The capital of the empire, Perias, was abuzz with talk about an unusual event. There was a rumor that the Duke of Sierre had been taken to court and was to stand trial.
"Does this make any sense? What kind of ploy are they pulling?" one person asked.
"He didn't go to the police or the prosecutor's office; he went straight to the court. It starts getting really strange from here," another replied.
Everyone who heard the rumor expressed doubts. The situation was far from normal.
There had been many unusual legal incidents before, often for the benefit of the powerful.
But what about now? A person who could be called the head of a powerful group was brought to court as a defendant.
As people were muttering, a passerby intervened. Judging by his attire, he seemed to have just returned from out of town.
"No, what are you all talking about? Haven't you heard the news that His Highness, the Duke of Carriers, is returning?"