ILTDAMH |CHAPTER 80

Chapter 80

Father, This Time… It Will Be Hard to Survive

As soon as Viseluc and Harmon were seated, the presiding judge gave the signal, and the Antwat faction’s lawyer stepped forward to speak first.

“Honorable Judge, Her Majesty the Empress, His Highness the Prince, and Lord craft had no intent to commit treason. Her Majesty the Empress was confined in the palace for so long that she could not step outside or even send word. Out of a son’s desperate longing to see his mother, His Highness the Prince escaped from exile. Afraid to come alone, he brought along a few knights for company. This was nothing more than a child seeking his mother, not an attempt to seize the throne.”

“A few knights, you say? Do you mean those few knights numbering over a thousand?”

The Imperial faction’s lawyer cut in sharply, and the Antwat lawyer faltered.

“Well, that—”

“To sneak those men into the capital, Lord Kymon paid bribes worth a hundred thousand gold. Here is the money itself, entered into evidence. Even after realizing that some of his knights were caught in the valley, he still led over a hundred men to infiltrate the palace, threaten His Majesty the Emperor, seize the royal seal, and even attempt to kill the Crown Prince. If this is not rebellion, then what is it?”

“That… that is—”

“Is that all you can say?”

Diamond sprang from his seat, his fury shaking the chamber.

“You’re supposed to defend us, not stand there like a fool! Whose side are you on? Did they plant you here to ruin us?”

When Diamond lashed out and even kicked his own lawyer, the courtroom erupted in chaos.

“Restrain the Prince!”

At the judge’s order, several knights rushed in, pinning Diamond, gagging his mouth, and binding his limbs. Only then did the trial resume.

The Imperial lawyer proceeded to present evidence piece by piece—Kymon’s secret bribes, his hidden army, the infiltration plot—while Kymon’s lawyer sat useless, offering no rebuttal, only staring dumbly at the evidence piling against them.

“This is laughable.”

Kymon turned to the voice. Antwat’s eyes were fixed not on him, but on Viseluc seated across the chamber.

“When Father first told me to marry the Emperor, I rejoiced at the thought of reaching the highest seat in the Empire. I rejoiced again when Diamond was born, proud to have borne a son. Our marriage was never happy, but I believed we could grow old together out of mutual necessity, quarreling little. I never imagined it would end so pitifully, so abruptly.”

“Your Majesty, don’t say it ends here. We’re still in trial. There’s hope yet,” Kymon murmured, as though to comfort her.

But Antwat only gave him a bitter smile.

“Father… His Majesty has no intention of letting us live.”

“Your Majesty, I still have many allies in the court. Even an Emperor cannot strike us down so easily.”

“Father, you still don’t see? Look at the lawyer they gave us—useless, incapable, unwilling even to attempt a rebuttal. If we truly had allies left, would they have given us this man to defend us? And look at the nobles seated with the Imperial faction. Not once since this trial began have their eyes turned our way. That is proof enough—they’ve abandoned us. You know as well as I that Lord Dominic, brother to Empress Fiona, has always been as hungry for power as you are. For him, now is the perfect chance to eliminate you, me, and Diamond together.”

In her words, Kymon’s eyes sought Dominic. As if caught, Dominic glanced away.

Only days ago, Dominic had visited Kymon in his cell, asking about his hidden wealth and promising to hire the best lawyer. Yet now, this pitiful excuse for counsel…

So that was it. He only wanted to uncover where I hid my fortune.

Kymon’s head spun at the betrayal of the man he trusted most.

“How dare he betray me? Who made that worthless girl into an Empress if not me? He took everything I gave him, praised me when it suited him—and now dares—!”

“Father,” Antwat cut in coldly, “the very things you gave them are now chains around their necks. I’ve lived over twenty years in this palace as Empress. If I’ve learned anything, it’s this—no power lasts forever. They’ve decided we cannot survive this time. And Father… I fear they are right.”

Her voice was resigned, her eyes steady. Kymon could only stare in disbelief.

“Antwat…”

“You must have realized, too. The moment this became a closed trial, the verdict was already sealed.”

Kymon’s face twisted with rage.

“This is all your fault! If not for you birthing that worthless son to block my path! I should have killed him at the exile grounds when I had the chance!”

“Father!”

“How can I give up when I’ve come this far? If only that wretch had killed those women! Then the boy would never have lost the Crown Prince’s seat, and I would not be humiliated like this!”

“Enough, Father!”

But kymon leapt to his feet, roaring toward the judge.

“This is absurd! Replace my lawyer at once! Do you expect me to trust this idiot to defend me? And Dominic! Who put you in that seat? Do you dare betray me? Tell your dogs this—I’ve written records of every gift I gave you all. If I go down, you’ll fall with me. Kill me, and none of you will be spared!”

“Lord kymon, what are you talking about? Don’t drag us into your lies! We never took anything from you!” Dominic snapped back, his face pale with panic.

At that moment, Ruan rose from his seat. Calmly, he withdrew a thick ledger from his robe.

