The Royal Trial

The Royal Trial resumed as Skayla gave her account of the previous day’s events. Queen Seraphine had already heard Lina’s and Prince Edgar’s accounts, leaving Skayla as the only remaining witness.

She described how Edgar ignored the no-smoking sign outside her shop and entered with a lit cigar. When she told him to put it out, burning ash fell onto his left hand, and he flung the cigar into the dried herbs, destroying the apothecary.

“Your Majesty, Prince Edgar’s left hand is bandaged,” Skayla said, pointing at him.

Queen Seraphine narrowed her eyes. “Prince Edgar, unwrap it.”

Edgar hesitated, desperately searching for an excuse, but the Queen’s glare was enough to make him pull off the bandage, revealing a fresh burn across his left hand.

“Hmm... interesting,” Seraphine commented.

“MOTHER, THEY’RE LYING!” Edgar shouted. “I knocked over a candlestick and burned myself on the hot wax!”

“We are conducting a Royal Trial,” Seraphine said. “Address me by my proper title, or shall I punish you for your manners too?”

Edgar dropped to one knee and apologized. Skayla gave Leonora a smug look, reminding her of their earlier argument about formalities.

“The burn supports your story, but it doesn’t prove where Edgar got it,” Seraphine told Skayla. “Without physical evidence, your accusation remains unproven. If it is found to be false, you could lose your freedom and possessions. Lina’s assault on a prince carries a sentence of public execution, unless Edgar agrees to forgive her after she makes proper amends.”

Edgar grinned, knowing Lina had only two choices: marry him or face execution.

Lina would rather face execution than be forced to marry a pig like Edgar. She opened her mouth to say so, but Skayla clapped a hand over it before she could get a word out.

“Then I’d like to submit this,” Skayla said, handing a dented golden box to Princess Leonora to present to the Queen.

Seraphine examined the box, then looked at Edgar.

“Prince Edgar, I remember you receiving this for your twenty-third birthday,” she said, tossing it onto the carpet. The damaged latch sprang open, revealing a portable ashtray with his name engraved inside. “How did Skayla get it?”

Edgar froze, realizing he must have dropped it while fleeing the burning shop.

“You dropped it when you ran from my ‘filthy’ shop,” Skayla said with a smug grin. “I tripped over it on my way out. Sorry I dented your present, little piggy.”

“LINA STOLE IT WHEN SHE ASSAULTED ME AT THE COURTHOUSE!” Edgar shouted, pointing at her. “SHE GAVE IT TO SKAYLA SO THEY COULD FRAME ME!”

“Hmm... that is quite an interesting theory,” Seraphine said as her amused expression slowly turned to anger.

“Except you seem to have forgotten that Lina was taken directly to the castle after being subdued by the Royal Guards,” she reminded him. “The guards thoroughly searched all of her belongings before placing her in a prisoner’s tunic and shackles.”

The Queen rose from her throne and descended the marble dais, stopping directly in front of Edgar as he trembled beneath her gaze.

“I hope you aren’t suggesting that a member of the Royal Guards disobeyed our direct orders and helped them frame you?”

Edgar backed away. Another accusation would make things worse, but staying silent only made him look guiltier.

At that moment, the chamber’s massive white doors burst open.

“SORRY FOR THE INTERRUPTION!” Crown Prince Edwin Archon Eldoria (30) shouted as he entered, dragging a young man by the collar. Prime Minister Hendrick followed close behind. “I MEANT TO ARRIVE SOONER, BUT IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO FIND THIS RAT!”

Edwin threw the young man forward. THUD! He landed on the carpet in front of the marble dais.

Seraphine glanced at the young man with an amused smile, as though she’d been expecting him all along, then returned to her throne.

“Prince Edwin, please use your indoor voice,” King Ernest said, his ears ringing. “So how did it go, Prime Minister Hendrick?”

“Everything happened just as you predicted, Your Majesty,” Prime Minister Hendrick Alaric Voss (52) said, kneeling before the King and Queen. “May I approach?”

“You may,” Ernest said.

Hendrick climbed the dais and whispered to the King and Queen. Seraphine let out a long sigh, pressing her right hand to her forehead in annoyance.

“Thank you, Prime Minister Hendrick,” Ernest said. “You may step down.”

Hendrick stepped down from the dais and stood to one side.

