Chapter 65: The Royal Court Trial
The day of the trial for Viscount Fayatt and Marquis Lightstar finally arrived.
I entered the castle with Grandfather and Lord Dardale. The reason this trial was being held in the castle was that one of the defendants, Marquis Lightstar, was of such high nobility that the King himself would be observing the proceedings.
The Grand Courtroom
The courtroom, known as the Grand Courtroom, was vast.
At the front, there were five seats for judges, three seats to the left for prosecutors, and five to the right for the defendants and their legal representatives.
In the center stood the witness stand, while the spectator seats could hold about a hundred people.
Behind the judges’ seats was a section separated by lace curtains—the King’s observation area. His silhouette and those of his guards could be seen through the veil.
Grandfather, Lord Dardale, and I took seats in the front row of the spectator section.
The prosecutors, defense lawyers, and judges entered, followed shortly by the defendants: Viscount Fayatt and Marquis Lightstar.
When Lightstar spotted me, his glare was full of murderous intent.
“Foolish wretch,” Grandfather muttered loudly enough for Lightstar to hear.
Lightstar gritted his teeth, glaring at Grandfather with fury.
“The King has arrived! Everyone, stand and bow with utmost respect!”
We performed the formal salute, placing our right hand over our chest and bowing at a forty-five-degree angle.
From behind the lace curtain, a voice commanded us to relax, followed by a faint sound of shuffling as the King and his entourage settled.
The Trial Begins
“This court is now in session to address the matter of the poison in Liquor King,” the chief judge declared.
The prosecution began by presenting evidence of the harm caused by the poison and the confirmed presence of toxins in the liquor.
The defense tried to poke holes in the evidence, but their objections were summarily overruled by the judges. The defense’s arguments were baseless, amounting to little more than grasping at straws.
In this kingdom, the law is straightforward and uncompromising.
Crimes are punished based solely on the act itself, with no consideration for whether the person might reform.
For example, killing someone, regardless of intent, results in either lifelong forced labor or execution—except in cases of self-defense, which are deemed justifiable and result in acquittal.
Evidence Against Fayatt
“Viscount Fayatt imprisoned workers and held their families hostage to force them to produce Liquor King. We have secured the testimonies of these workers and their families, verified under the supervision of a judge,” the prosecutor stated.
“Objection!” the defense lawyer interrupted.
“Overruled. The prosecution may proceed.”
The testimonies of the workers and their families had been taken in a separate setting. This ensured that the King’s authority was preserved and protected the witnesses from intimidation by the noble audience.
“Furthermore, large sums of money have flowed from Viscount Fayatt to Marquis Lightstar, coinciding with the sale of Liquor King. This suggests Lightstar’s involvement in the affair.”
“Objection! That money was merely repayment of a loan. The Marquis had no knowledge that it was tied to the production of Liquor King!”
“Defense, please present evidence to support your claim,” the chief judge said.
The objection was sustained, as the connection between the money and Liquor King wasn’t yet irrefutable.
The prosecutor then presented Evidence 104, a letter from Marquis Lightstar to Viscount Fayatt.
The letter explicitly instructed Fayatt to remit 30% of the profits from Liquor King once its sales stabilized. Furthermore, the letter advised Fayatt to destroy the document after reading it.
This was a damning piece of evidence. Lightstar had clearly not anticipated the letter would be preserved, and his panic was visible.
Even I was surprised that such direct evidence existed.
“I see, that letter was obtained by our agents,” Grandfather whispered, chuckling to himself in satisfaction.
My Testimony
When it was my turn, I was called to the witness stand.
“State your name,” one of the judges asked.
“Toma Ashud Roxfall,” I replied, using my full legal name.
The prosecutor began questioning me.
“Toma, how did you determine that the symptoms were caused by poison?”
“Lord Dardale of the temple asked me to examine the patients. Based on my observations, I concluded it was poison.”
“And how did you identify it as poison?”
“I possess a skill that allows me to determine such things.”
“Can you describe this skill?”
“It’s called Insight.”
“How many patients did you examine?”
“Forty.”
“And all forty were poisoned?”
“Yes.”
“What led you to conclude that Liquor King was the source of the poison?”
“We investigated the patients’ regular consumption habits. Several items were common among them, including Liquor King. These were analyzed by the temple to confirm.”
Cross-Examination by the Defense
“What is your age?”
“Ten years old.”
“Why did Lord Dardale request a child to examine the patients?”
“I was visiting the temple’s headquarters and agreed to help.”
“When did you first learn of this illness?”
“When Lord Dardale informed me and asked for my assistance.”
“Objection! The defense’s line of questioning is unclear,” the prosecutor interjected.
“Sustained. Defense, clarify the intent of your questions,” the judge ordered.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this witness is a mere child! How can we trust his testimony?” the defense lawyer exclaimed, trying to discredit me.
“Objection! The defense is diverting from the case at hand!”
“Sustained. Defense, refrain from disparaging the witness,” the judge admonished.
The lawyer then tried a different approach.
“What exactly does your Insight skill reveal?”
“It tells me various details, such as your name.”
“That’s easily discoverable beforehand!”
“How about your health, then?”
“My… health?”
“You suffer from lower back pain, athlete’s foot, and numbness in your left hand and foot, correct?”
“What nonsense is this?”
“If left untreated, that numbness could lead to serious consequences, like brain damage,” I warned.
“What!?”
The defense lawyer turned pale, while Marquis Lightstar erupted.
“This is absurd! A blatant lie!”
“Marquis, do you not also experience occasional chest pain? That’s a sign of heart disease. If untreated, you don’t have long to live.”
Their reactions were a mix of fear and rage.
“Silence! The court will maintain order!” the chief judge commanded.
Despite the chaos, the trial proceeded. Marquis Lightstar’s fate seemed increasingly sealed.