“Lord Kymon. Would this be the record you speak of?”

Kymon’s eyes bulged.

“That ledger…? Impossible. Hugo had it. Don’t tell me—was Hugo captured?”

“How… how could that be in your hands?”

“I happen to be rather capable, you see. Do you understand now why your allies abandoned you? Because all of their secrets are already in my possession. Unlike you, His Majesty the Emperor has pardoned them, on the condition that they reveal every crime of yours. The nobles scrambled to betray you, and in the end, the records filled no less than ten ledgers.”

“No… no! Impossible!”

“I was surprised as well. I never imagined your corruption ran so deep. Clerk, submit these ledgers as evidence.”

The court clerk carried the pile of ledgers to the judge. The judge’s brows lifted in shock as he flipped through them before looking at Kymon’s lawyer.

“Counselor, do you have anything to say?”

“…No, Your Honor.”

“Ha! This fool isn’t even a lawyer! This trial is invalid! I will not accept this farce!” Kymon shrieked.

Ruan stood, his gaze fixed calmly on the bench.

“Your Honor, the evidence of their rebellion and crimes is more than sufficient. I believe it is time to deliver judgment.”

The judge turned toward Viseluc. The Emperor inclined his head ever so slightly.

“The court shall pronounce the sentence. Antwat Arfonbach, though you are Empress of the Empire, you joined the rebellion through a single grievous mistake. Yet, taking into account your long years of service to the Empire, you are spared death. Instead, you are to be confined to the highest tower of the palace. Your sentence begins immediately, and from this day forward, none shall speak your name.”

The highest tower—barely wide enough for one to sit or lie—was a prison reserved for fallen Empresses and Consorts. It was a living death, the harshest punishment short of execution.

“Next, Lord Kymon Craft. You were not content with the greatest wealth and power in the Empire. You turned a blind eye to the murders committed by the Crown Prince, and even after His Majesty spared your life once, you sought rebellion. By the laws of the Empire, you are sentenced to death. Diamond Arfonbach, you too abused your station, killed without remorse, escaped exile, and plotted treason. By the same law, you are sentenced to death. The executions of kymon and Diamond shall be carried out in three days’ time.”

“No! Execution? Me? I made the Emperor! I filled the Imperial coffers! And now—Viseluc! If you had not married my daughter, you never would have—”

Before Kymon could finish, Ruan gestured. Guards forced a gag into his mouth and dragged him away. Diamond, bound hand and foot, screamed incoherently as he was hauled out beside him.

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

Knights approached Antwat. She rose on her own, her voice sharp.

“Do not touch me. I will walk by myself. Congratulations, Your Majesty. You have your wish. Let’s see how long the throne stands without the support of the House craft. Perhaps watching you squirm from the tower won’t be so unpleasant.”

With that, she departed under guard. Silence blanketed the chamber.

“This court is adjourned.”

“Good work, everyone. Harmon, let us go.”

Viseluc stood, leaning on Harmon’s support, and left the hall.

“Duke, are you certain about this?” Cassel whispered at Ruan’s side.

“What do you mean?”

“Her Majesty wasn’t wrong. House Craft may be corrupt, but they did bolster the Imperial throne. Won’t tearing them down suddenly shake the Crown Prince’s succession?”

“There’s no need to worry. You saw it yourself—kymon’s blackmail ledgers are now in His Majesty’s hands. In exchange for silence, the nobles have sworn loyalty to him. The throne is more secure than ever.”

“And how did you even find those ledgers? We scoured Graft’s estate and found nothing.”

“Ah. For that, I must thank my wife.”

“…Your wife?”

“Yes. When their butler tried to kidnap her ‘for the Duke’s sake,’ I searched him and found it. Kymon must have entrusted it to the man, hoping he’d flee and return to rescue him later. But misplaced loyalty only dragged Caimon down further.”

“I see… then we truly have nothing to fear.”

Ruan straightened his coat.

“Well then, it’s time I return to my wife.”

“Duke, what about all these documents? Where are you going?”

Cassel blocked his path, exasperated.

“Forget so soon? I’m still on leave.”

“Duke, please! Enough with this leave! The Duchess has already returned to the estate, yet you continue to shirk your duties—I can’t endure this much longer!”

But Ruan ignored his protests and strode out of the palace.

.

.

.

“What? Who came to visit?”

On a lazy afternoon, Marican, reading a book on history in the branches of a tree, glanced down. Charles looked up and answered.

“She said she’s your sister, my Lady.”

“…My sister?”

Lucy?

Of course. If Mother told her about me, she was bound to come eventually. Still, a whole week—she endured longer than I thought. What is she here to say this time? Haa… how exhausting.

Marican sighed, leaping down from the tree to go outside. But even before she reached the door, a commotion broke out in the courtyard.

“Kyaaah! Who do you think you are?!”

“I’ve been waiting for this moment. How dare you torment my sister?”

Startled by the familiar shriek, Marican rushed outside—only to see Zelda gripping Lucianne’s hair and shaking her fiercely.