“Now then, isn’t it about time we heard from you, young man?” Ernest asked, staring at him as he cowered on the carpet. “Remember, this is a Royal Trial. Tell us the truth, and it may lessen your punishment.”

The young man quickly broke down and admitted that Lina and Skayla had brought in a charred cigar butt the previous night. After confirming its residual mana matched Edgar’s, he had destroyed it and erased the record of their visit. The young man’s family had long supported Prince Edgar, and he thought he was protecting him along with the Royal Family’s reputation.

“HAHAHAHAHA!” Seraphine suddenly burst into manic laughter. “YOU DESTROYED EVIDENCE OF A CRIME AND THINK YOU’RE DOING US A FAVOR?!”

The young man could only cower at the sound of her laughter.

“The Royal Family is subject to the same laws as everyone else. Those laws exist to protect our citizens,” Seraphine stated. “If we let you hide Edgar’s crimes, we’re no better than the crooked nobles we claim to oppose. Prince Edwin, take him to the Court Prison to await trial for tampering with evidence.”

Edwin dragged the young man out as he pleaded for forgiveness. The chamber doors slammed shut behind them.

“Now then, Prime Minister Hendrick,” Seraphine said. “What crimes has Prince Edgar committed?”

“Arson and lying before the Crown in an official Royal Trial, Your Majesty,” Hendrick replied. “Failing to punish him would make it appear that the Royal Family stands above the law.”

“I see... We’ll address Edgar’s punishment after Captain Lina’s case,” Seraphine said. “What about her?”

“Violence against a member of the Royal Family is punishable by death under lèse-majesté,” Hendrick said. “A public execution is in order.”

The chamber went quiet. Lina stared at the floor, prepared to face execution, while Skayla searched for an escape route.

“Execution, huh?” Seraphine murmured as a tear slipped down her cheek. “Captain Lina, I’ve reached my decision.”

The Queen descended the marble dais, the clicks of her heels sounding through the silent chamber. She stopped before Lina, who immediately knelt. Skayla stayed on her feet beside Lina, refusing to kneel.

“Your assault warrants execution,” Seraphine said. “But an employee of the Courthouse destroyed evidence, making this case far worse than it should have been. Taking that and your seven years of faithful service to Eldoria into account, I, Queen Seraphine Maia Eldoria, grant you Royal Mercy. You will not be executed.”

Skayla’s face lit up as she embraced Lina. Edgar opened his mouth to protest, but Seraphine spoke before he could.

“The pardon spares your life, Captain Lina. It does not erase your assault on a member of the Royal Family.” Seraphine opened her mouth again, but her lips trembled before she could speak. “E-Effective immediately, the Order of Scarlet is dissolved. You are banished from Eldoria and its surrounding lands.”

The chamber fell silent. Skayla’s arms loosened around Lina as she stared at Seraphine. The Queen had watched them grow up and loved them like daughters. Now she couldn’t bring herself to meet either of their eyes.

“I accept your merciful sentence, Your Majesty,” Lina said, smiling warmly at Seraphine as tears ran down her cheeks.

Seraphine took a deep breath to steady herself. She turned to Skayla, who was still furious over Lina’s banishment, and bowed her head.

Everyone in the chamber stared in disbelief. The proud former SSS-Rank Adventurer had repeatedly refused to bow before the previous King and Queen, declaring that they would have to take her head if they wanted it lowered. Now she was bowing before Skayla.

“Lady Skayla, on behalf of the Royal Family, I apologize for what my son did to your home,” Seraphine said. “I’ll see that you’re properly compensated for your loss. In the meantime, you are more than welcome to stay at the castle, just as you did when Asclepius and Ofilia left you here during their anniversary trips. Whatever you decide, you have my full support.”

“You said you’ll support whatever I decide, right?” Skayla asked.

“Yes, of course,” Seraphine said, straightening from her bow.

“Okay!” Skayla exclaimed before marching up to Edgar with a bright smile and kicking him in the groin.

Edgar collapsed onto the carpet. Ernest and Hendrick crossed their legs at once, wincing in sympathy.

“I choose to share Lina’s sentence and leave Eldoria with her,” Skayla announced, grinning as she held out a peace sign toward the Queen.

Seraphine burst out laughing while Lina and Leonora could only stare.