hero can be blamed on her and we will have done away with a headache,” Duke Gladstone spoke. In recent days he had been tired a lot and it showed in his eyes.
“Do you know what a large part of our trade is?” he asked.
“Jewels, diamonds, and raw materials for luxury goods.”
“Yes. And those items coveted by Nobles came from Vorzenny. We have extensive trade with them. Do you understand what is going to happen if those are cut? We will lose more than business, but also the trust of the people. And we cannot have that.”
“I understand, Father. I will not let you down.”
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After lunch, the Trial reconvened and Tonio again called upon another witness.
The choice of witness this time showed the others on the stance the majority of the Noble’s Faction took.
“Lady Serin. To my knowledge, you are the current Fiancee of Prince Mikael, aren’t you?”
“That is correct. It was my fortune. It was such a painful thing to see Prince Mikael’s kindness be ignored by her former fiancée, so I tried to ease his pained soul. It was then that we began to fall in love,” the girl spoke with a dreamy voice. She gave the Prince a look, which he returned with a loving smile.
“So you must know a bit about her, then. More so than most.”
“Indeed. She was not what you call a typical Noble Lady. Gallivanting around like a prude. Of course, there was also the fact that she was captured by bandits,” she again dug up old news to besmirch her name. “But do take pity on her. She must still feel resentment for me for taking away her fiancé. Perhaps that is why she trapped the Hero of Vorzenny with her feminine wiles. Perhaps she even used her companions to tempt her too.”
Connie groaned inwardly seeing the girl playing the role of a White Lotus. Tonio used her testimony to spin the case to his liking.
“As you have heard, is this not the case? That Lady Cornelia was so humiliated that her approach was not enough that she trapped our Hero to take revenge? This was a premeditated trap on her part!”
Then, a shout was heard from Martell of all people, which even surprised Connie.
“That isn’t true!!” he stood up forcefully, his chain jangling in front of him.
Lord Audrick shouted in response. “Sit down!! A slave has no right to testify in front of the court!”
“I am no slave!” The boy said, as he yanked his fake collar apart and dramatically let the scraps fall from his hands. This earned the gasps of the audience. Even those of the Royal Entourage.
“I haven’t been one ever since the day I proved to her that I was worthy of her trust. I was told to keep this a secret, but I cannot stand seeing you vilify her so!”
“And what is the reason why you kept this fact from us?” Lord Audrick asked, this time more calmly as he saw that there was no reaction from Connie.
“Because a Beastfolk without a collar here has as much chance of surviving as a child in the slums,” he then continued. “Would someone who would do that for a slave like me be someone so shallow that she would do something so low as tempting a man?” Martell asked. “Unfortunately, she had no interest in men. I know this well.”
Everyone in the audience had seen this beautiful boy and indeed saw in him no flaws. His insinuation was covered but blunt enough that they knew what he meant. To have no interest in such a gift was almost unthinkable.
Alrond stared pointedly at the boy and saw the gears turning behind his eyes. The boy was dancing along to Connie’s tune, his action changed the earlier view of her as a vengeful seductress to a girl with mercy in her heart.
“What would a child like you know of the heart of women? The Hero of Vorzenny is a just and honorable person. The only way for her to kill him is for her to trap him, just like a whore,” the girl had started to lose her patience after being rebuked by a Beastfolk.
“Kurosaki Yuuji…is an honorable man? An honorable man, you say?” Connie blurted out a laugh. “So honorable in fact, that he tried to force herself upon my companion. This…is honorable?
“He is a Hero. Of course, he is honorable,” the girl said with certainty. “It is you who tempted him and trapped him.”
“Good. Good. Very good. I suppose then; that you know him well.”
Serin drew back when she spoke these words, as she answered awkwardly. “Y-yes. We have spoken at some length. Along with Prince Mikael. Why are you asking this question?”
She added that she had followed protocol, in case she was insinuating something untoward. However, Connie had had what she needed. She knew who her enemies were.
It was time for the curtain to drop.
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“You say that he is a Hero. This is correct. In the sense that he is someone summoned from another world, that is all.” Connie gave her speech a pregnant pause. “…but in action?! Nay. He is far from worthy of the title Hero.”
“Now, it seems that you have a problem with understanding how grave the crime Kurosaki Yuuji did. Or perhaps you don’t understand how terrifying his ‘Cheat’ is.”
“His cheat was ‘Perfect’. Every Skill he learned is instantly at their highest level. This includes the Skill he used to bed the women he fancied. It’s Charm Gaze, heightened to Full Mastery.”
There were murmurs of incomprehension. Then, an elderly voice spoke out.
Lord Audrick looked at the one most experienced with such esoteric Skill aside from the Wizards, who were not there currently.
“Lord Advisor. Do you wish to add a word?
“…A Charm Gaze Skill is a swindler’s Skill. Nothing serious….” The old man trailed off. “But if it was at its highest Level…we do not have any precedent as thus far no one had ever mastered it - then it will become something more akin to brainwashing. It’s no longer simply charming the target. But rewriting affection.”
“You have no proof. You are just stalling,” Tonio said.
“Proof? Hahahah!” Connie laughed mockingly. “Oh, yes. I can give you a proof. Oh, that and more, dear friends from Vorzenny. These people sitting in the spectator’s seats. They are my proof!!”