PRKE 76

Posted by zahid, Released on March 7, 2026

CHAPTER 76……………………………………

“What are you talking about?”

“Yes, that’s right. As expected, we’re different…”

“I was talking about her too.”

“…….”

After a brief silence, Kichev nodded, interpreting Giovanni’s words on his own.

“Of course, Your Highness, everyone else must seem weak compared to you. Aren’t I weak as well?”

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“……Why are you treating me like this?”

In the end, Kichev’s expression turned mournful. Giovanni, smiling with the corners of his mouth, picked up the kingdom’s long, slender greatsword and swung it lightly.

Though it was a light swing, the wind whistling from the blade’s movement sounded sharp and menacing.

“But, yes, it’s true—you are strong.”

“…….”

“You’re clever, aren’t you?”

“I thought she would survive anywhere, no matter where she was left.”

“She will win.”

“…….”

“Hm, this sword is too light.”

Kichev stared blankly as Giovanni put down the thin longsword and picked up the larger blade.

“But what if things go wrong and she ends up in prison? She promised to support you thinking she could help with your affairs, but if that happens, it will be useless, won’t it?”

Giovanni responded while slowly swinging the heavy sword through the air, seemingly pleased with it.

“I don’t think it will come to that, but if it does…”

The sword stopped mid-swing, the tip aimed at the sun above.

A small murmur escaped him.

“I won’t leave her be.”

Whoosh.

Giovanni sheathed the greatsword and looked at Kichev, whose expression was a mix of confusion and awe.

“Kichev, I like her.”

“Yes… uh, yes? Y-yes?”

Kichev, who had responded casually, now looked as if his eyes might pop out.

“Her? Who? Which her are you talking about?”

Under the prophecy of the empire’s glory, countless people sought to claim his seed—even Giovanni’s own father, Khan Doberakan.

Tired of everyone treating him like a stallion, he made a bombshell declaration that he liked men, shocking supporters like Kichev.

Yet no one could be sure he actually liked women either, since he had never been close to any woman before.

And now, for the first time, he had used the words, “I like her!”

Kichev, too stunned to move, watched as Giovanni recalled a letter sent by Igrein.

The letter contained several questions—questions Giovanni could easily answer.

While writing back, he had a premonition that she would navigate this crisis smoothly.

She had even offered to be a witness for the trial, but he had flatly refused.

Seeing her reply, devoid of any trace of worry, he had stood still for a long moment, a pang of disappointment washing over him.

“Anyone qualified can request a trial, but without clear evidence, it won’t be accepted.”

“What do you mean?”

“Yes, we will summon a new witness.”

Aris abruptly lifted her head mid-cry.

A witness? Her trembling lips made it clear. Her face screamed disbelief, though inwardly she scoffed.

‘Right. When Lady Emern died, there were no definite witnesses.’

Seeing her eyes harden as if suspecting a lie, he smiled faintly to himself.

‘But what I want isn’t just the charge of Lady Emern’s murder.’

“Is this a pre-requested witness?”

The judge’s eyes sharpened. I nodded. At the judge’s signal, an investigator opened a side door of the courtroom.

A man entered hesitantly, guided by another investigator.

Aris studied his face closely, reading the fear etched there.

‘Who is he?’

That was exactly what her expression said.

“Do you know of the playground for nobles?”

Reactions among the people were split.

Commoners looked puzzled, while those who knew the place widened their eyes.

“It’s a high-end tavern on the outskirts of the palace’s entertainment district. This man is an employee there.”

The judge, having checked the witness request, nodded.

“But what does he have to do with this case?”

“Anyone who’s recently visited this tavern must have noticed something off. The quality of the food has worsened, cleaning is neglected, and dust sometimes rolls in the corners. There were even days it didn’t operate at all.”

Some nodded in agreement.

I enjoyed watching Aris’s pale face as my words sank in.

“That’s because the tavern owner was murdered.”

