Chapitre 19: The Truth Prevails

"That evidence is circumstantial at best!" roared the Hand, flinging his arm in frustration, despite Cedric's quick response. "You can't blame me just because the skill came from my auction!"

"But I can," the king retorted, glaring at him. "I have heard and seen enough to deem you untrustworthy in this trial, Morvask. I have reached my verdict as judge. Be seated!"

King Thalric was one of the most powerful warriors in the Six Kingdoms. His mere presence commanded obedience, and when he spoke, no one could resist sitting down.

"Let the plaintiff and defendants stand before me," the king ordered again. Cedric nodded at Ember, signaling her to comply and sit. He was more than satisfied with her strength and composure.

Caroline advanced toward the center, stopping a few feet from Cedric. The two stood at the center of the court as everyone remained seated, except for the king. He then placed a hand on his hilt.

"As the Commander of Justice in this land, I hereby declare Cedric Everhart, the Ninth Prince of the Aeloria Kingdom… not guilty!"

Cedric could feel his heart pounding in his chest. As he watched the king exonerate him, he realized his efforts and plans were not in vain. But the verdict wasn't over.

"As for the accusations the prince has made against the duke and his daughter, they have yet to be verified. Once the investigation is concluded, the two will be summoned again for trial. However, for the use of Oathbreaker and conspiring against an allied prince, I hereby strip Morvask Ironveil of his position, and freeze Duke Ravenswood's assets and title until further notice."

"Your Majesty!" cried the Hand in panic, rising from his seat. The next instant, he was hurled through the air and slammed into the walls, faster than anyone could react. He was pinned there with metal shackles, created by the king himself.

"Silence! You have betrayed me, your king, and dishonored this court! You manipulated, deceived, and conspired against an innocent man! Simply stripping you of your position is not enough. Once the witness is interrogated, your final verdict will be announced."

"Guh… Ah…" Morvask gasped for air as one of the iron shackles tightened around his neck, pinning his head to the wall. His eyes welled with tears, but his mouth could not form any sound. Then, he fainted.

"As for you, Caroline Astrid Ravenswood, I find you guilty of false reporting, perjury, and defamation. You are hereby sentenced to ten years of imprisonment—"

"Please wait, Your Majesty!" Caroline cried as she fell to her knees. "I am willing to confess everything! Please, may the court reconsider my sentence!"

"Confession is useless once the charges against you have been proven," the king dismissed her plea. "You had more than one chance to confess."

"I don't wish to confess to what has already been proven, but to the real reason I wanted to kill Prince Cedric!" Her words echoed like a thunderclap in the courtroom. Caroline disregarded her sentence, wanting only to reveal the truth.

King Thalric allowed her to speak. Assassinating a prince was no simple matter, and Aeloria had every right to wage war over it. He wanted to understand how someone could be so idiotic.

"Confess now, and it might reduce your sentence," the king offered, frowning. "But if your reasons are worse than your acts, expect no less than execution!"

"I understand that much, Your Majesty," said Caroline with a resolute expression that almost swayed the crowd. "I did use the skill, Oathbreaker, to avoid revealing the truth about what happened. But I believe my actions were for justice as well!"

"What do you mean?" the king asked, frowning. Caroline turned to Cedric, who stood with his hands in his pockets. He did not shy away from her gaze, meeting her eyes with a condescending smile that steeled her resolve.

"That man, Cedric Everhart, is known to be a tamer. But I was contacted by a group of people who know the truth about his class. The Aeloria Kingdom has covered this lie for two decades, nurturing one of the most loathed classes in history—a summoner!"

Once again, the courtroom burst into uproar. Cedric was under scrutiny, and even Ember seemed at a loss, unaware of this revelation. King Thalric was too shocked to silence the crowd, letting the room descend into chaos.

A summoner.

A vile class, unanimously loathed throughout the world of Elaris. Their very existence was considered a sin, as they were the reason monsters appeared and destroyed their world countless times before.

Cedric understood this hatred, even as he stood in the bustling courtroom. Summoners brought monsters into this world in an attempt to control them, but their plans went astray when they lost control of their summoned creatures.

Dungeons were created by summoners too, used as their turfs to summon monsters through underground mana veins. That was why many people attempted to enter dungeons and destroy them.

"Silence," the king muttered with a frown. "Silence!" he roared when no one listened the first time. "If a single person speaks again, they will suffer my wrath!"

And not a sound remained. The king was weary of silencing them, and this matter had reached an ugly conclusion. His eyes locked onto Cedric, who returned his gaze without fear. Moreover, his smile never wavered.

"What do you have to say in that regard, Prince Cedric? If the Church of Aegis hears about this, a simple charge of defamation will be a mere slap on the wrist," warned the king, hoping the prince would defend himself.

"Am I being questioned again because someone who lied under oath is lying once more?" Cedric asked, shaking his head. "If people accused others of being summoners every time they got into an argument, what an easy win that would be!"

"Answer the question, then," Caroline rebuked with a crazed grin. "Answer the question under oath: Are you a summoner, Cedric Everhart?"

Caroline seemed to have lost her mind, which was understandable given that her entire life was unraveling before her eyes. The courtroom stared at Cedric, awaiting his answer, including Ember, who seemed confused by the unfolding events.

"Please answer and let the oath decide," the king said grimly. "If you prove she lies, her punishment will be no less than death."

"Sometimes, it makes me wonder," Cedric began, under the countless eyes of the crowd. "How the truth can be right before our eyes, and yet we fail to see it. I will answer your question as many times as you want, Caroline Astrid Ravenswood. No. I am not a summoner."

As his words ended, all eyes shifted to Mage Aria, seated in her chair. Her violet eyes and silver hair made her look almost ethereal, like an angel of death deciding the fate of those before her. Then, her voice came in a soft whisper.

"The oath remains."

Caroline looked as though her soul had left her body, and Cedric savored the sight of her struggling to grasp the words Aria had spoken. She trembled, staring at Cedric as if he were the devil himself, her eyes teary and her hair disheveled. Then, she began screaming that he was lying, accusing him again of using Oathbreaker. But this time, no one believed her.

The 'truth' had prevailed.

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