“What?”

My calm tone made the crowd’s shocked voices sound even more dramatic.

“A witness?”

The man, trembling, grabbed his head as the investigator spoke to him.

“He told me to cooperate!”

“What do you mean? Did you conspire to murder the tavern owner?”

The man waved his hands frantically.

“No! No, not that… He made me cooperate with using the tavern… I couldn’t help it. I was so scared seeing the owner… I tried to escape with a colleague, but he did something to my colleague…”

Gripped by extreme fear, he seemed out of his mind.

He clutched the investigator’s wrist, pleading.

“Please save me. If he comes, he’ll kill me too.”

“Who is ‘he’?”

The employee’s eyes turned to Aris. She flinched and covered her face with one hand, though her small hand couldn’t hide her face entirely.

“He often drank here with this young lady, in a private room. I served them in that room…”

“That’s impossible!”

Aris shouted violently.

“I’ve never been there! I’ve never seen that man either!”

Aris isn’t smart.

She can drag someone else into danger to save herself, but when cornered, she can’t create an escape.

“Lying. I saw that woman in that tavern.”

“I saw her too. I don’t know about the man, but she often hung out with friends there. Why lie? What are you hiding?”

Aris went pale.

“No, I meant I’ve never seen the man in that tavern!”

The employee quickly explained.

“You can ask other shop owners nearby to confirm I worked there!”

“Shut your mouth!”

“Aris Dolencia, please be quiet.”

The investigator forced Aris to sit.

Taking advantage of the silence, I spoke.

“I believe the man who was with Aris harmed Lady Emern.”

“Don’t make baseless assumptions!”

“I request the evidence I submitted earlier.”

Ignoring her, I continued, and she glared at me.

The investigator brought a small box. Inside was a small knife.

I put on the white gloves given by the investigator and took out the knife.

Waiting for all eyes to fall on me, I spoke.

“This is the knife that was in Lady Emern’s chest. I checked every nearby weapons and furniture store, just in case. The results were shocking.”

“What did you check, and what did you find?”

I glanced at the judge, who looked curious.

“I checked the knife’s origin and discovered the murderer is not from the kingdom.”

The crowd erupted.

Speculation and murmurs filled the room instantly.

“Quiet! Quiet!”

The judge demanded silence.

“What does that mean?”

“This dagger may look ordinary at first. I didn’t notice anything unusual initially.”

I lifted the dagger so everyone could see it clearly.

“But if Lady Emern had truly made an extreme choice, I wondered—where would she have bought such a crude dagger?”

“……”

“Lady Emern liked exquisite things, even her small knives. But this—”

I tapped the dagger’s tip with my gloved finger.

“Not at all.”

“Continue.”

“Weapons and furniture stores couldn’t trace the dagger’s route. Only at the last store did I find out. The owner said the handle was made from a wood that doesn’t exist in the kingdom.”

I showed the judge the reddish dagger handle.

“It’s made from ironwood. It’s very dry and hard. Never heard of it? Of course—you won’t find it in the kingdom.”

“……”

“It grows in extremely dry, hot climates. Almost…”

I looked around.

“Like a desert.”

The courtroom fell silent.

My voice echoed across the wide hall.

“As you know, the kingdom has almost no contact with deserts. Then what does this dagger mean? How did Lady Emern obtain it and use it to kill herself?”

I summoned the merchant who supplied the wood. His testimony confirmed my claim, causing a far bigger stir than before.

Aris faced waves of blame.

“Traitor!”

The old accusation struck me as if aimed at myself.

I closed my eyes, placing a hand on my racing heart.

‘It’s over.’

The empire’s spies probably didn’t know.

A dagger, common and unremarkable in the empire, is impossible to obtain in the kingdom.

‘You made a mistake.’

And that mistake had trapped Aris.

“Quiet!”

Even the judge’s calm couldn’t fully settle the crowd.